United States Attorneys Breon Peace and Damian Williams introduced at present that Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) will lead the efforts of their Places of work in reference to the Justice Division’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 8, 2022, normal election. AUSA Erik Paulsen has been appointed to function the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Japanese District of New York, and David J. Kennedy has been appointed to function the DEO for the Southern District of New York. Of their capability as DEOs, these AUSAs are liable for overseeing the Districts’ dealing with of Election Day complaints of voting rights issues, threats of violence to election officers or workers, and election fraud, in session with Justice Division Headquarters in Washington.
United States Lawyer Williams stated, “Free and honest elections are principal to democracy, and each vote counts. It’s the solemn privilege of this Workplace to work along with our legislation enforcement companions to make sure that New Yorkers are in a position to train their inherent proper to pick their representatives unencumbered by illegal intimidation or interference. We encourage anybody who finds their civic voting protections topic to hindrance to please contact the numbers under.
The Division of Justice performs an necessary function in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation on the polls, threats of violence directed at election officers and ballot staff, and election fraud. The Division will tackle these violations wherever they happen. The Division’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these targets and in addition seeks to make sure public confidence within the electoral course of by offering native factors of contact inside the Division for the general public to report doable federal election legislation violations.
Federal legislation protects towards such crimes as threatening violence towards election officers or workers, intimidating or bribing voters, shopping for and promoting votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing poll packing containers, and marking ballots for voters towards their needs or with out their enter. It additionally accommodates particular protections for the rights of voters, and supplies that they will vote free from interference, together with intimidation, and different acts designed to stop or discourage individuals from voting or voting for the candidate of their alternative. The Voting Rights Act protects the best of voters to mark their very own poll or to be assisted by an individual of their alternative (the place voters want help due to incapacity or incapability to learn or write in English).
United States Attorneys Peace and Williams acknowledged that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. All of us should be sure that those that are entitled to the franchise can train it in the event that they select, and that those that search to deprave it are delivered to justice. So as to reply to complaints of voting rights issues and election fraud throughout the upcoming election, and to make sure that such complaints are directed to the suitable authorities, AUSAs will probably be on responsibility on this District whereas the polls are open.”
So as to reply to complaints of election fraud or voting rights issues throughout the voting interval that ends on November 8, 2022, and to make sure that such complaints are directed to the suitable authorities, america Attorneys stated that their Places of work will probably be out there to obtain complaints on the following numbers by way of Tuesday, November 8, 2022:
(646) 369-4739 (for Manhattan, Bronx, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, and Westchester counties) and
(718) 254-7000 (for Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, Nassau, and Suffolk counties)
As well as, the FBI could have particular brokers out there in every area workplace and resident company all through the nation to obtain allegations of election fraud and different election abuses on Election Day. The native FBI area workplace might be reached by the general public at (212) 384-1000.
Complaints about doable violations of the federal voting rights legal guidelines might be made on to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by telephone at 800-253-3931 or by criticism type at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .
Please be aware, nonetheless, within the case of against the law of violence or intimidation, please name 911 instantly and earlier than contacting federal authorities. State and native police have main jurisdiction over polling locations, and virtually at all times have quicker response capability in an emergency.
The USA Attorneys additionally famous that the next further phone numbers can be found on Election Day for residents to name for routine inquiries, similar to the place to vote or how late the polls are open, or to register complaints which will concern violations of New York State election legal guidelines:
IN NEW YORK CITY
Metropolis Board of Elections
Major Workplace (866) 868-3692
TTY #: 212-487-5496
IN COUNTIES OUTSIDE NEW YORK CITY
County Boards of Elections
Dutchess (845) 486-2473
Nassau (516) 571-8683
Orange (845) 360-6500
Orange (Spanish language) (855) 331-2444
Putnam (845) 808-1300
Rockland (845) 638-5172
Suffolk (631) 852-4500
Sullivan (845) 807-0400
Westchester (914) 995-5700