Certified Winner Declared in Brooklyn GOP Primary Amid Ballot Fraud Investigation

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City Council
Ballot security concerns have emerged in Brooklyn’s District 47 City Council race after election officials uncovered potentially fraudulent absentee votes in one of the city’s closest Republican primaries. The Board of Elections has referred the matter to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office as investigations continue ahead of the November general election. File photo: noamgalai, licensed.

BROOKLYN, NY – The Republican primary for New York City Council District 47 has officially concluded with George Sarantopoulos certified as the winner, following a narrow and contentious race marked by allegations of absentee ballot fraud and irregularities.

The race between Sarantopoulos and opponent Richie Barsamian was decided by a margin of just 16 votes, with the final results certified by the New York City Board of Elections (BOE) on July 30, 2025. The certified outcome followed an initial tally that had shown Sarantopoulos ahead by 32 votes, which was later adjusted after a manual recount of absentee and affidavit ballots.

Throughout the recount process, election officials uncovered multiple issues related to the integrity of submitted absentee ballots. At least two ballots were determined to have been cast in the names of individuals who had died more than a decade ago. One such ballot was reportedly received for a woman who died in 2012, while another came in under the name of a woman who passed away in 2014. In a third case, a living voter was sent a “cure notice” for a ballot they claim never to have requested or submitted. Cure notices are issued by the BOE to give voters an opportunity to correct errors on absentee ballots, such as missing or mismatched signatures.

In response to these findings, the BOE invalidated a total of 22 ballots deemed suspicious during the hand recount. These ballots were flagged for potential fraud and referred to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office for formal investigation. Additionally, the BOE reassigned certain internal staff and took possession of relevant electronic devices as part of its internal review. The move indicates the agency is taking the possibility of voter fraud seriously while attempting to maintain the legitimacy of the electoral process.

The situation has drawn further scrutiny due to the close ties between one of the candidates and local Republican leadership. Barsamian, who lost the race, is the Brooklyn Republican Party chair, a position that affords influence over BOE staffing decisions. Although no formal accusations have been made against Barsamian himself, the circumstances surrounding the ballot issues have raised questions about the chain of custody and internal safeguards at the BOE.

The certified result allows Sarantopoulos to move forward as the Republican nominee in the November general election, where he will face Democrat Kayla Santosuosso. The general election is expected to be competitive, with voter turnout and public trust in the electoral process likely playing key roles in the outcome.

This is not the first time the New York City Board of Elections has faced criticism for procedural mishandling. The agency has a long-standing history of errors, including past instances of improper voter purges, ballot misprints, and logistical confusion. The discovery of potentially fraudulent ballots in such a narrow race has reignited concerns about election oversight and transparency.

The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office has not yet announced the outcome of its investigation, and further developments are anticipated. Election officials maintain that all valid votes were counted in compliance with state law, and any ballots found to be improper were excluded from the final tally.

As the November election approaches, continued attention will likely focus on how city and state officials respond to the findings and whether additional reforms will be introduced to prevent similar incidents in future elections.


Questions & Answers: Brooklyn GOP Primary Ballot Investigation

Q1: What happened in the District 47 Republican primary?
A: George Sarantopoulos narrowly won the GOP primary for City Council District 47 over Richie Barsamian. The certified margin of victory was 16 votes after a hand recount.

Q2: Why is this election under investigation?
A: During the recount, the Board of Elections discovered absentee ballots submitted in the names of deceased individuals and flagged a total of 22 ballots as potentially fraudulent. These ballots were invalidated and referred to the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office.

Q3: Were these ballots enough to impact the result?
A: The final margin was just 16 votes, and 22 ballots were invalidated due to suspected fraud. While the BOE excluded these ballots from the certified result, their number and nature raised serious concerns given how close the race was.

Q4: What is a “cure notice,” and how did it factor into this?
A: A cure notice is a document sent to voters when there is a problem with their absentee ballot—such as a missing signature—giving them a chance to correct it. In this case, at least one cure notice was sent to a voter who claims they never submitted a ballot, suggesting someone may have attempted to vote on their behalf.

Q5: Who is investigating the incident?
A: The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office is now reviewing the suspicious ballots after a referral from the Board of Elections. The BOE also reassigned staff and seized internal devices as part of its own investigation.

Q6: What are the concerns about political influence?
A: Richie Barsamian, who lost the primary, also serves as the Brooklyn GOP chair, a role that can influence BOE staffing decisions. This connection has led to speculation about whether there was insider manipulation, although no formal charges have been filed.

Q7: Has the BOE faced issues like this before?
A: Yes. The New York City Board of Elections has a history of problems, including voter purges, ballot errors, and internal mismanagement. The latest irregularities have renewed criticism of its oversight practices.

Q8: Will this affect the general election in November?
A: George Sarantopoulos will appear on the Republican line in the November general election against Democrat Kayla Santosuosso. While the current controversy involves the primary, public trust in the process may influence voter sentiment in the general race.

Q9: Can the certified results still be overturned?
A: The results have been certified, and the fraudulent ballots were excluded from the count. Unless the investigation produces conclusive evidence of broader wrongdoing that would have changed the outcome, the certification is likely to stand.

Q10: What reforms could come out of this?
A: The investigation may lead to calls for tighter oversight of absentee voting, improved ballot verification procedures, and stricter controls over internal BOE operations to prevent political interference.

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