Chesterton Tribune

 

 

US Attorney appoints District Election Officer

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U.S. Attorney Thomas Kirsch II has appointed an Election Officer for the Northern District of Indiana.

Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacky Jacobs will be responsible for overseeing the Northern District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights concerns in consultation with the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.

“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without its being stolen because of fraud,” Kirsch said in a statement released on Tuesday. “The Department of Justice will always act appropriately 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 statement said. “The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also 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 while the polls are open through Election Day.”

“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,” the statement said. “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 illegally 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 (where voters need assistance because of disability or illiteracy).”

In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights concerns during the voting period ending on Nov. 3, Jacky Jacobs will be on duty in the Northern District while the polls are open. She can be reached by the public at the following telephone numbers: main line (219) 937-5500; or direct (219) 937-5634.

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of voter fraud and other election abuses on Election Day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at (317) 595-4000.

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

Please note that in the case 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 faster reaction capacity in an emergency.

“Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate,” Kirsch said. “It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud make that information available to my office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.”

 

 

Posted 10/21/2020

 
 
 
 

 

 

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