Voting fraud allegations surface

BUFFALO - Buffalo developer Carl Paladino, a supporter of Michael Kearns, says significant fraud helped Mayor Byron Brown win Monday's election.

"It's disgusting what these people have done," Paladino said, calling it "significant fraud not like anything we've ever seen to win this election."

The allegations of fraud, centered in the Masten in Ellicott districts, are tied into the court order by State Supreme Court Justice John Curran that directed the board of elections to allow anyone in line at the 9:00 PM closing time to vote.

"In every other prior election, no one has voted after 9 PM," Paladino said. "And he allowed them to vote after 9 PM in these districts which were predominantly districts captivated by Brown."

Kearns Campaign Manager Chito Olivencia, a poll watcher for the primary, says he was locked out of an Ellicott district voting precinct.

"The fact that the Masten and Ellicott Districts have voted way beyond the percentage previously voted in the Obama election or any previous election leads us to believe that there's voter fraud in this election," Paladino said.

Paladino plans to go to the board of elections later Wednesday morning to see the vote breakdown by district. He hasn't ruled out legal action in federal court.