A New York man was indicted this week for submitting falsified absentee ballots during the 2022 Democrat primary.
Abdul Rahman, 32, from Queens, could face up to seven years in prison if found guilty of 140 charges against him. Rahman is described by outlet the Gothamist as a man “active in Democrat and South Asian circles.”
“Every vote has to count. Election integrity is the foundation of a viable, working democracy. We will vigorously prosecute anyone who threatens in any way to undermine that integrity. To investigate and prosecute anyone for voter fraud takes time and resources I am willing to commit,” Queens County District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a press release.
The District Attorney's press release detailed that Rahman is accused of casting 20 ballots in August of 2022. Prosecutors said he had applied to collect 118 ballots for voters in the area, and gained approval for 32 of the 118 ballot applications.
Fox News has more details:
One man, identified by the office as Jordan Sandke, said he visited his polling station on August 23, 2022, to vote in the Democratic primary election, but was told that he could not vote, as he had requested an absentee ballot. Investigators were able to track down Sandke's ballot application, which included his personal information and a signature and was dated August 1, 2022. Investigators also found that Rahman was listed as the authorized individual to pick up Sandke's ballot, according to the DA's office.
“Sandke, however, had not filled out, signed or submitted the application, and said he had never met the defendant or authorized him to pick up an absentee ballot on his behalf,” the press release stated.
Law enforcement officers later interviewed voters whose names and information were listed on the other ballot applications and learned that “none of them had themselves submitted the form, much less authorized Rahman to pick a ballot up for them,” according to the DA's office.
Rahman is facing: 20 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree; 20 counts of criminal possession of a forged instrument in the third degree; 20 counts of falsifying business records in the second degree; 20 counts of offering a false instrument for filing in the second degree; 20 counts of illegal voting; and 20 counts of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree.
This is a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.
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