To curb voter fraud and intimidation in 2024 election, special SC election officer named
With just two weeks before voters head to the polls to cast their ballots in the 2024 election, the U.S. Justice Department is taking precautions against potential claims of voter fraud, intimidation and violence.
U.S. Attorney Adair Ford Boroughs of South Carolina named Assistant U.S. Attorney John Potterfield as the district’s election officer, who will spearhead the district’s connection to the Justice Department’s national election day program for the upcoming Nov. 5 general election, according to a Tuesday news release.
Potterfield will be “responsible for overseeing the district’s handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud, in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington,” the release said.
Potterfield will investigate any claims related to this year’s election. The public can reach him at (803) 919-3092, the release said.
Additionally, the FBI Columbia field office will make special agents available to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on election day. The public can call (803) 551-4200, according to the release.
“Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate,” Boroughs said, adding that anyone with information about voter rights violations or election fraud promptly contact the Justice Department.
The public can also submit complaints about potential violations of federal voting rights laws to the Justice Department’s civil rights division via a complaint form or by phone at (800) 253-3931.
If voters, however, witness a crime of violence or intimidation, they are encouraged to contact local authorities before alerting federal officials.
