Attorney General William Barr outlined the measures being taken by the Justice Department to ensure election integrity.
As polling officials prepare to be swarmed by ballots and rules among states wildly vary from normal procedures due the ongoing coronavirus panic, Barr said the DOJ Criminal Division’s Public Integrity Section was working closely with the department’s 94 U.S. Attorney’s Offices.
Among the issues they were prepared to investigate and prosecute:
- destruction of ballots
- vote-buying
- multiple voting
- submission of fraudulent ballots or registrations
- alteration of votes
- malfeasance by postal or election officials and employees
- voter intimidation (apart from claims investigated by the Civil Rights Division)
“Americans have the opportunity once again to help shape the future of this nation by exercising their right to vote,” Barr said in a statement.
“It is a right that forms the foundation of our democratic system of government, and is precious to all Americans,” he continued. “The Department of Justice will work tirelessly alongside other federal, state, and local agencies to protect that right as it is administered by state and local jurisdictions across the nation.”
Barr said specially trained FBI officials also were helping to field any fraud complaints.
Anybody seeking to report a concern may direct it to the local US Attorney’s Office or to the nearest FBI branch.
In addition to the fraud division, the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division was undertaking an array of tasks specifically related to issues involving discrimination and voter access.
Meanwhile, the National Security Division would be in full force to ensure there is no foreign election interference or terrorism.
