Norman R. Smith, Voter Intimidation, Southern Illinois, 2016

On the front lines of the 2016 general election, federal prosecutors are bracing for voter fraud, ballot theft, and outright intimidation at polling sites across Southern Illinois. United States Attorney Donald S. Boyce has deployed Assistant U.S. Attorney Norman R. Smith as the District Election Officer to lead a no-tolerance crackdown on any attempt to corrupt the ballot box or silence voters through coercion.

Smith will be on high alert throughout Election Day, November 8, 2016, monitoring complaints and coordinating with the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. His mission: to ensure no vote is stolen, no voter is threatened, and no fraudster slips through the cracks. Boyce made it clear—federal law will be enforced without hesitation. ‘Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted without it being stolen because of fraud,’ he declared.

Under federal statutes, crimes like impersonating voters, buying votes, stuffing ballot boxes, or altering tallies carry serious penalties. Equally illegal are tactics meant to harass or mislead voters—challenging ballots without cause, filming voters under the guise of ‘election integrity,’ or pressuring individuals at polling sites. The law protects the right to vote free from fear and to mark one’s ballot in private—or with a chosen helper, not a government-imposed stranger.

The Southern District of Illinois isn’t taking chances. AUSA Smith will be on duty while polls are open, reachable via direct phone lines: (618) 628-3700, (618) 628-3743, or (618) 799-8775. These aren’t hotlines for chatter—they’re command lines for actionable intelligence. The FBI is also locked in, with agents on standby across the region. The local field office can be reached at (618) 397-4401 for immediate reporting of suspicious activity.

Nationwide, the Civil Rights Division’s Voting Section is accepting complaints through multiple channels: call 1-800-253-3931 or (202) 307-2767, fax to (202) 307-3961, email voting.section@usdoj.gov, or file a formal complaint online at justice.gov/crt/complaint/votintake. Every report will be vetted. Every credible lead will be pursued.

Boyce issued a final warning: ‘Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the cooperation of the American electorate.’ If you see intimidation, bribery, or ballot tampering, speak up. The franchise is the backbone of democracy—and the feds are watching.