Assistant U.S. attorney leads Election Day efforts involving voting rights and fraud Staff Reports
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ASHINGTON – On Oct. 24, United States Attorney Karen L. Loeffler announced that Assistant United States Attorney Kelly Cavanaugh will lead the efforts of the United States Attorney’s Office in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming Nov. 8 general elections. AUSA Cavanaugh has been appointed to serve as the district election officer for the District of Alaska, and in that capacity is responsible for overseeing the District’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington. “Ever y citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination, and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of
fraud,” United States Attorney Loeffler said. “The Department of Justice will act promptly and aggressively to protect the integrity of the election process.” The Department of Justice ha s a n i mpor t a nt role i n deterring election fraud and discrimination at the polls, and combating these violations whenever and wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing Election Day P rog ra m f u r ther s these goa l s, a nd a l so seek s t o ensure public confidence in the integrity of the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible election fraud and voting rights violations while the polls are open on Election Day. Fe d e r a l l aw pr o t e c t s against such crimes as intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes,
and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them. For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting may violate federal voting rights law. Further, federal law protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice. The fra nch ise is the cor ner stone of A mer ica n democracy. We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice. In order to respond to complaints of election fraud
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or voting rights abuses on Nov. 8 and to ensure that such complaints are directed to the appropriate authorities, United States Attorney Loeffler stated that Cavanaugh will be on duty in this District while the polls are open. 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 on Election Day. Complaints about possible violations of the federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights
Division’s Voting Section in Washington, D.C., by phone at 1 (800) 253-3931, by email to voting.section@usdoj.gov, or by complaint form at justice. gov/crt/complaint/votintake/ index.php. “Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate,” Loeffler said. “It is imperative that those who have specific information about discrimination or election fraud make that information available immediately to my Office, the FBI, or the Civil Rights Division.” Visit: justice.gov
FILM UPDATE | FROM PAGE 3
Landavazo noted that the city and its surrounding areas have been ripe for film productions in the past. He suggested that going for “B” type films might be the way to go until Gallup builds a rappor t with the respective film producers. “Some smaller films would be per fect for this area,” Landavazo commented. Rodriguez said Maniatis walked through downtown and looked at storefronts and other areas that might be useful in film production. She said storefront improvements can set a film theme. “Sometimes it’s a matter of something not looking the right way for a particular film production,” Rodriguez said. La ndava zo sa id Ga llup wou ld have been a good place for scenes from the remake of The Magnificent Seven. That film is about an industrialist who seizes control of a small Western town. Martin Sensmeier, a Native American actor from Alaska, was recently in Gallup to attend the annual Gallup Film Festival. “I think this area can be successful with old Westerns,” Landavazo said. “I hope we get even the little leftovers.” R od r ig uez , who a c t ed in a Superman film shot at Ga l lup’s BM X pa rk ma ny years ago, said she’s eager to work with the city, the Ga l lu p - McK i n ley C ou nt y Cha mber of Com merce, and the community to put together a brochure about the film industry.
Mexico’s Ca ncer Center produced a commercia l through the state Economic Development Department in collaboration with the New Mexico Film Office, Rodriguez said. “[The commercial] was produced by Brad Morris, who is a documentary filmmaker and who provided the wildly successful ‘Film New Mexico,’” Rodriguez said. She told council members that Morris and the location ma nager, Claud io Ruben, scouted for about two weeks to find the right people for project testimonials. “ T he pr oj e c t br ou g ht in 45 crew members from Albuquerque, followed by a complete production cast,” she said, adding that both projects are set to be released late this fall. Rod r ig uez sa id New Mexico Film Office Deputy Director Nick Maniatis was in Gallup Oct. 14 and met with State Representative and Greater Gallup Economic Development Cor poration Executive Director Patricia Lundstrom. “The discussion was about improving film production activity in our area,” Rodriguez said. T he pa nel l i stened a s Rod r ig uez went t h rou g h pre-prepared remarks. Each didn’t say much, but seemed to take in what was said. C it y C ou nc i lo r A l l a n
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