Five individuals related to the Democratic Party in Bridgeport surrendered to authorities on Feb. 21 following a criminal investigation into the city’s 2023 Democratic primary, resulting in allegations of absentee ballot fraud and a court-ordered election redo. The charges, which include over 150 counts, were brought against a campaign worker, three city council members, and the vice chair of the Democratic Town Committee.
Vice chair Wanda Geter-Pataky faced the majority of the charges, including misleading voters, illegally possessing absentee ballots, and orchestrating a scheme to collect and deposit ballots in favor of Mayor Joe Ganim. Maria Pereira, a council member, was charged with forgery and misleading voters, while Alfredo Castillo, also on the council, was accused of misrepresenting voter eligibility and promising housing assistance in exchange for votes. Margaret Joyce, a campaign worker, faced charges related to fraudulent voting and mishandling absentee ballots. Jazmarie Melendez, another council member, was charged with misrepresenting absentee voting requirements.
Geter-Pataky and Pereira had ties to Ganim’s opponents during the 2023 primary, while Castillo was a close ally of the mayor. The charges against the defendants include actions such as forging signatures, changing votes, and coercing voters to cast their ballots a certain way. The arrest warrants detailed a complex web of fraudulent activities that tainted the integrity of the election process in Bridgeport.
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