L.A. Federal Prosecutors' Office Hears No Reports of Election Fraud

LOS ANGELES - With three hours to go before Los Angeles-area polls close, federal prosecutors said there had been no reports of possible election fraud or voting abuses in the Central District of California, which includes the counties of Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside.

"We have not received any significant complaints about election-related violations at this time," said Thom Mrozek, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mack E. Jenkins is serving as the District Election Officer during the general election and is chief liaison with the Justice Department's nationwide Election Day Program.

If complaints are received, Jenkins will coordinate with the FBI field office in Los Angeles and will consult with the Justice Department in Washington, D.C.

"The right to vote in the United States is a privilege of our democratic society and every eligible American citizen is entitled to carry it out without unlawful interference," said Deirdre Fike, assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles field office. "The FBI will play a role in protecting the rights of the American voter by investigating allegations of fraud or discrimination during the election process."

The Justice Department's longstanding Election Day Program seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process, by providing local points of contact for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open.

Federal law protects against crimes such 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.

In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, Jenkins and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carol Chen are on duty while the polls are open. Members of the public can reach them at the U.S. Attorney's Office by calling (213) 894-2400.

In addition, the FBI has special agents available across the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. Agents at the FBI's Los Angeles office can be reached by the public at (310) 477-6565.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division's Voting Section in Washington, D.C., by phone at (800) 253-3931, by fax at (202) 307-3961, by email at voting.section@usdoj.gov, or by using the complaint form at http://www.justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake/index.php.

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

- City News Service / Image via Shutterstock