New York Man Accused Of Requesting More Than 100 Fraudulent Democratic Primary Ballots

A Queens man is facing a 140-count indictment for allegedly requesting and filling out dozens of fraudulent ballots for the borough’s Democratic primary election in August 2022.

Abdul Rahman, 32, could face up to seven years in prison if convicted of all charges laid out in the hefty indictment. In total, Rahman’s alleged scheme attempted to disenfranchise 118 voters.

“Every vote has to count,” Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said in a statement. “Election integrity is the foundation of a viable, working democracy,” the statement continued.

“We will vigorously prosecute anyone who threatens in any way to undermine that integrity … The integrity of elections will be upheld in this borough.”

Prosecutors allege that when Richmond Hill resident Jordan Sandke showed up to vote at his local polling place on August 23, he was turned away after poll workers found that he had already requested an absentee ballot. Upon further investigation, officials discovered a ballot application in Sandke’s name that was signed and dated on August 1.

Rahman was listed as the person who would pick up Sandke’s ballot, which he never requested.

Authorities soon discovered that Rahman had dropped off 118 absentee ballot applications at the Queens County Board of Elections on August 8. He had also listed himself as the person who would pick them up.

Of the 118 requested ballots, 32 were approved, the D.A’s office said. Rahman then allegedly picked them up the following day.

When law enforcement interviewed the suspected voter fraud victims, they found that none of them had filed for the ballot requests made in their names.

Rahman is being charged with 20 counts each of illegal voting, second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, first-degree falsifying business records, first-degree offering a false instrument for filing, third-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, second-degree falsifying business records and second-degree offering a false instrument for filing.

Rahman surrendered to authorities on Tuesday, according to a report from the New York Post.