Bridgeport ballot stuffing investigation expanding

In an SEEC complaint, at least one person claims she was promised a housing voucher in an exchange for voting for Mayor Joe Ganim.

John Craven and Rose Shannon

Jan 17, 2024, 5:24 PM

Updated 312 days ago

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The investigation into the absentee ballot scandal in Bridgeport is expanding.
On Wednesday, the State Elections Enforcement Commission voted to issue a subpoena to the Connecticut Office of Policy and Management for all requests to access a state rental rebate program database.
According to emails obtained by CT Mirror, two Ganim supports requested the names and addresses of program participants. In an SEEC complaint, at least one person claims she was promised a housing voucher in an exchange for voting for Mayor Joe Ganim.
The investigation began after the Sept. 12 mayoral primary. Leaked surveillance footage appears to show Ganim supporters stuffing stacks of paper into absentee ballot boxes.
A separate complaint alleges that the woman in the video is Wanda Geter-Pataky – a longtime City Hall employee and a longtime Ganim campaign organizer. SEEC recently recommended criminal charges for Geter-Pataky and two other Ganim staffers over their activities in the 2019 mayoral primary, which also led to lawsuit.
Geter-Pataky is currently on paid leave. She has declined comment and refused to answer most questions in a recent lawsuit that overturned the September primary.
A new mayoral primary will be held next Tuesday.