Allegations of election misconduct have surfaced in Lackawanna County as a judge of elections and her son face charges related to ballot tampering during Election Day. The charges stem from actions taken at a Scranton precinct, where ballots were reportedly altered to favor the judge of elections candidate.
Kathie Sico, aged 67, and her son, Michael Sico, 46, both residing in Dunmore, are accused of manipulating ballots to include Kathie Sico’s name, aiming to secure her election as the judge of elections at the Jackson Heights precinct. This information is based on affidavits filed in the case.
The Extent of Ballot Alterations
According to County Detective Colleen Catanese, out of 141 valid ballots reviewed, 35 had Kathie Sico’s name inscribed in sections meant for choosing a judge of elections and/or inspector of elections. Additionally, among five ballots discarded due to discrepancies, two contained her name in the judge of elections section. County deputy sheriffs reported that Michael Sico admitted they were writing her name on the ballots because they received requests to do so.
Admissions and Denials
In a conversation with authorities, Kathie Sico allegedly confessed to inscribing her name on some ballots before voters received them. She explained that she wrote on two ballots when “someone asked her to” but later claimed uncertainty about her actions, stating, “and if I did, I don’t remember.” Regarding her son’s involvement, she was unsure if he had written on ballots.
Health Concerns Cited
Sico attributed her actions to a medical condition, admitting, “I guess I screwed up, I did two names,” when confronted by election officials. She also acknowledged observing her son write her name on ballots, yet both were uncertain about the total number of ballots affected.
The Role of Social Media
The incident first came to light through a Facebook post displaying a ballot with Sico’s name. The post questioned the legality of the situation, stating, “IS THIS LEGAL?” The poster described receiving a ballot with the name already written and noted that the person who handed it to them claimed to be the judge of elections. This revelation prompted an investigation by the district attorney’s office, although the original poster has refused to comment further.
The responsibilities of judges of elections include ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the voting process. As the investigation continues, both Kathie and Michael Sico are expected to present themselves to authorities in the coming week, as noted by District Attorney Brian Gallagher.
