OPINION: Voter Fraud: A Cautionary Tale of Two Cities - By Dominic Rapini, Republican Candidate for Secretary of State 2022
“Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.” - Carl Segan
Opinion: Frio County, Texas, and Bridgeport, A Tale of Two Frauds
By Dominic Rapini, Republican Candidate for Secretary of State 2022
Voter fraud is neither hypothetical nor isolated. From the fields of Frio County, Texas, to the city streets of Bridgeport, Connecticut, recent scandals illuminate a clear and present danger stalking our elections: the abuse of absentee ballots and systematic ballot harvesting. These cautionary tales prove that fraud can be widespread, it does happen, and it’s dangerously difficult to expose and prosecute[11][2][3][7][5][6][1].
Widespread and Hard to Prove
In Frio County, Texas, six officials now face indictments for manipulating mail-in ballots and paying for harvested votes through cash or smartphone apps[11]. Their scheme targeted the elderly and disabled, using sophisticated methods to traffic ballots and conceal misconduct. Meanwhile, Bridgeport, Connecticut, witnessed one of the most significant absentee ballot fraud investigations in state history, with surveillance footage and tip-offs resulting in more than a dozen arrests and the overturning of the results of a mayoral primary [2][3][1][6]. Bridgeport operatives, city council members, party leaders, and campaign staff signed out hundreds of absentee ballot applications, illegally took possession of ballots, and sought to mislead voters about eligibility[10][5][6].
Uncovering and Prosecuting Fraud: A Herculean Challenge
The Bridgeport scandal unraveled only after viral video evidence surfaced, national news attention intensified, and a persistent investigation led to hundreds of criminal charges. [7][8][5][1] In both Frio and Bridgeport, fraudsters exploited trust, inadequate oversight, and the inherent vulnerabilities of absentee voting. Even with overwhelming evidence, prosecution is arduous, evidence is scattered, witnesses are fearful, and most frauds never make it to conviction[7][1][4].
Damaging Democracy and Undermining Trust
When fraud succeeds, it inflicts generational damage to our democracy. Voters lose faith. Turnout falls. Good candidates walk away, unwilling to risk a tainted process. Neighborhoods targeted by ballot harvesting lose their voice, and every alleged act casts doubt on the legitimacy of our elections[7][5]. The lesson from Frio and Bridgeport is crystal clear: fraud is not simply rare it is rarely caught, and its impact, especially when left unchecked, devastates the public’s trust in free and fair elections.
The Only Answer: Zero Tolerance, Zero Trust
If Connecticut, Texas, or any state wishes to safeguard democracy, there must be an absolute, uncompromising rejection of voter fraud. Campaigns must never be allowed to touch absentee ballot applications or ballots. Every absentee ballot application must be tied to a valid photo ID, and the law should cap campaign-initiated ballot requests at five per person solely for family or certified caregivers. Technology can help, but only vigilance, transparency, and common-sense restrictions will eliminate the raw materials of fraud[11][3][1].
A Caution for the Nation
Frio County’s harvesters, Bridgeport’s ballot stuffers these are warnings, not outliers. America must heed them. The legitimacy of elections cannot permit “just a little fraud.” The standard in banking, business, or government is zero. Our votes demand nothing less. Only when we adopt zero tolerance and zero trust for fraud will we restore confidence and integrity where it matters most: the ballot box.
Sources
[1] Five Charged Following Investigation into Handling of Absentee ... https://portal.ct.gov/dcj/press-releases/division-of-criminal-justice/02212025bridgeportarrests
[2] Bridgeport election probe expands; four more operatives charged https://ctmirror.org/2025/07/30/bridgeport-election-probe-expands/
[3] Bridgeport Municipal Mayoral Democratic Primary 2023 Election https://electionfraud.heritage.org/case/200379
[4] Suspect enters guilty plea in Bridgeport ballot fraud case - CT Mirror https://ctmirror.org/2025/07/23/ct-bridgeport-ballot-fraud-guilty-plea/
[5] Bridgeport Democrats in court to face election-related charges https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2025-03-06/bridgeport-absentee-ballots-election-fraud-ct-charges-court
[6] 5 charged in connection with 2023 Bridgeport election fraud - WSHU https://www.wshu.org/connecticut-news/2025-02-21/5-charged-in-connection-with-2023-bridgeport-election-fraud
[7] Election Fraud Is Rare. Except, Maybe, in Bridgeport, Conn. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/21/nyregion/joe-ganim-john-gomes-bridgeport-mayor-election.html
[8] 5 charged in Bridgeport absentee ballot fraud to be arraigned https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BLQsfCIpOA
[9] Bridgeport absentee ballot fraud case yields 4 more arrests: Officials https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/bridgeport-primary-absentee-ballot-fraud-arrested-20794978.php
[10] Timeline of Bridgeport's 2023 election scandal and charges - CTPost https://www.ctpost.com/projects/2025/news/bridgeport-election-fraud-arrests-timeline/
[11] 6 people are charged in a Texas elections investigation involving ... https://www.ksat.com/news/national/2025/05/07/6-people-are-charged-in-a-texas-elections-investigation-involving-vote-harvesting/