NYC primary that included dead voters' ballots is finally decided, but criminal probe swirls
The city Board of Elections certified George Sarantopoulos as the winner of a Republican Party primary over GOP chairman Richie Barsamian on Tuesday after an expose by The Post that showed accusations of voter fraud that included the revelation absentee ballots were cast for at least two dead voters.
A third voter said he hadn't voted but received a 'cure notice' that is sent to voters when their ballots contain errors such as a missing signature.
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4 George Sarantopoulos, Republican candidate for city council.
George Sarantopoulos / Facebook
The Brooklyn District Attorney's office is now probing the claims, according to sources.
Elections officials uncovered two alleged incidents of voter fraud — the dead voters as well as 22 ballots that were discovered during the manual recount that could not be attributed to specific voters.
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'In a small Republican primary, unlike a mayoral contest, there were multiple ballot irregularities — including two absentee ballots who were casting for people who are deceased, and obviously the one person who was a living voter who did not vote at all,' Sarantopoulous said.
4 Voters feed their ballots into scanners during the first day of early voting at the Brooklyn Museum on Saturday, June 14, 2025 in New York City.
Michael Nagle
'We can't let this stand,' he added. 'Democrats, Republicans and independents. We all need to know that we have a system we can trust. Period full stop.'
Barsamian, who has the power to appoint BOE workers as chair of borough's Republican Party, did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
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Sarantopoulous ultimately beat Barsamian by a mere 16 votes to challenge Democratic nominee Kayla Santosuosso in November.
4 The Brooklyn District Attorney's office is now probing the claims, according to sources.
George Sarantopoulos / Facebook
'Hot take: we shouldn't count ballots cast by dead people and shouldn't certify election results until we know the scale of the fraud involved. Voters deserve nothing less,' Santosuosso said in a statement.
The winner of the general election will replace Councilman Justin Brannan, who will reach the end of his term limit at the end of this year.
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The BOE maintains it has been thoroughly transparent throughout the recount process.
4 Brooklyn Republican Party Chairman Richie Barsamian attends a small protest outside a vacant lot at 2481 McDonald Avenue on Sunday, April 6, 2025.
Luiz C. Ribeiro for New York Post
'We have completed a comprehensive and transparent review of all valid ballots, including a full hand count,' BOE Deputy Executive Director Vincent Ignizio said in a statement.
'The outcome of the race has remained consistent at every stage,' Ignizio said. 'In accordance with New York State Election Law, all valid votes have been properly counted.
'Our responsibility now is to certify the results and proceed with preparations for the general election in November. Any specific allegations of fraud will be handled appropriately by the District Attorney's office.'
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