Newtown Republicans are being called to the polls August 9 to endorse a candidate to run for the party's Northern Fairfield County Probate Court judge seat in a GOP-exclusive primary.

Absentee ballots for that primary are available now through 4:30 pm Monday, August 8, at the Newtown Town Clerk's Office in Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street. The town clerk's office is open Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm.

Town Clerk Debbie Halstead is also planning a special Saturday absentee voting session, from 9 am to noon, on Saturday, August 6.

Current Probate Judge Joseph Egan is leaving office in October when he reaches the mandated retirement cap age of 70. That leaves an open seat for the court, which serves approximately 80,000 persons in Ridgefield, Redding, Newtown, and Bethel.

Daniel O'Grady, an attorney and former Bethel Probate Judge currently serving as Bethel's town treasurer, and Ridgefield Attorney Patrick Walsh are facing off for the opportunity to challenge a sole Democratic nominee, Ridgefield Attorney Sharon Dornfeld.

An absentee ballot may be applied for by any qualified registered voter unable to vote due to any of the following reasons:

*Illness or physical disability;

*Absence from town during all election hours;

*Religious beliefs forbidding secular activity on election day;

*Serving as an election official at a polling place other than your own; or

*Active service in the Armed Forces.

To obtain an application for an absentee ballot,

click here or visit the Town Clerks Office Monday through Friday, from 8 am to 4:30 pm. For further information, call 203-270-4210.

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