Poll worker information meeting May 22
On May 22, meet the Registrars and learn about how we ensure our right to vote. Lots of poll workers will be needed for 2024. If you are good at typing, your help will be needed during the 21 days of Early Voting (mid-August, late October, early November.) Poll workers will also be needed for the Aug. 13 Federal Primary and for the Presidential Election on Nov. 5. If you would like to participate, please register for the meeting on May 22 by sending an e-mail to the Registrars at registrarofvoters@granby-ct.gov Classes are held in the Town Hall Meeting Room, 15 North Granby Road. All are welcome.
New twist on spring voter canvass
To protect the rights of voters during the presidential primary, no canvass letters were mailed prior to April 2, which means registrars throughout the state are completing their mailing in April, as the last day to send is May 1.
Every year the Registrars’ office is required to identify names on our official voter registry that may need to be removed through an annual, selective canvass of voters. You can help the town by letting the registrars know if you or your grown children have moved out of Granby. The DMV and other town agencies also regularly let registrars know about people who have moved to and from Granby. But this is not enough, and most out-of-state moves are not reported. Granby identifies those who no longer belong on their voter registry by using a National Change of Address service. This service identifies people who have filed a change of address with the post office. From this listing, the registrars expect to send out more than 200 letters to people who are likely to have moved out of town.
Another 100 potentially former residents will receive canvass letters based on no activity, i.e. people who have not voted or registered to vote in the last four years. The third source of information is the Electronic Registration Information Center which compares national and state databases to Granby’s Voter Registry.
Why is all this canvass stuff important? Because the number of ballots ordered is based on Granby’s total numbers of active voters, and this is now a significant part of the town’s budget. By keeping the town’s voter list as accurate as possible, registrars minimize printing costs.
Early voting was a limited success
At the end of March, we held the historic first four days of early voting. Voters were pleasantly surprised at this new way of voting, and in general, it was positively received. Poll workers were disappointed at the small turnout: only 112 early votes were cast over four days. That averages to one voter every 17 minutes.
Presidential Preference Primary Vote
The Presidential Preference Primary had a very low turnout. Only 355 Republicans out of 2,458 and 370 Democrats out of 2,481voted in the primary—fewer than 15 percent overall.
Welcome to Iris Engel, Best Wishes to Stephanie McGuire
We are delighted to welcome new Deputy Registrar Iris Engel to the Registrar’s Office. Sadly, we are saying adieu to Stephanie McGuire, who is moving south with her husband Tom this spring. Best wishes to them both. They were a treasured part of our poll worker team.
Feel free to stop by to register to vote, to determine your voting district or to make corrections in person at the registrars’ office in the town hall any Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please note that voter registration forms are also available at town halls, libraries, DMV offices and online at the secretary of state’s website, sots.ct.gov
Questions?
Please feel free to contact registrars Laura Wolfe and Paul Willis at 860-844-5322 or 860-844-5323 or registrarofvoters@granby-ct.gov