Registrars Review Logistics, Policies For Super Tuesday

The Newtown Registrars of Voters reminds citizens that to participate in the Presidential Primary on Super Tuesday, February 5, voters must be registered with a participating party. Democrats may vote in the Democratic Primary and Republicans may vote in the Republican Primary.

Anyone not currently registered to either party who wants to vote on Super Tuesday should contact the registrars’ office as soon as possible at 270-4250. Any mailed or hand delivered registration forms must be received in their office by January 31.

As of February 1, in order to join a party, citizens must report in person to the registrars’ office. For residents’ convenience, there will be special Saturday hours at Edmond Town Hall February 1 from 9 to 11 am, and on Monday, February 4, from 9 am until the cutoff at noon.

Parents of children who attend local schools where voting is held are asked to have the students ride the bus on February 5, Super Tuesday.

At those locations, voters are reminded that no one but designated poll workers will be allowed access into the school from the polling place. Parents are requested to not bring children to the polls with the intention of having them enter the school through the polling area.

There will be specific entrances and times set up with the schools to accommodate children unable to ride the bus that day.

District 1 residents vote at Newtown Middle School Gym A. Voters should enter by the driveway closest to the shopping center. Students driven to school will be allowed to enter through the cafeteria around back. Voters should note school starts at 7:25 am and ends at 2 pm, which will be the heaviest anticipated traffic times.

District 2 votes at Reed Intermediate School. Voter parking will be in the front of the school. Students driven will be allowed to enter the school at the rear of the building at 8:20 am after buses have completed drop-offs.

Students may be picked up at Reed School from the same rear location at 3 pm after buses have departed. Reed School begins classes at 8:24 am and ends at 2:45 pm, which will be the heaviest anticipated traffic times.

District 3-1 votes at Head O’ Meadow School. Voter parking will be along the side and toward the back of the building. School parking will be in the two front lots. School starts at 9 am and ends at 3:25 pm, which will be the heaviest anticipated traffic times.

District 3-2 votes for the first time at a new location. Middle Gate School is no longer a polling place. Edmond Town Hall Gym is the new polling place for District 3-2.

The handicapped spots for elevator access to the polls are on the side of the building as the driveway is entered. There are additional handicapped spots along the back of the building near the gym entrance. The matinee for February 5 will be canceled, so any traffic at that location is expected to be routine.

All polling locations will be open from 6 am through 8 pm, and valid photo identification is required for check in.

The ballot order was determined several weeks ago. Voters, however, will find candidates listed on the ballot who have since withdrawn from the primary.

“Your vote will not change their mind so don’t waste it on a candidate who is no longer participating,” said Democratic registrar LeReine Frampton. “For those unsure who to endorse, there is an uncommitted oval that you may fill in.”

To register one’s vote, participants will need to fill in one oval on the ballot form and will have that ballot scanned into the tabulator. Due to the time constraints, cost and use of four different colored ballots, the Secretary of the State’s office was advised by the printer to not use the red ovals.

“That means voters will be filling in a fine black oval,” said Republican registrar Karin Aurelia. “There will be magnifiers in each of the privacy booths to help voters ensure their ballots are marked properly.”

The registrars have also confirmed that as long as an oval is properly marked, there is no issue if a marker bleeds through to the back of the ballot.

“The tabulator reads ovals, not stray marks,” Ms Frampton said.