-
In this archive picture, Middletown resident and election moderator Ann Smith, left, hands a manila folder to a city resident at Macdonough Elementary School during last year’s primary vote.
Photo: Hearst Connecticut Media File PhotoIn this archive picture, Middletown resident and election moderator Ann Smith, left, hands a manila folder to a city resident at Macdonough Elementary School during last year’s primary vote.
In this archive picture, Middletown resident and election moderator Ann Smith, left, hands a manila folder to a city resident at Macdonough Elementary School during last year’s primary vote.
In this archive picture, Middletown resident and election moderator Ann Smith, left, hands a manila folder to a city resident at Macdonough Elementary School during last year’s primary vote.
MIDDLETOWN — A good number of absentee ballots mailed last week by the town clerk’s office have yet to be received by voters, who have flocked to social media to express their frustration.
Many are not venturing out due to fear of contracting COVID-19, so, although they are allowed to vote person, many may choose not to.
Of the 20,000 Connecticut absentee ballots not sent out promptly to voters, due to an issue with the secretary of the state’s mail vendor, 1,675 of those were in Middletown, said Town Clerk Ashey Flynn-Natale.
The expansion of absentee ballots was intended for the elderly, those whose with compromised immune systems or others who fear possible exposure to the coronavirus.
Registered voters who haven’t gotten their forms still can show up Tuesday at their regular polling places, but many may not know that, Flynn-Natale said.
Another hurdle in this primary is the aftermath of Tropical Storm Isaias, which hit the state Aug. 4, knocking out power to close to 9,000 households in Middletown serviced by Eversource.
By late Monday, 86,101 people still were without power in Connecticut, with 500 of those in Middletown, or 2 percent of Eversource customers in the city.
Mayor Ben Florsheim reassured residents all of the city’s districts are up and running.
Of the absentee ballots, “If, for any reason, it’s lost in the mail, you didn’t get it, or if you didn’t apply for one in the first place, you can vote in person,” Florsheim said. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Due to last week’s storm disrupting mail delivery and election offices across the state, Gov. Ned Lamont signed an executive order late Monday allowing absentee ballots to be postmarked by Tuesday and received by Thursday — rather than requiring they be received Tuesday.
In terms of expanding absentee ballot use to those who did not want to risk exposure to the virus, “The whole point of this was to try to make it possible so people wouldn’t have to go out and vote in person if they didn’t feel safe doing so,” Florsheim said.
Anyone voting in person is required to wear a mask, and safety measures will be strictly enforced throughout the voting districts.
“They are going to be just as equipped as any place else,” with social distancing, cleaning of the stations, and cleaning them between voters, Florsheim said.
A number of absentee applications reportedly were not received by Flynn-Natale’s office and many residents did not get ballots despite them being put them in the mail by the town clerk Tuesday through Thursday of last week, Flynn-Natale said.
Even the custodians were running some of those to the post office to help out, she said. “People are saying they’ve mailed in two weeks ago and we haven’t received it,” the town clerk said.
Registered voters have until 4:30 p.m. Monday to stop by her office and fill one out.
Secretary of the State Denise Merrill’s office has since terminated the contract with the vendor because of the matter, Flynn-Natale said.
Unless received in the town clerk’s office and postmarked by 8 p.m. on primary day, or placed in a ballot dropbox outside City Hall, votes will not be counted, Florsheim said.
Flynn-Natale’s department wasn’t alerted to the situation until the end of the day Aug. 3. “That’s what the confusion was,” Flynn-Natale said. “Because the secretary of state’s office sent out the applications, a lot of people assumed the polls were closed, but that is not the case.”
She did post a notice alerting people on the town clerk’s website.
Many crucial lessons regarding main-in voting will need to be learned before the presidential election Nov. 3, when participation is expected to be “exponentially more,” Florsheim said.
“We’re doing this now to try and stave this off. If we’re doing that during a period where there’s an increase in [coronavirus] cases, it’s going to be all the more important to vote by mail,” he said.
“I’m glad we did it. Somebody said to me, you want to break it so you can know what the fail points are, and put it back together,” the mayor said.
The issues may mean full primary results may not be available until late Tuesday, Florsheim said. “We will be here until the last vote is counted,” he said.
The Election Day hotline, 866-733-2463, and email address, elections@ct.gov, will be available throughout Tuesday for anyone who witnesses voting irregularities.
Information on local polling districts can be found at cityofmiddletown.com.
"day" - Google News
August 11, 2020 at 01:16AM
https://ift.tt/3aaukSk
Day before primary, unsent absentees causing confusion, anger in Middletown - Middletown Press
"day" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3f7h3fo
https://ift.tt/2VYSiKW
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Day before primary, unsent absentees causing confusion, anger in Middletown - Middletown Press"
Post a Comment