A Connecticut state employee, Arlanda Brantley, has been charged with altering Republican voter registrations to Democrat.
This manipulation took place during a voter registration event at the Western Connecticut Mental Health Network in Torrington on September 17, 2024.
The Torrington Police Department initiated an investigation after discovering discrepancies in voter registration cards submitted post-event.
It was revealed that Brantley, a 57-year-old employee at the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, had changed the party affiliation on the cards from “No” or “Republican” to “Democrat” without the knowledge or consent of the individuals concerned, WSFB reported.
This fraudulent activity was detected during a routine inspection by the office of the Registrar of Voter’s Clerk in Torrington.
Following a comprehensive investigation by the State of Elections Enforcement Commission and local authorities, Brantley turned herself in on January 27.
She faces multiple charges, including five counts of Fraudulent Registration and five counts of Primary or Enrollment Violations.
After posting a $10,000 surety bond, Brantley was released and is scheduled to appear at Torrington Superior Court on February 10.
State Representative Joe Canino of Torrington released a statement on Facebook:
“I am outraged to hear that a state employee was knowingly fabricating voter registration information without the consent of our registrants.
What was meant to be a non-partisan, state-led, voter registration event, has now been tainted by Ms. Brantley’s illegal actions, which could have tainted the sanctity of elections in Torrington. There is no room for election fraud in Connecticut.
Whether it’s this incident in Torrington, or down in Bridgeport where individuals were stuffing ballots into a drop box during the eleventh hour before an election, the bottom line is that voter fraud is happening in Connecticut.
As the voice of Torrington, I will continue to fight for our residents who deserve honesty and transparency in our elections and accountability for these shameful actions.
Through increased enforcement of election related crimes, voter identification requirements, chain of custody requirements, and other proposals related to election security, my colleagues and I are committed to fixing gaps in our election laws that allow these incidents to take place.”
State Rep. Craig Fishbein also released his statement on X following the report of voter fraud, according to The Federalist:
“I agree with my colleague, Rep. Joe Canino of Torrington. Voter fraud, and the intentional fabricating of voter registration information has NO PLACE in the State of Connecticut!”
I agree with my colleague, Rep. Joe Canino of Torrington. Voter fraud, and the intentional fabricating of voter registration information has NO PLACE in the State of Connecticut! #CTweCANdoBETTER pic.twitter.com/4Asfmkb1uU
— CT State Rep. Craig Fishbein (@CraigFishbein) January 30, 2025
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