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Published on October 25, 2024
U.S. Attorney's Office in Nevada Appoints District Election Officer Ahead of 2024 General Election to Uphold Electoral IntegritySource: Google Street View

In the lead-up to the 2024 general election, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Nevada has laid its strategy for ensuring a free and fair election process; Assistant United States Attorney Daniel R. Schiess has been appointed as the District Election Officer (DEO) to spearhead this effort, according to a recent announcement by U.S. Attorney Jason M. Frierson. Schiess' role is integral to managing complaints concerning voting rights, election fraud, and threats of violence against election officials, with guidance from Department of Justice headquarters in Washington, D.C, as per the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Asserting that the sanctity of the vote is paramount, Frierson stated, "Every citizen must be able to vote without interference or discrimination and to have that vote counted in a fair and free election," the weight of this responsibility not lost on him, as he also highlighted the importance of safeguarding election officials from unlawful threats of violence. The U.S. Attorney's Office takes on the crucial task of deterring and fighting discrimination and intimidation at voting sites as well as tackling election fraud, this being a long-standing mission, now steered locally by Schiess.

Federal protections are in place against a gamut of offenses, ranging from voter intimidation to vote tampering, and the Voting Rights Act upholds a voter's right to mark their ballot personally or to seek assistance where disabilities or language barriers come into play. Frierson underscores the gravity of protecting the cornerstone of democracy, "We all must ensure that those who are entitled to the franchise can exercise it if they choose, and that those who seek to corrupt it are brought to justice," according to the statement put forth by the U.S. Attorney's office.

On election day, AUSA/DEO Schiess will be actively on duty to respond to any concerns, reachable through a public phone number, the details of which were provided in Frierson's announcement, and the FBI will also mobilize special agents within their offices nationwide to handle allegations of electoral misconduct; the public should not hesitate to direct their concerns to federal authorities, but for crimes of violence or immediate threats, calling 911 holds precedence, for state and local law enforcement organically has faster response capabilities at polling stations.

Emphasizing the role of the American public in the electoral process, Frierson said, "Ensuring free and fair elections depends in large part on the assistance of the American electorate," urging those with relevant information on possible violations to step forward, as mentioned by the U.S. Attorney's Office. He directs individuals to the Civil Rights Division to report federal voting rights violations, either through a complaint form or by phone, aiming to fortify the electoral process' integrity via collective vigilance and action.