BOSTON — Acting U.S. Attorney Joshua Levy on Thursday announced the appointment of a district election officer, designating the person to oversee efforts to handle Election Day criminal complaints, fraud and threats of violence against officials, all under a national program of the Department of Justice.

Assistant United States Attorney Lucy Sun has been appointed District Election Officer (DEO) for the District of Massachusetts, responsible for overseeing the handling of Election Day criminal complaints, threats of violence against election officials or election personnel, and election fraud , in consultation with the Justice Department headquarters in Washington.

“Every citizen must be able to vote without fear, intimidation or interference and have that vote counted in a fair and free election. Similarly, election officials and staff must be able to serve without being subjected to unlawful threats of violence. The Department of Justice will always work tirelessly to protect the integrity of the election process,” Acting U.S. Attorney Levy said.

The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combating discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence against election officials and election workers, and voter fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s long-standing Election Day Program furthers these goals and also seeks to ensure public confidence in the election process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report potential violations of federal election law.

Federal law protects against crimes such as threatening violence against election officials or election staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote counts, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their will or without their input.

It also contains special protections for the rights of voters and provides that they can vote without interference, including intimidation and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice. The Voting Rights Act also protects the right of voters to mark their own ballot or to have someone assist them in casting (if voters need assistance due to disability or inability to read or write in English).

The public can direct concerns or complaints about voter fraud, threats, intimidation and voting rights concerns during the upcoming election to the US Attorney’s Office in Boston at 833-634-8669.

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in every field office and resident agency across the country to receive allegations of voter fraud and other election abuses on Election Day. The local FBI office can be reached by the public at 857-386-2000.

Complaints about possible violations of federal voting rights laws may also be made directly to the Division for Civil Rights in Washington, DC, via the complaint form at or by phone at 800-253-3931.

In the event of a crime of violence or intimidation, please call 911 immediately and before contacting federal authorities. State and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places and almost always have the ability to respond more quickly in an emergency.

– Office of Acting US Attorney Joshua Levy