As one of the most powerful countries in the world, it should be reasonable to expect America’s elections to be safe and secure. But over the years that hasn’t been the case. Who can forget the fiasco in the 2000 presidential election with the famous hanging chad incident? Or the fact that ballots in some states like California take weeks to count while Florida counts their ballots in just a few hours.

Every year there seems to be instances of election fraud that either slip through the cracks or are caught just in time by the proper authorities. Americans simply want to be able to go to the ballot box each election and feel secure knowing their vote will be properly counted.

But many United States citizens haven’t felt confident about the counting of their vote for a while now. That’s why it’s crucial state and federal governments step up to make our elections more safe and secure. And thanks to the actions of these politicians – with the potential help of the Department of Justice – much needed election reform may be coming to this state.

Connecticut Lawmakers Clash Over Election Reform Amid Ballot Fraud Scandal

In Connecticut’s largest city, Bridgeport, a shadow of doubt has lingered since a 2023 election was overturned by a judge, sparking a fierce debate among state lawmakers. The controversy, which has now led to dozens of criminal charges, has fueled a push for election reform, with tensions rising over how to address the problem. Republican leaders are calling for a federal investigation, while dismissing two new Democratic reform bills as insufficient to tackle the crisis.

On Monday, GOP figures spoke with Fox News Digital, revealing they’ve urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate whether “election crimes in Bridgeport” are part of a larger scheme to deceive voters across the state. State Sen. Rob Sampson of Wolcott and Senate Minority Leader Stephen Harding of Brookfield jointly told the outlet, “Connecticut has made embarrassing international news for absentee ballot fraud caught on viral video.” Sampson, the top Republican on the Government Administration and Elections Committee, is at the forefront of reviewing the proposed legislation.

The scandal traces back to widely circulated CCTV footage from Bridgeport, showing city Democratic Party official Wanda Geter-Pataky allegedly stuffing large batches of ballots into a drop box outside city hall. “Everyone saw it,” Sampson and Harding remarked, pointing to the clips that stirred outrage. Reports suggest the effort aimed to boost Mayor Joe Ganim’s chances against rival John Gomes, a conflict that eventually forced a court-ordered “redo” election in 2024.

In their letter to Bondi, the Republican duo pressed for a deeper look into whether these incidents reflect a statewide pattern of voter fraud. They also took aim at two Democratic bills—SB 1515 and SB 1516—introduced on Friday, arguing they fall short of addressing the crisis head-on.

SB 1515 proposes a Municipal Election Accountability Board to oversee local elections and referenda, while SB 1516 seeks to tighten post-election processes, such as correcting ballot returns and regulating “curbside voting.” The latter would bar election workers from sitting in a voter’s car during ballot completion, set rules for how soon certain convicted individuals can circulate nominating petitions, and appoint an election monitor for bigger cities starting in 2025. It also aims to shield voter registration data from commercial exploitation.

But Sampson and Harding aren’t convinced. “We have Democrats from Bridgeport traveling to the capitol to push for the state and individual campaigns to be removed from the absentee ballot process. Empowering the state government in this area is not the solution,” they said, adding that Democrats have ignored “commonsense reforms” favored by Republicans.

A spokesperson for House Speaker Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, deflected inquiries to the Senate, where Senate President Pro-Tem Martin Looney of New Haven offered no comment. Meanwhile, a Senate source noted that much of SB 1516 aligns with suggestions from Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas. In the House, Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-East Haven, labeled election fraud a “serious problem” in Connecticut. “Residents know it and so does this nation,” he told Fox News Digital, stressing that without a clear threat of jail time, “those intent on cheating will always find a way.”

The latest chapter in this saga unfolded earlier this month when five Democratic officials, including Geter-Pataky, faced roughly 150 election-related charges, according to reports from the Connecticut Post. The accusations pile onto a history of scrutiny, with the Heritage Foundation’s “Voter Fraud Report” claiming Geter-Pataky made “10 drops either directly or indirectly” during the 2023 mayoral primary, alongside another individual linked to five separate drops.

Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, has downplayed ties between the alleged corruption and absentee voting systems. “I think it’s people who do the corrupting,” he said previously. Yet the judge who nullified the 2023 election didn’t mince words, ruling that the “volume of ballots so mishandled” cast “serious doubt” on the outcome, describing video evidence as “shocking.”

Among the charged are council members Alfredo Castillo and Maria Pereira, though the Connecticut Post reports Geter-Pataky faces the bulk of the allegations. Interestingly, John Gomes, Ganim’s opponent, broke from the GOP’s stance, telling the Hartford Courant that SB 1515’s accountability board is a step forward. He cited a criminal complaint alleging Geter-Pataky was allowed by town clerks to place a ballot into a tote used to clear a drop box—an incident he believes highlights the need for oversight.

Does ballot fraud concern you as an American? Do you think our leaders are doing enough to fix the issue? As always, let us know your thoughts in the comments below!