Rapadas appoints David as District Election Officer

Assistant United States Attorney in the Districts of Guam and the Northern Marianas Marivic David will lead the U.S. Justice Department’s nationwide program for tomorrow’s general election.

United States Attorney Leonardo M. Rapadas last week appointed David to serve as the District Election Officer for Guam and the CNMI and she will be handling complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters.

Last Oct. 8, 2002, Attorney General John Ashcroft established a Department-wide Ballot Access and Voting Integrity Initiative. The goals of this initiative are to increase the department’s ability to deter voter intimidation, suppression, discrimination, and election fraud and to prosecute these offenses whenever and wherever they occur—to make voting easier and cheating harder.

Both goals are equally important. It is imperative that in pursuing voter integrity, ballot access is not in any way diminished or harmed. The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers the goals of the Initiative. The program also is intended to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the department where the public can report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on election day.

“The franchise is the cornerstone of American democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise exercise it, while those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice,” the media release from the U.S. Attorney stated.

The first CNMI delegate will be elected for office in the 111th U.S. Congress tomorrow, Nov. 4, 2008. In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on that date, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, USA Rapades states that AUSA David will be on duty in the District of Guam while the polls are open. David can be reached by the public at the following telephone number: (671) 472-7332 ext. 120.

The FBI will also have a Special Agent available in the Saipan field office to receive allegations of election fraud, intimidation, suppression and other election abuses. The FBI can be reached by the public at (670) 322-6934.

Complaints about ballot access problems or discrimination can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section in Washington at 1-800-253-3931 or 202-307-2767. Where voter intimidation or suppression tactics target voters on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin, contact the Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section at 202-514-3204.

“Election fraud and voting rights abuses dilute the worth of votes honestly cast. They also corrupt the essence of our representative for of government. As crimes against both the individual and government, they will be dealt with promptly and aggressively. Anyone who has information suggesting electoral corruption or voting rights abuses should make that information available immediately to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division,” said Rapadas. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]