BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — Voters going to the polls Tuesday in the court ordered new primary election in Bridgeport can use a state hotline should they see any problems.
The Office of the Secretary of the State reminded the public that if they witness or suspect any voter intimidation, wrongdoing or other voting irregularities, the Election Day Hotline at 866-733-2463 and email address at elections@ct.gov will be available from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 23, for the new mayoral primary election in Bridgeport and the 115th State House District special election in West Haven.
The hotline and email will be staffed by the CT State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC).
The SEEC is the primary elections investigative and civil enforcement authority in Connecticut. The Secretary of the State’s office is charged with overseeing all elections in Connecticut, which includes advising and assisting local Registrars of Voters and Town Clerks on their statutory responsibilities regarding the administration of elections.
Last November, a state judge threw out the results of the Sept. 12 Democratic mayoral primary in Bridgeport and ordered a new primary to take its place. At issue was evidence that supporters of Mayor Joe Ganim had stuffed multiple absentee ballots into outdoor ballot collection boxes. Ganim said these supporters broke the law but denied any knowledge or involvement in the scheme.
RELATED: Allegations, investigations, continuations: Bridgeport's mayoral race heads back to the ballot box
In the September primary, Ganim defeated challenger John Gomes by 251 votes out of 8,173 cast. The Gomes campaign later sued the city, demanding a new primary after obtaining video surveillance evidence of the ballot box stuffing. The Nov. 7 general election went ahead as scheduled, and Ganim once again prevailed in a close race over Gomes, who ran as an independent, and two other candidates. But the judge’s order rendered that election moot as well, and now Ganim and Gomes will face off for the third time in four months.
In West Haven, there is a special election to fill a vacancy for state representative in the 115th Assembly District of the Connecticut House.
The seat, which consists of a portion of West Haven, became vacant in December when Dorinda Borer resigned after being elected to serve as the city’s mayor.
RELATED: Secretary of the State outlines efforts to secure Bridgeport’s new mayoral primary in January
Doug Stewart is a Senior Digital Content Producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dstewart@fox61.com.
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