November 2008 Elections
Las Vegas, Nev. – United States Attorney Greg Brower announced today that Paul Padda, an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Nevada, will lead the efforts of his Office in connection with the U.S. Justice Department's nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 4, 2008 general elections. AUSA Padda has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) for the District, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District's handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters.
On October 8, 2002, the U.S. Department of Justice established a Ballot Access and Voting Integrity Initiative. The goals of this Initiative are to increase the Department's ability to deter voter intimidation, suppression, discrimination and election fraud, and to prosecute these offenses whenever and wherever they occur - to make voting easier and cheating harder. Both goals are equally important. It is imperative that in pursuing voter integrity, ballot access is not in any way diminished or harmed. The Department's long-standing Election Day Program furthers the goals of the Initiative. The Program also is intended to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department where the public can 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. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to vote are able to exercise that right, while those who seek to corrupt that right are brought to justice.
In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on November 4, 2008, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, U.S. Attorney Brower and DEO Padda will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. They can be reached by the public at the following telephone numbers – in Las Vegas at (702) 388-6336 and in Reno at (775) 784-5438.
The FBI will also have Special Agents available in each field office and resident agency in this District to receive allegations of election fraud, intimidation, suppression and other election abuses. The FBI can be reached by the public at (702) 385-1281 and in Reno at (775) 825-6600.
Complaints about ballot access problems or discrimination can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division's Voting Section in Washington at (800) 253-3931 or (202) 307-2767. Where voter intimidation or suppression tactics target voters on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin, please contact the Civil Rights Division's Criminal Section at (202) 514-3204.
"Election fraud and voting rights abuses dilute the worth of votes honestly cast," said U.S. Attorney Brower. "They also corrupt the essence of our representative form of government. As crimes against both the individual and the government, they will be dealt with promptly and aggressively. Anyone who has information suggesting electoral corruption or voting rights abuses should immediately make that information available to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division."
