More than half of the 165 cities and towns in Connecticut that held local elections on Nov. 5 failed to report how many people took advantage of same-day voter registration, making it difficult for the state to gauge the success of the program on its debut.
A Hearst Connecticut Newspapers analysis found that 88 municipalities failed to report the number of walk-ups, which, Av Harris, a spokesman for Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, said is compulsory.
“It is the law. They’re supposed to comply with it,” Harris said.
Harris acknowledged there is frustration on the part of state election officials, who he said have the power to fine municipalities $50 for non-compliance.
“Nobody wants to be cited for incomplete reporting of election returns,” Harris said.
At the same time, Harris empathized with local registrars, town clerks and poll workers.
“It’s not easy. It’s a long day and people aren’t paid very much to do it,” Harris said.
This year, Connecticut joined 10 other states that offer same-day voter registration.
Of the 77 cities and towns that cooperated with the new mandate, they reported 1,590 newly-registered voters overall.
Harris estimated that the statewide total was between 2,000 and 2,500.
Uncertain of what kind of reception the program would get from would-be voters, some cities and towns hired extra election workers at additional expense to accommodate walk-ups.
Harris expects more people will participate in the program during next year’s mid-term elections.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be a huge deluge of people,” he said.