(Rocky Hill, CT) - Chief State’s Attorney Patrick J. Griffin today announced that four Bridgeport residents involved in the 2023 Bridgeport Democratic mayoral primary have been criminally charged in connection with the misuse of absentee ballots.
Inspectors from the Statewide Prosecution Bureau in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney arrested the following Bridgeport residents:
- Robert Anderson, age 63, charged with three counts of Possession of Ballots and Envelopes Restricted, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-140b(d), two counts of Misrepresenting Eligibility Requirements for Voting by Absentee Ballot in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-135(b) and two counts of Failure to Sign as Assister on an Absentee Ballot, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-140(a).
- Maria Hernandez, age 63, charged with two counts of Possession of Ballots and Envelopes Restricted, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-140b(d).
- Elsie Mercado, age 54, charged with three counts of Misrepresenting Eligibility Requirements for Voting by Absentee Ballot in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-135(b) and five counts of Possession of Ballots and Envelopes Restricted, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-140b(d).
- Silvia Ramos, age 60, charged with two counts of Misrepresenting Eligibility Requirements for Voting by Absentee Ballot in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-135(b), two counts of Possession of Ballots and Envelopes Restricted, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-140b(d), and two counts of Failure to Sign as Assister on an Absentee Ballot, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-140(a) and Fraudulent Voting, in violation of Connecticut General Statutes § 9-360.
All four defendants were released on promises to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court, Geographical Area No. 2, on August 12, 2025.
These charges are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.