New Canaan: Here's What Will Be on Your Ballot on Election Day

New Canaan voters will head to the polls this Tuesday, Nov. 4 for the 2014 midterm election.

On the ballot, registered voters in New Canaan will be able to select candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, a representative to U.S. Congress, state senator, state representative, secretary of state, treasurer, comptroller, attorney general, probate judge and registrar of voters.

There is no election for the U.S. Senate this year in Connecticut.

Voting

If you’re not registered to vote, the regular deadline has passed — however, Connecticut does allow Election Day registration for general elections like this one. Contact the Registrars for details about that. You can call the office at 203-594-3060. With Town Hall closed for a construction project, the Registrars of Voters office is currently located at 237 Elm St., 2nd Floor (above Walter Stewart’s Market — the entrance is on the left side of the building as you look at it from the street, and there’s a small parking lot there).

Polling places in New Canaan will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

New Canaan has three voting districts, but two of them vote in the same place. Depending on which district you’re in, you may be in a different state Senate or state House district. Here’s where to find out which district you’re in. (This article also has a polling place location finder at the bottom.)

These are the three districts, as described on the New Canaan Registrar of Voters Web page:

• District 1 voters live in CT Senatorial 36 & CT Assembly 125 — New Canaan High School 3 Farm Road

• District 2 voters live in CT Senatorial 26 & CT Assembly 125 — Saxe Middle School 468 South Avenue

• District 3 voters live in CT Senatorial 26 & CT Assembly 142 — Saxe Middle School, 468 South Ave.

Here’s what each New Canaan voting district’s ballot will look like (although it’s presented sideways, and the order is District 2, 3, 1 — good luck with it, voter; Patch had nothing to do with that; the PDF comes from the Connecticut Secretary of the State’s office, and she’s up for re-election herself; try not to get a crick in your neck).

Local Races

No local races are contested, and there are only two of them.

There are two candidates (one for each party) for registrar of voters and two will be elected: Kathleen H. Redman and George F. Cody

For New Canaan and Darien probate judge, William P. Osterndorf, a Republican, is unopposed. (Here’s an article about him in the Darien Times.)

State Legislature Races

STATE SENATE:

New Canaan Voting Districts 2 and 3 are in the 26th Senate District:

Toni Boucher, the incumbent, is a Republican.

Philip Sharlach, the only challenger, is listed on both the Democratic and Working Families Party ballot lines.

Here’s a New Canaan Advertiser article on one debate between the candidates, and on another.

New Canaan Voting District 1 is in the 36th Senate District:

L. Scott Franz, the incumbent, is a Republican.

Edward Hefflin, the only challenger, is on the Green Party ballot line

Here’s a New Canaan Advertiser article on a debate between the two candidates.

STATE HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES

New Canaan Voting Districts 1 and 2 are in the 125th House District:

Tom O’Dea, the incumbent, is a Republican

David A. Bedell, the only challenger, is on the Green Party ballot line

New Canaan Voting District 3 is in the 142nd House District:

Fred Wilms, a Republican who is also on the Independent Party ballot line

Andy Garfunkel, a Democrat who is also on the Working Families Party ballot line

Here’s a New Canaan Advertiser article about a debate featuring the candidates

Regional and Statewide Races

Governor and lieutenant governor: The candidates are Republicans Thomas Foley and Heather Somers (also on the Independent Party ballot line), Democrats Dannel Malloy and Nancy Wyman (also on the Working Families Party ballot line), while Joe Visconti and Chester Frank Harris are the petitioning candidates.

Fourth U.S. Congressional District: U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, a Democrat (also on the Working Families Party ballot line), faces Republican Dan Debicella (also on the Independent Party ballot line).

Secretary of the state: Republican Peter Lumaj, incumbent Democrat Denise Merrill and Green Party candidate S. Michael DeRosa are running.

Treasurer: Republican Timothy Herbst is running against Democrat Denise Nappier, the incumbent.

Comptroller: Republican Sharon McLaughlin, Democrat Kevin Lembo and Green Party candidate Rolf Maurer are running.

Attorney general: Republican Kie Westby and and Green Party candidate Stephen Fournier are challenging incumbent Democrat George Jepsen.

Ballot question: Voters will also be asked, “Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to remove restrictions concerning absentee ballots and to permit a person to vote without appearing at a polling place on the day of an election?”. The Connecticut League of Women Voters has a “primer” on the ballot question with links to articles from the organization’s Home page. The Hartford Courant also has a “primer,” which is this article about the ballot question.