Dennis Bradley arrested for alleged absentee ballot violations

Former Connecticut Democratic state senator Dennis A. Bradley Jr. has been arrested on four criminal charges related to alleged absentee ballot violations. The charges include two counts of illegal possession of absentee ballots and envelopes, one count of being present when an absentee ballot applicant executes a ballot, and one additional charge involving the unlawful opening of a ballot.

The investigation stems from an incident during the August 11 Democratic primary in Bridgeport. A voter, Alesia Dennis, reported that Bradley entered her apartment, opened her completed absentee ballot, and pressured her to change her vote from incumbent probate judge Paul Ganim to Mark Bradley, the former senator’s brother. Dennis stated, “I felt intimidated. So I just went along with everything he said for me to do.”

Following the report to the Bridgeport police and the State Elections Enforcement Commission, the case was referred to the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney. Bradley, who represented Bridgeport in the state Senate from 2019 to 2023, was released with a promise to appear in Bridgeport Superior Court on October 21. His attorney maintains his innocence.