The District Attorney in Queens is investigating an alleged absentee ballot voting fraud case surrounding the Democrat Primary held in June.
The Alleged voter fraud targeted Assemblyman Ron Kim.
According to a letter written to US Attorney Breon Peace of the Eastern District of New York, and to Queens DA Melinda Katz on July 27, at least three registered Democrat voters in the district received mail-in-ballots to vote, however they never requested them.
the letter was written by Kim’s attorney, Ali Najmi, who said,
“Election crimes constitute a serious offense against the integrity of our political system. We believe the facts and circumstances of these egregious criminal acts warrant your agencies’ attention and resources.”
In addition, Republicans are accusing the democrats of engaging in voter fraud at the gubernatorial level by sending out pre-filled absentee ballots to supporters of Gov. Kathy Hochul, ahead of the November election against GOP nominee Rep. Lee Zeldin of Suffolk County.
Election attorney John Ciampoli, who has represented clients from both parties, said that while legal the process allows for fraud,
“This one-party-controlled legislature has enacted laws in the name of making it easier for people to vote that totally jettison any protections that the public had against fraudulent practices in the election process.”
Kim, meanwhile said that his victory over Democratic primary challenger Kenneth Chiu did nothing to quell the suspicions of voter fraud which prompted him to contact local and federal authorities. He also confirmed that he was interviewed in August by federal investigators and has been in communication with them over the last several weeks.
Chiu won the vast majority of absentee votes but said he did not have any thing to do with the Absentee ballots.
Now, Kim plans to introduce new legislation that would require voters to give identifying details about who they plan to pick up ballots for in future elections, with BOE officials required to ID the person who shows up at their door.
“Part of the problem is [the state Legislature] unintentionally created some loopholes when we passed reforms,” Kim said of the voting rules that were approved by Albany Democrats in recent years.
The Legislature is scheduled to next convene in early January.
