Fraud Investigation Into Newburgh Elections Expected

GOSHEN – The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is expected to launch an investigation into allegations that a Newburgh Council candidate committed voter fraud in June’s Ward 3 primary.

Ann Marie Hines, a Democrat, defeated Tamika Stewart 151-150 for the open seat. However, the Chairwoman and Vice Chairwoman of the city’s Democratic party allege that Hines offered dozens of senior citizen residents free food from her Jamaican restaurant in exchange for their support and submission of their early voting mail ballots (EVBM), which could be a violation of state election law.

Jules Ridgeway, Chairwoman of the City of Newburgh Democratic Party, said that she has been contacted by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office about the alleged fraud. She expects an investigation by the Sheriff’s Office into the allegations to be forthcoming.

“Since early June, we’ve followed the proper channels to report these concerns, and we respect the investigative process,” Ridgeway said. “We appreciate that all of the agencies involved are taking the matter seriously and treating it with the importance it deserves.”
“I’m happy for people to learn about the process and to see what really happened,” Stewart added.

According to Ridgeway, several Newburgh senior citizens have signed affidavits, stating that Hines offered takeout from her downtown restaurant in exchange for their support. The meals were later delivered door-to-door, Ridgeway said. The Chairwoman noted that the seniors brought the issue to Democratic leaders in the city.

Ridgeway said that she has attempted to discuss the matter with Hines and her campaign manager, Maria Valentin, several times, but the pair adamantly refused any conversation.
According to state election law, any person who directly or indirectly, by himself or through any other person pays, lends or contributes, or offers or promises to pay, lend or contribute any money or other valuable consideration to or for any voter, or to or for any other person, to induce such voter or other person to vote or refrain from voting at any election, or to induce any voter or other person to vote or refrain from voting at such election for any particular person is guilty of a Class E felony.

Per state law, providing meals to voters could constitute “valuable consideration” when done to “induce any voter to vote for any particular person.” The statute states that if a candidate provided a meal to a voter specifically in exchange for that voter’s support, then that candidate can potentially be imprisoned for up to four years.

Hines, a 20-year resident of the city, registered to vote for the first time on March 10th of this year and began collecting signatures to run the next day. Hines has called the allegations “unfounded and baseless.”