Four Connecticut Democratic operatives are facing charges related to election offenses, including allegations of mishandling absentee ballots. Among those charged are two campaign workers, Bridgeport City Councilmember Alfredo Castillo, and Democratic Town Committee Vice Chair Wanda Geter-Pataky. The charges include unlawful possession of absentee ballots and failing to sign as an assister on ballot applications.
Geter-Pataky was specifically accused of not signing as an assister on an absentee ballot application she filled out for a voter. Castillo was accused of misrepresenting eligibility requirements for absentee voting and also failing to sign as an assister. These allegations come as a blow to the Democratic Party in Connecticut, with three of the defendants being supporters of Mayor Joseph Ganim during his 2019 re-election campaign.
Mayor Ganim has denied any knowledge of the actions of his supporters and has distanced himself from the situation. The four defendants are set to appear in court later in June to face these charges. This case is not the first instance of election-related controversy in Bridgeport, as a previous mayoral primary was overturned due to allegations of absentee ballot fraud.
The judge overseeing the case ordered a new primary election after video evidence showed individuals, including Geter-Pataky, making multiple trips to drop off a large number of absentee ballots. The integrity of the voting process is crucial for our democracy, as stated by Chief Connecticut State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin. Griffin emphasized the importance of these prosecutions in deterring future tampering with election results.
It is essential to uphold the principles of fair and transparent elections to ensure the trust and confidence of the public in the democratic process. The involvement of these Democratic operatives in election-related offenses raises concerns about the integrity of the electoral system and highlights the need for stringent enforcement of election laws to prevent such misconduct in the future.