Last week, Connecticut held its second primary election with the option to vote early. According to the Secretary of State, 8,700 voters cast ballots early in an election without any competitive races. Earlier this week, the Secretary stated, “we may have too many days of early voting.”
In April 2024, 18,000 people voted early in the state’s first Presidential Preference Primary – a primary that traditionally has low voter turnout overall and little to no competition. Secretary Thomas suggested this was a “resounding success” when speaking with reporters.
Cheri Quickmire, Executive Director of Common Cause in Connecticut, expressed concern over the Secretary’s remarks. She stated:
“It is concerning that Secretary Thomas wants to jump ship before voters have a chance to hear early voting is an option for the first time in state history.
Both elections in April and August saw low turnout overall yet 18,000 voters chose to cast a ballot early in April. And we know from our national network of experts, voters in other states take advantage of voting as early as a month before election day.
Without a high-stakes election or any funding to educate the public, it is too soon for the Secretary of State to abandon early voting.
The true test of early voting will occur in November when voters take to the polls in what is expected to be one of the most fiercely contested elections in decades from the top of the ticket down.
We cannot draw any conclusions about early voting based on data to date. Instead, we must do everything possible to make sure voters know that early voting is an option.”
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