State Representative Christina Ayala was arrested Friday and charged with voting in local and state elections in districts where she did not live.
Ayala, 31, of Bridgeport, was arrested by Inspectors from the Statewide Prosecution Bureau in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney and charged with eight counts of Fraudulent Voting, 10 counts of Primary or Enrollment Violations, and one count of Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence.
The warrant alleges Ayala voted in various Bridgeport Democratic Town Committee elections, a municipal primary election and a state primary election between 2009 and 2012, in districts inconsistent with location of her residence. In addition, the warrant alleges that she voted in the Bridgeport state general election in 2012 in a district where she did not reside.
The warrant also alleges that Ayala presented fabricated evidence to Elections Enforcement Commission investigators that she lived at an address in a district where she voted while actually residing at an address outside that district.
Fraudulent Voting is a felony punishable by not less than one year or more than two years imprisonment and a fine of $300 to $500 on each count. Primary or Enrollment Violations and Tampering with or Fabricating Physical Evidence are class D felonies carrying a maximum prison sentence of up to 5 years incarceration on each count.
Secretary of the State Denise Merrill released the following statement in response to these charges:
“This is a very troubling development. Anyone who holds public office takes an oath to uphold the law. While everyone is entitled to their day in court, voter fraud is a very serious crime for which we have zero tolerance. The punishment is very severe for anyone who gives false information when registering to vote. This arrest underscores the strength of our system in Connecticut for enforcing our election laws, from the State Elections Enforcement Commission to the Chief State’s Attorney’s office who investigate and prosecute these felonies.”
Ayala was released on a promise to appear for arraignment at Bridgeport Superior Court on Oct. 7.
