Monday, November 1, 2010
Page 3
DOJ Slates Effort On Election Law Enforcement
By a MetNews Staff Writer
The U.S. Department of Justice will once again this year have a prosecutor and FBI agents available to investigate claims of voter fraud or other federal election law violations, U.S. Attorney Andre Birotte Jr. of the Central District of California said Friday.
“Every allegation of any voting rights abuse is an extremely serious matter,” Birotte said in a statement. “Every citizen is entitled to vote without interference or discrimination. Citizens should not hesitate to report possible violations of voting rights laws.”
Birotte has designated Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis Mitchell as the DOJ district election officer, an assignment he has held since District election officers from throughout the country have received special training in enforcement of the Voting Rights Act and other federal election laws.
Eight years ago, the Justice Department established a department-wide 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, Birotte said.
Those with information about vote fraud or abuse may call Mitchell at (213) 894-2484 or the FBI Field Office in Los Angeles at (310) 477-6565, Birotte said.
“A fair electoral process is essential in ensuring that the rights of all voting citizens are protected,” FBI Assistant Director Steven Martinez said in a statement. “The FBI is committed to maintaining the integrity of the voting process by investigating allegations of fraud or other misconduct.”
Complaints about access to ballots or voting discrimination also may be made directly to the Voting Section at the Civil Rights Division at the Justice Department in Washington at (800) 253-3931 or (202) 307-2767, the DOJ said.
Copyright 2010, Metropolitan News Company