Westville Alderwoman Ina Silverman said that she doesn’t know what happened when one of her vote-pullers dragged a mentally disabled man to the polls — a case now under state investigation — but that she views her campaign’s effort as “commendable.”
The Nov. 6 incident — first described in this Independent story — is being probed by the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC). The agency’s legal director said the case raises important questions about the legal ramifications of aggressive campaign tactics applied to mentally disabled voters. The commission launches these investigations only if it has seen evidence worthy of exploring, she said. (That story here.)
Asked to comment on the case after a meeting at City Hall this week, Ina Silverman said, “I don’t know what the process was, because I wasn’t there. I have no idea what happened.”
What does the alderwoman think of the investigation?
“Anybody can investigate anything they want,” Silverman replied.
As she walked away, she added: “I think it’s commendable that people treat people who are disabled the same way they treat able-bodied people, and ask them to come out and vote.”
In the Nov. 6 incident, veteran Democratic election worker Brian McGrath (pictured) was out pulling votes for Mayor John DeStefano and for Silverman, who was facing a tough challenge from a Republican. With the help of the mayor and citywide party regulars, Silverman prevailed in the election.
During the day McGrath obtained access to a Fountain Street building that’s home to elderly and mentally disabled people.
One apparently mentally disabled man went into hysterics, crying “I don’t want to vote!” but went along after McGrath commanded him to.
At the polling place, another worker in a team with McGrath hid his Silverman campaign sticker and walked into the voting booth with the disabled voter until he was caught and booted out.
Republican poll monitors and subsequent critics in town accused McGrath & co. of taking advantage of an incompetent voter to run up the Democratic candidates’ totals.
In both the article and in a subsequent comment posted in response to critics, McGrath defended his actions. He said the man wanted to vote — and thanked him for helping him. The Republicans seek to limit the voting rights of the disabled, McGrath argued.