PATERSON, NJ – A judge has ruled that a new election will be held in November for a contested seat of Paterson City Council, just weeks after the apparent winner of the race and a sitting councilor were accused of voter fraud.
State Superior Court Judge Ernest Caposela issued his verdict on Wednesday.
Alex Mendez had won a special election on May 12 to fill the seat, but claims of voter fraud were soon raised. An investigation was then launched after the U.S. Postal Service law enforcement office told the Attorney General’s office about hundreds of post-in votes in a mailbox in Paterson, along with more found in nearby Haledon.
Finally, the Passaic County Board of Elections did not decide to count 800 ballots in the race.
Voter fraud charges were brought in June against Mendez, Paterson Council vice president Michael Jackson and two other men: Shelim Khalique, of Wayne, and Abu Rayzen, of Prospect Park. Councilor William McKoy’s lawyer, who was defeated by Mendez, then successfully sought information that prevented Mendez from confirming his position.
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All four suspects have maintained their innocence.
President Donald Trump has cited the disputed race as a case study in what could have happened in an election that was mostly conducted by post. His re-election campaign on Tuesday condemned New Jersey in a bid to halt the state’s plans to hold the November general election mostly by mail.
