Election probe on primary welcomed

1/18/08
While the state Supreme Court takes its sweet time deliberating over last year’s Democratic mayoral primary in Bridgeport, state election officials have launched their own probe into alleged voting violations. With numerous allegations and countercharges, an official investigation is welcome and warranted.
Mayor Bill Finch last Sept. 11 defeated opponent Christopher Caruso by a small — but by no means insignificant — margin of 270 votes. Caruso’s camp has alleged violations that he says had the effect of flipping the election results, or at least placing the winner is serious doubt. A Superior Court judge disagreed, ruling against Caruso; the appeal now — still — lies before the Supreme Court.
While it remains a long shot that the primary results would be overturned, it’s still a good idea to investigate irregularities and try to make the process better. Caruso may believe it was a vast conspiracy that denied him the mayoralty, but it’s more likely that there are simply kinks and sloppiness that need to be fixed. A better election process is better for everyone.
It’s not as though there’s a shortage of investigative avenues to pursue. Initial complaints filed by the Caruso campaign include allegations of untrained poll moderators, improper coaching and other problems. While he did not prove, according to the Superior Court judge, that the results were in doubt, there is clearly much that could have been done better. The Elections Enforcement Commission is charged with finding the truth about these contentions.
It doesn’t require a belief in massive fraud to think there are improvements to be made. As the Supreme Court considers … and considers … and considers the merits of Caruso’s appeal, the elections board would do well to get to the bottom of the myriad allegations.
Finch, like Caruso, said he welcomes the investigation, as well he should. Elections are too important to take shortcuts and half-measures. The risk was that if the high court, as expected, rules against Caruso, then the status quo would reign and past poll problems would continue. This investigation could help make sure that doesn’t happen.