Last year, four Democratic officials in Connecticut were arrested and charged in connection to a scandal involving the misuse of absentee ballots. The charges stem from a 2019 Democratic primary in Bridgeport, the state’s largest city. While unrelated to the 2023 mayoral race, which was marred by a judge’s order to redo the primary, the 2019 case has drawn significant attention.
The individuals arrested include Wanda Geter-Pataky, a Democratic official in Bridgeport; Alfredo Castillo, a city councilor; Nilsa Heredia; and Josephine Edmonds. They face charges of unlawful possession of absentee ballots, but they have not yet responded to media inquiries regarding the allegations.
The state’s officials have expressed their hope that the charges will serve as a deterrent to anyone attempting to undermine the integrity of the electoral process. Patrick Griffin, Connecticut’s chief state’s attorney, emphasized the importance of maintaining a transparent and trustworthy voting system. “The integrity of our voting process is vital to our democracy,” Griffin said in a statement. “I appreciate the attention and time the Statewide Prosecution Bureau put into these investigations.”
He continued, “I hope these prosecutions will send a message that deters tampering with election results in the future in Connecticut.” The charges in Bridgeport mirror similar cases nationwide, where local officials have been arrested for the improper handling of absentee ballots.
As investigations into the 2019 case were ongoing, additional allegations of election misconduct emerged in Bridgeport related to the 2023 mayoral race. Reports surfaced suggesting that surveillance footage showed Geter-Pataky and other individuals improperly depositing absentee ballots into drop boxes. Following a review of the footage, a judge determined that the integrity of the primary had been compromised and ordered a redo of the election.
The Connecticut Division of Criminal Justice provided further details on the 2019 absentee ballot case. According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Geter-Pataky allegedly failed to sign as an assister on an absentee ballot application that she had completed on behalf of a prospective voter. Additionally, she allegedly misrepresented eligibility requirements for absentee voting by advising a citizen not to vote in person and offering to pick up the absentee ballot. The citizen later told investigators from the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) that Geter-Pataky instructed her not to speak to anyone about the matter.
The statement from the Division of Criminal Justice also highlighted actions taken by Heredia, who allegedly instructed prospective voters on which candidate to select on their absentee ballots. Furthermore, Heredia reportedly misrepresented eligibility requirements for absentee voting. Court records indicate that Heredia admitted to investigators that she did not submit an absentee ballot distribution list to the City of Bridgeport Clerk’s Office, as required by law.
These charges underscore the growing concern over the misuse of absentee ballots in local elections, with officials in Connecticut taking steps to ensure that those involved in tampering with the voting process face legal consequences.
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