Four individuals involved in a mayoral contest in Bridgeport, Connecticut were charged for allegedly misusing absentee ballots in the 2019 Democratic primary. The charges include unlawful possession of absentee ballots and are separate from allegations of misconduct in the 2023 mayoral contest in the city, which resulted in a judge ordering a new election due to evidence of ballot tampering. The accused individuals include a Democratic official, a city councilor, and two others.
Connecticut’s chief state’s attorney expressed hope that these prosecutions will deter tampering with election results in the future. The current Mayor of Bridgeport, Joe Ganim, a Democrat who was reelected in both the 2019 and 2023 elections, previously faced federal corruption charges in 2003 during his earlier term as mayor.
The recent election scandals in Bridgeport have prompted Republican state lawmakers to push for broader voting measures in Connecticut, a Democratic-led state. While proven instances of election fraud are rare in U.S. elections, the case in Bridgeport highlights the importance of maintaining the integrity of the voting process.
The accused individuals did not respond to requests for comments from media outlets in Connecticut. The charges come as a reminder of the importance of fair and transparent elections, and efforts to uphold the democratic process.
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