U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI Prepared To Respond To Complaints Of Election Fraud And Voting Rights Abuses

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha today reminded voters that the United States Attorney’s Office and the local office of the FBI, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington, are prepared to receive and review complaints of allegations of election fraud and voting rights abuses during Tuesday’s primary election. 
                                                                                               
 The Department of Justice’s voting program seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations. 
           
Federal law protects against such crimes 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.  It also contains special protections for the rights of voters and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them.  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.  Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice.
           
To report suspected election fraud or voting rights abuses at the polls in Rhode Island, the United States Attorney’s Office can be reached by the public at (401) 709-5068.  In addition, the FBI will have special agents available to receive allegations of voting fraud and other election abuses.  The FBI Rhode Island field office can be reached by the public at (401) 272-8310.

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Contact: 401-709-5357
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