Craig Callaway may be heading to prison, but that hasn’t stopped speculation a supporter of a candidate for mayor of Atlantic City is offering residents $10 and a meal to vote.
The New Jersey Globe reviewed a video recording of Tariq Mehmood, a convenience store owner who backs the Republican Naeem Khan offering to compensate a voter.
Mehmood’s store is near Quaremba Hall, an early voting site that issued 52 provisional ballots – twenty more than the rest of the county.
“These outrageous, illegal campaign activities have no place in the great City of Atlantic City,” said the Democratic incumbent, Marty Small, Sr. “Since my opponent cannot run on his own merits, he’s resorting to taking advantage of homeless people to receive votes.”
A Democratic campaign worker recorded a video of Mehmood on Sunday.
“One would think that Craig Callaway’s guilty plea for voter fraud would be a deterrent for this type of behavior, but it isn’t enough to stop Atlantic County Republicans,” said Atlantic County Democratic Chairman Michael Suleiman. “This egregious behavior needs to be investigated by law enforcement immediately, and individuals found breaking the law should be charged.”
Suleiman wants law enforcement to launch an investigation.
Efforts to reach Khan and Mehmood were unsuccessful.
Giralo wants messenger ballot reform
Atlantic County Clerk Joe Giralo, a Republican, says the legislature needs to set stronger regulations over the use of messenger ballots.
“I’m tired of the misuse and abuse of messenger ballots that threaten the integrity of our election process,” said Giralo. “Atlantic County has an unfortunate history of election corruption involving messenger ballots, which should not be tolerated. We also need the support of law enforcement.”
Giralo said there are “obvious flaws in the system that need immediate attention.”
“Voters have several means to vote with early voting, mail-in ballots and at election day polling locations. As the system currently operates, I’m not sure the benefits of messenger ballots outweigh the risks of corruption,” he stated. “I believe it is something we need to review and improve for the protection of our electoral process.”
