Last year, four Democratic officials involved in a mayoral election in Connecticut were arrested and charged with the misuse of absentee ballots. This incident originates from a 2019 Democratic primary in Bridgeport, Connecticut’s largest city, which is not related to the contentious 2023 mayoral race where a judge mandated a redo of the primary.
The individuals charged in relation to this incident include Wanda Geter-Pataky, a Democratic official in Bridgeport, Alfredo Castillo, a city councilor, Nilsa Heredia, and Josephine Edmonds. The charges against these four individuals encompass unlawful possession of absentee ballots. The defendants have not yet responded to inquiries from various media outlets.
Connecticut officials are hopeful that this case will convey a message to anyone contemplating actions that could undermine election integrity, indicating that they will face legal consequences. Patrick Griffin, Connecticut’s chief state’s attorney, remarked in a statement regarding the incident, “The integrity of our voting process is essential to our democracy. I commend the Statewide Prosecution Bureau for their dedication and effort in these investigations.”
The state attorney remarked, “I trust that these prosecutions will convey a message that discourages tampering with election results in Connecticut in the future.” The absentee ballot situation in Bridgeport reflects troubling behavior observed nationwide, where several local officials have faced arrest for the misuse of absentee ballots.
During the investigation of the 2019 case, additional allegations of electoral misconduct emerged in Bridgeport concerning a race in 2023. Reports indicate that surveillance footage revealed what seemed to be Geter-Pataky and other individuals inappropriately depositing ballots into drop boxes. Following an examination of the incident, it was concluded that the integrity of the primary had been compromised, leading to an order for a redo.
The State of Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice issued a statement regarding the 2019 case, detailing the incident. “As per an arrest warrant affidavit, Geter-Pataky is charged with failing to sign as an assister on an absentee ballot application she completed for a potential voter and misrepresenting the eligibility criteria for voting by absentee ballot when she allegedly advised a citizen against voting in person, stating that she would collect the citizen’s absentee ballot. The citizen subsequently informed SEEC investigators that the defendant instructed her not to discuss the issue with anyone,” the statement partially conveyed.
It was additionally observed, “Court documents indicate that Heredia guided potential voters on the candidates to choose on their absentee ballots and provided false information regarding the eligibility criteria for voting via absentee ballot. The defendant acknowledged to SEEC investigators that she failed to provide an absentee ballot distribution list to the Clerk’s Office of the City of Bridgeport.”
The statement concluded, “As per an arrest warrant affidavit, Castillo faces allegations of not maintaining an absentee ballot distribution list, misrepresenting the eligibility criteria for voting via absentee ballot, and neglecting to sign as an assister on an absentee ballot application in August 2019. A deposition with the SEEC on October 21, 2021, revealed that Castillo denied assisting the prospective voter in completing the application but subsequently acknowledged that he had filled out parts of the application. The arrest warrant affidavit also states that Edmonds is accused of being present when four prospective voters completed their absentee ballots and of taking possession of those ballots when she departed from their residence. Additionally, she is charged with failing to maintain an absentee ballot distribution list and tampering with a witness by instructing her not to provide truthful testimony in court.”]}
