Darien Voters: Here's Your 2018 CT Primary Guide

DARIEN, CT — Tuesday, Aug. 14, is Primary Day in Connecticut, as both Democratic and Republican candidates vie for their party's nomination to run for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Treasurer and other state, local and federal seats.

As always in Connecticut, polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m., and only registered Democrats and Republicans can vote in their party's primary.

Visit your community's government website for information on polling sites and other voting facts.

The Democratic primaries for Darien voters are: Greenwich resident Ned Lamont against Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim to be the party's candidate this November for governor; for lieutenant governor, Susan Bysiewicz is facing a primary challenge from Eva Bermudez Zimmerman; for treasurer, Greenwich resident Dita Bhargava is challenging Shawn Wooden; and the race for attorney general is a three-way contest, between party endorsed William Tong, Paul Doyle and Chris Mattei.

On the Republican side: For governor, it is a five-way race between party endorsed Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, Timothy Herbst, Steve Obsitnik, Bob Stefanowski and Greenwich resident David Stemerman; lieutenant governor is a three-way race between Joe Markley, Darien First Selectman Jayme Stevenson and New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart.

Also on the Republican side is a race for the nomination to run for the U.S. Senator Chris Murphy this fall. Matthew Corey faces Dominic Rapini in that contest; there is a state treasurer contest between Thad Gray and Art Linares; a comptroller race between Kurt Miller and Mark Greenberg; and an attorney general race between Sue Hatfield and John Shaban.

Additionally, there is a contest for the Republican nomination for State Representative for the 147th District, Nicola Tarzia against Marcy Minnick.

Image via Shutterstock

— Jack Kramer, Patch Staff contributed to this report.

The League of Women Voters of Darien also has issued the following press release about Tuesday's primary:

In this important election year, the Darien League of Women Voters (LWV) encourages all registered Democrats and Republicans to vote in the CT dual party Primary on Tuesday, August 14th.

During the primary on Tuesday August 14, voters in Districts 2 and 5 who normally vote at the gym at Town Hall will vote at the at the Mather Senior Center. The address is 2 Renshaw Road and the Mather Center is accessed via the lower parking lot at Town Hall.

New Voter Registration:
Voter registration applications may be obtained from the Registrars of Voters at Darien Town Hall, 2 Renshaw Road and the completed form must either be received by the Registrars by mail, postmarked by August 9th or the applicant may appear in person at the Registrar’s office by noon on August 13th. Applicants may register as any party or as Unaffiliated. However, to be eligible to vote in the August Primary, one must register as a Democrat or Republican.

Absentee Ballots:
If you expect to vote by Absentee Ballot, applications for absentee ballots for the Primary may be obtained from the Town Clerk’s Office at Town Hall in person and the individual may complete the ballot on the same day. Applications may also be downloaded from the town website, darienct.gov under Departments & Services, Town Clerk, Forms and Applications. The application for an absentee ballot may
be mailed or brought to the Town Clerk in person. (Note – this will print as a legal size 8 1/2x14 inch paper size document). If corresponding by mail, voters should allow adequate time for the application to be received by the Town Clerk, processed, and an absentee ballot sent out by mail, which must be returned to the Town Clerk’s office, prior to 8:00 PM on the August 14 th primary date.

Primary Regulations:
Voters registered as Unaffiliated or as parties other than Democrat or Republican are NOT eligible to vote in the August primary but may vote in the November general election. The deadline for a voter to switch between Democrat and Republican parties was May 14th. Voters may switch between Democrat and
Republican Party affiliation at any time but it does not become effective until three months after filing the necessary forms with the Registrars of Voters.

Teens who will be 18 by Election Day, Tuesday November 6 th and have registered as either Democrat or Republican, may vote in the primary. Those registering as a different party or as Unaffiliated are NOT eligible to vote in the August primary but may vote in the November general election.

Switching from Unaffiliated to Democrat or Republican for Primary Voting:
Registered Unaffiliated voters may become affiliated with the Democrat or Republican Party and may vote in the August Primary if they complete a new voter registration card postmarked by August 9 th or appear in person at the Registrars of Voters office in Town Hall by noon on August 13th.

A voter registration card may be downloaded from the town website at darienct.gov, Departments & Services, Registrars of Voters, and Voter Registration Form. If returning by mail, address to Registrars of Voters, 2 Renshaw Road Darien CT 06820.

If you are unsure of whether or where you are registered to vote, go to:
darienct.gov, Departments & Services, Registrars of Voters, Voting Districts, and click on "Where do I vote – Quick Lookup Tool."

Every citizen should exercise his/her right to vote. As the LWV puts it, "Democracy is not a spectator sport."

For more information on the League of Women Voters of Darien go to lwv.darien.org.

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