Justice Department moves to protect election in Western Washington

Records numbers of early voters are casting their ballots throughout Washington state.

The Western Washington U.S. Attorney’s Office is moving to make sure the election goes smoothly.

“You always have this tension between free, fair and successful elections with the possibility that there are those who don’t want to see the elections the way we hope they would be carried out,” said U.S. Attorney Brian Moran.

Moran assigned an assistant U.S. attorney with a decade of elections experience to monitor the vote in Western Washington.

“I am referring to anything that, really, would call into question the integrity of the election process,” Moran said.

Though, studies show election fraud is rare in Washington state.

“I’m not aware, certainly, not while I’ve been in my, my tenure two years,” Moran said.

Moran expects federal authorities will be at the center of any defense against a cyberattack.

As voters cast the final ballots on election night, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will be part of an operations center monitoring events in western Washington.

“The point is so we don’t ping pong, you know, people with complaints, and they get demoralized and go away. We want to make sure that we get complaints of it. They get to the right person, and they get addressed,” Moran said.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office released a statement advising voters who call with any concerns:

"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, AUSA/DEO Arlen 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/.”

Cox Media Group