It’s part of a DOJ program addressing voting rights concerns, threats of violence and election fraud.

Clare Connors, the U.S. attorney for the District of Hawaii, announced this week the appointment of Michael Nammar to lead local efforts in connection with the U.S. Department of Justice’s nationwide Election Day Program.

Nammar, an assistant U.S. attorney, will serve as the district election officer to oversee the handling of election day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud.

US Department of Justice building located on Constitution Avenue. Washington, DC.
The U.S. Department of Justice building located on Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C. (Cory Lum/Civil Beat/2017)

According to a press release, Nammar’s work will be in consultation with DOJ headquarters in Washington, D.C.

“Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election,鈥 said Connors, a former Hawaii attorney general. “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.”

Federal law, according to the press release, protects against crimes such 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.”

The Voting Rights Act protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to be assisted by a person of their choice “where voters need assistance because of disability or inability to read or write in English.”

Nammar will be on duty while the polls are open on Nov. 5. He can be reached by the public at (808) 541-2850.

The local FBI field office, meantime, can be reached by the public at (808) 566-4300.

And complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws can be made directly to the Civil Rights Division in Washington by phone at (800) 253-3931 or .

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