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

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

On the ballot, registered voters in Westport will be able to select candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, a representative to U.S. Congress, state senator, state representatives, 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 at Town Hall, 110 Myrtle Ave., Room 107 or by calling 203-341-1115, 1116 or 1117.

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

You can use this handy online tool to find out where you vote and who your state legislators are (and even Town Meeting representatives) by clicking on your street name. We also have a tool for finding your polling place at the bottom of this article.

Local Races

There are only two local races, and neither is contested.

There are two candidates (one for each party) for registrar of voters and two will be elected: Marla J. Cowden, a Democrat; and Kevin M. White, a Republican.

For probate judge, Lisa K. Wexler, a Republican, is unopposed.

State Legislature Races

STATE SENATE:

Westport Voting Districts 1, 1A, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 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.

Westport Voting Districts 4A and 5 are in the 28th Senate District:

Tony Hwang, a Republican and a state representative, is running.

Kim Fawcett, a Democrat, is also on the Working Families Party ballot line.

STATE HOUSE of REPRESENTATIVES

Westport Voting Districts 1, 2A, 3, 4, 4A, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are in the 136th House District:

Jonathan P. Steinberg, the incumbent, is a Democrat.

Republican Brandi Briggs is also on the Independent Party ballot line.

Westport Voting Districts 1A and 2 are in the 143rd House District:

Gail Lavielle, the incumbent, is a Republican.

Keith Rodgerson, the challenger, is a Democrat.

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. Here’s some “explanatory text” about the measure, from the Westport town government website.