United States Attorney Brian T. Moran announced Tuesday, Oct. 20 that once again Assistant United States Attorney Arlen Storm will lead the efforts of the Western District Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the Nov. 3 general election.

Storm is a veteran prosecutor who has served as the district election officer for the Western District of Washington for more than 10 years. In that capacity he is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights concerns in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

“It is a cornerstone of our democracy that citizens be able to vote without interference or discrimination,” Moran said in a press release. “It is equally important that our results not be tainted by fraud. The Department of Justice remains vigilant and will act appropriately to protect the integrity of the election process.”

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring election fraud and discrimination, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations.

Federal law protects against such crimes as 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 can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them. Further, federal law 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 illiteracy).

In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights concerns during the voting period and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, Storm can be reached by the public at 253-428-3807.

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 during the election period. The local FBI field office can be reached by the public at 206-622-0460.

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