District Election Officers In Nationwide Federal Election Day Program

Baltimore, Maryland -Erek L. Barron, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced today that Assistant United States Attorneys (AUSAs) Bijon A. Mostoufi and Joseph Wenner will lead the efforts of his Office that support the Justice Department's nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 5, 2024 general election. AUSAs Mostoufi and Wenner have been appointed to serve as the District Election Officers (DEOs) for the District of Maryland, and in that capacity they are responsible for overseeing the District's handling of election day complaints involving voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, all in consultation with the Justice Department in Washington, D.C.

The Department of Justice plays an important role in deterring and combatting discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud, wherever they may occur. The Department's longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.

Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters and provides that they must be able to vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice (where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English).

U.S. Attorney Barron stated: "Voting is a hallmark of our democracy and an essential right in our State and in this country. My Office is committed to protecting that right and to pursue and prosecute those who discourage or interfere with the exercise of it. I am proud to lead the District of Maryland's efforts to support the Justice Department's nationwide Election Day Program." In order to respond to complaints of voting rights concerns and election fraud during the upcoming election, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, AUSAs Mostoufi and Wenner will be on duty in Maryland while the polls are open. AUSAs Mostoufi and Wenner can be reached at 301-344-4433. Any allegation of election fraud or voting rights violations will be reviewed in consultation with state and federal authorities where appropriate, and we will pursue any case that warrants prosecution."

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency throughout the country to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 410-265-8080.

Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington, DC by phone at 800-253-3931 or by complaint form at https://civilrights.justice.gov/ .

Protecting the right to vote, prosecuting election fraud, and securing our elections are all essential to maintaining the confidence of all Americans in our democratic system of government. The department encourages anyone with information regarding concerns in these subject areas to contact the appropriate authorities.

For more information on the Maryland U.S. Attorney's Office, its priorities, and resources available to help the community, please visit www.justice.gov/usao-md and https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/community-outreach.

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