Any final decision on primary elections this year in municipal races?
Is artificial intelligence complicating elections?
ASK THE REGISTRAR — STRATFORD, CT.
Your place for answers about voting and local elections in Stratford
By Registrar Of Voters James Simon (D)
July 2023
• Did my polling location get moved?
• Any final decision on primary elections this year in municipal races?
• Is artificial intelligence complicating elections?
ASK THE REGISTRAR
Your place for answers about voting and local elections in Stratford
By Registrar Of Voters James Simon (D)
July 2023
Q. How do I find out if my polling location got changes due to Redistricting in Stratford?
This week our office is sending out postcards to inform 1,600+ registered voters that their polling location has been changed due to Redistricting. Do you want to know right now? You can look up your own, up-to-date information at https://portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx
Q: When will we know if there are primary elections this September?
By Tuesday, July 25th, the two major parties will have endorsed their municipal candidates. Party members can challenge any choice by circulating petitions and gathering enough certified signatures by August 9th to force a primary election on September 12th. As of July 24th there were potential primary challenges only in Districts 3 (voting at Johnson House) and 4 (Franklin School).
The general election is November 7th, 2023; voters will choose a town council candidate in their district, plus vote for candidates for Planning, Zoning, Board of Education, and Constable.
Q. If I decide I want to vote in the September primary election, when do I have to act and switch from unaffiliated to R or D?
A: As an unaffiliated voter, you have until noon on the day before the primary to make a switch. But if you belong to any specific political party, you must act 90 days ahead of time, so you have already missed the deadline for September.
Q: Why does CT Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas say she is worried about Artificial Intelligence (AI) interfering with fair elections?
Thomas told the state’s Registrars of Voters on July 18th that election disrupters could (mis)use AI to create false candidate images, voices, and political appeals. While voters often can tell if someone is sending a phony e-mails because of misspellings, odd phrases, or strange domain names, AI will correct many of those problems – “there will be fewer ‘tells’ ’’ — and make detection harder in the future, she said.
Q Anything new with plans for Connecticut to launch its new Early Voting program next April with the 2024 presidential primary?
A: Thomas remains worried that the Legislature did not make good on its promise to fully fund Early Voting; the lawmakers approved the same $10,500 funding for EV for each individual municipality, whether you are a big city like Bridgeport or a tiny town with under 5,000 people. Like many other towns, Stratford may have to use town funds to pay for part of the election.
Thomas also worries about the lack of action to fund replacements for the state’s aging voting machines. She is lobbying the state Bonding Commission to endorse funding for a new generation of machines. The current machines, which have served Connecticut well for 15+ years, are no longer manufactured and often are repaired by raiding discarded machines for parts.
QUESTIONS? PLEASE SEND THEM TO STRATFORD REGISTRAR JAMES SIMON; [email protected]. This is not an official publication of the Town of Stratford. (Vol. 3, No. 7; July 2023)
To register to vote; change your name, address and/or party affiliation; or enroll in a political party: https://voterregistration.ct.gov/OLVR
• To check on your registration or voting location: https://portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx
• Our ROV website for additional information: http://www.townofstratford.com/content/39832/39846/39935/default.aspx
• Want more information on Stratford elections? Search for the FB page Ask the Registrar-Stratford and “like” it
