PRESS
RELEASE
from
U.S.
Department of Justice
November 2, 2012
Justice
Department to Monitor Polls in 23 States on Election Day
The Justice Department announced today that its Civil Rights Division
plans to deploy more than 780 federal observers and department
personnel to 51 jurisdictions in 23 states for the Nov. 6, 2012,
general election.
Although state and local governments have primary responsibility for
administering elections, the Civil Rights Division is charged with
enforcing the federal voting rights laws that protect the rights of all
citizens to access the ballot on Election Day.
In the days leading up to and throughout Election Day, Civil Rights
Division staff members will be available by telephone to receive
complaints related to possible violations of the federal voting rights
laws (toll free 1-800-253-3931 or 202-307-2767 or TTY
1-877-267-8971). In addition, individuals may also report such
complaints by fax to 202-307-3961, by email to
voting.section@usdoj.gov and by a complaint form on the
department ’s website :
www.justice.gov/crt/about/vot/.
Allegations of election fraud are handled by the 94 U.S. Attorneys’
Offices across the country and the Criminal Division’s Public Integrity
Section. Complaints may be directed to any of the local U.S.
Attorneys’ Offices, the local FBI offices or the Public Integrity
Section at 202-514-1412.
Since the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1 965, the department has
regularly sent observers and monitors around the country to protect the
rights of voters . The Voting Rights Act prohibits discrimination
in the election process on the basis of race, color or membership in a
minority language group. In addition, the act requires certain
covered jurisdictions to provide language assistance during the
election process. Under the Voting Rights Act, the department is
authorized to ask the Office of Personnel Management to send federal
observers to areas that have been certified for coverage by a federal
court or the attorney general. The department also may send its
own staff to monitor elections in other jurisdictions.
On Election Day, federal observers will monitor polling place
activities in 17 jurisdictions:
Russell County, Ala.;
Maricopa County, Ariz.;
Alameda County, Calif.;
Riverside County, Calif.;
Randolph County , G a.;
East Carroll Parish, La.;
Panola County, Miss.;
Colfax County, Neb.;
Sandoval County, N.M.;
Orange County, N.Y.;
Cuyahoga County, Ohio;
Lorain County, Ohio;
Williamsburg County, S.C.;
Shannon County ; S.D.;
Dallas County, Texas;
Fort Bend County, Texas; and
Jefferson County, Texas.
Justice Department personnel will monitor the election in an additional
34 jurisdictions:
Mobile County, Ala. ;
Pima County, Ariz.;
Arapahoe County, Colo.;
Denver;
Duval County, Fla.;
Hendry County , Fl a.;
Hillsborough County, Fla.;
Lee County, Fla.;
Miami-Dade County, Fla.;
Orange County, Fla.;
Osceola County, Fla.;
Chicago & Cook County, Ill.;
LaPorte County, Ind.;
Finney County, Kan.;
Detroit & Hamtramck, Mich.;
Alamance County, N.C.;
Wake County, N.C.;
Bernalillo County, N.M.;
Cibola County, N.M.;
Queens County, N.Y.;
Franklin County, Ohio;
Hamilton County, Ohio;
Allegheny County, Pa.;
Chester County, Pa.;
Delaware County, Pa.;
Lehigh County, Pa.;
Philadelphia ;
Richland County, S.C.;
Davidson County, Tenn.;
Shelby County , Tenn. ;
Harris County, Texas; and
Milwaukee
The observers and department personnel will gather information on,
among other things, whether voters are subject to different voting
qualifications or procedures on the basis of race, color, or membership
in a language minority group; whether jurisdictions are complying with
the minority language provisions of the Voting Rights Act; whether
jurisdictions permit voters to receive assistance by a person of his or
her choice if the voter is blind, has a disability, or is unable to
read or write; whether jurisdictions allow voters with disabilit ies to
cast a private and independent ballot; whether jurisdictions comply
with the voter registration list requirements of the National Voter
Registration Act; and whether jurisdictions comply with the provisional
ballot requirements of the Help America Vote Act. To assist in
these inquiries, the department has deployed observers and monitors who
speak Spanish and a variety of Asian and Native American
languages. Both the federal observers and department personnel
will coordinate monitoring activities, and department attorneys
maintain contact with local election officials.
Last month, the Justice Department announced efforts to ensure that all
qualified voters have the opportunity to cast their ballots and have
their votes counted free of discrimination, intimidation or fraud in
the election process. More information about the Voting
Rights Act and other federal voting and election-related laws is
available on the Civil Rights Division ’s web site at
www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting .
Examples
PRESS RELEASE from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of
Wisconsin
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 19, 2012
US Attorneys Announce Election Day Program
Madison, Wis. -- United States Attorney John W. Vaudreuil of the
Western District of Wisconsin and United States Attorney James L.
Santelle of the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced today that they
have appointed Assistant U.S. Attorneys to lead the efforts of their
respective offices in connection with the Justice Department’s
nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 6, 2012
elections.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Jarosz has been appointed to serve as the
Election Officer for the Western District of Wisconsin, which covers
Madison and approximately the western two-thirds of the state.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard Frohling has been appointed to serve as
the Election Officer for the Eastern District, which covers Milwaukee
and approximately the eastern one-third of the state. As Election
Officers, Jarosz and Frohling are responsible for overseeing their
District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights
abuses in consultation with the Justice Department in Washington.
United States Attorney Vaudreuil said, “Every citizen must be able to
vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote
counted without it being stolen because of fraud. The Department of
Justice will act promptly and aggressively to protect the integrity of
the election process.”
United States Attorney Santelle added, “The franchise is the
cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who
are entitled to the franchise exercise it if they choose, and that
those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.”
Ten years ago, the Justice Department established a nationwide Ballot
Access and Voting Integrity Initiative. The goals of this ongoing
Initiative are to increase the Department’s ability to deter election
fraud and discrimination at the polls and to prosecute these offenses
whenever and wherever they occur The Department’s 2012 Election Day
Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure public
confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local
points of contact within the Department for the public to report
possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls
are open on election day.
In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights
abuses on November 6, 2012, and to ensure that such complaints are
directed to the appropriate authorities, Assistant U.S. Attorneys
Jarosz and Frohling will be on duty in their districts while the polls
are open. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jarosz can be reached by calling
(608) 658-3743. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frohling can be reached by
calling (414) 297-4528.
In addition, the FBI will have Special Agents available in each Field
Office and Resident Agency throughout the country to receive
allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election
day. The FBI in Madison can be reached by calling (608) 833-4600. The
FBI in Milwaukee can be reached by calling (414) 276-4684.
Complaints about ballot access problems or discrimination can be made
directly to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington at
(800) 253-3931 or (202) 307-2767.
In a joint statement, United States Attorneys Vaudreuil and Santelle
explained, “The effectiveness of our Election Day Program depends in
large part on the watchfulness and cooperation of the American
electorate. It is imperative that anyone with specific information
about discrimination or election fraud makes that information available
immediately to our offices, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”
PRESS RELEASE from the U.S.
Attorney's Office, Northern District of California
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 15, 2012
U.S. Attorney Announces Election Day 2012
Program
SAN FRANCISCO – United States Attorney Melinda Haag announced today
that her office will lead the Justice Department’s Election Day Program
in the Northern District of California. Ms. Haag has asked her District
Election Officer to oversee the handling of complaints of election
fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department
Headquarters in Washington.
“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or
discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen
because of fraud,” United States Attorney Haag said. “The Department of
Justice will act promptly and aggressively to protect the integrity of
the election process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election
fraud and discrimination at the polls, and combating these violations
whenever and wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing
Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also seeks to ensure
public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing
local points of contact within the Department for the public to report
possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls
are open on election day.
Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing
voters, buying and selling votes, altering vote tallies, stuffing
ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or
without their input. It also contains special protections for the
rights of voters and provides that they can vote free from acts that
intimidate or harass them. For example, actions of persons designed to
interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or
challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the
pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate
federal voting rights law. Further, federal law protects the right of
voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their
choice.
The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must
ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise exercise it if they
choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.
In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights
abuses on Nov. 6, 2012, and to ensure that such complaints are directed
to the appropriate authorities, United States Attorney Haag stated that
the District Election Officer will be on duty while the polls are open
and can be reached by the public at (510) 637-3680.
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field
office and resident agency throughout the country to receive
allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election
day. The FBI San Francisco Division can be reached by the public at
(415) 553-7400 and can refer matters to the resident agencies
throughout the District as necessary.
Complaints about ballot access problems or discrimination can be made
directly to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington at
(800) 253-3931 or (202) 307-2767.
“Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the
cooperation of the American electorate,” United States Attorney Haag
said. “It is imperative that those who have specific information about
discrimination or election fraud make that information available
immediately to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”
PRESS
RELEASE
from
U.S. Department of Justice
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Protecting the Right to Vote and Prosecuting Ballot Fraud
In anticipation of the upcoming election, the Justice Department today
provided information about its efforts, through the Civil Rights and
Criminal Divisions, to ensure that all qualified voters have the
opportunity to cast their ballots and have their votes counted free of
discrimination, intimidation or fraud in the election process
.
Civil
Rights Division:
The Civil Rights Division is responsible for ensuring compliance with
the civil provisions of federal laws that protect the right to vote,
and with federal criminal laws prohibiting discriminatory interference
with that right.
The Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section enforces civil provisions of
federal laws that protect the right to vote including: the Voting
Rights Act; the National Voter Registration Act; the Uniformed and
Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act; and the Help America Vote
Act. Among other things, these laws prohibit discrimination based
on race or membership in a minority language group; prohibit
intimidation of voters; provide that voters who need assistance in
voting because of disability or illiteracy can obtain assistance from a
person of their choice; require minority language election materials
and assistance in certain jurisdictions; provide for accessible
election machines for voters with disabilities; require provisional
ballots for voters who assert they are eligible but whose names do not
appear on poll books; provide for absentee ballots for service members,
their family members and U.S. citizens living abroad; and require
states to ensure that citizens can register at drivers’ license
offices, public assistance offices , other state agencies and through
the mail; and include requirements regarding maintaining voter
registration lists.
The Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section enforces federal criminal
statutes that prohibit voter intimidation and suppression based on
race, color, national origin or religion.
As it has in the past, on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012, the Civil Rights
Division will implement a comprehensive program to help ensure ballot
access that will include the following:
- Shortly before the election, the Civil Rights Division will
announce which jurisdictions will have federal personnel as election
monitors and observers at polling places.
- Civil Rights Division attorneys in both the Voting and Criminal
Sections in Washington, D.C., will be ready to receive election-related
complaints of potential violations relating to any of the statutes the
Civil Rights Division enforces. Attorneys in the division
will take appropriate action and will consult and coordinate with local
U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and with other entities within the Department
of Justice concerning these complaints before, during, and after
Election Day, as appropriate.
- Civil Rights Division staff will be available by phone to receive
complaints related to ballot access (1-800-253-3931 toll free or
202-307-2767) or by TTY (1-877-267-8971). In addition,
individuals may also report complaints, problems, or concerns related
to voting by fax to 202-307-3961, by email to voting.section@usdoj.gov
and, closer to Election Day, by complaint forms that may be submitted
through a link on the department’s website, at
www.justice.gov/crt/about/vot/ .
Complaints related to violence or threats of violence at a polling
place should, in the first instance, always be reported to local police
authorities by calling 911.
Criminal
Division and the Department’s 94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices:
The Department’s Criminal Division oversees the enforcement of federal
laws that criminalize certain election fraud and vindicate the
integrity of the federal election process.
The Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section and the Department’s
94 U.S. Attorneys’ Offices are responsible for enforcing the federal
criminal laws that prohibit various forms of election fraud, such as
vote buying, multiple voting, submission of fraudulent ballots or
registrations, destruction of ballots or registrations, alteration of
votes and malfeasance by election officials . The Criminal
Division is also responsible for enforcing federal criminal law
prohibiting voter intimidation that does not involve a basis in race ,
color , national origin or religion (as noted above, voter intimidation
that has a basis in race, color, national origin or religion is
addressed by the Civil Rights Division).
The department encourages each U.S. Attorney’s Office to communicate
with state election officials before the federal general elections
regarding the handling of election-related matters in their respective
districts. In addition, the department provides annual training
for the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who serve as district election
officers (DEOs) in their respective districts. DEOs are
responsible for overseeing potential election-crime matters in their
districts , and for coordinating with the department’s election-crime
experts in Washington, D.C.
On Nov. 6, 2012, the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices will work with specially
trained Federal Bureau of Investigation personnel in each district to
ensure that complaints from the public involving possible voter fraud
are handled appropriately . Specifically:
- Federal prosecutors at the Public Integrity Section, the DEOs in
U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, FBI officials at headquarters in Washington,
D.C., and FBI Special Agents serving as Election Crime Coordinators in
the FBI’s 56 field offices will be on duty while polls are open, to
receive complaints from the public.
- Election fraud or intimidation complaints should first be
directed to the local U.S. Attorney’s Office or the local FBI
office. A list of U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and their
telephone numbers can be found at
www.justice.gov/usao/offices/index.html , and a list of FBI offices and
accompanying telephone numbers can be found at the “Contact Us” button
at http://www.fbi.gov . Again, however, complaints related
to violence or threats of violence at a polling place should, in the
first instance, be reported to local police authorities by calling 911.
- Election fraud or intimidation complaints may also be directed to
the Public Integrity Section (202-514-1412). Public
Integrity Section prosecutors are available to consult and coordinate
with the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and FBI regarding the handling of
election-crime allegations.
Both protecting the right to vote and combating election fraud are
essential to maintaining the confidence of all Americans in our
democratic system of government. We encourage anyone who
has information suggesting voting discrimination or ballot fraud to
contact the appropriate authorities.
WASHINGTON, June
5,
2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Former Presidential
Candidate Gary Bauer congratulated Governor Scott
Walker for his win in Wisconsin's
recall
election,
calling
it
"another
sign
that
taxpayers
will
award
office
holders
ready
to
do the hard work of reigning in out-of-control
government spending."
Bauer, the chairman of the Campaign for Working Families, made
the following statement:
"I congratulate Governor Scott Walker
for his hard-fought victory tonight, and most especially for having the
courage of his convictions to fight the good fight. But the victory in Wisconsin is not Scott
Walker's alone. It is a victory for the hard-working
taxpayers of Wisconsin,
who foot the bill year after year. It is a victory for common
sense
over powerful special interests. It is a victory that taxpayers
in
every state can celebrate. It is a victory, yes, even for some
union
members.
"Since
Gov. Walker's reforms were enacted, tens of thousands of state
employees have opted to keep more of the money they earn rather than
let the public employees union siphon off their hard-earned
dollars.
In other words, once given the choice, more than half of the public
employees union's members decided that they didn't need the
union.
These reforms will pay real dividends for the taxpayers of
Wisconsin.
They are the real winners tonight.
"The recall election is a sign of good things to come. The
power of the Big Labor bosses has finally been checked, not just in Wisconsin,
but also in scores of other states across the country. More
governors,
legislators and taxpayers will be inspired to stand up against the
liberal labor unions and do what is truly in the best interests of
their communities. Wisconsin's
10
Electoral College votes are now in play, and the anti-tax, small
government movement that swept the country in 2010 is about to sweep Barack Obama out of office in 154 days!"
Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1drYR)