TORRINGTON, Conn. (WFSB) — A state employee from Torrington is facing charges for voter registration fraud after altering voter registration cards following a national event.
According to the Torrington Police Department, the investigation into the fraudulent activity began after a complaint was filed regarding altered voter registration cards submitted during a voting event on September 17, 2024, at the Western Connecticut Mental Health Network on Winsted Road.
The investigation revealed that 57-year-old Arlanda Brantley, a state employee with the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, was intentionally changing voter party affiliations on registration cards without the registrants’ consent. Brantley changed the party affiliation from “No” or “Republican” to “Democrat” and then submitted the altered forms to the Registrar of Voter’s Clerk in Torrington.
The fraud was discovered during a routine inspection of the cards by the Clerk’s office. Brantley was later identified as the suspect after a detailed investigation by the State Elections Enforcement Commission and Torrington Police.
Brantley turned herself in to authorities on January 27 and faces five counts of fraudulent registration and five counts of primary or enrollment violations. She was released on a $10,000 surety bond and is scheduled to appear in Torrington Superior Court on February 10.
State Representative Joe Canino has expressed outrage at Brantley’s actions, condemning the impact her fraud could have had on the integrity of Torrington’s elections. He vowed to continue pushing for stronger election security measures and greater accountability for voter fraud in Connecticut.