Fact Sheet
PROTECTING VOTING RIGHTS AND
PREVENTING ELECTION FRAUD
"The strength of our democracy demands that we fulfill the rights of both ballot access and ballot integrity - to guarantee every citizen, in accordance with the law, the right to vote, and to every voter the right to be counted." - Attorney General John Ashcroft
§ For over 30 years, the Justice Department has had in place an Election Day program to ensure the right of eligible voters to cast their votes and help shape the nation’s political leadership.
§ The Department of Justice has responsibility for enforcing the laws guaranteeing voting rights and prosecuting voting fraud. The Civil Rights and Criminal divisions of the Department of Justice are involved in elections to ensure both ballot access and ballot integrity.
Ø The Civil Rights Division is charged with enforcing the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as well as the National Voter Registration Act, both of which are designed to guarantee access to the polls on Election Day.
Ø The Criminal Division is responsible for enforcing the voting fraud laws passed by Congress and signed by the President.
Election Day Program
"Ensuring access to the polls on Election Day is one of the primary missions of the
Civil Rights Division." - Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Ralph Boyd, Jr.
§ On this Election Day, the Department of Justice will have in place a nationwide program using all available means to guarantee access to the polls, prevent fraud and prohibit voter intimidation. Federal prosecutors and investigators will be readily available to the public for the purpose of receiving complaints and taking any appropriate action when the polls are open on Election Day. When the polls open, every available resource of the Department of Justice - both in Washington, D.C. and in the states - will be available to handle complaints, ensure access, open investigations and prosecute offenses.
§ Voting Access and Integrity Initiative. In accordance with the Attorney General’s directive, District Election Officers have been designated and will be available in each U.S. Attorney district to receive and handle any complaints received from the public.
§ Civil Rights Division:
ü On Election Day, Civil Rights Division personnel will be available at a toll free number to receive complaints.
ü Since the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Justice Department has regularly sent observers around the country to protect the rights of all voters, including minority and elderly voters. This year, the Civil Rights Division will be coordinating nearly 500 government employees - including 108 attorneys from the Department of Justice - who will be in cities and towns across the country to ensure access to the polls, and to enforce our nation’s civil rights laws.
Ø The Department of Justice will send 324 federal observers and 108 Justice Department personnel to 26 counties in 14 states to monitor the general election.
Ø States that will be assigned monitors and Justice Department personnel include Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Utah.
ü The Division has been engaged in a major outreach effort to minority groups and election officials to inform jurisdictions of their obligations under the Language Minority Provision of the Voting Rights Act. The Division will enforce the law that requires jurisdictions meeting certain criteria to provide bilingual access to elections.
ü Thousands of citizens in 80 jurisdictions who would not have received assistance before will be provided help in exercising their voting rights on Election Day. This assistance includes providing registration or voting notices, forms, instructions, assistance, or other materials or information relating to the electoral process, including ballots, provided in the language of the applicable minority group as well as in the English language.
ü The Division will enforce existing consent decrees.
§ Criminal Division:
ü The Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section has assigned attorneys to assist with potential election crime cases, as needed.
ü Lawyers with the Public Integrity Section will be on duty from the time the polls open on the East Coast until the time they close on the West Coast to provide consultation and coordination with the District Election Officers.
ü Since the Attorney General’s announcement on October 1st of the Voting Access and Integrity Initiative, the Criminal Division has opened sixteen cases regarding allegations of voting fraud, voter intimidation, and others.
ü The Justice Department will enforce the laws that prohibit:
Ø voter intimidation;
Ø voting by ineligible individuals;
Ø bribery;
Ø destruction of valid ballots or registrations;
Ø counting more votes than there are registered voters;
Ø altering vote tallies;
Ø voting in multiple counties;
Ø abuse of absentee ballots;
Ø malfeasance by election officials; and,
Ø ballot boxes disappearing;
§ Election Day Contact Information:
ü Voting Section [COMPLAINTS RELATED TO ACCESS]
Civil Rights Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C.
20530
800-253-3931
ü Public Integrity Section [COMPLAINTS RELATED TO BALLOT INTEGRITY]
Criminal Division
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C.
20530
202-514-1412
ü Office of Public Affairs [ALL MEDIA INQUIRIES]
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20530
202-514-2007
Background Information on the Justice Department’s Mission
to Protect Voting Rights and Prevent Election Fraud
§ The Voting Access and Integrity Initiative. On October 1st, the Attorney General ordered the creation of a Department-wide Voting Access and Integrity Initiative. The goals of this initiative are to:
ü enhance our ability to deter discrimination and election fraud; and,
ü prosecute violators vigorously whenever and wherever these offenses occur.
§ Civil Rights and Criminal Division Leaders Heading Initiative. To protect the vote of Americans, resources from across the Department of Justice have been committed to this effort. Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division Ralph Boyd, Jr. and Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division Michael Chertoff are leading this initiative. Ralph Boyd, Jr. has met with dozens of individuals and civil rights organizations to discuss our commitment to enforcing voting rights and ensuring voter participation.
§ Designating Federal Prosecutors to Address Voting Matters. The Attorney General directed all 94 U.S. Attorneys to designate a District Election Officer responsible for our efforts on Election Day. These officers are experienced Assistant U.S. Attorneys with knowledge of the laws that:
ü prohibit racial discrimination and voter intimidation;
ü govern absentee voting for uniformed and overseas citizens, the elderly, and citizens with disabilities; and,
ü protect the voting rights of minority language Americans.
§ District Election Officers. These officers are election experts in their Districts, and implement the Department of Justice's response to election fraud and campaign financing crimes under the overall supervision of the Public Integrity Section pursuant to 9 U.S.A.M. 85.210.
ü Terms of a District Election Officer last through the end of July in the next even-numbered year.
ü District Election Officers met with senior election administrators within their Districts to offer federal assistance in the investigation and prosecution of electoral crimes that occur during the forthcoming federal election.
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
VOTING ACCESS AND INTEGRITY INITIATIVE
(All complaints related to discrimination or access can be reported to the Civil Rights Division at 800-253-3931)
(All complaints related to ballot integrity can be reported to the Criminal Division at 202-514-1412)
(All media inquiries are to be directed to the Office of Public Affairs at 202-514-2007)
Election Day Points of Contact - District Election Officers
DISTRICT, DISTRICT ELECTION OFFICER, AND TELEPHONE
Alabama - Middle---Kent B. Brunson--334-223-7280
Alabama - Northern---John P. "Pat" Meadows-205-244-2214
Alabama - Northern---Frank M. Salter, Jr.--205-244-2208
Alabama - Southern---John Cherry--251-441-5845
Alaska - Deborah M. Smith--907-271-5071
Arizona - Charles Huellmantel--602-514-7756
Arkansas - Eastern---John Ray White--501-324-5321
Arkansas - Western---Larry McCord--479-494-4064
California - Central---Ted Moreton--213-894-3358
California - Eastern - Fresno--Stan Boone--559-498-7442
California - Northern---Charles "Ben" Burch--510-637-3918
California - Southern---Christopher P. Tenorio-619-557-7843
Colorado - Tom O'Rourke--303-454-0209
District of Columbia---Steve Bunnell--202-514-6961
Connecticut - Calvin B. Kurimai--203-821-3700 ext. 3039
Delaware - Leonard P. Stark--302-573-6277 ext. 106
Florida - Middle---Robert Mosakowski--813-274-6000-
Florida - Northern - Tallahassee--Monte Richardson--850-942-8430
Florida - Northern - Pensacola--Len Register--850-444-4000
Florida - Southern---Karen Rochlin--305-961-9234
Georgia - Middle---Harry J. Fox--912-752-3511
Georgia - Northern---William Toliver--404-581-6069
Georgia - Southern ---Richard S. Thompson--912-652-4422
Guam - Marivic P. David--671-472-7332 ext. 120
Saipan - John Rice---670-236-2980
Hawaii - Elliot Enoki--808-541-2850
Idaho - Boise---George Breitsameter--208-334-1211
Idaho - Pocatello---Jack Haycock--208-478-4166
Idaho - Coeur d' Alene---Nancy Cook--208-667-6568
Illinois - Central - Springfield--Gregory Gilmore--217-492-4450
Illinois - Central - Urbana--David Hoff---217-373-5875
Illinois - Central - Peoria & Rock Island-Darilynn Knauss--309-671-7050
Illinois - Northern---Gillum Ferguson--312-353-1413
Illinois - Southern---Joel Merkel--618-628-3700
Indiana - Northern---Bernard L. Van Wormer-219-937-5500
Indiana - Southern---Tim Morrison--317-226-6333
Iowa - Northern - Ceder Rapids--Daniel Tvedt--319-363-6333
Iowa - Northern - Sioux City--Janet Petersen--712-255-6011
Iowa - Southern---Robert Dopf--515-284-6257
Kansas - Leon Patton--913-551-6730
Kentucky - Eastern---Thomas L. Self--859-233-2661 ext. 139
Kentucky - Western---Tom Dyke---502-625-7042
Louisiana - Eastern---Irene Gonzalez--504-680-3077
Louisiana - Middle---James Stanley Lemelle-225-389-0443
Louisiana - Western---William Flanagan--318-676-3624
Maine - Jim McCarthy--207-945-0373
Maine - John Gleason--207-771-3248
Maryland - Baltimore---Joseph L. Evans--410-209-4884
Maryland - Greenbelt---Ronald J. Tenpas--301-344-4233
Massachusetts---Stephen G. Huggard--617-748-3148
Michigan - Eastern ---Gary M. Felder--313-226-9742
Michigan - Western---Donald Daniels--616-456-2404
Minnesota - Jennifer Smith--612-664-5749
Mississippi - Northern---John R. Hailman--662-238-7633
Mississippi - Southern--David Usry---601-973-2839
Missouri - Eastern---David M. Rosen--314-539-2365
Missouri - Eastern---James G. Martin--314-539-3991
Missouri - Western---Dan Stewart--816-426-4160
Montana - Joshua S. Van de Wetering-406-542-8851
Nebraska - Robert Kokrda--402-661-3700
Nevada - Camille Damm--702-388-6223
New Hampshire - Peter Papps--603-225-1552
New Jersey - Michael Chagares--973-645-2839
New Mexico - Jonathon Gerson--505-346-7296
New York - Eastern---Sanford Cohen--718-254-6249
New York - Northern - Syracuse--Michael Olmsted--315-448-0672
New York - Northern - Albany--Robert P. Storch--518-431-0247
New York - Northern - Binghamton-Miroslav Lovric--607-773-2887
New York - Southern---Andrew Dember--212-637-2563
New York - Southern---Neil Corwin--718-422-5605
New York - Western---Kathleen Mehltretter--716-551-4817
North Carolina - Eastern--J. Gaston B. Williams--919-856-4849
North Carolina - Middle--Benjamin H. White, Jr.-336-333-5351
North Carolina - Western - Charlotte-Kenneth D. Bell--704-338-3131
North Carolina - Western - Asheville-Richard Edwards--828-271-4661
North Dakota - Fargo---Lynn C. Jordheim--701-297-7400
North Dakota - Bismarck--David L. Peterson--701-530-2420
Ohio - Northern - Cleveland--Robert W. Kern--216-622-3836
Ohio - Northern - Toledo--David O. Bauer--419-241-0728
Ohio - Southern -Columbus--Gary Spartis--614-469-5715
Ohio - Southern - Dayton--J. Richard Chema--937-225-2910
Ohio - Southern - Cincinnati--Ralph W. Kohnen--513-684-3711
Oklahoma - Eastern---Gordon Cecil--918-684-5157
Oklahoma - Northern---Charles M. McLoughlin-918-581-6952
Oklahoma - Western---Jerome Holmes--405-553-8736
Oregon - Michael J. Brown--503-727-1031
Pennsylvania - Eastern--Michael A. Schwartz--215-861-8923
Pennsylvania - Middle - Scranton--Barabara Whitaker--570-348-2800
Pennsylvania - Middle - Harrisburg-Kim Daniel---717-221-4482
Pennsylvania - Western--A. Elliot McLean--412-644-3505
Puerto Rico - Jorge E. Vega-Pacheco-787-282-1806
Rhode Island - James H. Leavey--401-528-5449
South Carolina - Robert C. Jendron--803-929-3063
South Dakota - Robert Mandel--605-342-7822
Tennessee - Eastern---Charles E. Atchley, Jr.-865-545-4167
Tennessee - Middle---Harold B. McDonough, Jr.-615-736-5151
Tennessee - Middle---William Cohen--615-736-5151
Tennessee - Western---Lawrence J. Laurenzi--901-544-4231
Texas - Eastern---John Stevens--409-839-2538
Texas - Northern - Dallas--Michael Uhl--214-659-8680
Texas - Southern---Ruben Perez--713-567-9344
Texas -Western---Ray Jahn---210-384-7150
Utah - Elizabethanne Stevens-801-524-5682
Vermont - John Conroy--802-951-6725
Virgin Islands - Alphonso Andrews--340-773-3920
Virginia - Eastern - Alexandria--Kathy Kahoe--703-299-3700
Virginia - Eastern - Richmond--Debra Prillaman--804-819-5400
Virginia - Eastern - Norfolk--Alan Salsbury--757-441-6331
Virginia - Western---Ruth Plagenhoef--540-857-2250
Washington - Eastern - Spokane--Rolf H. Tangvald--509-353-2767
Washington - Eastern - Yakima--Gregory M. Shogren--509-454-4425
Washington - Western--Arlen Storm--253-428-3800
West Virginia - Northern--Robert H. McWilliams, Jr. -304-234-0100
West Virginia - Southern--Karen B. George--304-345-2200
Wisconsin - Eastern---Lisa T. Warwick--414-297-1786
Wisconsin - Western---Stephen E. Ehlke--608-264-5158
Wyoming - Jim Anderson--307-772-2124