Everything You Need to Know About Tuesday's US Senate Primary in Granby

From Granby registrars of voters Maureen Wolf and Laura Wolfe

A double primary is being held to determine the party nominations for an open US Senate seat, currently held by Senator Joe Lieberman. Endorsed candidate Chris Murphy will run against challenger Susan Bysiewicz in the Democratic primary; Endorsed candidate Linda McMahon will run against challenger Chris Shays in the Republican primary. This primary is exclusive to party members.

It is too late to switch party affiliation so registered Democratic voters (there are currently 1,869) can vote in the Democratic primary and registered Republican voters (there are currently 2,230) can vote in the Republican primary. However for the majority of Granby voters who are currently unaffiliated, the in-person deadline to join a political party to participate in the primary is by noon on Aug. 13.

Also, 17 year olds who will turn 18 by November 6 are eligible to vote in this primary if they enrolled as a Democrat or Republican. This statewide primary will be held in the Community Gym at Granby Memorial High School. The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The 2011 redistricting greatly altered the town district lines, so please take an extra moment to check the new maps and district lists. Most of old District 1was unchanged, but a large portion of old District 2 is now part of new District 1. When voters come to the polls, as in the past, the check in lines will be divided by District and arranged by street names.

Paper ballots will be used again this year at the polls – there will be four different check-in lines at the polls separate by district and party, and each line has a different color of ballot. In District 1, Democrats will have yellow ballots and Republicans will have white ballots. In District 2, Democrats will have blue ballots and Republicans will have pink ballots. For those who have difficulty getting in and out of their car, physically challenged voters can choose to file an absentee ballot with the town clerk prior to Election Day or ask for curbside voting at the polling site on Election Day.

Poll workers are needed for this primary and for the Presidential election in November. Training to certify election workers will take place the week before the primary and again in the fall. The Registrar’s office is compiling an e-mail list for those who would like to be notified as to when and where training will be held. If you would like to be added to their list, please e-mail the registrars at vr.granby@po.state.ct.us .

Absentee Ballots are handled through the Town Clerk’s office. The Registrars strongly recommend, since the primary is less than two weeks away, that primary ballot applications be done in person, so that a ballot can be issued, and returned to the Town Clerk immediately. For the general November Elections, send in an application for your absentee ballot at least one month before the election and mail your completed ballot immediately after you receive your ballot!

Calendar Review:

Absentee Ballot Applications are being collected now by the Town Clerk, for those who know they will be away from home on August 14 or November 6. The form is available at Town Hall or on the web at www.sots.ct.gov

Thursday, Aug. 9: Postmark Deadline for Voter Registration for August Primary

Monday, Aug. 13: 9 a.m. to Noon – Last Chance to Register in person at the Registrars Office for participation in the August Primary

Tuesday, Aug. 14: US Senate Primary, from 6 am to 8 pm in the Community Gym at Granby Memorial High School.

Feel free to stop by to register to vote, to determine your voting district or to make corrections in person at the Registrars’ Office in the Town Hall every Wednesday, (our regular office hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Please note voter registration forms are also available at town halls, libraries, DMV offices and online at the Secretary of State’s website: www.sots.ct.gov

Questions?  Please feel free to contact the registrars, Laura Wolfe and Maureen Wolf, our office phone number/voice mail is 860-844-5322 and our e-mail address is: vr.granby@po.state.ct.us .