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11/04/2019 11:00 PM

At Mid-Day, Some Lower Turnout Tracking at Branford Polls


Candidates and supporters from both parties were out at the polls to greet voters at mid-day on Nov. 5 in Branford. Shown here at District 5 polls (front to back): RTM candidate Carolyn Sires (R, District 5), unopposed Branford First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove (R), State Representative Robin Comey (D, District 102), Democratic party supporters Malaine Trecoske, Chris Traugh, Gina MacDonald, RTM candidate Don Conklin (R, District 5), RTM candidate Kathi Traugh (D, District 5), Democratic party supporter Eunice Kaymen.Photo by Pam Johnson/The Sound

As Election Day hit the halfway mark at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 5, a total of 15.8 percent of the electorate had cast their vote town-wide, making for percentage that's tracking a bit lower than the number normally anticipated during a municipal vote. Polls opened at 6 a.m. and will close at 8 p.m.

Registrar of Voters Dan Hally told Zip06/The Sound the town-wide turnout number is usually tracking a bit higher by mid-day, based on Branford's past voter turnout for municipal elections. During municipal elections, Branford generally gets a turnout of between 25 to 30 percent of the electorate by close of polls, said Hally.

As of 1 p.m. on Nov. 5, the total number of votes cast among Branford's seven district voting was 3,292 out of the town's 20,842 registered voters. That count did not include absentee or Election Day Registration voting numbers.

Some of the lack of turnout may be due to the uncontested First Selectman for a fourth consecutive term. Lacking a First Selectman's race, Branford's most hotly contested ballot results will be those which will seat the 30-person Representative Town Meeting (RTM). The RTM was held by a Republican majority of 18 – 12 during the 2017-19 term.

Branford's seven districts reported the following percentage of voter turnout at their polling places as of 1 p.m on Tuesday, Nov. 5: District 1, 16.2% response (651 votes); District 2, 19.3% response (376 votes); District 3, 17% response (371 votes); District 4, 11% response (459 votes); District 5, 18.7% response (638 votes); District 6, 14.2% response (424 votes); District 7, 17.6% response (373 votes).