U.S. Attorney's Office Takes Part In Educational Forum On Voting Rights And Protections For Voters And Elections Officials

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Today, the U.S. Attorney's Office joined the North Carolina State Board of Elections and the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections in an educational forum hosted by Ebenezer Baptist Church in Charlotte, to provide the public with important information about voting rights and protections for voters and elections officials.

The topics discussed included how to report suspected violations, including election fraud, issues related to ADA compliance and accessible polling places, incidents of voter intimidation or discrimination at polling locations, and threats of violence against election officials and poll workers; changes and new voting laws; voting registration deadlines; and resources on the various voting methods available to eligible voters.

"Protecting the right to vote is one of the Justice Department's highest priorities. The resources shared today can help voters understand their voting rights and promote public confidence in the election process," said Dena J. King, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.

The Justice Department and U.S. Attorney's Offices play an integral role in ensuring that all eligible voters can exercise their right to vote. In line with longstanding Justice Department practices, the U.S. Attorney's Office works with the Department's Civil Rights Division, Criminal Division, and National Security Division, to protect the integrity of the election process and guard against foreign malign influence.

The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division (CRT) is responsible for enforcing federal statutes that protect voting rights, including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, and the Help America Vote Act. These laws aim to prevent discriminatory election practices, ensure accessibility for voters with disabilities, and protect eligible citizens' right to vote.

Key protections include:

• Prohibiting discriminatory practices and protecting voters from intimidation and interference.
• Ensuring voters with disabilities receive the assistance they need.
• Requiring accessible voting systems and minority language assistance.
• Offering absentee voting for military members and U.S. citizens living abroad.

The Justice Department's Criminal Division and U.S. Attorneys' Offices are responsible for enforcing federal laws related to election fraud and threats against election workers. These crimes include vote-buying, submission of fraudulent ballots, destruction of ballots, and voter intimidation. U.S. Attorneys' Offices designate federal prosecutors as District Election Officers (DEOs), responsible for overseeing election crime matters and coordinating with election-crime experts in Washington, D.C. DEOs also work with specially trained FBI agents to respond to election-related complaints, to ensure that those are handled appropriately.

The Department of Justice's National Security Division (NSD) oversees investigations related to national security threats, including foreign interference in elections and violent extremist threats to the electoral process.

The public can report suspected violations to the Civil Rights Division through the Justice Department's toll-free line at 800-253-3931 or submit a complaint online at www.civilrights.justice.gov/.

In the Western District of North Carolina, suspected election crimes should be reported to the U.S. Attorney's Office at 704-344-6222 in Charlotte, and 828-271-4661 in Asheville. The local FBI field office can be reached at 704-672-6100.

Violence or threats of violence at polling places should be reported to local authorities immediately by calling 911, followed by notifying the Justice Department.

For more information about the Justice Department's efforts to protect voting rights and ensure secure elections, visit https://www.justice.gov/voting.