Vote Today: Republican, Democratic Primaries

Registered Republicans and Democrats in Connecticut can vote in primaries in their respective parties today for candidates running in state and federal elections.

Polls open across the state at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

While registered voters can't switch their party affiliation at this point, unaffiliated or unregistered voters can register by noon today to vote in either primary.

The Jewish Community Center, Rochambeau Middle School and Sacred Heart Church are no longer being used as town polling locations, as Southbury has reduced its polling locations from five to three.

The Center Firehouse and Southbury Public Library have remained polling locations and the Senior Center/Parks and Recreation Building has been added as a polling location.

Attached is a street-by-street breakdown of the three new voting districts and where residents should go to vote.

All Connecticut residents, either Republicans or Democrats, who vote in today's primary will choose between two candidates each in their respective parties for the open U.S. Senate race.

This is the seat currently held by U.S. Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, a former Democrat-turned-Independent who is retiring.

Click on a candidate's names to see his/her profile. Those without links have not yet responded to Patch's candidate questionnaire.

Democrats

• Chris Murphy, current congressman from the Fifth District, the party's endorsed candidate and a Cheshire resident.

• Susan Bysiewicz, former Secretary of the State and Middletown resident.

Republicans

• Linda E. McMahon, a former CEO Of WWE, the party's endorsed candidate and Greenwich resident.

• Chris Shays, former congressman from the 4th Congressional District in Fairfield County and a resident of Bridgeport.

The Fifth Congressional District race is one of the hottest political contests in Connecticut in 2012. It’s the only race this year with an open seat, because the current representative, Chris Murphy, is running for the open Senate seat.

The ballot is made up of seven candidates — four Republicans and three Democrats.

Republicans

• Andrew Roraback, a Torrington attorney and state senator from Goshen who gained the state GOP’s endorsement during its convention this summer.

• Lisa Wilson-Foley, a Simsbury resident who has been involved in the healthcare business in the Farmington Valley.

• Justin Bernier, a Farmington resident, former U.S. Navy veteran and executive director of the Office of Military Affairs under former Gov. Jodi M. Rell.

• Mark Greenberg, a Litchfield businessman and owner of a non-profit animal rescue shelter.

Democrats

• Chris Donovan, of Meriden, the former House Speaker in the state's General Assembly, working families advocate and the Democratic Party’s endorsed candidate.

• Elizabeth Esty, an attorney, former Cheshire Town Council member and state representative.

• Dan Roberti, of Kent, a former public relations executive and activist.

The candidates will all rendevouz with their campaign staffs during Tuesday evening at hotels, restaurants and other venues, to watch as the vote returns from the primary are called in.

These campaign gatherings happen around the time the polls close, at 8 p.m., and supporters and local reporters will likely show up too.

Here’s a breakdown on where each candidate is expected to be after the votes are called in:

U.S. Senate

• Murphy Campaign: Omni Hotel, 155 Temple St., New Haven
• Bysiewicz Campaign: Mattabesett Canoe Club, 80 Harbor Drive, Middletown (Bysiewicz expected to address supporters at 8:30 p.m.)
• McMahon Campaign: Hilton Stamford Hotel, 1 Stamford Place, Stamford
• Shays Campaign: Campaign Headquarters, 2013 Main St., Stratford

5th District

• Roraback Campaign: BackStage Restaurant, 84 Main St., Torrington
• Wilson-Foley Campaign: Matthew’s Restaurant, 55 Mill St., Farmington
• Bernier Campaign:
• Greenberg Campaign: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1284 Strongtown Road, Southbury
• Donovan Campaign: Augusta Curtis Culture Center, 175 East Main St., Meriden
• Esty Campaign: CoCo Key Hotel, 3580 East Main St., Waterbury
• Roberti Campaign: Campaign Headquarters, 195 Grand St., Waterbury