US Attorney Appoints District Election Officer

U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein on Tuesday announced the appointment of a prosecutor to serve as the district election officer for Maryland.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Leo J. Wise will oversee federal response to any complaints of election fraud and voting rights abusers, working with state, FBI and Department of Justice officials. Every U.S. Attorney appoints such an officer prior to election day.

“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud," Rosenstein said in a statement. "The Department of Justice will act promptly and aggressively to protect the integrity of the election process.”

Wise will be a point man for federal election law violations, including voter intimidation, bribing voters, buying or selling votes, voter impersonation and ballot-stuffing. Federal law also guarantees the rights of voters to go to the polls without intimidation or harassment, including under the pretext of uncovering illegal voting.

Rosenstein did not cite any particular worries about Maryland's election day procedures. In-person voter fraud is rare.

Wise will be on duty while the polls are open on Election Day, Nov. 8. He can be reached by phone at 410-209-4800. The FBI will have special agents in their Baltimore field office. They can be reached at 410-265-8080.

Complaints about federal voting rights laws can also be made directly to the DOJ Civil Rights Division by phone at 1-800-253-3931 or 202-307-2767, or via email to voting.section@doj.gov.