Problems in Bridgeport continue to cast a shadow over the state’s elections following allegations that a Bridgeport city councilman helped a woman who is not a US citizen register to vote and cast an absentee ballot, according to a recent election complaint.
Bridgeport City Councilman Alfredo Castillo. Credit: Contributed photo / City of Bridgeport
The complaint filed with the Connecticut Elections Enforcement Commission on Oct. 4 says Councilman Alfredo Castillo knocked on Arianna Hernadez’ door in 2023 and told her he would help get her registered to vote. She told him she was not a US citizen.
“I did not fill out the form,” Hernandez wrote in the complaint. “I did not indicate on the form that I was a citizen.”
Castillo told her it would be OK to vote as a permanent resident, according to the complaint. Both federal and state law require all voters to be United States citizens; being a permanent resident does not allow a person to vote, even though it provides a person legal status to live and work in the United States.
Castillo, a Democrat and supporter of Mayor Joe Ganim, returned a second time with an absentee ballot for the 2023 Democratic primary, which Hernandez signed, she said in her complaint. He then took the forms with him in an envelope and left.
In that primary, Castillo was running for re-election to his council seat.
Through his attorney, Frank J. Riccio, Castillo on Monday declined to comment on the complaint filed against him.
The complaint indicates the absentee ballot was signed by Wanda Geter-Pataky, vice chairwoman of Bridgeport’s Democratic Party, indicating she helped fill out the form, but Hernandez said she doesn’t know her. The form for an absentee ballot indicated Hernandez was sick and could therefore not vote in person, which Hernandez said was not true.
Geter-Pataky and Castillo are both facing criminal charges already related to the 2019 Bridgeport Democratic mayoral primary. Geter-Pataky has also come under fire after she was seen on video surveillance ahead of the 2023 primary dropping off absentee ballots multiple times at a ballot box, which forced a new primary election.
FILE PHOTO: Sen. Rob Sampson discusses one of his amendments to an elections bill on the final night of the legislative session Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at the state Capitol in Hartford. Credit: Doug Hardy / CTNewsJunkie
State Sen. Rob Sampson, R-Wolcott, ranking senator on the Government Administration and Elections Committee, said in a news release that the issue of non-citizens registering to vote is not just a “Bridgeport problem.”
“You can bet it’s been happening in other municipalities,” Sampson said.
“Absolutely nothing will change in Connecticut if you keep voting for Democrats.”
Connecticut needs to change how it handles absentee ballots, he stressed.
“Republicans and I have been shouting from the rooftops about this for a long time,” he said in the release.
Democratic Party officials could not immediately be reached for comment Monday. They have previously said that the ongoing investigations and criminal charges in Bridgeport are evidence that system is working as it should if/when there is misconduct.
Election officials, however, are stressing that Connecticut’s elections are safe, including voting via absentee ballots. To date, there have been no reports of non-citizens voting or registering anywhere else in Connecticut. The state also has checks in place and ways for people to report any potential misconduct.
If you feel intimidated while voting or suspect any election fraud for the upcoming general election in November, you can report it to the SEEC by calling 860-256-2940.