With early voting being a thing that a large amount of Newtown residents have been taking advantage of, it almost seems a bit like The Bee’s annual pre-election editorial urging people to vote and covering the basics of the election are a bit less than timely. It may come, in future election years, that this editorial may print much earlier, possibly even as early as early October.

But bygones are bygones and for those of you who did not yet vote through early voting, there’s still time! You can place an early vote at the registrar’s office in the municipal center (3 Primrose Street) from 10 am-6 pm until Sunday, November 3. Or, cast your vote the traditional way on Tuesday, November 5. Polls will be open from 6 am to 8 pm at the following polling places: Newtown Middle School, Newtown High School, and Reed Intermediate School. Connecticut residents who are not yet registered to vote may register in person through Same Day Voter Registration. This can be done at the registrar’s office during the Early Voting period and on Election Day at your Election Day Registration site.

To see a sample ballot for Election Day, go to page A-8.

Among the many issues to be decided is the most partisan, polarized election of modern times — the presidential election between Democratic candidate and current Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump.

Newtown voters will also have a choice in the US House 5th District, between Republican candidate George Logan and Democratic incumbent Representative Jahana Hayes.

At the state level, Republican candidate senator Tony Hwang will be defending against challenger Democratic candidate Rob Blanchard.

Democrat, former Board of Education Chair and Legislative Councilman, and current Selectman Michelle Embree Ku is looking to unseat incumbent Republican Representative Mitch Bolinsky for the Connecticut 106th District House of Representatives seat. The 106th is most of Newtown except for a small section that is within the 107th district.

Equally, Republican incumbent Marty Foncello is defending his 107th district seat from challenger Democratic candidate Aaron Zimmer. The 107th covers Brookfield and parts of Bethel and Newtown, and only voters in Newtown’s voting district 1-7 will be faced with this choice.

The final candidates on the ballot are for Registrar of Voters. Both Democrat LeReine Frampton and Republican Erica Canfield are running for re-election to their positions.

Additionally, voters will face two questions on the ballot, including if voters are in favor of no-excuse absentee voting: “Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the General Assembly to allow each voter to vote by absentee ballot?”

According to ct.gov, “Under the current state constitution, qualified voters may cast an absentee vote only if they are unable to vote in person at their polling place on election day due to (1) absence from their city or town, (2) sickness or physical disability, or (3) their religious beliefs prohibiting secular activity on that day. If this amendment is approved, the state constitution would no longer limit the reasons why absentee voting may be used. Therefore, it would expand the state legislature’s authority to pass laws regarding voting by qualified voters who will not appear at their polling place on election day.”

The second question is from the Town of Newtown, asking, “Shall the Legislative Council’s vote to sell or otherwise dispose of town-owned property located at 3 Main Street be approved?”

The potential sale has to go to referendum after a recent appraisal valued it at $1.67 million, over the $1.5 million threshold where a referendum is required. Council Chairman Keith Alexander noted that the sale was already approved by a previous council several years ago, so the vote was not strictly necessary. However, since the property had since been appraised at over the $1.5 million threshold, the potential sale was required to go to referendum.

The property is 1.2 acres, with an 18,528 square foot building constructed in 1950 with an addition built in 1990. It has 56 off-street parking spaces.

There is currently no buyer, but at a recent Board of Selectmen meeting, First Selectman Jeff Capeci said he has several developers who may be interested.

The town has been considering the sale of the property for several years. Former First Selectman Dan Rosenthal had previously reported some interest in the purchase of the property as well, but nothing ever came of it.

The building has been fully vacant since the move of Newtown Emergency Communications to its current headquarters, 191 South Main Street, in March 2021. Newtown Police Department moved out of 3 Main into 191 South Main a few months earlier. The lower level offices of Town Hall South, which formerly housed Newtown Social Services and Newtown Parks & Recreation, had been vacant since July 2019, when both agencies relocated to 8 Simpson Street, sharing space with Newtown Community Center.