by In Millbourne, a small borough near Philadelphia, three men attempted to fraudulently influence the 2021 mayoral race. Their actions led to federal charges, years-long investigations, and ongoing fallout for the community.
What Happened
In the 2021 Millbourne mayoral race, candidate Mahabubul Tayub noticed unusual spikes in voter registrations. Many new voters didn’t live in the borough.
His opponent, Md Nurul Hasan, later pleaded guilty to 33 federal felony charges after it was revealed he and two allies had illegally registered nonresidents and cast mail-in ballots on their behalf.
Key Details
- Election Year: 2021
- Location: Millbourne, Delaware County, Pa.
- Convicted Individuals: Md Nurul Hasan, Md Munsur Ali, Md Rafikul Islam
- Number of Fraudulent Voter Registrations: ~33
- Method: Illegally registered nonresidents using their personal info; cast fraudulent mail-in ballots
- Detection: Unusual voter spikes and Tayub’s suspicions raised red flags before the votes were counted
| Individual | Role in Scheme | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Md Nurul Hasan | Mayoral candidate | Pleaded guilty |
| Md Munsur Ali | Council member | Pleaded guilty |
| Md Rafikul Islam | Associate | Pleaded guilty |
Reactions or Statements
Former Mayor Tom Kramer, current Mayor Tayub, and borough officials expressed frustration with the slow pace of the investigation.
“It was a very difficult matter to investigate,” said Delaware County Elections Director Jim Allen.
At a recent council meeting, Kramer publicly called for the resignation of Hasan and Ali. Hasan has since submitted his resignation, but Ali remains on the council.
Investigation or What’s Next
- Initial Complaints Filed: October 2021
- Federal Indictment Issued: February 2025
- County Charges Filed: March 2025
- Sentencing Date: June 2025
Despite the convictions, both Hasan and Ali continued to serve on the borough council until recently, due to legal gaps preventing automatic removal from office.
A quo warranto legal challenge could be filed by the district attorney or state attorney general to remove remaining officials.
FAQs
Q1: How was the election fraud discovered?
Tayub noticed unfamiliar names on the voter rolls and alerted officials before Election Day.
Q2: How many votes were affected?
About 33 fraudulent registrations were identified.
Q3: Was the election result changed?
No. Despite the attempted fraud, Tayub won the election.
Q4: Why weren’t the convicted officials removed immediately?
Pennsylvania law requires formal resignation, impeachment, or a legal challenge to remove elected officials.
Q5: What are the broader implications?
The case underscores both the risk and detection difficulty of local election fraud, but also how hard it is to commit fraud at scale.
Summary / Final Takeaway
The Millbourne election fraud case serves as a rare but real example of voter manipulation in local government.
It illustrates that while fraud is possible, it’s difficult to execute without detection—especially in small jurisdictions. The case also highlights gaps in accountability for public officials found guilty of crimes.
As election security continues to dominate national conversation, Millbourne’s story offers both a warning and a reassurance: fraud can happen, but it is often caught.
