August 20, 2020

By City News Service

 

With fewer than 80 days to go until Election Day on Nov. 3, the FBI in Los Angeles has launched a public awareness campaign about election security at fbi.gov and across the agency's social media platforms.

The goal is to increase public awareness about threats to the upcoming election and to inform Americans how they can help the FBI ensure security. The threats include crimes the FBI has been investigating for decades, including campaign finance crimes, voter/ballot fraud, civil rights violations, and unique cyber threats targeting the election process.

The campaign also cites the potential for foreign influence on the democratic process, elected officials and institutions.

“In these uncertain times, the FBI remains steadfast in its efforts to protect and defend the United States and its people from election interference by criminals operating from near or far, at the ballot box or via cyber space,” said John F. Bennett, the acting assistant director in charge of the FBI's Los Angeles field office. “This includes safeguarding our elections to ensure fairness and to prevent influence by foreign governments who wish to leverage relationships via threats or bribery for their own political motives or national interests.”

U.S. Attorney Nick Hanna said that free and fair elections “are critical to our democracy. As our nation nears the Nov. 3 general election, my office will continue to work with the FBI to protect the voting public from all manner of threats – both foreign and domestic – that could compromise the balloting process.”

The FBI is the primary investigative agency responsible for engaging with election security counterparts to coordinate strategies and to safeguard election integrity. The FBI is also the lead federal agency for identifying and combating malign foreign influence operations targeting democratic institutions through the agency's Foreign Influence Task Force.

In Los Angeles, election security information and educational resources about how to protect your voice can be found by following @FBILosAngeles.

Category: News