A Connecticut state court has mandated a new primary election amid allegations of election fraud, contributing to the total number of election-related criminal cases across the country, which now stands at a minimum of three.
Judge William Clark of Bridgeport Superior Court overturned the results of a Democratic mayoral primary, citing allegations of absentee ballot abuse, and ordered a new election. While the general election for mayor was scheduled for Nov. 7, lawyers have been granted 10 days to collaborate with city and state election officials to determine a potential date for the new election.
In Massachusetts, a Democratic mayoral candidate faces accusations of bribing residents to vote. Election officials in Springfield claim to have observed voters being brought to city hall for early voting, with some anticipating cash rewards after voting for Democratic candidate Justin Hurst.
Video footage allegedly shows an individual associated with Hurst’s campaign handing cash to voters, prompting city officials to assert, in sworn affidavits, that the distribution of $10 bills, evident in surveillance footage, constitutes voter fraud. Hurst vehemently denied all allegations ahead of Election Day.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Massachusetts has not confirmed or denied an ongoing investigation, and charges are yet to be filed. In contrast, confirmed election fraud investigations in New Jersey have resulted in charges against two Democrats. Paterson City Council President Alex Mendez is confronting additional charges related to a 2020 election fraud case, following previous charges in June 2020 and February 2021.
Last month, the state Attorney General’s office announced new charges against Mendez and associates for mail-in ballot election fraud during the predominantly mail-in 2020 election. Allegedly, Mendez’s campaign collected unsealed ballots, examined them at campaign headquarters, destroyed those not cast for him, and replaced them with ballots in his favor.
Another Democratic candidate in New Jersey, Dr. Henrilynn Ibezim, vying for Plainfield mayor in 2021, faces charges of “election fraud and other crimes,” as per the state AG. Ibezim allegedly directed associates to complete blank voter registration applications, delivering nearly 1,000 to a post office.
In Iowa, Kim Phuong Taylor, the wife of a county supervisor, has been convicted on 52 counts of voter fraud for a ballot-stuffing scheme during the 2020 Republican primary. Taylor, a Vietnam native, engaged in ballot fraud again during the 2020 general election, leading to fraudulently requested and cast absentee ballots.
Approaching voters with limited English comprehension, Taylor filled out and signed election forms and ballots on behalf of them and their English-speaking children. Facing a maximum penalty of five years in prison for each count, Taylor’s actions were brought to light in September 2020 when two Iowa State University students discovered absentee ballots had been cast in their names.
