United States Attorney Timothy T. Duax announced today that Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) Daniel Tvedt will lead his office’s efforts in connection with the Department of Justice’s nationwide Election Day program for the upcoming November 8, 2022 general election. AUSA Tvedt has been appointed to serve as District Election Officer (DEO) for the Northern District of Iowa, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff. , and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department headquarters in Washington.
United States Attorney Duax said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subjected to unlawful threats of violence.” The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the electoral process.”
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combating discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence against election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The department will deal with these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing Election Day program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible violations of federal election law.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or employees, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote counts, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their consent. input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters and provides that they may vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts intended to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance due to disability or inability to read or write in English).
United States Attorney Duax stated that: “The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We must all ensure that those entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they wish, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice in court. In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and voter fraud during the upcoming election and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA/DEO Tvedt will be on duty in the Cedar Rapids area while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at 319-363-6333. AUSA Ron Timmons will be on duty in the Sioux City area and can be reached at 712-255-6011.”
In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in every field office and home office throughout the country to receive allegations of voter fraud and other election abuses on Election Day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 402-493-8688.
Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws may be filed directly with the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/.
United States Attorney Duax said, “Ensuring free and fair elections depends greatly on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those who have specific information about voting rights concerns or voter fraud make that information available to the Department of Justice.”
Note, however, that in the event of a crime of violence or intimidation, call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places and almost always have faster response capabilities in an emergency.
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