BOISE – Today, in advance of this year’s federal election cycle, U.S. Attorney Josh Hurwit is providing information about his Office’s efforts to ensure that all qualified voters have the opportunity to vote free of violence, intimidation, discrimination, and other criminal activity in the election process.
Consistent with Department of Justice (DOJ) practices across the country, multiple Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) from around Idaho have been appointed to lead the efforts of his Office to ensure a safe, free, and fair election.
DOJ has an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. DOJ will address these violations wherever they occur.
“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election,” said U.S. Attorney Hurwit. “Similarly, election officials and staff 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 election process.”
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, 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 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 (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).
Federal law also requires that people with disabilities have a full and equal opportunity to vote, and DOJ’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Checklist for Polling Places (www.ada.gov/votingchecklist.htm) provides guidance to election officials for determining whether a polling place already has the basic accessibility features needed by most voters with disabilities or can be made accessible using temporary solutions. Additionally, DOJ has published Solutions for Five Common ADA Access Problems at Polling Places, available at this link: (https://www.ada.gov/resources/solutions-voting-problems/). Additional information is available on DOJ’s website (https://www.ada.gov/topics/voting/).
“The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy,” U.S. Attorney Hurwit stated. “We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. We will be prepared to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election cycle.”
The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho can be reached at (208) 334-1211. The FBI will also have special agents available in throughout the country to receive allegations of threats of violence and other election abuses related to voting. The Salt Lake City FBI field office, which covers Idaho, can be reached by the public at (801) 579-1400.
In addition, complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at (800) 253-3931 or by complaint form on DOJ’s website (https://civilrights.justice.gov/report/).
Finally, individuals with questions or complaints related to the ADA may call DOJ’s toll-free ADA information line at 800-514-0301 or 833-610-1264 (TTY), or submit a complaint through a link on DOJ’s ADA website (https://www.ada.gov/file-a-complaint/).
U.S. Attorney Hurwit said, “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 concerns or election fraud report it to the Department of Justice.”
Please note, however, that complaints related to violence, threats of violence, or intimidation should always be reported immediately to local authorities by calling 911. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.