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Fraud Reporting FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

EAC OIG’s mission is to safeguard the federal investment in our electoral system by conducting objective and meaningful oversight. The purpose of the OIG hotline is to receive complaints of waste, fraud, or abuse in EAC programs or operations, or by recipients of federal funds distributed by EAC. 

Complainants can reach EAC OIG in a variety of ways:

Online Form (Recommended): The form is available here.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: (202) 451-2852

EAC OIG has the authority to investigate allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse in EAC programs and grants. This includes (but is not limited to): Help America Vote Act grants, the EAC voting system testing and certification program, and internal EAC operations.

When making your complaint, please explain how your allegation relates to the operations, programs, or employees of EAC. We are generally unable to investigate claims that do not have a connection to EAC.

EAC OIG generally does not have the capacity or legal authority to investigate allegations of voter fraud, campaign finance violations, voting irregularities, and complaints related to other federal agencies. Furthermore, EAC OIG generally does not have the authority to investigate violations of state law.

Other agencies where you may make a complaint:

  • FBI: For allegations related to voter fraud or official misconduct related to the administration of federal elections

  • Your State/Local Election Office: For complaints or questions related to the administration of elections within their jurisdiction

  • Federal Election Commission: For allegations of campaign finance violations

When submitting a complaint to OIG, you do not have to identify yourself. All complaints submitted to the hotline are treated with high sensitivity. When submitting a complaint to the OIG, you have the option to 1) remain anonymous 2) provide information confidentially and agree to potentially be contacted by OIG personnel 3) waive confidentiality to allow your contact information and complaint to be shared with other outside federal entities.

If you prefer, you may submit your complaint anonymously. However, please note that the lack of contact information prevents a comprehensive review of the complaint and will prevent further communication between you and OIG. If you wish to enter your complaint anonymously, please take care to withhold any personally identifiable information from your complaint narrative and from any attachments.

Whistleblower Protection: OIG Hotline Operations will provide anyone protected under federal whistle blower statutes the protections required under law.

All reports made to EAC OIG are reviewed by our staff. However, not all complaints that we receive result in an investigation.

In general, EAC OIG does not comment on the current status of a complaint, but may reach out to the complainant if we require more information.

If you chose to leave your contact information, a representative from EAC OIG may contact you for additional information if it is necessary to investigate the complaint. Please note that while we accept anonymous complaints, a lack of contact information may hamper EAC OIG's ability to properly investigate the allegation.

Fraud is defined as the wrongful or criminal deception intended to result in financial or personal gain. Fraud includes false representation of fact, making false statements, or by concealment of information.

Waste is defined as the thoughtless or careless expenditure, mismanagement, or abuse of resources to the detriment (or potential detriment) of the U.S. government. Waste also includes incurring unnecessary costs resulting from inefficient or ineffective practices, systems, or controls.

Abuse is defined as excessive or improper use of a thing, or to use something in a manner contrary to the natural or legal rules for its use. Abuse can occur in financial or non-financial settings.

To assist EAC OIG in investigating your complaint, we recommend:

  • The complaint details how the allegation is connected to the Election Assistance Commission, its grants, its employees, its programs, or its contractors

  • Specifically answers who the complaint is against, what happened, when it happened, and where it happened

  • Explains how the complainant is aware of the alleged wrongdoing (through direct knowledge, second hand information, via news outlets, etc.)

  • Removes personally identifiable information from the complaint if the complainant choses to submit anonymously