Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin C. Khasigian will be the federal election officer for the Eastern District of California for the Nov. 3 election.

U.S. Attorney Eric Grant announced Khasigian’s appointment Monday in a news release.

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

The U.S. Attorney’s Office said that residents can report suspicious activity to Khasigian (916) 554-2723.

However, in cases of a crime of violence or intimidation, the U.S. Attorney’s Office says to call 911 immediately as state and local police have primary jurisdiction over polling places and can respond quickly  in an emergency.

About Khasigian

Khasigian has been with the U.S. Attorney’s Office since 2011, serving Republican and Democratic presidential administrations, and has previously been the election day officer. His primary responsibility with the office is real estate fraud prosecutions. He is a graduate of Brown University and McGeorge School of Law at University of the Pacific.

The district election officer is responsible for investigating Election Day complaints of voting rights concerns, threats of violence to election officials or staff, and election fraud in consultation with the DOJ in Washington, D.C.

FBI Will Have Agents in the Field

In addition, the FBI will have special agents available in each field office and resident agency to receive allegations of election fraud and other election abuses on Election Day. The local FBI field office can be reached at (916) 746-7000.

Complaints regarding voter discrimination or civil rights violations also are accepted by the Civil Rights Division via the Department of Justice Civil Rights Reporting Portal.

Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, and buying and selling votes. Other election crimes include impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, and stuffing ballot boxes.

The 34 counties in the Eastern District are: Alpine, Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Fresno, Glenn, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Lassen, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Shasta, Sierra, Siskiyou, Solano, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Trinity, Tulare, Tuolumne, Yolo, and Yuba.