MONTICELLO – Outraged residents of the Village of Bloomingburg are urging Sullivan County District Attorney James Farrell to investigate the Board of Elections.

Elected officials from the Town of Mamakating, residents and community activists held a protest outside of the Sullivan County Courthouse in Monticello Tuesday where the DA’s office is located.

Protestors target DA Farrell, who did not appear, and could not be reached by us

Protestors allege that there are a substantial amount of unregistered voters that had cast votes to elect officials, among them Mayor Mark Beresten, who have approved the development of a 396 unit residential annex by developer Shalom Lamm. Mamakating Councilman Matt Taylor was among the protestors.

This issue has been going on since 2006 and the development has been met with community disapproval. The voter registration issue was brought to State Supreme Court in April 2014 where, according to Taylor, Justice Stephen Schick ruled Shalom Lamm “corrupted Bloomingburg in an attempt to stuff the ballot box.”

Mamakating Town Councilwoman Brenda Giraldi said the residents are just trying to have the matter investigated and laws enforced if need be.

“We’re looking for justice,” said Giraldi.   “We’re looking for everyone to follow the rule of law, the rules and laws of our zoning codes in our town and we’re looking for a very thorough investigation into alleged voter fraud.”

Giraldi said this is the third time so far there has been voter fraud suspicion and she expects the Board of Elections and commissioners to do their jobs.

DA Farrell was not present at the protest and could not be reached for comment.