The Registrars of Voters submitted the official local ballot counts for the 2024 presidential election to The Newtown Bee on Wednesday, November 13. With Election Day over a week behind them, Democratic Registrar LeReine Frampton and Republican Registrar Erica Canfield both ultimately feel this year’s election went “smoothly” for Newtown.

In Newtown, 17,631 people voted out of the town’s 20,161 registered voters, making for an 87.4% voter turnout. Of the votes, 1,422 came in through absentee ballot, 8,802 were done during the new early voting option, 49 were received via overseas voting, and 409 were same day registration, while the remainder were cast on Election Day.

The Town Clerk’s Office ultimately rejected a total of 80 votes: 27 by absentee voting, 52 by early voting, and one by same day registration.

Newtown residents favored the Democratic team of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, with 9,316 votes compared to the Republican team of Donald Trump and JD Vance, with 7,624 votes. Trump and Vance won nationally over Harris and Walz, however.

For US Senator, residents re-elected all incumbents. Democrat Chris Murphy received 9,094 votes compared to Republican challenger Matthew Corey, who had 7,332 votes. Murphy also won statewide.

Newtown voters also went with US 5th District Representative Democrat Jahana Hayes over Republican challenger George Logan, 8,739-7,908. Hayes also won the overall statewide vote.

For State Senate in District 28, Newtown voters again favored Republican Tony Hwang, with 9,443 votes, over Democrat challenger Rob Blanchard, with 7,481 votes. Hwang also won the overall vote.

When it came to State Representative for District 106, Newtown residents also leaned toward Republican Mitch Bolinsky, with 8,127 votes, over Democrat challenger Michelle Embree Ku, with 7,535 votes. Since no other town votes for District 106, Bolinsky won.

For State Representative for District 107, Newtown voters narrowly favored Democrat challenger Aaron Zimmer, with 624 votes, over Republican Marty Foncello, with 611 votes. District 107 also covers Brookfield and parts of Bethel, however, and those towns favored Foncello, who won the race overall.

For the local Registrars of Voters, Democrat LeReine Frampton had 8,429 votes, while Republican Erica Canfield had 8,187 votes.

There were also two questions on the ballot for Newtown voters this year. The first was a statewide question, asking whether the state’s Constitution should be amended to allow no-excuse absentee voting. Newtown residents voted in favor of the proposed amendment, 9,141-6662. Residents across the state also voted overwhelmingly in favor of the proposal.

The second question was a local one, with residents being asked if they should approve the Legislative Council’s vote to sell or otherwise dispose of Town-owned property located at 3 Main Street. Newtown residents supported the Legislative Council’s vote, with 9,477-5,599.

Reflecting On The Election

While Newtown’s 87.4% voter turnout this year is no small number, it is a decrease from the 90.17% voter turnout Newtown saw in the 2020 presidential election. Canfield and Frampton both admitted to being a little disappointed about the decrease, especially with the 14-day period of early voting this election season.

Early voting gave voters the chance to cast their ballots in person any day they would like before Election Day on November 5. The early 14-day time frame, which this year ran October 25-November 3, gave residents across the state some extra time to cast their vote. This year marked the first time Connecticut offered early voting for a general election.

Four years ago, 17,205 Newtown voters cast their ballots out of the then 19,404 eligible voters in the 2020 presidential election. While over 400 more local residents voted in this year’s election, the margin of voter turnout decreased by over 2.5%.

Nevertheless, Canfield and Frampton said they feel positively about early voting. They both agreed that early voting ballots are easier to process compared to absentee ballots. Canfield noted that because absentee ballots are done at home by the voter, there is more room for margin of error that could lead to their ballot being rejected.

Frampton said absentee ballots “have many things you have to watch out for, and with many more steps.

“We had less than 1,500 [absentee ballots] this year, and they took just as long to count [as the 8,802 early voting ballots],” she added.

Newtown saw a dramatic increase in same day registration voters, from 120 in 2020 compared to 409 in 2024. This is because people who register to vote during early voting are now counted as same day registration.

Canfield and Frampton said early voting is convenient and less stressful for voters, since it gives them more time to cast their ballot. Throughout the entire early voting period, Canfield said there was a “constant stream of people” heading to the Registrar of Voters Office, where Newtown’s early voting was headquarterd. Once voters showed their ID to the Registrars and received their ballot, voting was done in the hallway just outside the Registrar’s office or in a meeting room diagonally across the hall from the registrars.

Canfield said the constant steady flow of voters from early voting also created a challenge for her and Frampton as they continued to prepare for Election Day. They would get to the office two hours early and would not leave until two hours after it closed, often spending 12-14 hours there in order to get as much done as they can, she said. More hours were required of them, which made it a more tense atmosphere to work in, according to Frampton.

“I just wish there was a way with early voting that gave us more time to get ready for the election afterwards,” Canfield said.

Frampton echoed Canfield’s feelings, saying she personally did not like the way it is designed and the time it took from her family. However, despite the challenges that came from early voting, they still felt like it was a success overall. Canfield said she thinks everybody in town was happy to see it put into place, and hopes they continue to use it in the coming years.

After the low turnout Newtown had for its two primaries in April and August, Canfield said it was refreshing to see so many people take part in what she and Frampton plan for every year. Several early and same day registration voters excitedly shared their reasons for voting. Some just turned 18 not too long ago, while a few others registered to vote for the first time in their lives.

The nice weather during early voting also helped get people to vote, according to Canfield. People told her they would be walking within Fairfield Hills on a sunny day, see the Vote Here sign, and be reminded they could vote then. Canfield also felt early voting helped put their office on the map, as several people told her they “didn’t even know where the Registrar’s Office was” or “that they worked throughout the year.”

Canfield also said many people were kind, thankful, and patient.

“That’s what made this worth it to us, because the people were so appreciative of us being here,” she added.

Frampton said she felt there was more passion and animosity in this year, and that people were not as trusting as they were in the past. She added it hurt to not be trusted, and that she and Canfield try their best to explain what they do.

Frampton advised current and potential future voters to be kind to those helping them vote since they are putting in long days and are their neighbors.

As additional advice, she reminds all residents to always remember: “Your voice is your vote. Take time to find out the truth about the candidates. Vote for people that reflect you.”

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Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.