FBI News:
ALBUQUERQUE—U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced Wednesday that Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathon M. Gerson will lead his office’s efforts in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming Nov. 6 general elections.
As the District Election Officer for the District of New Mexico, AUSA Gerson is responsible for overseeing the district’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur.
The department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals and seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on Election Day.
“The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy,” Gonzales said. “We must ensure that those who are entitled to vote exercise that right if they choose and that those who seek to corrupt the voting process are brought to justice.”
In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on Nov. 6, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSA Gerson will be on duty in this district while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the following telephone numbers: (505) 224-1443 and (505) 346-7274.
In addition, the FBI will 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.
The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at (505) 889-1300.
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.
“Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate,” Gonzales 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.”
