Protecting Your Voice – Local FBI agent discusses Election Day priorities, who to call with concerns

LEXINGTON, S.C. (WOLO) — With Election Day just hours away, local FBI agents say they want to help give voters confidence when they go to the polls and share their role in protecting your vote.

Steven Jensen, special agent in charge of the Columbia University field office (located at 222 Coman Farm Lane in Lexington), says the FBI has been preparing for Election Day for over a year, and their main role is to ensure the integrity of the voting process. .

“As of today, the FBI has established a 24-hour command post in the United States and at headquarters. We staff the command post with agents, intelligence analysts, data analysts and other law enforcement partners to ensure our mission is accomplished; to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution. A dual and simultaneous mission that cannot be sacrificed for the sake of the other,” says Jensen.

All are charged with federal voter and ballot fraud, civil rights violations and campaign finance crimes, including voter intimidation, suppression or interference, Jensen said.

And if you see or feel any of this, he recommends reaching out.

“We encourage all voters to report any potential election crime to our Columbia Field Office by calling 803-551-4200 or texting 1-800-CALL-FBI,” he says.

Cases that are not federal election crimes include honest mistakes by poll workers or delays in reporting election results.

You can also call local law enforcement if you feel your voice is being suppressed.

“Any information that anyone believes is intimidation, voter suppression or interference with their right to vote, I would encourage them to report it to 1800callfbi or their local authorities. The local authorities will be able to react faster and then share the information with us for further investigation,” he says.

If you see an armed FBI agent at the polls, it’s only because they’re voting for their own vote. The FBI says armed agents are prohibited from responding to any locations where elections are actively being conducted and cannot participate in elections. counting or recounting of votes.