Posted on: Thursday, October 31, 2002

Voter complaints to be heard

Advertiser Staff

An assistant U.S. attorney has been designated to receive citizen complaints about possible voting rights violations during Tuesday's general election.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ronald Johnson will serve as district election officer and will team with FBI agents to receive complaints about election fraud.

Voters can report violations by calling Johnson at 541-2850 during business hours and through the FBI at 566-4300.

U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo said it is illegal to intimidate or bribe voters, forge ballots, alter vote tallies or coerce votes from the poor, elderly and illiterate. The law protects voters' rights to mark their ballots in private and be assisted by a person of their choice.

During elections, a nationwide law enforcement program is set up to protect voting rights and prosecute election crime.