Justice Department officials on duty to field voting complaints during November 6 general election

CLEVELAND - Officials with the Justice Department will be handling complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses during the general election on Nov. 6.

"Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud," said U.S. Attorney Steve Dettelbach in a news release. "The Department of Justice will act promptly and aggressively to protect the integrity of the election process." 

In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on election night, and to ensure complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, Ann Rowland will be on duty in Northern District of Ohio while the polls are open. 

You can contact Ann Rowland at (216) 622-3847 to report any concerns related to election fraud and voting rights abuse.

The FBI will also have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. You can call them at (216) 522-1400.

Complaints about ballot access problems or discrimination can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division's Voting Section in Washington at 1-800-253-3931 or (202) 307-2767.                  

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, and combating the violations whenever and wherever they occur.

Federal law protects against intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, 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 acts that intimidate or harass them.  Federal law also protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice.

"Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate," Dettelbach said. "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."