HARTFORD — The State Elections Enforcement Committee, Monday, convened a special meeting and made a decision on how to proceed regarding alleged voting irregularities in Bridgeport.
The voted unanimously to pursue two subpoenas and to open a formal investigation.
This comes after the Secretary of the State recommended the SEEC investigate and after Hearst Connecticut Media uncovered absentee ballot issues.
The committee met in public session briefly at 1:30 PM, before moving into executive session where the cameras were not allowed. About 20 minutes later, they reconvened in public session to vote.
They voted to subpoena Bridgeport’s city clerk to collect and hand over all documents related to the absentee ballot process. They also voted to subpoena Park City Properties to hand over security video following allegations that seniors were misinformed following a pizza party at at least one of their residential housing complexes at 376 East Washington Avenue.
Gemeem Davis is the Campaign Manager for State Sen. Marilyn Moore.
She said, “Seniors were told that if they did not support Joe Ganim and Marilyn Moore got elected that they could lose their housing benefits. That is egregious behavior and it needs to be investigated. I’m not here to say that it happened or didn’t happen it’s just a story that we were told.”
SEEC Executive Director Michael Brandi said, “This is the start. This is where we certainly have some allegations that were made related to that facility. But again this is a process so we are going to continue to do our work and find out where the evidence leads us in terms of other facilities and buildings where any alleged improper activity occurred.”
Additional alleged absentee balloting issues include people getting ballots in the mail who didn’t ask for them.
SEEC told FOX61 they don’t have a timeline for completing this investigation and will let the facts dictate the process. They hope to have this resolved prior to the November 4th general election. The SEEC said they understand it’s time sensitive but would only consider issuing a preliminary report if the investigation rises to the realm of criminal.
Sen. Moore was ahead in the primary until those absentee ballots put Joe Ganim over the top. State Senator Marilyn Moore, in the mean time, has launched a write-in campaign but her campaign told me she should be allowed to have her name on the ballot. Her campaign is considering legal action.
FOX61 did reach out to Mayor Joe Ganim for his comments on these developments. As of news time we did not hear back.