The U.S. Department of Justice Emphasizes Protecting Voter Rights • Kansas Reflector

WASHINGTON — With less than a week before the polls close on Nov. 5, the U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday renewed its efforts to protect voter access to the ballot box through civil rights, national security and criminal justice divisions.

“Protecting the right to vote, prosecuting election crimes, and securing our elections are all essential to maintaining the confidence of all Americans in our democratic system of government,” the Justice Department said in a news release.

The Justice Department said all complaints regarding violence, threats of violence or intimidation at a polling station should first be reported to local authorities by calling 911 and then the bureau for further action.

In Washington State and Oregon, two ballot boxes were set on fire. In North Carolina, Yellow signs in Spanish have popped up outside voting locations warning people that voting by non-residents is illegal, something voting rights groups call voter intimidation.

There are increased concerns from election officials and pro-democracy groups about attempts to disrupt the electoral process and the possibility of violence once the results are known.

It is unlikely that a presidential victor will be announced on election night or even the next day. which election officials have warned about could easily sow distrust in the official results.

In Maricopa County, Arizona, local and federal law enforcement officers are the fourth most populous county in the country said they are prepared for violence. Maricopa County led the way conspiracy theories about election fraud in 2020.

Violations of civil rights

The DOJ Civil Rights Division “is responsible for ensuring compliance with the civil provisions of federal statutes that protect the right to vote and the criminal provisions of federal statutes that prohibit discriminatory interference with that right,” the agency said.

Any violation of civil rights should be reported to the agency at 800-253-3931 or online.

That department enforces the laws of the Voting Rights Act, the National Voter Registration Act, the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, the Help America Vote Act, and the Civil Rights Acts.

Those laws prohibit voter intimidation, as well as election practices that are discriminatory or discriminate based on “race, color, or language minority status.”

The Justice Department said its attorneys during the election “will be prepared to receive complaints alleging possible violations of the statutes the Civil Rights Division enforces.”

Election-related crimes

The Justice Department’s Criminal Division enforces federal laws regarding election crimes such as voter fraud, ballot destruction, vote buying, the submission of fraudulent ballots, vote tampering, and misconduct by election officials and employees.

This includes all threats of violence against election workers and voter intimidation for reasons other than discrimination.

The Justice Department said all election-related complaints should be directed to the local US Attorney or the local FBI field office.

The Justice Department’s National Security Division will handle all cases involving foreign influence.

In September, the Justice Department made the indictment public of the Russian government’s efforts to spread propaganda and influence voters, including the 2024 presidential election.

“As with previous elections, the National Security Division will work closely with colleagues at the FBI and our U.S. Attorney’s Offices to protect our nation’s elections from any potential threats to national security,” the Justice Department said.