Kelley and Flynn react to CPA statement alleging voter fraud
On Monday afternoon, two community groups, the Chinese Progressive Association and the Chinese Progressive Political Action ,released a statement alleging voter absentee ballot fraud – in particular calling out the District 2 candidate campaign of Mike Kelley.
According to the statement, fourteen years ago, the CPA helped elderly Chinese voters file complaints with the Boston Election Department and the Secretary of State, because elderly Chinese-speaking voters were being instructed and led to vote for a certain candidate while inside the voting booth, in some cases having their ballots even marked for them. This led to a Department of Justice lawsuit and a settlement launching Chinese and Vietnamese bilingual ballots for Boston voters.
The statement goes on to state that Chinese elderly have been victims of blatant voting rights violations, this time involving absentee ballots. From the statement:
“Members of Mike Kelley’s Chinatown operation submitted over a hundred absentee ballot requests on behalf of elderly voters, then took voters’ blank ballots away in signed but unsealed envelopes. Witnesses report that this team made the rounds to at least ten housing developments in Chinatown, holding a stack of yellow absentee ballot return envelopes. In some cases, Mike Kelley himself joined the team to knock on doors and suggest that voters request an absentee ballot.”
The statement then quotes a one of the complainants and describes the operation of what happened on or around October 19th:
“On about October 19th, a woman unknown to me ‘helped’ me apply for an absentee ballot. I did not know that it was an application for absentee ballot, but I was told that I would get a yellow envelope. About two days later, the same woman along with another man came back to my apartment. They took my yellow envelope and told me to sign my name on that yellow envelope. Later, I found out that I was asked to sign an absentee ballot application and they took my absentee ballot. I did not see my ballot or mark the ballot. I was only asked to sign the envelope.”
District 2 Candidate Mike Kelley’s campaign released the following statement:
“The CPA and the CPPA have chosen to engage in desperate smear campaign politics against us while endorsing our opponent. Their tactics are outrageous and their allegations are unfounded and have no place in today’s Boston. The Kelley Campaign sets the highest standards for our election’s efforts as we expect all candidates do. We remain 100 percent focused on the issues that matter to the voters of District 2.” — Brian Sowyrda, Mike Kelley Campaign Manager
Lydia Lowe, board member of the CPPA responded to the Kelley campaigns statement. “As a board member of Chinese Progressive Political Action (CPPA) and a long-time voting rights activist, I am extremely disappointed in the Kelley campaign’s response to these serious violations. Just because our members chose the other candidate is not a reason to belittle voters’ rights and allow this type of unlawful abuse. I notified the Kelley campaign a week ago to ask that they investigate and get their Chinatown team under control for a fair election, and am truly disappointed in this response. A number of voters have filed affidavits and the facts will speak for themselves,” said Lowe.
Lowe also told Mass Live.com, there are 120 “questionable” absentee ballots and a number of voters have filed affidavits and submitted them to the City of Boston’s elections department.
“Fixing votes is a deceitful violation of public trust, said Ed Flynn (District 2 Candidate who received endorsements from both the CPA and CPPA) via statement. He added, “It is unconscionable to use trickery to snatch ballots from and violate the constitutional rights of elderly, non-English speaking residents. We won Chinatown in September, and it’s deeply troubling that in an act of desperation, my opponent and his supporters would knowingly disenfranchise voters.”
We have reached out the City of Boston election department. More to follow. To read the entire statement from the CPN visit here.
So Mike Kelley has had someone dismiss his parking tickets under the table while working for Menino, have had his supporters steal Ed Flynn for Boston City Council fliers off of doorsteps, vandalize his signs, harass his family, and NOW he is being accused of voter fraud? Please make sure you get out and vote for Ed on Nov 6th so we can keep this guy out of office.
Doesn’t get anymore Boston than this. Salt everywhere.
If this it true, someone should be locked up. If this is not true, someone should be locked up. I wonder if it is too late to write in for Corey D.
It’s so hard for me to refrain from commenting on this one as it appears to be a traditional establishment smear campaign. There’s no place in Boston for Trump tactics and fake stories the week before election day. I agree that if this is true or not true, something needs to be done regardless. People are already inundated with daily circus politics on a national level, we don’t need it locally too.
I can’t imagine the CPA would just make this up. Kelley has done a good enough job of smearing himself that no one else has to (even if they wanted to).
Traditional Establishment Smear Campaign? …..Seriously? Have you read what is alleged here? This isn’t someone tossing out some unsubstantiated allegation, this group seems to have witnesses who are naming him on specific dates as doing these things. The fact that you would say something like this in light of the information provided thus far makes me feel as though you would have been far worse than the traditional establishment if that’s what you’d like to call it.
Corey:
Elderly, non- English speaking residents are claiming they were taken advantage of. Stop with the establishment nonsense. That’s not progressive or putting people first at all.
So the CPA that already endorsed Flynn is making these baseless allegations and no one else in the press is reporting on it . Hmmm. Smells like a ruse . This is not journalism .
Bill – no one is saying it’s “journalism” CIS was sent a press release from an local organization alleging voter fraud in our district. Would you rather we just ignore it? See comment below from Lydia – board member of CPPA.
Bill – See David Bernstein’s tweet. No ruse.
https://twitter.com/dbernstein/status/925054588008374272
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/10/voter_fraud_alleged_in_bostons.html
Not sure you consider this press or not.
Most serious allegations such as these should be investigated and confirmed by several sources before just blatantly copying it for production. It is well known that you have endorsed Ed Flynn and that is fine, but you should disclose that when printing these allegations. I am deeply disappointed that this site has turned into a negative political soap box. I find it hard to believe that you print every single “press release” that you receive. To choose to put this up on this site is disturbing. You posted it before even receiving comments back from the candidates. And then posted again, once you received their statements. That speaks volumes to me. Bill and Corey are correct.
Caught in Southie has not endorsed Ed Flynn.
We do post a large majority of news related press releases. If I received a press release that stated that Ed Flynn allegedly committed voter fraud we would absolutely 100 percent post it.
It does seem to favor Flynn but that’s only because he pays for monthly advertising on the site and sends a constant stream of press releases which Maureen posts. Whenever I’ve sent her press releases or op-eds, she’s fair and posts things fairly!
Is Mass Live News on their soapbox too?
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2017/10/voter_fraud_alleged_in_bostons.html
Anyone who has a problem with whats printed here should contact the CPPA or the CPA. Classic case of shooting the messenger. This was a legit item to put on her site.
Shut up all of you. Your arguing over Mike Kelley and Ed Flynn . Wtf. Real GD inspiring leaders. Cut the crap. Hold your nose and vote for your cousin or neighbor or whatever. We get it. But don’t act like either of these guys are white nights.
Sounds like someone needs a hug
Odd that only this website is posting this story, no?
More like a story of fake news.
Did you read it? Mass Live also is covering the story. Speaking of fake – if you’re gonna troll – use a real email address. Don’t be a coward.
Do your research before you post, bro
I have seen profiles of each candidate on CIS with the same questions and no endorsement of any candidate, so stop looking to blame CIS for relaying news others are also reporting. I will just say, “where there is smoke, there is usually fire”.