Election Day 2012: Farmington Turnout Over 50 Percent

Update 5:30 p.m.: Farmington registrars estimate that voter turnout was over 50 percent at 3:30 this afternoon across the town's four polling places. Officials were counting more than 1,000 absentee ballots and a stream of residents who weren't registered to vote had headed to the Town Clerk's office to vote for president only. 

In 2008, Farmington voter turnout was 81 percent and officials expect to see similar numbers for today. 

Update 1 p.m.: Despite huge turnout and a complicated new system at Irving A Robbins, voting across town is going smoothly.

At IAR, voting is divided into four separate precincts, drawn during the recent redistricting.

"Some of the precincts - like South Road, Middle Road and Wolf Pit are all split," explained Assistant Moderator Patricia Bagdigian Buttero. "It was a little bit complicated but it's going really well."

At the door, Farmington High School students in an AP Government Politics class led by Grace Holland are helping residents find which precinct they are in and where to go. 

The students are all under 18 years old and not eligible yet to vote. 

"We can't vote yet so it's a way for us to get involved," said Morgan Beaupre.

But they were having fun volunteering and had learned enough to make predictions about the races.

"I feel this election will be really close like the 2000 elections - someone will win the popular vote but not the elections," Celia DeVoe said.

The local candidates were hoping for something better.

Farmington candidate for state representative Mike Demicco was visiting all of the polling places and said he was receiving positive feedback and a warm reception from voters.

"I'm cautiously optimistic," he said.

At IAR, his opponent, incumbent Bill Wadsworth said he had knocked on 98 percent of the 21st district's doors and also received positive feedback.

"We ran a great, positive campaign," Wadsworth said. "Hopefully by now people know who I am and what I stand for."

Update 11 a.m.: All of Farmington polls were seeing strong turnout early in the day. Voters and signholders reported dozens of residents coming out to vote before 9 a.m. and Farmington High School even saw a line before the doors were open.

But while each polling station has a steady stream of voters, none have long lines and everything is going smoothly, poll workers said.

Outside, Girl Scouts are selling cookies, Boy Scouts are selling wreaths and the Farmington Library is hosting special activities. The Farmington Valley Visiting Nurses Association is also hosting a flu and pneumonia clinic at the high school through 2 p.m. 

Many voters said they were motivated to come out by the presidential election adn several remarked they would be happy to see the end of political advertisements. 

Marissa McDougal, who came to vote at the Community Center with a group of residents from New Horizons was among them.

"It will be nice to turn on the TV tomorrow and not be bombarded," she said.

Amy Boda agreed.

"I really wish people would tell the truth," Boda said.  

Original story: Good morning, and welcome to Election Day 2012! Today, Farmington residents go to the polls to choose a president, a U.S. Senator, a U.S. Representative from the Fifth District, a state Senator from the Fifth and Sixth District and a state Representative from the 19th and 21st District. See below for information on where to go to cast your ballot and the list of candidates. We've also included how Farmington voted in 2008, the year of the last presidential election, and in 2010, the last mid-term election. Read it over, then visit your local polling station between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. to make your voice heard! And be sure to check back with Patch for updates throughout the day, including the announcement of the winners as soon as votes are tallied.

Farmington Polling Stations

• District 1, Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4: Irving A Robbins Middle School, 20 Wolf Pit Road
• District 1, Precinct 5: West Woods Upper Elementary School, 50 Judson Lane
• District 2, Precinct 6: Community Center, 321 New Britain Ave.
• District 2, Precinct 7: Municipal Campus, 10 Monteith Drive

* For more about Farmington's polling places, click here.

How Farmington Voted in 2008 (81% Turnout)

(D=Democrat; R=Republican; G=Green; I=Independent; WF=Working Families; CL=Connecticut for Lieberman)

PRESIDENT

• Obama-Biden (D) — 8,088 votes
• McCain-Palin (R) — 5,822 votes

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FIFTH DISTRICT

• Chris Murphy (D) — 7,272 votes
• David Cappiello (R) — 5,074 votes

FIFTH SENATE DISTRICT

• Jonathan Harris (D) — 7,174 votes (523 votes on the Working Families ticket)
• Joseph Merritt (R) — 4,075 votes

SIXTH SENATE DISTRICT

• Donald DeFronzo (D) — 779 votes (72 votes on the Working Families ticket)
• Thomas Bozek (R) — 794 votes

19TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

• Beth Bye (D) — 491 votes
• Theresa McGrath (R) — 562 votes

21ST ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

• Demetrios Giannaros (D) — 9,382 votes
• unopposed

How Farmington Voted in 2010 (XX% Turnout)

(D=Democrat; R=Republican; G=Green; I=Independent; WF=Working Families; CL=Connecticut for Lieberman; SA=Socialist Action)

U.S. SENATE

• Richard Blumenthal (D) — 5,459 votes
• Linda McMahon (R) — 5,242 votes

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, FIFTH DISTRICT

• Chris Murphy (D) — 5,929 votes (124 votes on the Working Families ticket)
• Sam Caligiuri (R) — 4,693 votes (76 votes on the Independent ticket)

FIFTH SENATE DISTRICT

• Beth Bye (D) — 4,525 votes (111 votes on the Working Families ticket)
• Joseph Merritt (R) — 4,147 votes

SIXTH SENATE DISTRICT

• Donald DeFronzo (D) — 705 votes (16 votes on the Working Families ticket)
• Henry Zembko (R) — 709 votes

19TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

• Brian Becker (D) — 333 votes
• Denise Berard Hall (R) — 577 votes

21ST ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

• Mike Demicco (D) — 4,919 votes
• Bill Wadsworth (R) — 4,960 votes

..................................

*Numbers courtesy of the Secretary of the State's office.