United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, announced plans for his office's efforts in connection with the U.S. Department of Justice's nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 7, 2006 general elections.

November 1, 2006

Glenn T. Suddaby, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of New York, announced today plans for his office's efforts in connection with the U.S. Department of Justice's nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming November 7, 2006 general elections. Assistant United States Attorney Robert P. Storch has been appointed to serve as the District Election Officer for the Northern District of New York and, in that capacity, will be responsible for overseeing the District's handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department headquarters.

On October 8, 2002, Attorney General John Ashcroft established the Department-wide Ballot Access and Voting Integrity Initiative. The goals of this ongoing Initiative are to increase the Department's ability to deter election fraud and discrimination at the polls 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 Program is based on the fundamental principle that the right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy, and it seeks to ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise exercise it, while those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice.

In order to respond to complaints of election fraud or voting rights abuses on November 7, 2006, and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, United States Attorney Suddaby stated that Assistant U.S. Attorney/DEO Storch will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. He can be reached by the public at the telephone number (518) 431-0247 x1245.

The FBI will also have Special Agents available in each field office and resident agency in this District to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses. The FBI can be reached by the public at the following telephone numbers: (518) 465-7551 (Albany area), (607) 722-5321 (Binghamton area), or (315) 422-0141 (Syracuse area).

Complaints about ballot access problems or discrimination can be made directly to the Voting Section of the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division in Washington at telephone numbers 1-800-253-3931 or 202-307-2767.