LEXINGTON, SC (WOLO) — With just hours to go until Election Day, local FBI agents say they want to help instill confidence in voters as they head to the polls, and are sharing their role in protecting your vote. Steven Jensen, Special Agent in Charge of the Columbia Field Office (located at 222 Caughman Farm Lane in Lexington), says the FBI has been preparing for Election Day for over a year — and their primary role is to ensure the integrity of the voting process. “Starting today, the FBI across the United States and at headquarters has enacted a 24/7 command post. We’re staffing the command post with agents, intelligence analysts, data analysts, and other law enforcement partners to ensure our mission is carried out; to protect the American people, and uphold the Constitution. A dual and simultaneous mission that cannot be sacrificed one for the other,” says Jensen. All allegations of federal voter and ballot fraud, civil rights violations, and campaign finance offenses — including voter intimidation, suppression, or interference will be investigated, Jensen says. And should you see or experience any of these — he recommends reaching out. “We encourage all voters to report any potential election crimes to our Columbia Field Office by calling 803-551-4200 or by submitting tips through 1-800-CALL-FBI,” he says. Occurrences that are not a federal election crime include honest mistakes by poll workers, or delays in reporting election results. Local law enforcement can also be called if you feel your vote is being suppressed. “Any tip where someone feels there is intimidation, voter suppression, or interference with their right to vote, I would encourage them to report that to 1800callfbi oro the local authorities. Local authorities will be in a better position to respond quickly and then share information with us for further investigation,” he says. If you see an armed FBI agent at a polling station, it’s only because they are casting their own vote, with the FBI reporting that armed agents are not allowed to respond to any place where an election is actively being held, nor can they participate in the counting or recounting of votes. Categories: Local News, News Tags: Election Day, FBI, Steven Jensen, voter intimidation