FBI Warns Voters on Election Crimes Ahead of the November 2022 Midterm Election

 

https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/press-releases/fbi-warns-voters-on-election-crimes-ahead-of-the-november-2022-mideterm-election

 

October 12, 2022

 -----

Election crimes threaten the integrity of elections and undermine public confidence in our democracy. Election crimes fall into broad categories:

    Ballot/voter fraud
    Campaign finance violations
    Civil rights violations, such as voter suppression or voter intimidation

While individual states and localities have the constitutional authority and responsibility to manage their own elections and election laws, an election crime becomes a federal crime when one or more of the following occurs:

    A ballot includes one or more Federal candidates
    Election or polling place officials abuse their office
    The conduct involves false voter registration
    The crime is motivated by hostility toward protected minority groups
    The activity violates federal campaign finance law

Examples of Federal election crimes include, but are not limited to:

    Giving false information when registering to vote
    Voting more than once
    Changing ballot markings or otherwise tampering with ballots
    Vote buying
    Threatening voters with physical or financial harm
    Intentionally lying about the time, manner, or place of an election to prevent qualified voters from voting
    Political fundraising by federal employees
    Campaign contributions above legal limits
    Conduit contributions/straw donor schemes
    Contributions from foreign or other prohibited sources
    Use of campaign funds for personal or unauthorized purposes

Distinguishing between legal and criminal conduct is critical for ensuring the integrity of U.S. elections. The following activities are not federal election crimes:

    Giving voters rides to the polls or time off to vote
    Offering voters a stamp to mail a ballot
    Making false claims about oneself or another candidate
    Forging or faking nominating petitions
    Campaigning too close to polling places
    Honest mistakes by poll workers
    Lack of immediate election results while ballots are counted

The FBI plays an important role in preventing violations of your constitutional rights, including your right to vote. Report any instances of potential election crimes to your local FBI field office, and ask to speak to an election crimes coordinator.

-----