Security is a priority on election day

Local, state and federal officials are on hand to handle any issues that may arise on Tuesday’s election day.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Maag will lead the effort in Kansas and will be responsible for overseeing election day complaints of voter violations, threats of violence against election officials or staff, and elections. fraud.

The Department of Justice plays an important role in deterring and combating discrimination and intimidation at polling stations, threats of violence against polling station officials and workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s multi-year Election Day Program furthers these goals and also aims to ensure public confidence in the election process by providing local contacts within the Department to notify the public of potential violations of federal election law.

Federal law protects against crimes such as threats of violence against election officials or personnel, voter intimidation or bribery, vote buying and selling, voter impersonation, vote count tampering, voter ballot casting, and voter marking on ballots against or without their will. their participation. It also contains special guarantees to protect the rights of voters and provides that they can vote freely
interference, including intimidation, and other actions designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for a candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to have assistance from a person of their choice (if the voter needs assistance because of a disability or inability to read or write in English).

In addition, the FBI will have special agents in every field office and permanent agency nationwide to receive allegations of election day fraud and other abuses. The local FBI office can be reached at 816-512-8200.

Complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be sent directly to
Washington, D.C. Division of Civil Rights using the complaint form or by calling 800-253-3931.

If you experience violence or intimidation, call 911 immediately before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places and are almost always able to respond more quickly in emergency situations.