By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
The Department of Justice has released a comprehensive plan to protect voting rights, prosecute election-related crimes, and secure upcoming elections from domestic and foreign threats. Through the Civil Rights Division, Criminal Division, National Security Division (NSD), and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices nationwide, the Justice Department said it wants to ensure that every eligible voter can cast a ballot free from discrimination, intimidation, and unlawful interference.
Civil Rights Division: Safeguarding Access for All Voters
“The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division remains central in enforcing federal laws to protect citizens’ voting rights and eliminate poll discrimination,” officials said in the release. Through statutes including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Civil Rights Division is responsible for a range of protections, including:
- Preventing discriminatory voting practices that impact voters based on race, language, or disability.
- Guarding against intimidation and any attempts to prevent voters from accessing the polls.
- Ensuring access to voting assistance for those with disabilities and non-English speakers in certain jurisdictions.
- Providing for provisional ballots for voters whose names do not appear on polling lists but believe they are registered.
- Securing absentee voting rights for U.S. service members stationed away from home and citizens living abroad.
“To address potential violations, officials noted that the Civil Rights Division has set up a hotline for complaints related to federal voting rights and a dedicated ADA hotline for issues concerning disability rights,” officials said. Reports can be submitted directly through the DOJ’s online portal, and Division attorneys are prepared to review complaints and coordinate responses with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices across the country.
The department encourages individuals with ADA-related voting concerns to contact the ADA hotline, which provides specific guidance on the rights of individuals with disabilities to access voting facilities and ballots.
Criminal Division and Election Crime Prevention
The DOJ’s Criminal Division, in collaboration with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the FBI, also said it is addressing criminal conduct that undermines election integrity. District Election Officers (DEOs) within each U.S. Attorney’s Office oversee investigations into election crimes within their jurisdictions, ensuring complaints about election tampering or voter fraud are handled efficiently. Key areas of focus for the Criminal Division include:
- Prosecuting federal election crimes such as ballot tampering, fraudulent registrations, and vote-buying.
- Preventing unlawful threats or intimidation targeting election officials is critical for protecting election workers.
- Ensuring postal and election official integrity, by investigating claims of wrongdoing among those responsible for election-related duties.
Specially designated FBI agents are stationed at field offices nationwide to respond to complaints, with support from federal prosecutors at the Public Integrity Section in Washington, D.C. Further, local FBI offices remain accessible for public complaints concerning potential election crimes, with a complete list of contacts available on the DOJ and FBI websites.
The Justice Department also reminded the public to report violence or threats at polling places first to local authorities by calling 911, then to federal agencies for additional investigation.
National Security Division’s Election Defense Against Foreign Interference
In collaboration with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, the DOJ’s National Security Division announced it is deploying resources to counter potential foreign influence campaigns, cyber threats, and extremist actions targeting elections. Through its Counterintelligence and Export Control Section, the NSD noted that it’s monitoring covert information operations from foreign governments that may seek to interfere with election outcomes. Key initiatives within the National Security Division include:
- Combatting disinformation on social media that could influence public perception of candidates or voting procedures.
- Protecting against cyber-enabled attacks on voting infrastructure, managed by the NSD’s Cyber Section.
- Mitigating violent extremism threats that could disrupt the safety and security of the election process.
NSD’s Counterterrorism Section added that it remains ready to address any credible threats of violence, partnering with U.S. Attorneys and FBI field offices to respond quickly and effectively to election-related security threats.
“As the election approaches, the Justice Department emphasizes the importance of vigilance and encourages citizens to report potential violations related to voting rights, election fraud, or security risks,” officials contended. Comprehensive resources for public complaints and protection information are available at justice.gov/voting and justice.gov/criminal/criminal-pin/election-crimes-branch.
