U.S. Attorney DeVillers appoints district election officers

COLUMBUS, Ohio – United States Attorney David M. DeVillers announced today that he has designated Election Officers in each of the district’s three offices to serve as points of contact for the upcoming general elections. 

DeVillers appointed:

• • Assistant United States Attorney Jessica W. Knight district wide,
  • Assistant United States Attorney Peter K. Glenn-Applegate in Columbus,
  • Deputy Criminal Chief Emily N. Glatfelter in Cincinnati, and
  • Deputy Criminal Chief Dominick S. Gerace in Dayton.

As District Election Officers, they are responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with the Justice Department 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,” said U.S. Attorney DeVillers. “We seek 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.”

Federal law protects against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them.

DeVillers added, “Voting is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.”  

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .

Please note, however, in the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities.  State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places, and almost always have faster reaction capacity in an emergency.

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