Letter To The Editor: Fairfield Voting District Woes Explained

Dear Editor:

As officials in the Registrar of Voters office, we would like to publicly acknowledge the confusion some voters experienced during the Tuesday, August 9th Primary Election regarding polling location changes. That day, the Registrar’s Office received numerous phone calls, verbal complaints at the polls and was the subject of written complaints on social media regarding the recent changes in polling locations. We argued against these changes when they were made, and we would like to share with the voters how these changes happened.

In May, the majority party on the RTM called for a special meeting and voted, on the advice of the Democratic Registrar, to change several polling locations. The Democratic Registrar argued that because of the census data changes in state assembly districts, the polling locations needed to be moved for the 2022 election cycle. Per state statute and after confirming with an attorney at the Secretary of State’s office that this was not necessary for the 2022 elections, the Republican Registrar and Republicans on the RTM argued to keep the polling locations the same so as not to cause confusion for voters.

Unfortunately, our concerns were ignored, and the polling location changes were passed by the majority.

We take ease of voting and access to polling locations very seriously. We were concerned voters would arrive at the wrong or new locations frustrated and upset. Unfortunately, that is exactly what happened. Since the office did receive complaints, we felt it important for residents to know who made the decision to change locations and how their elected officials voted.

We did our best to inform voters of their locations by posting the changes on our website, sending a postcard to residents, which included a new addition of a QR scan code allowing for a quick polling look-up directly on a mobile device, and the First Selectwoman had a write up with the locations in her newsletter. We share in the frustration some voters experienced on Tuesday.

We would like to also take this opportunity to remind the public that their August voting location will also be their November voting locations. You can look up your polling location here: https://fairfieldct.org/wheredoivote

Steve Elworthy Republican Registrar

Cathy Politi Deputy Republican Registrar