Primary Election Voter Turnout Low; Youth Participation Up

By 1 p.m. today, confirmed what they had expected: a low voter turnout for the primary election.

Head Republican Registrar expected the turnout to be very low this morning but by mid-day, she and Daniel Hally, Democrat Head Registrar, were able to report about 8.9 to 12 percent of registered voters had turned out to cast a ballot for the democrat or republican candidates for senate.  They estimate that the total turnout will be somewhere near 25 percent of all registered republicans and democrats. In total there are 8,626 party-affiliated voters in Branford, 8,758 unaffiliated and 40 “other.”

The open senate seat is currently held by , a former Democrat-turned-Independent who is retiring. 

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.

On the democrat ticket for the senate seat, , current congressman from the Fifth District who is the party's endorsed candidate, faces Susan Bysiewicz, former Secretary of the State. Republican voters are choosing between Linda E. McMahon, a former CEO Of WWE and the party's endorsed candidate and , former congressman from the 4th Congressional District in Fairfield county.

Glenn Murdock, Branford voter came out to the poll at this morning to cast his ballot for McMahon. He said he normally does not vote in primary races, “only when it’s close.” He added, “I just wanted to make sure my vote got in.”

Poll moderator for the 7th District, , said foot traffic was slow at her poll during the morning. “We didn’t have a big rush so we don’t know if that means we’ll get busier later,” she commented.

Bruno was joined by 10 other poll workers – five democrats and five republicans – who work as checkers, ballot collectors and assistant registrars.

Two checkers for the democrats today were 2010 graduates who were working their second primary. Abby Hally, daughter of Head Registrar Dan, said she kind of needed the money and that’s one reason she came out to work the poll today but added that she’s been working in politics since age 5. “I’ve been on politics my whole life,” she said. “I started with sealing envelopes. Local politics is always important.”

Hally is attending UMASS Amherst College and studying environmental design.

Jenna Grande was also out working the 7th District poll with Hally and she said she hopes other young people make time to work during elections. “I think more students need to take the time to care about issues. If you want to have change,” she said, “you have to be the change you want to see in the world.” Grande is attending Marist College to study environmental policy.

Back at the registrar, Burkhard and Hally said in this primary, more than one half dozen workers are under the age of 30. They expect to see more youth participating in the presidential election this November. "We want to be all inclusive of the town," when it comes to staffing the polling centers, said Hally. "The kids," he added, "are part of that." The younger staff members, said Hally, are not intimidated by the electronics making them confident workers. If interested in working at a polling center in November, call the registrar at 203-483-3998.

While the general consensus was that this primary election day has been slow, poll moderator Walter Smith in the 1st District at the  said his traffic has been strong. “It’s been two republicans to every one democrat,” he observed. “Other than that,” he added, “it’s been uneventful.”

First District voter Evelyn Moulton said she came out to vote this morning, partly because it is her “basic right.” “I think it’s important to have a voice,” she said. Moulton said she cast her ballot of Murphy. “I just feel as though there are issues with all of them,” she said of the candidates, “but I think his statements ring more true to me than Linda McMahon.

Polls close at 8 p.m. tonight. If you are registered with a party and want to know where to vote, click here.