Farmington Voter Turnout Just Below State Average

Farmington fell just below the state average for voter turnout in the Nov. 8 election, according to numbers released by the Secretary of the State’s office today. Statewide, 30.62 percent of registered voters cast their ballots, while Farmington turnout was 28.56 percent.

Whether lingering power outages were a factor in voter turnout is unknown but locally, opinions differ.

Jeff Hogan, who was elected town council chairman Nov. 8, said the town responded well to challenging conditions and those who wanted to vote, did.

“There were a lot of changes but I thought they were communicated very well, signage was good and we still had 28 percent of the people show up to vote,” he said after the election. “There were people without electricity that still came out to vote. We’re coming off a horrific 10-11 day period but there’s nothing that bothered me about how things were.”

Since three of the town’s four polling places were without electricity the night before the election, Farmington made a move to defer it a week but was denied. Instead, registrars opted to shift the polling places.

Two of the polls were moved just a few yards away but West Woods Upper Elementary School voters were sent to Irving A. Robbins Middle School.

“The storm drove us crazy,” said Republican Registrar of Voters Edward Leary. “We didn’t know whether any of the buildings would have power or if we would have any lights…”

And the lack of power at Town Hall might have caused a problem for residents seeking to vote by absentee ballot. Since most homes were in the dark, unknown numbers of residents fled the town and many the state, to stay with family who weren’t affected by the storm.

Leary said he tried to hold a few office hours to make absentee ballots available but Town Hall was without power for about eight days after the storm and it wasn’t possible to keep it open.

“Even with the generator on in here it’s very dark and it’s a public safety issue to have people in here,” he said.

How many residents tried to get a ballot and weren’t able to, he couldn’t guess.

“I’m sure some did but I don’t know how many.”

The Halloween snowstorm caused additional damage to the efforts of local candidates who were unable to campaign. Phone service was down for most of the town for the week and a half prior to the election and most residents were occupied with basic survival.

Independent William Baker needed all the time available to get his name and message out to voters but his efforts were halted by the storm.

“I couldn’t campaign during that time. I just couldn’t do it. I wouldn’t have voted for me if I did.”

Baker attributes his loss to the lower voter turnout.

“I needed at least 35 percent to have a chance at winning and we didn’t get it,” he said.

Farmington voter turnout was down from 36 percent in the 2009 municipal election and down about 100 absentee ballots, according to the registrars.