Voting in Northern Connecticut

Scenes from the front lines in Enfield:

As we approached the precinct, we could see some signage, and a few people lobbying for their candidate, but nothing like I would have expected in, for example, Ohio or Florida.

Here was the pathway into town hall to vote. I was disappointed to see that the line was so short. Of course, in a very blue state like Connecticut, I shouldn’t have been surprised.

Of course, no electioneering was allowed past this point, even though there really wasn’t much going on anyway. Kerry will win here, and likely by a comfortable margin. People haven’t seemed energized by any of the local issues. Some of the legislative races have been compelling, but not like the polarization we have seen in the Presidential race.

So, Connecticut lacks quite a bit of the zeal and fervor of so-called “battleground” states. I guess that’s a good thing.

A reminder for CT residents

A reminder from today’s New Haven Register, if you are still not registered to vote, you can do something about it. It’s just about the lunch hour now, so go ahead.

You may have missed the registration deadline, but don’t fret.

It’s a little-known secret that you still can cast a presidential ballot today simply by going into your local city or town clerk’s office.

All you need to do is bring identification that shows where you live, swear that you aren’t registered anywhere else and receive and cast a paper presidential ballot, local registrars say.

The ballot is similar to an absentee or an overseas ballots and will enable you to vote only for president and vice president.

For more information, call your city or town clerk’s office, which is listed in the blue pages of your phone book, or call the Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz’s office at (860) 509-6100.

Also, a statewide toll-free telephone number will be available today for anyone to report voting irregularities.

The number, (866) 733-2463 (866-SEEC-INFO), will be staffed by the State Elections Enforcement Commission during polling hours.

Anyone with knowledge of election fraud or voting rights abuses is encouraged to call the number to reported suspected violations, according to the U.S.

Attorney’s office.

Staff will answer questions, advise on complaint procedures and, if necessary, request the assistance of other state criminal or federal law enforcement authorities in an investigation.

U.S. Attorney Kevin O’Connor said the state has a tradition of “clean” elections.

“We have no reason to believe or suspect that voter fraud will occur in our state this year,” O’Connor said.

“However, this toll-free number will allow us to be prepared to respond quickly and appropriately if electoral corruption or voting rights violations are alleged.”

First Hand Report

I just returned from voting in the small New England town of Thomaston Connecticut. I have voted here for the last ten years and today’s turnout is at least double any previous election. There were no lines because the workers are very efficient. You are greeted at the door by a friendly volunteer and directed to your voting area based on your address. The entire process took about fifteen minutes.

Connecticut Radio is reporting “extremely high turnout” and “record lines” at all voting places.
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Election officials prepare for last-minute onslaught

Thanks to a law that allows people to cast a “special presidential ballot” right up until the polls close without having pre-registered, Connecticut election workers will be awash in chaos, even though the outcome of the state’s voting is virtually pre-determined.

Towns Bracing For Surge In Special Ballots (registration required)

As interest in this year’s presidential race soars, town clerks around the state are gearing up for an onslaught of unregistered voters on Election Day. The deadline for voter registration was Oct. 19.

Connecticut is the only state in the nation that allows people to cast a so-called presidential ballot on Election Day without first requiring them to register, said Leslie Reynolds, executive director of the National Association of Secretaries of State. Six states offer same-day registration; North Dakota does not require any voters to register.

The so-called presidential ballots have been around for decades, but because of a state law passed in 1997, the 2000 presidential election was the first in which unregistered voters in Connecticut could cast a ballot right up until the polls closed, said Michael Kozik of the secretary of the state’s office.

Before that, unregistered voters had to fill out the ballot - which allows votes only for president and vice president - ahead of time, said Kozik, a managing attorney with the legislative and elections administration division. The special ballots for 2004 have been available to residents since Sept. 18.

I think the nation should be thankful that Connecticut is not a swing state.

(Cross-posted to Right Thoughts)

Huge Turnout Expected

A record turnout is expected at the polls tomorrow.

In Connecticut there are more than two million registered voters.

Since election day 2002 there has been a decrease in the number of registered Republican voters by about 3,700. Democrats have gained more than 27,000 voters.

There are also more than 84,000 unaffiliated new voters.

Via WTNH TV

Polls open at 6 am and close at 8 pm.

An Unlikely Endorsement?

I was as surprised as anyone to see that the Hartford Courant endorsed George W. Bush for re-election:

Mr. Bush’s positive, decisive leadership qualities and the perilous times we live in are a good match. He is the candidate who can best protect the nation. The Democratic challenger’s vague and conflicting prescriptions for energizing America and defusing the terrorist threat do not measure up.

We are rarely blessed with perfect choices on who should lead the nation. On balance, President Bush has compiled a record good enough to merit a second term. He has been an agent of change and a strong leader in a dangerous time.

The Courant’s lengthy treatise gives the President credit in his prosecution of the war in Iraq, but criticizes his policies toward the environment, civil liberties, international alliances, and government spending. Still, as a newcomer to Northeastern politics, I was shocked that, in the end, partisanship lost to reasonable analysis of the candidates. I expected something more akin to what I found in the reader responses.

Few Choices in Connecticut

HARTFORD (AP) — Many Connecticut voters won’t find much of a choice at the polls this year when it comes to candidates for state legislature. In about a third of all races - 33 percent - for the state Senate and House of Representatives, mostly incumbent legislators are not being challenged by a major party candidate.

Via WFSB TV Website
From AP

HARTFORD (AP) — Many Connecticut voters won’t find much of a choice at the polls this year when it comes to candidates for state legislature. In about a third of all races - 33 percent - for the state Senate and House of Representatives, mostly incumbent legislators are not being challenged by a major party candidate.

That’s an increase from two years ago, when about 25 percent of the state’s legislative races lacked a major party challenger. Four years ago, about 33 percent of races were unopposed.

“It’s hard to tell what the reason is,” said Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz, a Democrat. “Each area has its own story. It’s disappointing because you like to see competitive races.”

The re-election rate for incumbent lawmakers in Connecticut typically runs about 95 percent, according to state statistics. That figure is buoyed by the large number of uncontested races.

According to Byswiewicz’s office, there are four Senate races this year with a single candidate on the ballot. In eight other races, a major party candidate is opposed only by a candidate from a minor party.

There are 36 Senate seats in total. In the House, where there are 151 seats, 32 candidates are unopposed from either major or minor parties. There are 27 races where the candidate faces only a minor party challenge.

Democrats control both chambers of the legislature. They are expected to retain control after this year’s election. Christopher Barnes, the associate director of the University of Connecticut’s Center for Survey Research, said this year’s large number of uncontested races reflects the “static” political system that has developed in Connecticut.

The political parties often cherry-pick the particular districts they believe they have the best shot in winning. Meanwhile, the candidates often use tried and true strategies - Republicans run as mavericks, willing to buck the GOP, while Democrats establish a popular base and position themselves to make sure they don’t face significant competition, Barnes said.

“Connecticut has developed into a series of static political structures and formulas to get elected,” said Barnes, adding how such a scenario has depressed interest in the races - both among voters and possible candidates.

Bysiewicz said one bright spot to this year’s legislative races is the fact there are so many third party candidates. The two-year-old Connecticut Working Families Party leads the pack. It has candidates running in nearly 75 districts, said director Jon Green. That includes about 16 cross-endorsements of major party candidates. The rest are candidates cultivated by the party.

“It’s mainly new people,” Bysiewicz said. “I think it’s always good when new people become part of the process. They add to the debate. They bring their own supporters to the election.”

Green acknowledges that some Working Families candidates are more committed to their races than others. In many races, the candidates have said they want to win 1 percent of the vote so the party has the ability, under state election law, to cross-endorse future Democratic and Republican candidates who support the WFP’s agenda.

“The goal of the party is to hold politicians more accountable on the issues affecting working families,” said Green. The party supports policies such as livable wages for workers, affordable health care, tax reform and an end to outsourcing jobs.

The party was formed in 1998 in New York by a coalition of unions, community groups and activists. WFP came to Connecticut in 2002. Leaders include union officials and community organizers.

Most of the candidates this year, Green said, will probably spend no money in their campaigns. He credits the high cost of campaigns and a need for campaign finance reform as a reason why more major party candidates are not running this year.

“We’re glad we’re there to at least provide some choice,” he said. “People can at least signal support for issues when they go to vote, and not be left with no choice,” Green said, “which is not a healthy thing for democracy.”

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)

Yalies for Bush? Who'd a thunk it!

I was surprised to see this in the Nov. 1 edition of the Yale Daily news this morning. I was convinced that New Haven was so blue it bled, well, blue. I was also fairly certain that the university had issued a memo disavowing Ol’ Dubya, but then I remembered he’s a Bonesman too. :)

The Yale College Republicans and Yale Students for Bush rally in front of Payne Whitney Gymnasium as part of a final effort to garner support for President George W. Bush’s re-election.

Interesting.

Anyway, I’m not sure how much election activity in Connecticut will be relevant to the Command Post readership at large. We have very few hotly contested races this year in the land of Martha. Be that as it may, I will do my best to dig up something worth reading. Who knows, maybe one of our mayors will pull a gun on some hapless voter for not voting straight (D), or one of the entrenched Senators will get caught soliciting a minor before the polls close. We do have some crazy stories ‘round here.

(Cross-posted to Right Thoughts)