Police investigate primary election misconduct, woman stuffed ballot boxes

BRIDGEPORT, CT (WFSB) – With allegations of absentee ballot fraud in Bridgeport, a video showing a woman stuffing envelopes into the ballot box raised more questions.

The challenger, John Gomes, claims this election was stolen. The Secretary of the State held a press conference addressing the allegations of absentee ballot fraud.

The video posted to John Gomes’s Campaign fakebook page shows a woman stuffing envelopes into the absentee ballot drop box outside the Government Center several times in the early morning hours of September 5th.

“Hopefully the SEEC, along with Governor Lamont, Secretary of the State do what needs to be done in order to bring back the integrity of every vote that goes into the ballot box, because how do we go forward with a November election to secure that every vote counts fairly,” said John Gomes.

John Gomes and his campaign say they’re filing a lawsuit – not only seeking a judge to prevent last week’s election results from being certified, but also asking for a new democratic primary.

“Right now there is a black cloud over Bridgeport, there is no trust. We walk around and I don’t know what to tell the people,” said Gomes. “The evidence is completely different, overwhelming. We always talked about things that have happened, could have happened, but when you catch it as it is, in motion, in video, it speaks for itself.”

John Gomes, the Democratic challenger said the woman in the video is a supporter of Mayor Joe Ganim adding she’s already being investigated for questions surrounding absentee ballots 4 years ago.

Gomes claimed the election was stolen since according to the Secretary of the State’s Office only a voter, a designee of a voter who’s sick or disabled or a family member can put a ballot in a drop box.

Ganim beat Gomes, a one time ally and political aide who worked under him, by a slim 251 vote margin.

On election night, Gomes had the lead thanks to the in-person voting at the polls but the absentee ballot count, which broke nearly 2-1 pushed Ganim over the top.

Ganim’s campaign didn’t respond to repeated requests to make the mayor available to address the claim.

Governor Lamont weighed in, saying the video is disturbing.

“Don’t jump to conclusions, I say that every time, but I really want to thoroughly investigate this,” said Lamont. “The integrity of our electoral system is so important and I’ve got to make sure people have confidence.”

Police continue to investigate this issue, and Gomes filed a number of complaints with the State Elections Enforcement Commission.

As for the race, he’s secured a spot on the Independent line so both men are on the ballot for November.

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