Registrars Are On The Ballot, But Too Busy To Campaign

By Steve Bigham

Newtown’s Registrars of Voters Karin Aurelia (Republican) and Linda Connor (Democrat) are both up for reelection this year, but neither of them has spent any time on the campaign trail. They are far too busy trying to prepare the town for next Tuesday’s big event.

“We don’t have any time to think about it. Between the phone calls and the updating of the voting list – we’re swamped,” noted Mrs Connor.

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.

This week, the two registrars along with Town Clerk Cindy Simon held training classes for election moderators and election officials. On Wednesday, the registrars were found testing the town’s voting machines to ensure that they accurately record each and every vote cast next Tuesday.

The registrars’ office has been bombarded with calls in recent weeks from people asking a myriad of election questions. The office’s answering machine holds 30 calls and it became filled with messages this past weekend. Most of the callers were seeking absentee ballots, which can be obtained in the town clerk’s office. Others wanted to know if they could still vote in Newtown even though they have moved out of town. The answer is, “no.” They must register in the town they live in.

Of course, many callers also ask if it is too late to register for this year’s election. That deadline passed last week. However, a relatively new law permits residents to vote for the US President and Vice President (only) even if they are not registered. That form can be picked up at the town clerk’s office at Edmond Town Hall up until 8 pm on election night.

The registrar’s office is constantly monitoring its voting list, deleting names of those who appear on The Bee’s obituary page and sending applications to those residents who have recently moved to town. They get those names from the Bee’s real estate notes.

According to state law, each town must have two registrars representing both the Republican and Democratic parties. However, while both registrars are assured of being reelected, voters can only cast one vote.

“I think we need at least one vote in order to get elected. We’ll probably vote for each other,” Mrs Connor joked.

Both Mrs Connor and Mrs Aurelia are on the ballot for the first time. The two town officials replaced a pair of former registrars who resigned in mid-term.