Concerns Arise Over Dead Voters in Brooklyn Primary
In a shocking twist during a recent GOP primary in South Brooklyn, at least two deceased individuals cast absentee ballots, raising serious questions about election integrity.
Juliet Windvan and Antoinette Garzanity both voted in the fourth district primary, where Brooklyn Republican Chairman Richie Balsamian faced off against George Sarantopoulous.
Meanwhile, an 87-year-old man, William Allen, reported receiving a “treatment notice,” which is sent when there are errors in the voting process, despite not having participated in the primary himself.
Election attorney Martin Connor stated, “These clear situations definitely warrant an investigation by the district attorney. It’s crucial to understand how someone could submit absentee ballots without voter consent.”
As of now, Sarantopoulous holds a slim lead over Balsamian by just 32 votes, according to the most recent, unofficial count from the Election Commission.
A recount is scheduled for Tuesday.
Linda Smith, Garzanity’s daughter, expressed her dismay upon discovering this bizarre situation, confirming that her mother had indeed passed away. “That’s incredible,” she remarked. “I mean, we voted for her, yet here we are. It’s really unsettling. Who’s behind this?”
Efforts to contact Windvan’s family have been unsuccessful, but social security records indicate her death in 2007.
Justin Allen, who is William’s son, mentioned that he had torn up his father’s absentee ballot when it was mailed to him, as he typically votes Democrat, despite being registered as a Republican. “It’s unsettling to think someone used my father’s name to vote. Especially now, in such a tight race, that could really skew the results,” he said.
Sarantopoulous described the situation as “both shocking and troubling.”
Interestingly, voter fraud remains relatively rare in New York City and nationwide, noted John Kaehny, head of the watchdog group Reinvent Albany. “It’s tough to pull off, and if done in a way that could sway an election, it’s generally easy to spot,” Kaehny explained. “But that doesn’t stop some individuals from attempting it.”
Brooklyn Councillor Justin Brannan, a Democrat nearing the end of his term, has called for an immediate investigation into the matter. “This isn’t something you can just overlook. We keep getting complaints about this issue, with people claiming deceased individuals are voting,” Brannan stated. “And let’s not forget the Republican chairperson responsible for appointing Board of Elections workers.”
Brannan added, “This whole situation absolutely reeks of voter fraud, and it’s imperative to investigate without delay.”
Requests for comments from Balsamian’s campaign and the Election Commission went unanswered.
The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office stated it could not comment on the ongoing investigation.
