Acting U.S. Attorney Appoints Election Officer for Middle District of Alabama

Acting United States Attorney Kevin Davidson announced Wednesday that an Assistant United States Attorney will serve as District Election Officer (DEO) for the Middle District of Alabama and lead his office’s efforts in connection with the National Program from the Department of Justice Election Day to the upcoming November 5, 2024, general election. The DEO is responsible for overseeing the district’s handling of Election Day complaints about voting rights concerns, threats of violence to poll workers or officials, and voter fraud, in consultation with the Department of Justice Headquarters in Washington.

“All citizens must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and have that vote counted in a free and fair election,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson. “Further, election officials and employees must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the electoral process.”

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combating discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and voter fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program promotes these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report potential violations of federal election law.

Federal law protects against crimes such as threatening violence against election officials or officials, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote counts, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their will. or without your contribution. It also contains special protections for voters’ rights and provides that voters can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (when voters require assistance due to a disability or inability to read or write English).

The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We must all ensure that those who are entitled to the right to vote can exercise it if they wish, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints about voting rights concerns and voter fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, the DEO will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. The DEO can be reached by the public at: (334) 223-7280.

Additionally, the FBI will have special agents available at each field office and resident agency across the country to respond to allegations of voter fraud and other election abuse on Election Day. The local FBI office can be reached by the public at 251-438-3674.

Complaints about potential violations of federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C., using the complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ or by calling 800-253-3931.

Acting U.S. Attorney Davidson added: “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights issues or voter fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”

Please note, however, that in the event of a crime of violence or intimidation, call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places and almost always have the ability to react more quickly in an emergency.