Board of Elections on watch for ‘irregularities’ amid unprecedented primary

June 23, 2020 Rob Abruzzese

Richard Donoghue. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Attorney's Office, EDNY

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This year’s New York State primaries are gearing up to be one of the most complicated primary in recent history as there will be an unprecedented amount of absentee ballots, and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams has already asked the NYC Board of Elections to look into “irregularities.”

Richard Donoghue, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and the new acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District, announced on Monday that he has set up a special telephone number to receive complaints of possible violations of federal election laws.

In Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Long Island, voters with issues can call 718-254-6790.

“Federal law protects against such crimes 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,” said a statement issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the EDNY.

“[Federal law] also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from acts that intimidate or harass them,” the statement continued.

“For example, actions of persons designed to interrupt or intimidate voters at polling places by questioning or challenging them, or by photographing or videotaping them, under the pretext that these are actions to uncover illegal voting, may violate federal voting rights law,” it read.

The number is also available for more common questions, such as where to vote, or how late polls are open. New York City voters can also contact the NYC Board of Elections at 866-868-3692.