‘Record pace’ in Newtown, long lines elsewhere in Danbury area

With about 1,400 votes cast in four hours Tuesday at District 2 in Newtown, one election official described the scene at Reed Intermediate School as a “record pace.”
By comparison, there were 4,980 votes cast — for all of Newtown — in the July 12 budget referendum.
Similar scenes of heavy voter turnout have been reported at polling places all across western Connecticut.
In Bethel, voter turnout numbers have been steadily climbing since the polls opened at 6 a.m. Statewide, polls are open until 8 p.m.
At the Stony Hill Firehouse in Bethel, 33 percent of the district’s voters had cast ballots by 11 a.m., a number that swelled to 38 percent if you included absentee ballots, said moderator Sharon Straiton.
At the Clifford J. Hurgin Municipal Center in Bethel, 25 percent of District 4 voters had voted by 11 a.m. Sometimes, 25 percent is the voter turnout for the entire day, said Republican Registrar of Voters Mary Legnard.
In Southbury, there were long lines stretching through the firehouse on South Main Street.
“We had to open a second tabulator because the line had wrapped around so much it became a circle,” said Moderator Vivian Templeton.
At 11:05 she checked the machines – 1,403 votes had been cast.
“It’s a very healthy turnout,” she said. “There was a line when we opened and it’s been a steady clip.”
There was confusion for some Southbury residents who came to the firehouse to vote only to find out that districts had changed and they needed to go to the library. Southbury consolidated its voting districts from five to three over the summer.
In Brookfield, lots of voters were waiting to cast their ballots at Huckleberry Hill Elementary School.
In New Fairfield, First Selectman John Hodge said although he’s received complaints from residents about “heavy (motor vehicle) traffic,” he, too, is encouraged by reports of strong voter turnout.

Brian Koonz