New York State Assembly Members Ron Kim and Lily Rozic held a joint press conference on May 2nd to remind voters about the upcoming primary election within the party on June 25th. They emphasized the importance of being vigilant against election fraud, especially in light of recent cases of suspected mail-in ballot fraud in recent years. Both of them jointly issued a statement to voters, urging them to report any suspicious or illegal activities during the election to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Ron Kim stressed that absentee ballot fraud and any form of election fraud during the election period are criminal offenses that undermine democracy. He stated, “In my district, there is a troubling trend where some individuals are attempting to influence the election, engaging in fraudulent practices to deprive voters of their voting rights. This is a serious crime that will be prosecuted, so it is important to raise awareness to ensure the integrity of our democracy.”
Furthermore, Kim mentioned that the FBI and the District Attorney’s Office had warned at a community meeting on April 11th at the 109th precinct that election fraud is becoming increasingly severe and requires vigilant oversight to eradicate. They encouraged reporting all instances of election fraud or illegal campaign donation collection to the FBI. There have been cases where voters had their mail-in ballots fraudulently collected in their name, only to be turned away at polling stations on election day because they had already “voted” without their knowledge.
In response to this, Kim’s office will enhance supervision by contacting individuals who have applied for absentee ballots to verify if the applications were made with their consent and to prevent fraudulent collection.
Lily Rozic pointed out that if opting to use mail-in ballots, after submitting the application for an absentee ballot, you can only designate someone you trust to collect your paper ballot from the Board of Elections. If encountering any suspicious activity, such as being told at a polling station that you have already voted when you haven’t, it is crucial to report it to the Voter Protection Hotline at 347-788-0933.
Kim and Rozic addressed the public in a letter, educating them about what constitutes election fraud and how it manifests. The letter highlighted that while local, state, and federal authorities have been investigating illegal election activities, these unlawful actions could resurface during the Democratic primary on June 25th. They recommended several measures to prevent ballot theft:
1. If choosing an absentee ballot, do not allow unfamiliar or untrustworthy individuals to collect your ballot; when opting for an absentee ballot, designate someone you trust to retrieve it, and do not let individuals impersonating “campaign staff” fill out information for you.
2. Refrain from accepting money or gifts from anyone offering to help you apply for an absentee ballot or assist in voting and returning the ballot on your behalf. Engaging in such actions may result in criminal liability for both parties.
Primary Election Day: June 25th; Early Voting: June 15th-23rd. If you observe any suspicious circumstances, you can contact the FBI Public Integrity Section at 202-353-4641; Voter Protection Hotline: 347-788-0933; Ron Kim’s office: 718-939-0195.