Vernon Employs State Ballot Box For Primary, Scraps 'Local' Box

VERNON, CT — Vernon voters who opted to drop off their absentee ballot for Tuesday's primary election wound up with only one option — the state-issued ballot box. The installation of the box ended a feud between local and state officials over the steel mailbox-style ballot depositories provided by the state.

When asked about the absence of a local box to supplement the state box, Vernon Town Administrator Michael Purcaro said the town was complying "with the state constitution and state law passed by the legislature."

Last month, Vernon officials refused the state ballot box, citing safety and security concerns. Reasons cited included the box being "unmonitored" and unsanitary because of the potential for a stream of people touching it between cleanings.

Vernon officials preferred a box attached to town hall that operated similar to a bank drive-up window (but was walk-up). It was "contactless," town officials said.

State officials complained, as did disability advocacy groups and local Democrats organized a drive-by protest" over the town box.

The state Legislature, with Vernon Mayor and State Sen. Daniel Champagne voting in favor it, finally made the state box the only option with a coronavirus-specific law.

The polls were to be open until 8 p.m. Tuesday. The state ballot box sits on the sidewalk in front of Vernon Town Hall.