It's Time to Register for the August 14th Primaries

Denise Merrill

Secretary of the State

Connecticut

Merrill: Voter Registration Deadlines for August 14^th Primaries Fast Approaching

Secretary of the State Reminds Eligible Voters Who Want to Cast a Primary Ballot they Have One Week to Register as Democrats or Republicans by Mail

Hartford:  Secretary of the State Denise Merrill today is reminding eligible voters who want to cast a ballot in the upcoming statewide primaries on August 14, 2012 that voter registration deadlines are fast approaching.  Anyone wishing to cast a ballot on August 14^th must register as a Democrat or a Republican by Monday, August 13^th in-person at their town offices. Mail in registration forms must be received no later than Thursday August 9^th in order to be processed before the primaries. Also, registration forms delivered to town offices by anyone other than the voter must be turned in no later than August 9^th in order for those voters to be eligible to cast primary ballots.  Voters can check online at www.sots.ct.gov to see if they are registered to vote and where their polling place is located, as well as download voter registration forms and applications for absentee ballots.  Absentee ballots for the primary are available now and will be counted as long as they are received by town clerks by 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday August 14^th.

“The 2012 Statewide Primary Elections are rapidly approaching on Tuesday, August 14^th,” said Secretary Merrill, Connecticut’s chief elections official. “I am reminding all eligible, non-registered voters to register either in person or by mail so they can take part in deciding the candidates for the November General Elections. Come out to the polls and let your voice be heard!  Only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote, so if you are unaffiliated you must enroll with a major party by Monday August 13^th at noon in order to cast a primary ballot.”

Nearly 2,000,000 Connecticut citizens are registered to vote. Almost 50,000 voters are newly registered since January 1^st, 2012.  In that same time, more than 6,100 unaffiliated voters have registered with a major party to be eligible to vote in the primaries, with 3,407 becoming Democrats and 2,705 affiliating as Republicans.  More than 2,500 17 year-old voters have also registered to vote so far this year, and are eligible to vote in the statewide primary so long as they will turn 18 by the November 6^th general election.  Polls will be open statewide for Registered Democrats and Republicans on Tuesday August 14, 2012 from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The list of at least 24 primaries taking place in the state of Connecticut can be found below (endorsed candidates are indicated by *):

Office	Party	Candidate
United States Senator	Republican	*Linda E. McMahon
		Christopher Shays
United States Senator	Democratic	*Christopher S. Murphy
		Susan Bysiewicz
Representative in Congress – 2	Republican	*Paul M. Formica
		Daria Novack
Representative in Congress – 5	Republican	*Andrew Roraback
		Justin Bernier
		Lisa Wilson Foley
		Mark Greenberg
Representative in Congress – 5	Democratic	*Chris Donovan
		Elizabeth Esty
		Dan Roberti
State Senate – 19	Democratic	*Tom Reynolds
		Catherine A. Osten
State Senate – 23	Democratic	*Ernest E. Newton II
		Andres Ayala, Jr.
		Edwin A. Gomes
State Senate – 33	Democratic	*James Crawford
		Mary Ellen Klinck
Assembly District – 3	Democratic	*Minnie Gonzalez
		Victor M. Luna, Jr.
Assembly District – 5	Democratic	*Leo Canty
		Brandon McGee
		Donald Trinks
Assembly District – 6	Democratic	*Edwin Vargas, Jr.
		Hector Luis Robles
Assembly District – 13	Democratic	*Joe Diminico
		Tom Gullotta
Assembly District – 35	Democratic	*Tom Vicino
		Tony A. Palermo
Assembly District – 58	Democratic	*Kathy Tallarita
		David Alexander
Assembly District – 63	Democratic	*Michael J. Renzullo
		Doug Bendetto
Assembly District – 75	Democratic	*Victor Cuevas
		Davis Aldarondo
Assembly District – 91	Democratic	*John P. Flanagan
		Michael C. D’Agostino
Assembly District – 107	Republican	*Harold A. Shaker
		David A. Scribner
Assembly District – 116	Democratic	*Louis P. Esposito, Jr.
		David C. Forsyth
Assembly District - 128	Democratic	*Christina M. Ayala
		Angel Reyes
Assembly District – 132	Democratic	*Sue Brand
		Kevin Coyner
Hamden – Bethany Probate District	Democratic	*Craig B. Henrici
		Edward C. Burt, Jr.
Registrar of Voters - Hartford	Republican	*Salvatore A. Bramante
		Nyesha C. McCauley
Registrar of Voters – Hartford	Democratic	*Ramon L. Arroyo
		Olga Iris Vazquez

Av Harris

Director of Communications

Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill

(860) 509-6255 ofc

(860) 463-5939 cell

av.harris@ct.gov

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Farrell looking forward to facing Merrill on Nov. 2

As published in the Record Journal Wednesday August 11, 2010

By Jesse Buchanan
Record-Journal staff
jbuchanan@record-journal.com 
(203) 317-2230

Follow all the news directly on the Record Journal Website for the most up to date information. www.myrecordjournal.com

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Jerry Farrell Jr., the Republican candidate for secretary of the state, didn’t face a primary Tuesday, but he spent the night visiting with fellow Republicans at victory parties keeping an eye on the vote to determine his Democratic opponent.

Denise Merrill, a state representative from Mansfield and the House majority leader, defeated former New Haven Alderman Gerry Garcia in Tuesday’s Democratic primary and will face Farrell in the general election.

“Tonight I’m just delighted,” Merrill said, adding that she’s looking forward to a positive campaign against her Republican opponent that “talks about the issues.” Farrell, a Wallingford town councilor and the state’s consumer protection commissioner, said he respected the campaign run by Garcia, who he said tried to engage disenfranchised voters.

Farrell called Merrill a “Hartford insider,” and said her victory gave voters a distinct choice in the general election.

Farrell spent much of the evening at U.S. Senate candidate Linda McMahon’s victory celebration in Cromwell accompanied by campaign staff and his wife, Natalie Campisi, and parents Gerald Farrell Sr. and Mary Ann Farrell, all of Wallingford.

While the governor and U.S. Senate races receive plenty of attention, Farrell said running for secretary of the state was a challenge since some are unaware of the office’s role. Attending the Republican victory parties is important in raising support, Farrell said.

“It’s a good place to be,” he said. “You’ve got to network with these people.”

While Farrell didn’t face a primary, he said fellow Republicans have been impressed that he’s been campaigning while Garcia and Merrill fought it out. That’s a message he hoped to get out while talking to Republicans Tuesday night.

“They know I’m out there working,” he said. “I haven’t rested on my laurels.”

Farrell said he hopes his supporters in the party will spread the word among their friends and family of his merits. He expects to do well in Wallingford, his hometown, but expanding beyond that will take work.

“Party people see there’s an energy there and I’ll keep that up,” he said. “That’s the kind of networking that radio and television can’t buy you.”

New Britain Mayor Timothy Stewart, a Republican, said he’s supporting Farrell and was impressed with his work for consumer protection.

“You can’t say anything bad about the guy,” Stewart said. “He’s what you want in government.”