NEWARK – U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie announced today that his office has established an Election Day Hotline to receive and respond to reports of election irregularities, voter intimidation or any other activities that would interfere with a citizen’s right to vote throughout Election Day.

An Assistant United States Attorney has been named to serve as the District Election Officer, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Department of Justice in Washington.

“We take very seriously the rights of registered voters in New Jersey,” said Christie. “They must be free to cast ballots in elections that are honest and fair in all respects. We will respond as necessary to credible reports of voter intimidation, fraud or other such abuses. Voting in New Jersey on November 7th must be fair and open.”

To timely address complaints, the U.S. Attorney’s Election Hotline – (973) 645-2924 – can assist both English- and Spanish-speaking callers. Federal law enforcement will work with county boards of election and the state Attorney General’s Office to respond to complaints and direct them to the appropriate authority. Individuals are encouraged to report election fraud and voting rights abuses by calling the U.S. Attorney’s Office hotline.

The U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Attorney’s Office seek to deter election fraud and discrimination at the polls and to prosecute offenses whenever and wherever they occur, and to make voting easier and cheating harder.

The initiative also is intended to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department of Justice where the public can report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on Election Day.

To respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on November 7, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, Assistant U.S. Attorneys will be on duty in the District of New Jersey while polls remain open, Christie said.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office and federal investigative agencies, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, will work cooperatively with the state Attorney General’s Office, under the direction of Attorney General Stuart Rabner, to enforce voter’s rights at the polls.

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