Former mayoral candidate in NJ admits to forging 1k voter registration applications

A former Plainfield mayoral candidate has admitted to forging voter registration applications as part of a scheme tied to his 2021 campaign, New Jersey authorities announced.

Henrilynn Ibezim, who ran in the Democratic primary for mayor that year, pleaded guilty to a single count of third-degree forgery under a plea agreement with the state. 

Prosecutors said the charge stems from his role in submitting about 1,000 fraudulent voter registration forms to election officials.

“My office is determined to ensure elections are fair and that their outcomes are determined by the will of the voters,” said New Jersey Attorney General Davenport. “It is crucial to our system of government that those who engage in illegal and bad faith conduct during elections be held accountable. Failing to do so opens the door to a loss of public confidence in the democratic process.”

According to state investigators, Ibezim attempted to influence the election by delivering hundreds of falsified applications, which did not properly disclose that someone other than the named voter had filled them out.

In a separate case, 4 individuals in New Jersey were charged with voting illegally.