Point of Contact for Election Fraud Complaints Announced

Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Norman R. Smith will be leading the efforts of his Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 3, 2020, general election. United States Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft announced the news. For the Southern District of Illinois, AUSA Smith is appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO).

In the newly appointed capacity, Smith will be responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights concerns in consultation with Justice Department headquarters in Washington, D.C. Weinhoeft said that every citizen should be able to vote freely.

Weinhoeft 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 always act appropriately to protect the integrity of the election process.” The Department of Justice has an important role to ensure a transparent election process.

The Department has a long-standing Election Day Program. The program furthers the election fraud fight and also creates confidence in the integrity of the election process as they provide local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open through Election Day.

Crimes such as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input are fought against by the federal law. The law also protects the rights of the voters and protects them to freely voting without any intimidation or harassment.