About 18 to 20 percent of Farmington voters have cast their ballots so far, according to the Registrar's Office.
"That indicates a low turnout for the day," Edward J. Leary, Republican Registrar of Voters, said, though he noted there could be a dinnertime rush. “I would be surprised if it gets to 30.”
That is expected of an election without a presidential or gubernatorial race, according the registrars. Typically, up to 80 percent turn out for presidential election years and gubernatorial races draw about 60 to 65 percent of voters, Leary said. Local elections average about 30 to 35, with 38 percent in 2005 and 2007, 36 in 2009 and an anomaly of 29 percent in 2011 due to the October snowstorm power outages.
"The campaigning was pretty muted. I didn’t think that there was any intensity to a lot of the campaigns," Leary said. "When the voters in general are content with the circumstances, they don’t make any action to vote or express their opinions.”
Farmington has 17,225 total registered voters in two voting districts and seven precincts. That includes 4,443 Republicans, 5,283 Democrats, 7,346 unaffiliated voters and 153 who identify with other parties like the Green Party.
This is also a landmark year of voting for the state of Connecticut, which is allowing same day voter registration for the first time. Leary said he predicted four people, but 14 have come into the office to register so far.
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"We didn't know what to expect," he said.
Having same-day registration has likely cost Farmington a couple hundred dollars more this election due to added costs like additional staff and renting at least another phone line.
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"I think it’s a waste of resources because we have to hire additional people," Leary said of his personal opinion on same-day registration.
He also said that it requires a lot of phone calls back and forth to other registrars offices.
People came in as early as 8 a.m. for same-day registration and it is an option until 8 p.m. The registrars have to verify with the voters' former town of residence in Connecticut that they haven't voted already.
Original Story
Come Nov. 5, registered Avon voters will go to the polls to vote for the municipal candidates they want representing them on various town boards starting in 2014.
Meet the Candidates
Click on the link provided to see a list of the candidates on the ballot. You can read more about the candidates on the Farmington Democrats' and Republican Town Committee's blogs. Letters of endorsement are also available in the You've Got My Vote open blog.
To view the ballot, click on the link provided on the town website.
Polling Places
Voting will run from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the following locations:
Voting District 1
- Precinct 1: Irving A. Robbins Junior High School
- Precinct 2: Irving A. Robbins Junior High School
- Precinct 3: Irving A. Robbins Junior High School
- Precinct 4: Irving A. Robbins Junior High School
- Precinct 5: West Woods Upper Elementary School
- Precinct 6: Farmington Community Center
- Precinct 7: Municipal campus
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