Extended: Cicilline denies voter fraud

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - In a news conference Wednesday , First Democratic Congressional candidate Anthony Gemma accused Congressman David Cicilline's campaign associates of voter fraud and rigging elections.

Those allegations included coaxing people to vote, getting individuals to cast multiple ballots at multiple polling places, teaching underage individuals how to vote fraudulently, abusing the absentee ballot system, using dead voters' names to cast ballots, tampering with electronic voting machines and registering to vote at businesses and vacant lots. Gemma claimed the fraud took place in Providence between 2002 and 2010.

• Related: Gemma alleges voter fraud in Cicilline campaign

Cicilline blasted the allegations of voter fraud and said Gemma did not produce a single shred of evidence.

"Fortunately I think Rhode Islanders know the difference between fact and fiction - that was fiction," Cicilline told WPRI.com on Wednesday afternoon at his East Providence campaign office, adding that while voter fraud should be investigated and prosecuted, Gemma "did not produce a single shred of evidence."