Connecticut voters rubber stamped Donald Trump and Joe Biden for president at Tuesday’s primary election. But the final results of many down ballot races for state House and Senate are not expected for days, if not weeks, due to a wave of no-excuse absentee ballots amid the pandemic.
Secretary of the State Denise Merrill said there were very few glitches in the election.
“Especially considering where we were two days ago with no power to many of the polling places and all kinds of internet connection problems,” Merril said. Turnout at the polls was light, she said, due to the fact that most voters used the no-excuse absentee ballots.
“Ninety percent of the ballots got there, to people," she continued. "Most of them got dropped off in the ballot boxes. Although it’s going to take us a little longer to count. To receive all the ballots. I think everyone who wanted to vote by absentee ballot was able to.”
Senate Minority Leader Len Fasano does not agree. He’s asked the state’s attorney general to investigate what he says were absentee ballot delays caused by a third-party mailing house. Merrill said that might not be an issue in November because town clerks would be more involved in the distribution of absentee ballots.
By executive order, Governor Ned Lamont directed municipalities to accept any absentee ballots postmarked by Tuesday and arrived by Thursday, Aug. 13.
Vote counts won’t be official until Thursday at the earliest.
So far, Republican Mary Fay is ahead of Jim Griffin to challenge Democratic Congressman John Larson for the state’s 1st Congressional district.
The Republican primary for the 2nd Congressional district to challenge Congressman Joe Courtney is in flux. Candidates Justin Anderson and Thomas Gilmer are neck-and-neck, despite Gilmer pulling out of the race last minute after he was arrested Monday on domestic violence charges.
The state GOP would be allowed to nominate another candidate, if Gilmer wins and drops out.
