U.S. Attorney’s Office Targets Voter Fraud

U.S. Attorney Brian J. Kuester announced this week his office will be on the lookout for voter fraud in the Nov. 6 general election.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Gregory D. Burris will lead the efforts of his office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the general elections. Burris was appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the district’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted. Votes stolen as a result of fraud is an offense against the voter and against our country,” said Kuester. “The Department of Justice will act promptly and aggressively to protect the integrity of the election process.”

Federal law protects against such crimes 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. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to make their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice.

The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy Kuester said. Those who seek to corrupt the election process must be brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on Nov. 6, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, Kuester said Burris will be on duty in this district while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: 918-684-5100.

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 local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 918-687-7500.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington, DC by phone at 1-800-253-3931 or (202) 307-2767, by fax at (202) 307-3961, by email to voting.section@usdoj.gov or by complaint form at http://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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