How Did Stratford Do?
Statistics and Information from the Registrar’s Office
2024 Annual Report: Registrar of Voters Office Stratford
JANUARY—APRIL 2024
The Registrars conduct the Annual Canvass of the town’s 35,000 registered voters. We use multiple sources of information, including changes of address from the U.S. Postal Service, and send out thousands of letters to registered voters who may have passed on, moved out of town, or moved across town, in an effort to keep records accurate and up to date.
Over the course of the calendar year, 3,744 voters were added to the voting rolls, 3,211 had some element of their information changed, and 3,335 voters were removed from the Stratford registration list.
“I Voted Stratford CT”
About 27,000 Stratford voters in the November 2024 election received a copy of the artwork of Renee Leimgruber, who submitted the winning entry in a design-a-sticker contest sponsored by the Stratford Arts Commission.
OCTOBER 2024
Fourteen days of Early Voting, leading into the November presidential election, began October 21 at The Baldwin Center. Poll workers staffed four registration lines to accommodate the large number of voters who took advantage of the new law.
About 38 percent of Stratford voters cast their ballots early, leading to shorter lines on Election Day. The cost to the town for Early Voting in all of 2024: $80,000. The state covered only $25,000; Stratford taxpayers had to pick up the remaining $55,000.
SCENES FROM EARLY VOTING, 2024
When Connecticut voters in 2022 approved Early Voting for all elections, officials expected Connecticut to follow the pattern of others states: lots of curious voters on the first day or two of balloting, then a big drop off in balloting, and then an increase in the final days as Election Day approaches.
Early Voting got off to a slow start in 2024 when it was used in two elections that had a light turnout: the Presidential Preference Primary in April 2024, and an August 2024 primary election where only a fraction of voters were eligible to vote. But when 14 days of Early Voting for the November 2024 presidential election started Oct. 21, turnout exceeded all expectations.
The first day had a substantial turnout, as predicted. But in the following days, instead of the expected large drop in usage, close to 1,000 voters a day came to the Baldwin Center. There was a line when doors opened each day. We expected 5,300 Early Voters. We processed a total of 12,036 Early Voters over the 14 days.
NOVEMBER 2024
The Registrars trained, then hired 125 election workers to help voters cast their ballots November 5th at the town’s 10 polling locations, plus Early Voting at The Baldwin Center, plus Same Day Registration in the basement of Town Hall.
About 25 of the paid workers were current or recent high school students, many of whom helped the Registrars conduct student elections at Bunnell and Stratford High Schools, then used their experience to work November 5th.
Overall turnout in the presidential election was 75.6 percent. Despite the addition of Early Voting, overall turnout in Stratford was not significantly higher than other recent presidential elections.
SEPTEMBER 2024
At the statewide conference of Connecticut Registrars of Voters, officials got an early look at the new voting machines that will be used in Stratford for the 2025 Mayoral election. Note the larger video screen that will give you greater details on whether your ballot was accepted or rejected.
COMING EVENTS IN 2025, A MAYORAL ELECTION YEAR
- FEBRUARY 25, 2025. Special election to fill a vacant state Senate seat in 21st Senate district, which covers 90% of Stratford. Four days of Early Voting will be available at The Baldwin Center, Feb. 20-23. All 10 traditional polling locations are open on Election Day, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- SEPTEMBER 2025. Potential primary election, if any registered Republicans or Democrats challenge the party’s choice of candidates for Mayor, Board of Education, land use boards, or constable. Only party members are eligible to vote in a party primary.
- NOVEMBER 4, 2025. Election Day, preceded by 14 days of Early Voting at The Baldwin Center.
Stratford’s Registrars of Voters take part in more than a dozen out-of-office election- oriented events a year, such as conducting elections for the Oronoque Village Board of Directors, appearing on election-oriented podcasts, and holding voting workshops at The Stratford Library. Do you want a speaker to discuss elections or voting at one of your events? Contact us at Registrars@townofstratford.com
COME VISIT THE REGISTRARS OF VOTERS AT STRATFORD TOWN HALL, ROOM 117, MONDAY-FRIDAY, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (203) 385-4048; (203) 385-4049
- Registrar James Simon (D); jsimon@townofstratford.com
- Registrar Louis DeCilio (R); ldecilio@townofstratford.com
- Judy Scala, administrative assistant; jscala@townofstratford.com
