1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 234-0100 ● Contact: Fawn E. Thomas, Public Affairs Specialist

 

November 1, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

U. S. Attorney and FBI Join to Protect Right to Vote
and Combat Ballot Fraud

 

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA — United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced today that his office has partnered with the FBI to protect the right to vote and combat ballot fraud on Election Day.

Ihlenfeld announced today that Stephen D. Warner, an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia, will lead the efforts of the United States Attorney’s Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 2, 2010, general election. AUSA Warner has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer for the Northern District of West Virginia, 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 in Washington.

AUSA Warner will work closely with Special Agents from the FBI on Election Day and will respond to allegations of election fraud and other election abuses as they come in.

United States Attorney Ihlenfeld said, “Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud. The Department of Justice will act promptly and aggressively to protect the integrity of the election process.”

Eight years ago, the Justice Department established a Ballot Access and Voting Integrity Initiative. The goals of this ongoing Initiative are to increase the Department’s ability to deter election fraud and discrimination at the polls, and to prosecute these offenses whenever and wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals, and also 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.

United States Attorney Ihlenfeld said, “The effectiveness of our Election Day Program depends in large part on the watchfulness and cooperation of the American electorate. 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.”

Anyone with complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on November 2, 2010, may call AUSA Warner at his office telephone of 304-636-1739 or by cellular phone at 304-281-8046. The FBI can be reached by the public at 304-624-6200.

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.