LOS ANGELES-BASED FEDERAL PROSECUTOR TO SERVE AS DISTRICT ELECTION OFFICER DURING GENERAL ELECTION

Los Angeles, CA - Assistant United States Attorney Dennis Mitchell has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer (DEO) in connection with the Justice Department's nationwide Election Day Program. In his capacity as DEO for seven counties, AUSA Mitchell will be responsible for handling complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses during tomorrow's general elections.

The long-standing Election Day Program is intended to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Justice Department where the public can report possible election fraud and voting rights violations on election day.

AUSA Mitchell will ensure that complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses made to federal authorities will be properly handled and, if appropriate, thoroughly investigated.

AUSA Mitchell is a member of the Public Corruption and Civil Rights Section of the United States Attorney's Office. As DEO for the Central District of California, he is available to take complaints from voters in the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.

On November 7, AUSA Mitchell will be on duty in the Central District of California while the polls are open. Members of the public can contact him by calling the United States Attorney's Office at (213) 894-2484.

"The right to vote is perhaps the most important aspect of American democracy," said United States Attorney Debra Wong Yang. "We all must ensure that those who are entitled to vote exercise that right, while those who seek to corrupt that right are brought to justice."

The Federal Bureau of Investigation will also have Special Agents available in the Field Office and each Resident Agency in the District to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses. The public can reach the FBI at:

Los Angeles Field Office in Westwood – (310) 477-6565

Lancaster Resident Agency – (661) 948-9399

Long Beach Resident Agency – (562) 432-6951

Palm Springs Resident Agency – (760) 320-0800

Riverside Resident Agency – (951) 686-0335

Santa Ana Resident Agency – (714) 542-8825

Santa Maria Resident Agency – (805) 934-2444

Ventura Resident Agency – (805) 642-3995

Victorville Resident Agency – (760) 951-7119

West Covina Resident Agency – (626) 919-3434

"Any kind of fraud at the polls undermines the democratic rights of all voters and discourages citizens from coming out on Election Day," said J. Stephen Tidwell, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles. "It is also a crime and, therefore, punishable by law. Voters should know they can report this type of crime to the FBI for thorough investigation."

Complaints about ballot access problems or discrimination can be made directly to the Washington-based Voting Section in the Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice at 800-253-3931 or 202-307-2767 (the TTY line is 888-305-3228). For further information about the Justice Department's efforts to protect voting rights, or to use an online form to make a complaint, see: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/index.htm.