Electoral College, Featuring Tolland Resident, Makes Clinton Vote Official

HARTFORD, CT — The state's Electoral College on Monday made it official by endorsing the Democratic presidential ticket of Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine. The state's seven electors include Tolland resident Steven Jones.

As the winner of Connecticut, the state’s seven electors cast ballots for Hillary Clinton for president and Tim Kaine for vice president.

It is the 19th time that Connecticut’s electors were pledged to the unsuccessful candidates.Secretary of the State Denise Merrill said.

“In 2016 we had record numbers of people who registered and cast votes. I do hope we see that level of engagement continue in our communities in the months and years ahead. Democracy does not begin and end on Election Day,” shew said.

The vote was held in the Senate chambers at the state Capitol at noon with school children, civic activists, elected officials and others in attendance.

As set forth in the U.S. Constitution, the number of electoral votes is equal to the number of representatives in Congress. With two U.S. Senators and five members of the U.S. House of Representatives, Connecticut is awarded seven electoral votes.

A slate of seven electors were chosen by their political parties and elected on Nov. 8.

With 897,572 votes (or 54.57 percent) for the Clinton/Kaine ticket—versus 673,215 votes (40.93 percent) for Trump/ Pence—Connecticut voters elected the Democratic Party electors. The state’s seven electors are: Hon. Robert D. Godfrey (Danbury); Barbara C. Gordon (West Hartford); Steven James Jones (Tolland); Ellen S. Nurse (Hartford); Edward F. Piazza (New Haven); Hon. Christopher Rosario (Bridgeport) and Jeanette Morrison (New Haven) who replaced Tyisha S. Walker (New Haven).

After the votes were cast, the ballots were then wax-sealed by staff of the Secretary of the State’s office. They are then delivered to Congress, where a joint session of the House and Senate will take place on Jan. 6 to officially count the ballots from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Photo Credit: Secretary of the state.