Branford Voters Vocal on Election Day, 2012 [UPDATE]

Update 2 p.m.

By 12 p.m. today, 37.52 percent of Branford's more than 18,000 registered voters turned out to the polls to cast their ballots for either presidential incumbent Barack Obama or challenger Mitt Romney. Or in 5th District voter Kurt Volt's opinion for neither candidate. "I voted the best vote I ever made," he said. "I wrote in my vote... the two parties have become so corrupt, it's pointless. The moral vote is a protest vote," he declared. 

Less jaded across town, in the 6th District, eleventh-graders Aaryne Antell and Sam Bailey-Loomis who are members of the Branford High School Model Congress said if they could vote today, it would be "Romney, 100 percent."

First-time voter Avani Patel in the 4th district said her vote was for Obama today because, "Romney pretty much put a binder on women and I happen to be one and I don't like that." 

Since the polls opened at 6 a.m., the voter turnout has been steady said registrar Daniel Hally-D. As of noon, 6,831 voters had cast their ballots – with the average being about 1,150 voters per hour, said Hally. "To me, it's encouraging," said Hally. "We've had a good turnout."

________________________________________________________________________________________

For election news as it happens check out Branford Patch Facebook and Twitter and join our Live Blog.

___________________________________________________________________________________

Registrar Marion Burkhard said it was hard to tell how the turnout was by district so far because this election is the first Presidential Election Branford has had with seven voting districts – before Branford had five districts. 

"You can't compare it to four years ago," she said, "because of the districts – we've dispersed the people."

Before the re-district, Branford Hills School – the 4th District – used to see about 6,000 voters said Burkhard. That number, she added has been reduced by half. "It's made a difference in the volume of people going through a polling place," she said. 

Even with the reduction, Patch noticed quite a bit of traffic at every polling center today. 

We will be back soon with another update and of course with the results later tonight! Stay tuned! 

Did you vote today? What did you think about the trip to the polls? 

Original Article, 5:45 a.m.

Where to vote, the list of candidates, and how the town voted in past elections. Check back mid-day for updates from the polling stations. 

Good morning, and welcome to Election Day 2012!

Today, Branford residents go to the polls to choose a president, a U.S. Senator, a U.S. Representative from the 3rd District, a state Senator from the 12th District and state representatives from the 98th and 102nd districts.

See below for information on where to go to cast your ballot and the list of candidates. We've also included how Branford voted in 2008, the year of the last presidential election, and in 2010, the last mid-term election.

Read it over, then visit your local polling station between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. to make your voice heard! And if you see me around your polling center, be sure to say hello! I'll be reporting around town all day and sharing news throughout the day via Facebook and Twitter. Also, be sure to check back with Patch for story updates throughout the day, including the announcement of the winners as soon as votes are tallied.

Don't know where to vote in Branford? See attached street list or head over to the town website. 

Branford Polling Stations

1st  District:

Recreation Department Community House, 46 Church Street

2nd District:

St. Therese Church, 105 Leetes Island Road

3rd District:

Orchard House Adult Day Care Center, 421 Shore Drive

4th District:

Branford Hills School, 80 Burban Drive

5th District:

Indian Neck School, 12 Melrose Avenue

6th District:

Mary T.Murphy School, 14 Brushy Plain Road

7th District:

Walsh Intermediate School, 185 Damascus Road

How Branford Voted in 2008 (77.53% Turnout)

(D=Democrat; R=Republican; G=Green; I=Independent; WF=Working Families; CL=Connecticut for Lieberman)

PRESIDENT

• Obama-Biden (D) — 9,062 votes
• McCain-Palin (R) — 5,906 votes*

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 3RD DISTRICT

• Rosa L. DeLauro (D) — 10,873 votes
• Bo Itshaky (R) — 3,104 votes

12th SENATE DISTRICT

• Edward Meyer (D) — 9,109 votes
• Ryan Suerth (R) — 4,835 votes

98TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

• Patricia M. Widlitz (D) — 2,437 votes
• No nominee (R) 

102ND ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

• Lonnie Reed (D) — 7,854 votes
• No nominee (R) 

How Branford Voted in 2010 (60.11% Turnout)

(D=Democrat; R=Republican; G=Green; I=Independent; WF=Working Families; CL=Connecticut for Lieberman; SA=Socialist Action)

U.S. SENATE

• Blumenthal (D) — 6,287 votes
• McMahon (R) — 4,360 votes

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 3RD DISTRICT

• Rosa L DeLauro (D) — 6,785 votes
• Jerry Labriola, Jr. (R) — 3,793 votes

12TH SENATE DISTRICT

• Edward Meyer (D) — 6,237 votes
• Lisa Davenport (R) — 4,619 votes

98TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

• Patricia M. Widlitz (D) — 1,430 votes
• Cindy Cartier (R) — 1,252 votes

102ND ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

• Lonnie Reed (D) — 4,411 votes
• David G Goclowski (R) – 3,632 votes

.......................................

*In the first edition of this article, I transposed these totals; the error has been corrected.