Vote Tuesday! Republicans, Democrats Head to the Polls for Aug. 14 Primary

Registered Republicans and Democrats in Connecticut can vote in primaries in their respective parties on Tuesday, Aug. 14, for candidates running in state and federal elections.

Polls open across the state at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

While registered voters can't switch their party affiliation at this point, unaffiliated or unregistered voters can register by noon today in person to vote in either primary. Branford's is located at 40 Kirkham, Ave.; 203-483-3998,

All Connecticut residents, either Republicans or Democrats, who vote in Tuesday's primary will choose between two candidates each in their respective parties for the open U.S. Senate race.

This is the seat currently held by U.S. Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, a former Democrat-turned-Independent who is retiring. 

Democrats

• , current congressman from the Fifth District, the party's endorsed candidate and a Cheshire resident.

• Susan Bysiewicz, former Secretary of the State and Middletown resident.

Republicans

• Linda E. McMahon, a former CEO Of WWE, the party's endorsed candidate and Greenwich resident.

• , former congressman from the 4th Congressional District in Fairfield County and a resident of Bridgeport.

There is no primary in the Third Congressional District this year. For the Democrats, the endorsed candidate is incumbent U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, of North Haven, and the Republican challenger this year is Wayne Winsley, a businessman and media personality from Naugatuck.

The candidates will all rendevouz with their campaign staffs during Tuesday evening at hotels, restaurants and other venues, to watch as the vote returns from the primary are called in.

These campaign gatherings happen around the time the polls close, at 8 p.m., and supporters and local reporters will likely show up too.

Here’s a breakdown on where each candidate is expected to be after the votes are called in:

U.S. Senate

• Murphy Campaign: Omni Hotel, 155 Temple St., New Haven
• Bysiewicz Campaign: Mattabesett Canoe Club, 80 Harbor Drive, Middletown (Bysiewicz expected to address supporters at 8:30 p.m.)
• McMahon Campaign: Hilton Stamford Hotel, 1 Stamford Place, Stamford
• Shays Campaign: Campaign Headquarters, 2013 Main St., Stratford

Third Congressional District

• DeLauro Campaign: A spokesman said there are no plans for any events during the primary.
• Winsley Campaign: Wayne Winsley told Patch he plans on criss-crossing the state so he can show report to fellow Republicans who are facing primaries and to encourage voters to support Republicans this year.
  
  "I haven’t taken sides in any of the people that are facing primaries," Winsley said. "Really I’m in the enviable position to really sit back and see what happens."