Showing posts with label registrar. Show all posts
Showing posts with label registrar. Show all posts
May 22, 2014
Democrats endorse McCauley for registrar
October 1, 2013
No voting at Stafford School this year
Everybody who's been voting at Stafford School is going to have to head to a new polling place come Nov. 5.March 27, 2012
Primary looms for Democratic registrar
August 11, 2010
The Democratic establishment takes it on the chin
There's no way to view Mary Rydingsward's defeat of city Democratic Party leader Elliott Nelson except as a rebuke to the party establishment.
After all, the town committee overwhelmingly backed Nelson.
No doubt some of Rydingsward's support came from women who feel like outsiders dealing with the male-dominated party leadership team.
But there's also no doubt that some of those votes she racked up came from Democrats of both sexes who feel left out or shunned by party officials who are largely loyal to Mayor Art Ward.
Rydingsward worked hard in this campaign -- but so did Nelson. Both of them put in the effort that winning requires.
But when a Democratic Party chair loses a political race that only rank and file Democrats can participate in, the outcome is not just a referendum on the boss. It's about something more.
And that something may spell trouble for Ward, too, when it's his turn to run again next year.
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
After all, the town committee overwhelmingly backed Nelson.
No doubt some of Rydingsward's support came from women who feel like outsiders dealing with the male-dominated party leadership team.
But there's also no doubt that some of those votes she racked up came from Democrats of both sexes who feel left out or shunned by party officials who are largely loyal to Mayor Art Ward.
Rydingsward worked hard in this campaign -- but so did Nelson. Both of them put in the effort that winning requires.
But when a Democratic Party chair loses a political race that only rank and file Democrats can participate in, the outcome is not just a referendum on the boss. It's about something more.
And that something may spell trouble for Ward, too, when it's his turn to run again next year.
*****
Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
January 7, 2009
Klapatch steps down, swears in her successor
Shortly after 1 p.m. Wednesday, longtime Republican Registrar Ellie Klapatch read the oath of office to her successor, Sharon Krawiecki.
As about 30 people watched in the City Council chambers, Krawiecki repeated the time-honored words and, with that, took over the job that Klapatch has held since 1970.
Krawiecki, who's served as a deputy registrar for several years, said she's looking forward to the new job.
But, she said, she's not going to stick around for as long as her predecessor.
Klapatch served the city with "such diligence and grace," Krawiecki said. "The town's a much better place for having someone like that."
The city has two full-time registrars, one from each party, who are elected every two years in what amounts to an uncontested election.
The registrar's office's major job is to keep tabs on who is eligible to vote, about 34,000 people locally.
Klapatch, 82, said she could have worked another decade. She said she's healthy and sharp enough o handle it, she said, but she wants some time for family and friends.
She said she knows she'll "miss the people here at City Hall," whom she said have always been friendly. "Nobody ever made me feel unwelcome," Klapatch said.
Krawiecki is one of two full-time registrars at City Hall, earning about $46,000 annually. The other is Democrat Bob Badal, whom Klapatch praised as a nice man who works hard.
Klapatch, the first woman to run for mayor, an unsuccessful bid in 1987, said she is "very delighted" to have Krawiecki take her place.
"She's worked with me for three years. She's learned firsthand so she's experienced" with the many rules that govern voter registration and elections, Klapatch said.
"She and Bob will work very well together," Klapatch said, continuing the nonpartisan tradition of the office.
Klapatch said she's proud of helping so many people over the years – and pointedly mentioned that she never asked for anyone's political affiliation before offering a hand.
"Ellie's been a model in cooperative, bipartisan manner," said Mayor Art Ward, a Democrat. "She stands for what he voting process is about and the encouraging of people to become registered voters."
Former Mayor William Stortz, a Republican gave Klapatch a big smile after the ceremony.
"As they say in New Britain," Stortz said, "you done good."
Klapatch first served as the Republican registrar in Bristol in 1952, when it was a part-time job. She said it proved so much work that she didn't run again until it was made a full-time position.
In GOP circles, Klapatch has long served as a sort of mother hen, the expert to rely on for information on decades of city politics and arcane election rules.She's met every Republican president and presidential contender since Thomas Dewey in 1948 and is friends with
governors, senators and scores of political figures across the state.
Klapatch was the first woman to run for mayor in Bristol, a long-shot bid in 1987 that she made because she didn't want Democrat John Leone to get a free ride for re-election. She constantly pleads for her party to make sure it has candidates in every possible race so that voters have a choice.
Klapatch said Wednesday that she isn't going away. She said she'll continue to attend party functions and take an active role in GOP politics.
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
October 31, 2008
Krawiecki to succeed Klapatch as GOP registrar
For the first time since 1970, the Republican candidate for registrar won’t be Ellie Klapatch.
Klapatch is stepping down to make way for Sharon Krawiecki, a GOP loyalist who has served as an assistant registrar for years.
Democratic Registrar Bob Badal remains his party’s candidate for the position.
The city has two full-time registrars, one from each party, who are chosen in what amounts to an uncontested election since Krawiecki and Badal are the only candidates for the two positions.
The registrar's office's major job is to keep tabs on who is eligible to vote, nearly 35,000 people this year.
Registrars serve two-year terms for about $48,000 annually.
But their term could change next time around if voters approve a charter question on the ballot that proposes giving them four-year terms in the future. The change had the unanimous backing of the Charter Revision Commission and the City Council.
Klapatch said that Krawiecki “has been working for each of us here in the office for years. She’s going to be great.”
Krawiecki is “a very caring person” who knows the job already, Klapatch said, and who will serve the city well.
Klapatch first served as the Republican registrar in Bristol in 1952, when it was a part-time job. She said Friday that it proved so much work that she didn’t run again until it was made a full-time position.
In GOP circles, Klapatch has long served as a sort of mother hen, the expert to rely on for information on decades of city politics and arcane election rules.She’s met every Republican president and presidential contender since Thomas Dewey in 1948 and is friends with governors, senators and scores of political figures across the state.
Klapatch is the first woman to run for mayor in Bristol, a long-shot bid in 1987 that she made because she didn’t want Democrat John Leone to get a free ride for re-election. She constantly pleads for her party to make sure it has candidates in every possible race so that voters have a choice.
But one choice voters won’t have again is Klapatch.
She said she’s finally ready to retire.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Klapatch is stepping down to make way for Sharon Krawiecki, a GOP loyalist who has served as an assistant registrar for years.
Democratic Registrar Bob Badal remains his party’s candidate for the position.
The city has two full-time registrars, one from each party, who are chosen in what amounts to an uncontested election since Krawiecki and Badal are the only candidates for the two positions.
The registrar's office's major job is to keep tabs on who is eligible to vote, nearly 35,000 people this year.
Registrars serve two-year terms for about $48,000 annually.
But their term could change next time around if voters approve a charter question on the ballot that proposes giving them four-year terms in the future. The change had the unanimous backing of the Charter Revision Commission and the City Council.
Klapatch said that Krawiecki “has been working for each of us here in the office for years. She’s going to be great.”
Krawiecki is “a very caring person” who knows the job already, Klapatch said, and who will serve the city well.
Klapatch first served as the Republican registrar in Bristol in 1952, when it was a part-time job. She said Friday that it proved so much work that she didn’t run again until it was made a full-time position.
In GOP circles, Klapatch has long served as a sort of mother hen, the expert to rely on for information on decades of city politics and arcane election rules.She’s met every Republican president and presidential contender since Thomas Dewey in 1948 and is friends with governors, senators and scores of political figures across the state.
Klapatch is the first woman to run for mayor in Bristol, a long-shot bid in 1987 that she made because she didn’t want Democrat John Leone to get a free ride for re-election. She constantly pleads for her party to make sure it has candidates in every possible race so that voters have a choice.
But one choice voters won’t have again is Klapatch.
She said she’s finally ready to retire.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
October 1, 2008
Latest voter registration numbers in Bristol
As Election Day draws near, the number of people registering to vote continues to climb.
The latest tally shows 32,691 registered voters in town.
Democrats claim the allegiance of 13,652 while Republicans trail with 5,454.
The number of unaffiliated voters stands at 13,542, just a tad shy of the Democratic tally.
There are 43 people who signed on with a minor party.
Republican Registrar Ellie Klapatch said the numbers are "going to be higher" by the time the voter rolls are closed.
Though I suspect few of this blog's readers are not registered, if anybody's interested, the deadline for in-person registration is October 28, though there's no reason to wait that long.
Mail-in forms have to be postmarked by October 21.
And let me add that failing to pick a party when you register is pointless. If you sign on with a party, you can vote in primaries for that party. If you remain unaffiliated, you simply leave it entirely to the political parties to pick the candidates for you.
Since the primaries are often the most interesting matchups, why would you pass up the chance to participate in them?
It's fine to be independent-minded and vote for the candidate, not the party. I certainly vote for hopefuls from both sides of the aisle. But that's not a reason to steer clear of picking a party. The only reason to do that is if you trust the Republicans, Democrats, Greens and such to select the candidates for you.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
The latest tally shows 32,691 registered voters in town.
Democrats claim the allegiance of 13,652 while Republicans trail with 5,454.
The number of unaffiliated voters stands at 13,542, just a tad shy of the Democratic tally.
There are 43 people who signed on with a minor party.
Republican Registrar Ellie Klapatch said the numbers are "going to be higher" by the time the voter rolls are closed.
Though I suspect few of this blog's readers are not registered, if anybody's interested, the deadline for in-person registration is October 28, though there's no reason to wait that long.
Mail-in forms have to be postmarked by October 21.
And let me add that failing to pick a party when you register is pointless. If you sign on with a party, you can vote in primaries for that party. If you remain unaffiliated, you simply leave it entirely to the political parties to pick the candidates for you.
Since the primaries are often the most interesting matchups, why would you pass up the chance to participate in them?
It's fine to be independent-minded and vote for the candidate, not the party. I certainly vote for hopefuls from both sides of the aisle. But that's not a reason to steer clear of picking a party. The only reason to do that is if you trust the Republicans, Democrats, Greens and such to select the candidates for you.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
August 28, 2008
Klapatch is stepping down this year
I think I have neglected to mention that longtime Republican Registrar Ellie Klapatch is going to retire this year.
She's such an institution that it seems scarcely possible that she would move on, but that's what she's doing, years after she began talking about the possibility.
The GOP is backing Sharon Krawiecki, an assistant registrar who's gotten high marks, to take Klapatch's post.
The Democrats are once again supporting Bob Badal as their registrar.
I'll have a lot more to say about Klapatch's departure in the weeks ahead.
Here, though, is a story from July 2000 that provides a little bit about her background:
Klapatch says next term is last
The longest-serving elected official at City Hall -- Republican Registrar Ellie Klapatch -- plans to step down in two years from the post she has held since 1971.
"Time does fly by fast," Klapatch told local GOP leaders Monday after they unanimously endorsed her for what may prove the last time.
"If anybody deserves a vacation, it's this young lady," said former Mayor Stretch Norton, who has known Klapatch since their jitterbugging days at Lake Compounce.
In GOP circles, Klapatch serves as a sort of mother hen, the expert to rely on for information on
decades of city politics and arcane election rules.
She;s met every Republican president and presidential contender since Thomas Dewey in 1948 and is friends with governors, senators and scores of people across town.
Klapatch said she is determined to give up the registrar's job in 2002 so she can spend more
time with her family, including a son in Oregon.
She said, though, she'll keep up her politicking until she can't do it anymore.
"I could never stay home," Klapatch said.
The city has two full-time registrars, one from each party, who are elected every two years in what amounts to an uncontested election. The registrar's office's major job is to keep tabs on who is eligible to vote, about 30,000 people locally.
The city's first woman registrar, Klapatch shattered many of the traditional male bastions over the years.
In 1987, Klapatch was the first woman to run for mayor locally for a major party. She lost a three-way race.
She was also instrumental in bashing down the doors at the annual Crocodile Club dinner at Lake Compounce.
Klapatch and a small group of women marched into the formerly all-male dinner and sat down for a meal with the nation's oldest eating club. The sex barrier fell on the spot.
Norton said the GOP has "no harder worker" anywhere than Klapatch.
He said it's going to be "very hard to replace her" at City Hall when the time comes.
Klapatch said she's always tried to give everyone who walks into the registrar's office, of whatever political persuasion, the best service possible.
She said the toughest task in the next couple of years will be to revise local records to reflect whatever redistricting is dictated by the state in the wake of the new census.
"Redistricting will be a big challenge," said Klapatch, who has already dealt with it after the 1970, 1980 and 1990 censuses.
Much as she loves the work -- and the challenges -- she said she's about ready to have the chance to take summer vacations and spend her autumns outside the office for a change.
Klapatch said, though, she's not done yet.
"For the next two years, you know where you can find me," Klapatch said, in her familiar office on the first floor at City Hall, in a room decked with pictures of her standing with political bigshots and a bookshelf weighted down with all manner of Republican elephants.
When the time comes, she said, leaving won't be easy.
"I'll miss it. I really will," Klapatch said.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
She's such an institution that it seems scarcely possible that she would move on, but that's what she's doing, years after she began talking about the possibility.
The GOP is backing Sharon Krawiecki, an assistant registrar who's gotten high marks, to take Klapatch's post.
The Democrats are once again supporting Bob Badal as their registrar.
I'll have a lot more to say about Klapatch's departure in the weeks ahead.
Here, though, is a story from July 2000 that provides a little bit about her background:
Klapatch says next term is last
The longest-serving elected official at City Hall -- Republican Registrar Ellie Klapatch -- plans to step down in two years from the post she has held since 1971.
"Time does fly by fast," Klapatch told local GOP leaders Monday after they unanimously endorsed her for what may prove the last time.
"If anybody deserves a vacation, it's this young lady," said former Mayor Stretch Norton, who has known Klapatch since their jitterbugging days at Lake Compounce.
In GOP circles, Klapatch serves as a sort of mother hen, the expert to rely on for information on
decades of city politics and arcane election rules.
She;s met every Republican president and presidential contender since Thomas Dewey in 1948 and is friends with governors, senators and scores of people across town.
Klapatch said she is determined to give up the registrar's job in 2002 so she can spend more
time with her family, including a son in Oregon.
She said, though, she'll keep up her politicking until she can't do it anymore.
"I could never stay home," Klapatch said.
The city has two full-time registrars, one from each party, who are elected every two years in what amounts to an uncontested election. The registrar's office's major job is to keep tabs on who is eligible to vote, about 30,000 people locally.
The city's first woman registrar, Klapatch shattered many of the traditional male bastions over the years.
In 1987, Klapatch was the first woman to run for mayor locally for a major party. She lost a three-way race.
She was also instrumental in bashing down the doors at the annual Crocodile Club dinner at Lake Compounce.
Klapatch and a small group of women marched into the formerly all-male dinner and sat down for a meal with the nation's oldest eating club. The sex barrier fell on the spot.
Norton said the GOP has "no harder worker" anywhere than Klapatch.
He said it's going to be "very hard to replace her" at City Hall when the time comes.
Klapatch said she's always tried to give everyone who walks into the registrar's office, of whatever political persuasion, the best service possible.
She said the toughest task in the next couple of years will be to revise local records to reflect whatever redistricting is dictated by the state in the wake of the new census.
"Redistricting will be a big challenge," said Klapatch, who has already dealt with it after the 1970, 1980 and 1990 censuses.
Much as she loves the work -- and the challenges -- she said she's about ready to have the chance to take summer vacations and spend her autumns outside the office for a change.
Klapatch said, though, she's not done yet.
"For the next two years, you know where you can find me," Klapatch said, in her familiar office on the first floor at City Hall, in a room decked with pictures of her standing with political bigshots and a bookshelf weighted down with all manner of Republican elephants.
When the time comes, she said, leaving won't be easy.
"I'll miss it. I really will," Klapatch said.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
February 5, 2008
Hundreds turned away at the polls Tuesday
Hundreds of independent voters who sought to cast a ballot in the presidential primary Tuesday were turned away from the polls.
Though nobody kept a firm count, officials at three precincts – Stafford and Greene-Hills schools and the American Legion hall – collectively estimated they’d had to send away more than 200 voters.
If the city’s seven other voting districts had the same experience, there may have been more than 500 unaffiliated voters in Bristol who showed up to vote but didn’t get the chance.
At Greene-Hills, one fellow who couldn’t vote “got very upset,” according to Terry Parker, who helps run the polling place there.At the Legion hall on Hooker Court, officials estimated they had to say no to at least 125 independents who wanted to vote, nearly all of them expressing interest in casting a ballot in the Democratic primary.
A half dozen or more were angry enough to head for City Hall to doublecheck their registration cards.
Some thought they were registered as Democrats when they were actually independents. Others didn’t realize that Connecticut doesn’t allow unaffiliated voters to participate in party primaries, officials said.
Both Democratic Registrar Bob Badal and Jean Lombardo, the Democratic registrar in Plainville, said many unaffiliated voters are trying to vote in the Democratic primary.
But the law required anyone wishing to switch parties to make the change by noon Monday. It was too late Tuesday.
Lombardo said a number of Republicans were also saying they’d like to vote in the Democratic primary.
But they have to stick with the GOP, she said, at least until the November general election when everyone can vote for anyone they like.
City election officials said they had to make photocopies of some voters registration cards before they could convince them the computers hadn’t botched the registration information.
Some people at least were ready for the primary since hundreds in Bristol had switched their party status since November’s election.
Statewide, since the first of November, Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz said Tuesday that 16,500 unaffiliated voters changed their registration to Democrat and 6,300 unaffiliated voters made the switch to the Republican side.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Though nobody kept a firm count, officials at three precincts – Stafford and Greene-Hills schools and the American Legion hall – collectively estimated they’d had to send away more than 200 voters.
If the city’s seven other voting districts had the same experience, there may have been more than 500 unaffiliated voters in Bristol who showed up to vote but didn’t get the chance.
At Greene-Hills, one fellow who couldn’t vote “got very upset,” according to Terry Parker, who helps run the polling place there.At the Legion hall on Hooker Court, officials estimated they had to say no to at least 125 independents who wanted to vote, nearly all of them expressing interest in casting a ballot in the Democratic primary.
A half dozen or more were angry enough to head for City Hall to doublecheck their registration cards.
Some thought they were registered as Democrats when they were actually independents. Others didn’t realize that Connecticut doesn’t allow unaffiliated voters to participate in party primaries, officials said.
Both Democratic Registrar Bob Badal and Jean Lombardo, the Democratic registrar in Plainville, said many unaffiliated voters are trying to vote in the Democratic primary.
But the law required anyone wishing to switch parties to make the change by noon Monday. It was too late Tuesday.
Lombardo said a number of Republicans were also saying they’d like to vote in the Democratic primary.
But they have to stick with the GOP, she said, at least until the November general election when everyone can vote for anyone they like.
City election officials said they had to make photocopies of some voters registration cards before they could convince them the computers hadn’t botched the registration information.
Some people at least were ready for the primary since hundreds in Bristol had switched their party status since November’s election.
Statewide, since the first of November, Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz said Tuesday that 16,500 unaffiliated voters changed their registration to Democrat and 6,300 unaffiliated voters made the switch to the Republican side.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
February 4, 2008
Computers crashed at secretary of state
For at least four hours today, and perhaps ongoing, the secretary of state's voter registration computers have been down.
That doesn't help the 169 towns and cities trying to cope with a crush of last-minute registration today.
Democratic Registrar Bob Badal sat with an inch-thich pile of forms handed in today, most of them new voters or people switching from unaffiliated to Democrat so they can help choose between presidential contenders Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in Tuesday's primary.
It's impossible to say how many have registered since the computer system is the thing that keeps track of all the information.
But it appears that interest among voters proved so high that the crunch on the state's not-particularly-modern computer system knocked it for a loop.
Presumably, it'll be back online this afternoon, but local officials are beginning to fret.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
That doesn't help the 169 towns and cities trying to cope with a crush of last-minute registration today.
Democratic Registrar Bob Badal sat with an inch-thich pile of forms handed in today, most of them new voters or people switching from unaffiliated to Democrat so they can help choose between presidential contenders Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in Tuesday's primary.
It's impossible to say how many have registered since the computer system is the thing that keeps track of all the information.
But it appears that interest among voters proved so high that the crunch on the state's not-particularly-modern computer system knocked it for a loop.
Presumably, it'll be back online this afternoon, but local officials are beginning to fret.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
January 30, 2008
A surge in voter registration may help Clinton
A last-minute surge in voter registration is swelling the ranks of Democratic voters and perhaps bolstering U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton’s odds of winning Tuesday’s presidential primary in Connecticut.
As many as 22 people an hour have been signing up to vote in the primary, most of them independents who are joining the ranks of the Democrats in order to vote in the primary, city election officials said.
Cathy Myers filled in the necessary form Wednesday to switch to the Democrats from her longtime unaffiliated status.
“I didn’t realize I was losing out” before, she said, by letting party regulars pick the candidates for the general election.
This time around, though, she wanted her support for Clinton to count.
“Us women are sleepers,” Myers said. “We’re coming out of the closet” to help put a woman in the White House, she added.
“It’s time for a woman to be president,” said Yvette Badger, who was also changing her registration Wednesday so she could vote for Clinton on Tuesday.
Registrars Ellie Klapatch and Bob Badal said that some of those coming in are also backing Democrat Barack Obama or one of the Republican hopefuls, particularly U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona.
As of mid-day Wednesday, there were nearly 300 more people on the voting rolls than there were on Election Day in November – and Democratic ranks in the city had climbed well over 13,000 voters for the first time in years.
Democrats claimed the allegiance of 41 percent of the 31,940 voters on the ranks Wednesday, compared to 17 percent for the GOP, a number that hasn’t changed much for many years.
In the early 1980s, more than half the registered voters in town were Democrats, but by the last presidential election in 2004, the party claimed the allegiance of only 39.5 percent of the city’s electorate. Democrats gained slightly before the 2006 congressional elections, but the positive trend has accelerated in recent months.
Nora Anderson, the secretary in the registrar’s office, said she’s been stunned at the pace of registration. She said about 60 percent of those coming in are women.
Badal, the Democratic registrar, said “a lot of people want to be part of the process.”
Badal said he has seen mostly young and middle age voters signing up to vote in the primary, with more women than men among them. He said, though, he can’t be sure whether Obama or Clinton will benefit most from the registration surge.
The only thing he’s sure about is that voting in the primary is likely to be brisk. Badal said he’s already ordered more ballots twice to make sure he doesn’t run out Tuesday.
Klapatch, the GOP registrar, said that Democrats and Republicans seem especially enthusiastic about the candidates this year.
Badal said he wouldn’t be surprised if primary turnout exceeds 50 percent on the Democratic side, particularly if forecasts for relatively mild temperatures prove accurate.
Klapatch said that concern about the large numbers who might come to the polls has convinced school officials and the police to put police officers or hired security at every polling place in the city’s schools during school hours.
The city is paying about $3,000 for the extra security, Klapatch said, which is a first.
Voters will fill in special paper ballots – salmon-colored for the Democrats and white for the Republicans – which will be counted by a machine.
The ballots contain the names of a number of candidates who are no longer in the race, but all of the significant remaining contenders are among the names on the ballots.
The polls will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The in-person deadline for registering or affiliating with a political party in order to vote is noon on Monday, February 4. Mail-in registrations must be postmarked by Thursday to qualify.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
As many as 22 people an hour have been signing up to vote in the primary, most of them independents who are joining the ranks of the Democrats in order to vote in the primary, city election officials said.
Cathy Myers filled in the necessary form Wednesday to switch to the Democrats from her longtime unaffiliated status.
“I didn’t realize I was losing out” before, she said, by letting party regulars pick the candidates for the general election.
This time around, though, she wanted her support for Clinton to count.
“Us women are sleepers,” Myers said. “We’re coming out of the closet” to help put a woman in the White House, she added.
“It’s time for a woman to be president,” said Yvette Badger, who was also changing her registration Wednesday so she could vote for Clinton on Tuesday.
Registrars Ellie Klapatch and Bob Badal said that some of those coming in are also backing Democrat Barack Obama or one of the Republican hopefuls, particularly U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona.
As of mid-day Wednesday, there were nearly 300 more people on the voting rolls than there were on Election Day in November – and Democratic ranks in the city had climbed well over 13,000 voters for the first time in years.
Democrats claimed the allegiance of 41 percent of the 31,940 voters on the ranks Wednesday, compared to 17 percent for the GOP, a number that hasn’t changed much for many years.
In the early 1980s, more than half the registered voters in town were Democrats, but by the last presidential election in 2004, the party claimed the allegiance of only 39.5 percent of the city’s electorate. Democrats gained slightly before the 2006 congressional elections, but the positive trend has accelerated in recent months.
Nora Anderson, the secretary in the registrar’s office, said she’s been stunned at the pace of registration. She said about 60 percent of those coming in are women.
Badal, the Democratic registrar, said “a lot of people want to be part of the process.”
Badal said he has seen mostly young and middle age voters signing up to vote in the primary, with more women than men among them. He said, though, he can’t be sure whether Obama or Clinton will benefit most from the registration surge.
The only thing he’s sure about is that voting in the primary is likely to be brisk. Badal said he’s already ordered more ballots twice to make sure he doesn’t run out Tuesday.
Klapatch, the GOP registrar, said that Democrats and Republicans seem especially enthusiastic about the candidates this year.
Badal said he wouldn’t be surprised if primary turnout exceeds 50 percent on the Democratic side, particularly if forecasts for relatively mild temperatures prove accurate.
Klapatch said that concern about the large numbers who might come to the polls has convinced school officials and the police to put police officers or hired security at every polling place in the city’s schools during school hours.
The city is paying about $3,000 for the extra security, Klapatch said, which is a first.
Voters will fill in special paper ballots – salmon-colored for the Democrats and white for the Republicans – which will be counted by a machine.
The ballots contain the names of a number of candidates who are no longer in the race, but all of the significant remaining contenders are among the names on the ballots.
The polls will be open Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The in-person deadline for registering or affiliating with a political party in order to vote is noon on Monday, February 4. Mail-in registrations must be postmarked by Thursday to qualify.
*******
Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
September 11, 2007
New voting machines working great
The new voting machines appear to be working almost perfectly.
“Everybody says the system is working and they enjoy working with it,” said Democratic Registrar Bob Badal.
He said that as of 1 p.m., 1,933 Democrats had cast their ballots. That’s 15 percent of the 12,864 eligible voters, Badal said.
During the 2003 Democratic mayoral primary, where Gerard Couture defeated Joe Wilson by a 55-45 margin, a total of 25.7 percent of Democrats voted. But that total may have been bolstered somewhat by a City Council primary that was held simultaneously.
Badal said that one counting machine, at Stafford School, failed to operate properly this morning.
It had tested perfectly, Badal said, but it didn’t work at the polling place. “Something must have happened to the memory card” during the move, he said.
A backup machine was used instead so there was never a hitch in the voting, “not one second, not one vote” was lost, Badal said.
He said that poll moderators are finding the new machines easy to use, although they have the normal first-time jitters.
Badal said he hadn’t heard of any voter complaints or problems.
He said that he and Republican Registrar Ellie Klapatch are working side-by-side to make sure everything goes smoothly.
A couple of representatives from the secretary of state’s office came by to check on how the voting was going, Badal said, apparently part of a statewide effort to make certain the new electronic machines are doing the job.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
“Everybody says the system is working and they enjoy working with it,” said Democratic Registrar Bob Badal.
He said that as of 1 p.m., 1,933 Democrats had cast their ballots. That’s 15 percent of the 12,864 eligible voters, Badal said.
During the 2003 Democratic mayoral primary, where Gerard Couture defeated Joe Wilson by a 55-45 margin, a total of 25.7 percent of Democrats voted. But that total may have been bolstered somewhat by a City Council primary that was held simultaneously.
Badal said that one counting machine, at Stafford School, failed to operate properly this morning.
It had tested perfectly, Badal said, but it didn’t work at the polling place. “Something must have happened to the memory card” during the move, he said.
A backup machine was used instead so there was never a hitch in the voting, “not one second, not one vote” was lost, Badal said.
He said that poll moderators are finding the new machines easy to use, although they have the normal first-time jitters.
Badal said he hadn’t heard of any voter complaints or problems.
He said that he and Republican Registrar Ellie Klapatch are working side-by-side to make sure everything goes smoothly.
A couple of representatives from the secretary of state’s office came by to check on how the voting was going, Badal said, apparently part of a statewide effort to make certain the new electronic machines are doing the job.
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
September 10, 2007
Where to vote in Bristol
Remember that only registered Democrats can vote in Tuesday's primary, between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. Until noon today, it's possible to register or switch your affiliation in person at the Registrar's office on the first floor of City Hall.
Polling Places:
Council District One
77A – Edgewood School – 345 Mix Street
77B – Northeast School - 530 Stevens Street
77C – Mountain View School – 71 Vera Road
Council District Two
78A – Chippens Hill Middle School – 551 Peacedale St.
78B – Clara T. O’Connell School – 120 Park Street
79A – South Side School – Tuttle Road
Council District Three
79B – American Legion – 22 Hooker Court
79C – Greene Hills School – 718 Pine Street
77D & 22 - Stafford School – 212 Louisiana Avenue
Don't forget to bring a photo ID with you!
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
Polling Places:
Council District One
77A – Edgewood School – 345 Mix Street
77B – Northeast School - 530 Stevens Street
77C – Mountain View School – 71 Vera Road
Council District Two
78A – Chippens Hill Middle School – 551 Peacedale St.
78B – Clara T. O’Connell School – 120 Park Street
79A – South Side School – Tuttle Road
Council District Three
79B – American Legion – 22 Hooker Court
79C – Greene Hills School – 718 Pine Street
77D & 22 - Stafford School – 212 Louisiana Avenue
Don't forget to bring a photo ID with you!
*******
Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
Contact Steve Collins at scollins@bristolpress.com
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