The three newest defendants charged with violating Connecticut’s absentee ballot laws during Bridgeport’s 2023 Democratic mayoral primary pleaded not guilty on Tuesday.
Robert Anderson, Maria Hernandez and Silvia Ramos — all of whom are charged with mishandling voters’ absentee ballots — took turns entering their pleas in Bridgeport Superior Court and were ordered to return to court in November for their next hearing.
Elsie Mercado, who faces similar charges, is scheduled to enter a plea on Sept. 25.
The four political operatives are the latest people to be charged with mishandling absentee ballots in Bridgeport, Connecticut’s largest city, during the city’s two most recent mayoral elections.
Their criminal cases will now be managed alongside the charges leveled against six other Bridgeport political players, including several current and former city council members and the vice chairwoman of Bridgeport Democratic party.
During the hearing on Tuesday, the judge listened to the various defense attorneys discuss whether they’ve received all of the evidence compiled against their clients as part of the sprawling criminal investigation.
Most of the cases were reset for another hearing on Nov. 4.
But Jazmarie Melendez, one of the defendants accused of violating the state’s absentee ballot laws, told the judge that she would not be entertaining any plea offers from prosecutors and planned to proceed to a jury trial.
Melendez, who stepped down the from the Bridgeport city council earlier this year, has been accused by prosecutors of misrepresenting the requirements to vote via absentee ballot.
Her defense attorney, Alex Taubes, told the judge that his client would not be seeking a deal with prosecutors because his client did not violate the law.
The judge asked Melendez whether she was aware of the consequences of the jury trial if she is found guilty of the charges against her. And Melendez said she understood the consequences.
It’s unclear how quickly the jury trial in Melendez’s case could be set.
Seven other Bridgeport political operatives — including several members of the city council and the vice chairwoman of the Bridgeport Democratic Party — were previously charged with absentee ballot crimes in connection with 2019 and 2023 Democratic primaries.
The city made national news in the fall of 2023 after surveillance footage emerged showing numerous political operatives allegedly stuffing ballots into four different drop boxes located throughout the city.
Those videos set of a tsunami of complaints that were submitted to the State Elections Enforcement Commission, which is responsible for investigating allegations of voter fraud. Many of those complaints were then referred to the Chief State’s Attorney for potential criminal prosecution.