Protection Of Voting Rights In The 2014 Election Cycle

United States Attorney Kenyen R. Brown announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Vicki M. Davis will oversee the efforts of the Southern District of Alabama’s voting rights protection for the upcoming June 2014, primary elections and the 2014 general election.   AUSA Davis has served as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the Southern District of Alabama for many years.   She is responsible for overseeing the District=s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with the Department of Justice in Washington.

United States Attorney Kenyen Brown stated, Aevery 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.

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 seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points-of-contact in order that the public may report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open.

Federal law protects against crimes such 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.   The law also provides special protections for the rights of voters in order that they may vote free from acts of intimidation or harassment.   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.   Federal law also protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted in marking their ballot by a person of their choice.

The voting franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy.   We must all strive to ensure that those who are entitled to the voting franchise exercise it if they choose, and equally that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.   In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities.   AUSA/DEO Davis can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: (251) 441 5845.

The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) has Special Agents available in each field office and resident agency to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuse.   The local FBI field office can be reached at (251) 438-3674.

Complaints concerning ballot access issues or allegations of discrimination can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division=s Voting Section in Washington by calling 1-800-253-3931 or (202) 307-2767.

United States Attorney Brown stated, Aensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate.   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.