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Election Day is Here: Connecticut Voters Head to the Polls

Ryan Caron King
/
WNPR

Voters started lining up before polls opened on Tuesday at 6:00 am in Connecticut. Residents are choosing their state lawmakers, congressional delegation, a United States senator -- and which presidential candidate will receive the state's seven electoral college votes.

No Republican presidential nominee has been victorious in Connecticut since then-Vice President George H.W. Bush won in 1988 on his way to the White House and that isn't expected to change this year.

But 2016 is a test for the state election system. It's the first presidential election where voters can register on Election Day, which caused some problems two years ago.

Those hoping to take advantage of Election Day Registration (EDR) will have to go to their city or town's designated registration site.

Credit Lori Mack / WNPR
/
WNPR
Line of voters at the Hall of Records polling place in New Haven at noon on Tuesday.

In a statement last week, Secretary of the State Denise Merrill told voters hoping to register on Tuesday to do it early. By midday, Merrill's office announced that more than 9,000 people had already taken advantage of EDR.  

One city that received advanced concern is New Haven. According to The New Haven Independent, Merrill's office had concerns last week that the city's registrars did not participate in EDR training sessions and did not appear to have enough ballots. A big crowd in this college town is expected.

But early on, WNPR's Lori Mack reported that EDR was moving swiftly in New Haven. Around mid-morning on Election Day however, long lines were reported for voters who were already registered and voting at their neighborhood polling place.

The reason for some of the long lines? The Independent reported that at Ward 7 in the Hall of Records, the poll monitor had not shown up. By 9:00 am, several other officials arrived to help with the crowds.

The Secretary of the State's office told the Independent that they provided advice on how to structure the line.

Meanwhile, seven other municipalities will have their polling locations monitored by the Department of Justice. The Civil Rights Division will be on the ground in East Hartford, Farmington, Hartford, Middletown, New Britain, Newington, and West Hartford.

WNPR has learned those towns have been chosen because questions have been raised previously about federal voting rights compliance.

Find your polling location here:

Long lines were reported early on Tuesday, but no major problems have been reported so far.

Polls close at 8:00 pm.

Tucker Ives is WNPR's morning news producer.

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