With the November 5 elections swiftly approaching, efforts to safeguard the electoral process in the Northern District of Ohio are ramping up, as United States Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko has tapped Assistant United States Attorneys Megan R. Miller and Ava R. Dustin to helm the district's Election Day Program, according to an announcement on the U.S. Attorney’s Office website. Assigned to ensure that voting rights violations and election fraud don’t mar the democratic process, these AUSAs will address complaints in real-time, vigil on the vote's sanctity.
AUSA Miller, with her focus on the northeastern counties of Ohio, and AUSA Dustin, setting her sights on the northwestern quarters, are tasked with a mandate that is far from the light; they will be the district's frontline in confronting election law violations, a task that comes with the weighty obligation to uphold federal law's protections against a slew of potential electoral abuses – from voter intimidation to fraudulent actions that could distort the will of the people.
Voices raised in defense of democracy have echoed from within the higher echelons of the Justice Department. U.S. Attorney Lutzko asserted in her statement, “The right to vote is the cornerstone of American democracy. Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination, and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, showcasing the Justice Department's commitment to this most foundational of civic duties.
AUSA Miller can be contacted at 216-338-4479 and AUSA Dustin at 419-215-5444 to field complaints on November 5, the day of determination, when citizens will take to the polls, through the FBI's Election Crime Coordinators, such as Cleveland Field Office's Special Agent Nicole Long, reachable at 312-835-2276, or via the tips.fbi.gov website, will also be on standby to investigate election fraud and abuses, a testament to the layered strategy of ensuring a free and fair electoral process.
