After receiving numerous complaints regarding voting irregularities in recent municipal elections, Attorney General Luther Strange and Secretary of State Beth Chapman want to remind Alabamians of the many resources available to report voter fraud.

Strange and Chapman, in partnership with district attorneys across Alabama, warn those who commit voter fraud that they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

“In response to the allegations that both the secretary of state and I received last week, our two offices held a meeting to discuss our plan of action to investigate voter fraud allegations and to ensure a comprehensive and unified response,” Strange said. “We take all allegations of voter fraud seriously. The right to vote is a sacred, fundamental civil right and the foundation of our democracy. The integrity of our elections process must be protected.”

In 2008, the secretary of state’s office created a Voter Fraud Unit dedicated to dealing with reports of voter fraud. The unit is comprised of attorneys and elections staff members trained to receive and process voter fraud complaints. A website established by the secretary of state provides a form for reporting complaints that are then reviewed by the Voter Fraud Unit and forwarded to the attorney general.

“Honest elections are crucial to protecting, preserving, and participating in democracy. I have pledged to the people of Alabama that there is no more important duty of my office of secretary of state than ensuring honest elections,” Chapman said. “The names of people making voter fraud complaints to our office will not be disclosed to the public, so as to encourage those with legitimate claims of voter fraud to come forward without threat of retribution or fear for their personal safety.”

Citizens have multiple options when reporting voter fraud, including:

• Filing it online at www.stopvoterfraudnow.com/reportOnline.aspx;

• Emailing voterfraud@sos.alabama.gov;

• Calling toll free at 1-800-274-VOTE (8683)

• Faxing it to 334-242-4993

• Sending the complaint through standard mail to Secretary of State Beth Chapman, Voter Fraud Unit, P.O. Box 5616 Montgomery, AL 36103-5616