Former Democratic Mayoral Candidate Admits to Forging Voter Registration Applications

Former New Jersey Mayoral Candidate Pleads Guilty to Forging Voter Registration Forms

Henrilynn Ibezim, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Plainfield, New Jersey in 2021, has pleaded guilty to forging nearly 1,000 voter registration applications during the Democratic primary, according to an announcement Thursday from New Jersey’s Office of the Attorney General.

Court documents reveal that Ibezim attempted to mail approximately 1,000 falsified voter registration forms to Union County’s registration commissioner. In a particularly brazen move, he reportedly brought the fraudulent applications to an Elizabeth post office in a garbage bag.

Investigators discovered that most applications appeared to be completed by only three or four individuals, despite none being properly marked as filled out by someone other than the purported voter. The scheme represented a significant attempt to manipulate the electoral process in the Plainfield mayoral race.

“My office is determined to ensure elections are fair and that their outcomes are determined by the will of the voters,” Attorney General Jennifer Davenport said in a statement following the guilty plea. “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.”

Despite the elaborate fraud attempt, Ibezim’s campaign failed dramatically. Running on the Unity Party ticket, he received just 103 votes in the primary, losing decisively to Adrian O. Mapp, who went on to become Plainfield’s mayor.

The case took another troubling turn when investigators discovered Ibezim had attempted to coach a witness who had helped him fill out the applications. According to the attorney general’s office, he instructed the witness not to “admit anything” when questioned by law enforcement, adding witness tampering to his list of alleged offenses.

Initially charged with eight criminal counts, including election fraud and witness tampering, Ibezim accepted a plea deal that reduced his charges to a single count of third-degree forgery. Prosecutors have recommended probation as punishment when he faces sentencing in June.

The case highlights ongoing concerns about election integrity across the United States. While rare, instances of election fraud do occur and are typically detected and prosecuted, as demonstrated by this case. Election security experts consistently note that such fraud attempts are usually caught by existing safeguards in the electoral system.

The Plainfield case is particularly notable for the sheer volume of falsified documents involved and the apparent coordination required to produce nearly 1,000 fraudulent applications. It also serves as a reminder that election fraud attempts occur at the local level, where races may receive less scrutiny than high-profile national contests.

Union County, where Plainfield is located, has a population of over half a million residents and is part of the New York metropolitan area. Plainfield itself is a diverse city of approximately 50,000 residents with a significant history in New Jersey politics.

The New Jersey Attorney General’s office has taken an increasingly active role in pursuing election-related crimes in recent years, part of a broader national trend of heightened attention to electoral integrity. This case demonstrates that authorities are prepared to prosecute election fraud regardless of political affiliation.

As Ibezim awaits sentencing, his case serves as a cautionary tale about the legal consequences of attempting to manipulate democratic processes, even in local elections that may seem to fly under the radar of broader public attention.