AG Bondi has been asked to investigate systemic ballot fraud claims in CT
Connecticut has been embroiled in a ballot fraud scandal that dates back to a judicially-overturned 2023 election in Bridgeport, the state’s largest city. The scandal has led to dozens of criminal charges and has sparked a heated debate among state lawmakers over how to reform the election system to prevent such fraud in the future.
Republican leaders have raised concerns about the possibility of a larger, coordinated effort to defraud voters statewide, following the indictments in the Bridgeport election fraud case. They have called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate the matter further. The Republicans criticized the two new election reform bills proposed by Democrats in response to the scandal, arguing that they “miss the mark.”
The scandal in Bridgeport involved a city Democratic Party official, Wanda Geter-Pataky, who was caught on CCTV engaging in ballot-stuffing by inserting large numbers of ballots into a drop box outside city hall. The controversy was said to benefit Mayor Joe Ganim over challenger John Gomes, leading to a court-ordered redo of the election between the two candidates in 2024.
The Republicans have expressed disappointment with the proposed election reform bills, SB 1515 and SB 1516, arguing that they are inadequate and do not address the root causes of election fraud. SB 1515 aims to establish a Municipal Election Accountability Board to oversee elections in towns and cities, while SB 1516 focuses on post-election procedures and regulations for curbside voting.
House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora emphasized the seriousness of election fraud and called for stricter penalties to deter bad actors from committing electoral hijinks. He stressed the importance of sending a strong message that cheating will not be tolerated.
The scandal in Bridgeport resulted in charges against five Democratic officials, including Geter-Pataky, who was featured on Fox News Channel’s “Jesse Watters Primetime.” The allegations of election fraud have raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process in Connecticut and the need for comprehensive reforms to prevent future incidents.
Despite the Democrats’ efforts to address the issue through proposed legislation, Republicans remain skeptical of the effectiveness of the proposed reforms. The debate over election fraud in Connecticut highlights the importance of ensuring the integrity of the electoral process and holding individuals accountable for any attempts to manipulate election outcomes.
