Former Mayoral Candidate Admits to Voter Registration Forgery
A former Democratic mayoral candidate in Plainfield, New Jersey, has confessed to forging multiple voter registration applications.
Henrilyn Ibejim, 71, recently pleaded guilty in connection with the 2021 Democratic primary. In a statement, he mentioned running on a unity party ticket.
New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport issued a press release on Thursday confirming that Ibejim pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree forgery. As part of a plea deal with the Attorney General’s Office of Public Integrity, the state agreed to drop additional charges related to Ibejim’s actions during the June 2021 primary, and prosecutors plan to recommend probation.
Allegations suggest that Ibejim brought a bag filled with around 1,000 forged voter registration applications to the Elizabeth Post Office, intending to mail them to the Union County Registrar’s Office.
It is reported that Ibejim created and attempted to submit fraudulent voter registration applications using the personal information of individuals without their consent. Many of these applications appeared to be handwritten by just a handful of people, failing to disclose, as required, that they were completed by anyone other than the actual voter.
Davenport stated, “My office is committed to ensuring elections are fair and that their outcomes reflect the will of the voters. It’s crucial for our government system that individuals committing illegal acts during elections are held accountable; otherwise, we risk eroding public trust in our democratic processes.”
The New Jersey Globe noted that this case comes on the heels of a judge dismissing voter fraud charges against a Paterson City Councilman nearly six years after they were filed, indicating ongoing challenges for the Office of Public Integrity.
Interestingly, Ibejim finished fourth in the primary, securing only 103 votes.
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the serious nature of voter fraud. There have been various reports of such incidents, including a recent case involving a Mexican national who was re-elected as mayor of Coldwater, Kansas, despite committing voter fraud, as indicated by the Department of Homeland Security.
Most recently, reports surfaced of an illegal alien charged with voter fraud in Philadelphia, coinciding with discussions around legislation like the SAVE America Act, which President Trump dubbed “one of the most important pieces of legislation in our nation’s history.” This bill aims to make voter ID mandatory, require proof of citizenship for voter registration, and ban universal mail-in voting, among other measures.
