Assistant United States Attorney Mac Heavener will lead the efforts of the United States Attorney’s Office, in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program, for the Nov. 5 election.
The U.S. Attorney’s office has appointed Heavener to serve as the district election officer for the Eastern District of Tennessee. In that capacity, Heavener is responsible for overseeing the office’s handling of Election Day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff and election fraud – in consultation with Justice Department headquarters in Washington.
“The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combating discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers and election fraud,” states a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. “The department will address these violations wherever they occur.”
The department’s longstanding Election Day Program furthers these goals and seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact for citizens to report possible federal election law violations, the news release continues.
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, 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 interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice.
The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot, or to be assisted by a person of their choice when they need assistance due to a disability or an inability to read or write in English.
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. The public can reach the local FBI field office at 865 544-0751.
“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election,” says U.S. Attorney Francis M. Hamilton III. “Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subject to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process.”
Heavener will be on duty in Eastern Tennessee while the polls are open. The public can reach him at 423 823-5009 or 423 218-6652.
In the case of a crime of violence or intimidation, call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities.