CONNECTICUT, USA — In the first full week of early voting, more than 313,000 Connecticut residents cast their ballots.
Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas said the state’s first general election with early voting is going smoothly and despite concerns about the high turnout, she said towns are prepared.
“Voters are just happy to have a choice,” Thomas said.
The early votes plus 79,000 returned absentee ballots is about 17% of all registered voters in the state.
“I've been traveling around to early voting locations and the tone out in the communities has been very upbeat,” Thomas added.
The top towns for turnout are West Hartford, Fairfield and Stamford.
“I think everyone was shocked about the high turnout,” Thomas said.
None of the early voting ballots can be counted until Election Day on Nov. 5. That’s why the turnout is leading to concerns from state legislative leaders about the sheer number of ballots election workers who will be tasked with opening and counting.
Friday afternoon, Senate Democratic leadership sent a letter to the Secretary of the State’s office, writing, “Local registrars of voters will be inundated with opening and counting early ballots on Election Day.”
They added, “We believe it is of the utmost importance that your office be prepared to offer any and all assistance and guidance to local registrars in the quick and accurate tallying of early votes.”
“We have been checking regularly with every town and most of them are in good shape,” Thomas countered. “I understand lawmakers are concerned but the great news is, election workers have actually been thinking about this for more than a year. So most towns have planned their count around the number of people who voted by absentee in 2020. Those numbers were very close to 700,000. So we have a good leeway there.”
Thomas also said more than 2,800 residents volunteered or signed up to serve as poll workers in this election.
“After I received the letter on Friday, we reached out personally to the top 20 towns in terms of turnout to see how they felt and most felt like they were in really good shape,” she continued.
Emma Wulfhorst is a political reporter for FOX61 News. She can be reached at ewulfhorst@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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