Acting U.S. Attorney Names Election Official for Middle District of Alabama

Acting U.S. Attorney Kevin Davidson announced Wednesday that an Assistant United States Attorney will serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Middle District of Alabama and lead his office’s efforts in connection with the Department of Justice’s national election day program for the next one. November 5, 2024, general election. The DEO is responsible for overseeing the district’s handling of Election Day complaints regarding voting rights issues, threats of violence against election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Department of Justice headquarters. Justice in Washington.

“Every citizen should be able to vote without interference or discrimination and have their vote counted in a fair and free election,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson. “Furthermore, public officials and election staff must be able to serve without being subjected to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the electoral process.

The Department of Justice plays an important role in deterring and combating discrimination and intimidation in elections, threats of violence directed against election officials and poll workers, and voter fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing Election Day program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report potential violations of the federal election law.

Federal law protects against crimes such as threats of violence against election officials or staff, voter intimidation or bribery, vote buying and selling, voter impersonation, altering vote counts, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking voters’ ballots against their will or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters and provides that voters can vote without interference, including intimidation, and other acts intended to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for their candidate. choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (when voters need assistance due to a disability or inability to read or write in English).

The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy. We must all ensure that those who have the right to vote can exercise it if they wish, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. To respond to complaints regarding voting rights and voter fraud in the upcoming elections, and to ensure that these complaints are addressed to the appropriate authorities, the DEO will be on duty in this district while polls are open. The DEO can be contacted by the public at the following telephone number: (334) 223-7280.

Additionally, the FBI will have special agents available in every field office and resident agency across the country to receive allegations of voter fraud and other election abuses on Election Day. The local FBI office can be contacted by the public at 251-438-3674.

Complaints regarding possible violations of federal voting rights laws may be filed directly with the Division for Civil Rights in Washington, DC by completing the complaint form at the following address: https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by phone at 800-253-3931.

Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson added: “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the help of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights issues or voter fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.

Please note, however, that in the event of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction at polling places and almost always have faster response capacity in an emergency.