After The Long Campaign, Newtown Prepares To Vote

By Steve Bigham

Town officials are expecting at least a 90 percent voter turnout here in Newtown next week as residents head to the polls to elect the next President of the United States. The race between Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush is expected to come down to the wire, making each vote all the more important this year.

Presidential elections always seem to draw a larger group of voters to the polls, and that means there will be that many more voters out to vote for candidates in other races as well. Those campaigns include races for the US Senate, US House of Representatives, State Senator, and State Representative.

Voters will also be asked to decide the fate of the state’s county sheriff system, which is the last vestige of county government in Connecticut. A formal campaign to abolish the county sheriff system began earlier this year with a bill in the Connecticut General Assembly. Two state legislators and a handful of deputy sheriffs from across the state are urging voters to eliminate the patronage-based sheriff system and make the deputies state employees. County sheriffs and deputies oppose the proposed change. The question on the ballot will read, “Shall the constitution of the state be amended to eliminate county sheriffs?”

Newtown’s list of registered voters has reached an all-time high of 14,368 people due in part to the town’s growth and the public’s interest in the US Presidential election. The voting list has grown by more than 1,300 voters since June. As of Tuesday, there were 6,073 unaffiliated voters in Newtown, 4,923 Republicans, 3,336 Democrats, and 36 others.

Voting hours for next Tuesday are from 6 am to 8 pm at the following four locations: District 1 polls will be located at Newtown Middle School, Queen Street; District 2 will vote at the Sandy Hook Firehouse; District 3A will head to Head O’ Meadow School, Boggs Hill Road; and District 3B will vote at Middle Gate School, Cold Spring Road.

Absentee Ballots

Absentee ballots are available at the town clerk’s office, which, in addition to its Monday through Friday working hours of 8:30 to 4:30 pm, will be open on Saturday, from 9 am to noon.

Those eligible to vote by absentee ballot are registered voters unable to vote on Election Day due to illness or physical disability, absence from town during voting hours, religious beliefs that forbid secular activity on Election Day, active military service, or service as an election official.

For more information, call the town clerk’s office at 270-4210.

In addition, the registrars’ office (located at Edmond Town Hall) will have a special registration session next Monday from 9 am to noon to register anyone who turned 18 years old after October 24, or who moved to Newtown or became a US citizen after October 24.

For more information, call the registrars’ office at 270-4250.

Not Registered?

Don’t Worry

The cutoff date for registering to vote in Newtown was last week. However, those who missed the deadline are still eligible to vote, according to Mrs Simon. A special ballot can be obtained from the town clerk’s office for non-registered voters up until 8 pm next Tuesday. However, the ballot only allows those persons the opportunity vote for President and Vice President.

The Candidates

For US President, the Democratic ticket features Vice President Al Gore and Connecticut US Senator Joe Lieberman. Republicans George W. Bush and Dick Cheney are opposing them. Also on the ballot are Howard Phillips of the Concerned Citizens Party, Ralph Nader of the Green Party, Pat Buchanan of the Reform Party, and Harry Browne of the Libertarian Party.

Mr Lieberman’s name also appears on the ballot for US Senator, where he is looking to retain his seat as Connecticut’s junior Senator. Republican Phil Giordano and William Kozak, Jr, of the Concerned Citizens Party are challenging Mr Lieberman.

If Mr Lieberman happens to win both races, the task of filling his vacant seat will be left up to Governor John Rowland.

For Congress from the Fifth District, Democratic incumbent Jim Maloney is seeking to return to Washington for a third term. Republican Mark Nielsen, who is making his second straight bid for Mr Maloney’s seat, is challenging him. Also on the ballot is Joseph A. Zdonczyk of the Concerned Citizens Party.

In the election for state senator in the 28th District, which includes Fairfield, Easton, Newtown, and part of Monroe, Republican John McKinney hopes to retain his seat. Democratic newcomer Felix Giannini is looking to take it away.

Voters in Newtown’s first district (middle school) and second district (Sandy Hook fire house) will have the option to vote for 106th District State Representative incumbent Julia Wasserman only. The Republican from Newtown is running unopposed in her bid to return for a sixth term in Hartford.

District 3-A voters (Head O’ Meadow School) will elect a state representative from the 135th District. They too will have only one choice as incumbent Republican John Stripp of Weston is running unopposed.

In District 3-B (Middle Gate School) voters will be asked to choose between incumbent Republican Pat Shea of Monroe and Democratic newcomer Joe Ziehl of Monroe.