Hoffman will serve as a district election officer for South Dakota

Hoffman has been appointed as the South Dakota County Elections Officer, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the county’s handling of election day complaints of election violations, threats of violence against election officials or staff, and election fraud. in coordination with the headquarters of the Department of Justice in Washington.

“Every citizen should be able to vote without interference or discrimination and be able to have that vote counted in a fair and free election,” Ramsdell said. “Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subjected to unlawful threats of violence. The Ministry of Justice undertakes to protect the integrity of the election process and bring to justice those who seek to corrupt it.”

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. According to the department’s press release, the department’s long-standing Election Day program furthers these goals and also aims to ensure public confidence in the election process by providing local points of contact 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 specific safeguards to protect the rights of voters and provides that they can vote without interference, including intimidation and other actions designed to prevent or prevent 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 order to respond to complaints of voter violations and election fraud during upcoming elections, and to ensure that such complaints are referred to the appropriate authorities, Hoffman will be on duty in this district while the polls are open.

She can be reached at 605-838-9446. 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 605-334-6881.

Complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws may be filed directly with the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by completing a complaint form at: civilrights.justice.gov/ or by calling 800-253-3931.

Ramsdell added: “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate. It is important that those with specific information about voting rights issues or election fraud provide that information to the Department of Justice.”

In the event of a crime involving violence or intimidation, citizens are asked to call 911 immediately before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places and almost always have faster emergency response capabilities.