June 2024

Q1. Do we know if there is a Primary election in Stratford in August? Why have another primarywhen we just had one in April?

All Stratford Democrats and Republicans had the option of voting in an April 2, 2024 primary for whom their party’s candidate for President should be. There will be party Primaries in August because some candidates for state office who were endorsed by their party were challenged by insurgent candidates. So there is an August 13, 2024, primary election in Stratford — but whether you are eligible to vote depends on your party and voting location. All registered Republicans town-wide can vote in a primary to help decide which GOP candidate should oppose Democratic incumbent U.S. Senator Chris Murphy: Beacon Falls First Selectman Gerry Smith, who was endorsed by the GOP, vs. challenger Matthew Corey. That is the only office on the GOP ballot; again, every registered Republican is eligible to vote, in Stratford and statewide.

Q2. How about if I am a Democrat?

It’s complicated. Really complicated. If you live in State Senate District 23 — which includes parts of Stratford’s District 1 (Lordship School), D3 (Johnson House), and D4 (Franklin School) — yes you can vote on Aug. 13 for one of two Democratic candidates: the incumbent Democratic state Sen. Herron Gaston, or challenger Ernest Newton III, who once held the seat. Newton gathered enough petition signatures to force a primary. Again, that is the only office on the Democratic ballot. Turnout is going to be extremely light in both primaries.

Q3. So how do I know if I live in state Senate District 23?

The state does not make it easy to check. You can go to https://portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx and supply your name and address. In the middle of the screen, you will get your polling location, followed by your state Assembly District number and then the state Senate District number. For example, my own information says:

Polling Location Address 

State: Chapel Street School 120 21 

So I vote at Chapel Street School. My state Assembly District is 120. My state Senate district is 21. So I am >not< eligible to vote in the Aug 13 Democratic primary since it is only for Democrats in Senate District 23.

Q4. And you wonder why turnout is so low?

It’s even worse. There are 1,265 Democrats in District 1 who may want to vote, but only 67 Democrats from D1 are in Senate District 23 and therefore eligible. The numbers are better in District 3, where 1,683 Democrats out of 1,817 are eligible. And in D4, 617 of the 1,270 Democrats are eligible. Again if you want to know your status, try to website listed above. If you still have questions, e-mail us at registrars@townofstratford.com and we will look up your voting status and let you know.

Q5. So if I am unaffiliated or not associated with a political party, I get cheated and I can’t vote in a party primary in Connecticut?

Connecticut is a “closed primary” state: only party members get to vote in a party primary. Nationwide, that is the norm: in 30 of the 50 states, neither major political party offers an “open primary” where non-party members could take part.