What is voter intimidation and how is it addressed?

Voter intimidation is the attempt to prevent someone from voting or to influence the outcome of an election by making them feel scared or threatened. This can be done through physical contact, scare tactics, or even verbal threats. In the state of Virginia, voter intimidation is illegal and a violation of the law. The Virginia State Department of Elections works to address voter intimidation by providing education and resources to voters. This includes providing information about voting and elections that is easily understandable for the public. They also work to ensure that election staff and volunteers are not engaging in activities that could be seen as intimidating or interfere with the voting process. In addition, they take complaints of possible voter intimidation seriously and investigate any reported incidents. They then take action to ensure that the offender is held accountable and the vote of any affected individual remains protected. This can include criminal prosecution or administrative sanctions. The State of Virginia also works with the U.S. Department of Justice to monitor and enforce laws against voter intimidation. This includes actively searching for patterns of attempted voter intimidation and taking legal and administrative action to prevent further violations. Voting is a fundamental right of all citizens. To ensure that all citizens are able to cast their ballot without fear of intimidation, Virginia takes a proactive approach to protecting the voting rights of its citizens.

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