To be successful, ballot fraud investigations require that the public be informed of the intention to prosecute election fraud. In addition, investigators must act promptly to protect the integrity of voting documentation, enlist the aid of local law enforcement authorities, know the political landscape, and develop a strategy for investigation. The investigation should be structured to identify the type of ballot fraud involved, evaluate the need for Federal intervention, ascertain the identity of individual suspects participating in the scheme, and identify a few specific fraudulent voting transactions. The specific investigative strategy will depend on the type of fraud involved (e.g., absentee ballot or ballot-box stuffing fraud). Indictments, complaints, and grand jury investigations must receive prior clearance from the U.S. Department of Justice, and investigators must be careful to respect the integrity of the polls and not to interfere with the voting process.