New Canaan Republicans Select Candidates Tuesday

NEW CANAAN, CT — New Canaan Republicans are scheduled to select candidates for this fall's election during the Republican Town Committee Caucus tomorrow evening, July 18, in the New Canaan High School Auditorium.

Doors open at 5 p.m., the caucus begins at 5:30 p.m. and candidate speeches start at 6 p.m., according to officials.

Voting on candidates also begins at 6 p.m. and goes until 9 p.m. Separately, New Canaan Democrats are also scheduled to hold their caucus Tuesday night.

While there are a host of Republican candidates seeking votes for nominations to run for various offices, perhaps the biggest vote of the evening will be between incumbent First Selectman Rob Mallozzi III, RTC Vice-Chair Cristina Aguirre-Ross and Town Councilman Kevin Moynihan for the party's nod to run for First Selectman.

The New Canaan RTC posted the following "Top 6 Things to Know about The Republican Caucus" on its website:

1. When and where is it, and what time exactly can I vote?

Tuesday, July 18th, 2017 at New Canaan High School’s Auditorium - Voting will be from 6:00pm to 9:00pm sharp.

2. What is a Caucus and how does it differ from a Primary?

The Caucus is a political process conducted by the New Canaan Republican Party. At the Caucus, New Canaan Republicans gather to endorse candidates for First Selectman, Board of Selectmen, Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, Board of Education, Town Council, Board of Assessment Appeals and other elected offices.
It is important to understand that a Caucus is an actual meeting, on a designated day, at a designated hour and place, as set forth in the New Canaan Republican Town Committee’s Bylaws and the timing of which is determined by State of Connecticut statute.

Caucuses also differ from primaries in that they are party events arranged by the New Canaan Republican Party not the Town of New Canaan.

In some caucuses, such as Iowa’s, participants openly show support for their candidates by raising hands or breaking into groups, but in New Canaan’s Republican caucus, voting is anonymous and done with a paper ballot inserted into a locked ballot box.

3. Who can attend?

The criteria for attending a caucus are as follows: 1) You must be a registered New Canaan Republican. 2) You must be at least 18 years old and eligible to vote at the time of the Caucus. Note that you may not vote absentee – as the Caucus is a meeting - you must attend in person.

4. What can you expect?

Doors will open at New Canaan High School at 5:00, the Caucus will begin at 5:30 and Voting will commence at 6:00 and end at 9:00 sharp.

Upon entering the High School lobby you will see tables staffed by the Republican Registrar of Voters. At a table corresponding to your street address you will check in. Bring photo ID; your party registration and street address will be verified. Once you are verified as a qualified Republican elector, you will receive your ballot.

Do not give your ballot to anyone else. No proxy voting is allowed - only you are allowed to submit your ballot into the ballot box.

Entrance into the auditorium is limited to only qualified Republicans. Your ballot or “admissions pass” must be shown to gain attendance. Children may accompany parents who are qualified electors.

Because the caucus is a meeting, at 5:30 several minutes will be spent convening the meeting following the rules of parliamentary procedure: appointing a permanent Moderator, Secretary, Rules Committee, adopting rules, and so forth. Voting will then open at 6:00 and you will be allowed to submit your ballot into the ballot box.

At 6:00pm we will also have candidate speeches as in prior years. Voting will be open during speeches.

Voting will close at 9:00pm sharp.

If all you want to do is cast your vote and leave, you may. But if you are interested in being more informed about the candidates before you cast your vote we encourage you to stay and listen to the candidates’ speeches.

5. Why should you care?

It’s important to show up and vote, particularly if you feel strongly about one candidate or another. If you don’t caucus, you’re letting someone else decide who our party’s candidates are going to be.

The date for New Canaan’s Republican Caucus is Tuesday, July 18 at the auditorium of New Canaan High School on Farm Road. Doors open at 5:00, the Caucus meeting will begin at 5:30pm, voting will commence at 6:00 and all voting will end at 9:00pm sharp. We will then count ballots and announce our Party’s endorsed candidates as soon as possible.

Please join us – only if you participate can you make a difference.

6. Where can I find more information?

Visit the New Canaan Republican Town Committee’s website: www.newcanaanrepublicans.org