(1) The sheriff shall exercise strict vigilance in the detection of any violations of the election laws and in apprehending the violators.
(2) The Governor, in consultation with the executive director of the Department of Law Enforcement, shall appoint special officers to investigate alleged violations of the election laws to see that violators of the election laws are apprehended and punished. A special officer must be a sworn special agent employed by the Department of Law Enforcement. At least one special officer must be designated in each operational region of the Department of Law Enforcement to serve as a dedicated investigator of alleged violations of the election laws. Appointment as a special officer does not preclude a sworn special agent from conducting other investigations of alleged violations of law, provided that such other investigations do not hinder or interfere with the individual’s ability to investigate alleged violations of the election laws.
