Four Democratic operatives in Connecticut, including Bridgeport City Councilmember Alfredo Castillo and Democratic Town Committee Vice Chair Wanda Geter-Pataky, were charged with election-related offenses this week. The charges included unlawful possession of absentee ballots and misrepresenting eligibility requirements for voting by absentee ballot. Geter-Pataky was accused of failing to sign as an assister on an absentee ballot application she had filled out. Three of the individuals were supporters of Mayor Joseph Ganim’s 2019 re-election, while the fourth supported Ganim’s primary opponent, Marilyn Moore.
The charges against the operatives come after a state judge overturned the 2023 Democratic mayoral primary in Bridgeport due to allegations of absentee ballot fraud. Judge William Clark ordered a new election to be held after seeing CCTV video showing individuals making multiple trips to insert a large number of absentee ballots into drop boxes. Geter-Pataky was one of the individuals seen on the video, which led to suspicions of ballot-stuffing. Mayor Ganim has denied any knowledge of the alleged behavior of his supporters.
Connecticut Democratic Governor Ned Lamont dismissed claims of “potential corruption” in the voting process being caused by the introduction of early voting and expanded absentee balloting. Lamont stated that corruption is caused by people, not the voting methods themselves. Chief Connecticut State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin emphasized the importance of upholding the integrity of the voting process, stating that the prosecutions of the four defendants will hopefully deter tampering with election results in the future.
The four defendants are scheduled to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on June 24 to address the charges against them. The individuals face allegations of witness tampering in addition to the election-related offenses. Griffin noted that all four defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The case has gained attention due to the seriousness of the charges and the impact of the alleged election fraud on the democratic process in Connecticut. Efforts to reach Geter-Pataky for comment were unsuccessful and the Connecticut Democratic Party has not provided a statement on the matter.
The allegations of election-related offenses in Connecticut highlight the importance of ensuring the integrity of the voting process and preventing tampering with election results. The charges against the Democratic operatives involved in the Bridgeport mayoral primary raise concerns about the potential impact of such actions on the democratic system. The overturning of the 2023 Democratic mayoral primary underscored the importance of addressing instances of absentee ballot fraud and maintaining transparency in the election process. The case serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance in safeguarding the fairness and accuracy of elections.
