Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen Announces Election Integrity Efforts on Election Day

Assistant attorneys general and special agents will again be stationed across the state on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to ensure compliance with state laws governing elections.

MADISON — Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ), as a part of its ongoing election integrity efforts, will again this year be sending assistant attorneys general and special agents from the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) to various polling locations across the state on Election Day (Tuesday, November 6, 2012), to observe, assist local election officials and ensure compliance with state laws governing elections.

Teams will be assigned to Milwaukee (in cooperation with the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office), Madison, Waukesha, Racine, Kenosha, Janesville, Beloit, Wausau, Stevens Point, La Crosse, Green Bay, Appleton, and Eau Claire. All of the attorneys and agents who serve as election monitors are trained and prepared to assist state and local election officials and law enforcement.

“Elections run according to law are the cornerstone of our democracy and I encourage all who are eligible to get out and vote. While we anticipate that the election will proceed without any major problems, the DOJ teams will be ready to respond if something unexpected occurs,” Attorney General Van Hollen said.

For the 2004, 2008 and 2010 General Elections, and this year's Recall Election, the DOJ also dispatched teams of assistant attorneys general and special agents trained on election law, voting rights and the responsibilities and rights of election observers. For the 2010 General Election, the DOJ also provided training for local prosecutors and resource information ahead of Election Day. In early May 2012, the DOJ held a webinar for district attorneys on election law, in cooperation with the Government Accountability Board. In addition, the DOJ distributed resource materials to prosecutors in every district attorney's office. Within the last couple of weeks, the DOJ held three webinars for prosecutors and law enforcement as they prepare for Election Day.

A fact sheet about this year's election integrity efforts is available at the following link:

Question and Answer

Anyone who suspects a violation of election law at a polling location should contact local election authorities or local law enforcement. Individuals with problems or complaints about their voting experiences should contact the Government Accountability Board at 1-866-Vote-WIS, or online at: http://gab.wi.gov/complaints