Voting In Darien: Strong Early Turnout; UPDATE
DARIEN, CT — This story was updated at 10:50 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2020: While the polls opened at 6 a.m. Tuesday in Darien, numerous votes have already been cast long before Election Day.
But you might not know that at the Hindley School polling site in Darien, where a long line formed outside the school Tuesday morning just after 6 a.m.
According to resident Martin Milewski, who took the above photo, the line grew to about 100 people. Though social distancing and pandemic protocols are in place throughout the state, Milewski said that is not the reason for the long line, voter enthusiasm was.
"Lines are not normal at Hindley," Milewski said, adding that he has voted there in every election since 1994."
Though more than one-fifth of the state’s registered voters have already sent in their absentee ballot, big crowds and long lines are still expected at polling sites in Connecticut on Tuesday.
Besides the presidential race between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, there are several other critical local, state and national races that are drawing interest among voters. Darien, for example, also has a Board of Education race, and one for seats on the Representative Town Meeting and the Registrar of Voters.
Many residents opted to vote by mail as opposed to heading to the traditional polling places as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
If you still have your absentee ballot it must be hand-delivered to the town clerk’s office or placed in the drop-off box. Ballots must be received by the close of polls in order to count. Polls close at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
If you haven’t voted by mail and are heading to the polls Tuesday here is what you need to know.
Voting on Election Day
Polls in Connecticut are open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can use the Secretary of State’s website to find your polling place.
Connecticut also allows for Election Day registration at designated centers in each town. People must be registered by 8 p.m. in order to vote using Election Day registration.
For questions about voting in Darien, contact the Darien Registrar of Voters at 203-656-7316 or visit their website here.
The following are the key contested races that will be on the ballot for Darien voters:
President/Vice President
Joe Biden/Kamala Harris (Democrat)
Donald Trump/Mike Pence (Republican) - Incumbent
Jo Jorgensen and Chip Cohen (Libertarian)
Howie Hawkins and Angela Walker (Green Party)
U.S. Congress
U.S. House District 4
Jim Himes (Democrat) - Incumbent
Jonathan Riddle (Republican)
Brian Merlen (Independent)
Local State Senate Races
25th Senatorial District
Bob Duff (Democrat) - Incumbent
Ellie Kousidis (Republican)
Ellie Kousidis (Independent)
Bob Duff (Working Families)
27th Senatorial District
Carlo Leone (Democrat) - Incumbent
Eva Maldonado (Republican)
Eva Maldonado (Independent)
Local State Representative Races
141st House District
Terrie E. Wood (Republican) - Incumbent
147th House District
Matt Blumenthal (Democrat) - Incumbent
Dan Maymim (Republican)
Local Races
Registrar of Voters
Susan K. Gray (Democrat) - Incumbent
John Visi (Republican) - Incumbent
Board of Education
Michael J. Burke (Democrat) - Incumbent
Sara Parent (Democrat)
David P. Dineen (Republican) - Incumbent
Dennis Maroney (Republican) - Incumbent
Representative Town Meeting (Non-Partisan)
District 1
Sarah M. Baldwin - Incumbent
Amy Barsanti - Incumbent
Reed W. Barthold
Curtis A. Butler - Incumbent
Diane G. Conologue - Incumbent
Casey Mecsery - Incumbent
Holly S. Mitchell
District 2
Vincent Arguimbau - Incumbent
Elisabeth C. Bacon - Incumbent
Michael A.P. Casolo - Incumbent
James H. Howe - Incumbent
Cheryl Russell - Incumbent
Clara C. Sartori - Incumbent
Barbara L. Thorne - Incumbent
Michael C. Wheeler - Incumbent
Penelope Wilson - Incumbent
District 3
Jack H. Davis - Incumbent
Eric D. Golus - Incumbent
Petr Marousek - Incumbent
Marcy A. Minnick - Incumbent
Edward A. Washecka - Incumbent
Lisa Yarnell - Incumbent
Scott Zimmerman - Incumbent
District 4
Werner Domittner - Incumbent
Lucy Fiore - Incumbent
Michael G. Heitz - Incumbent
Rolf C. Obin - Incumbent
Brian J. Rayhill - Incumbent
Jan Raymond - Incumbent
Linda S. Terhune - Incumbent
District 5
Mark R. Adiletta - Incumbent
David F. Bayne - Incumbent
Lindsay Kelly - Incumbent
Harry D. McLachlin - Incumbent
Sheila B. Sherwood - Incumbent
District 6
Frank H. Adelman - Incumbent
Virginia S. Jijon-Caamano - Incumbent
Susan R. Lauritzen - Incumbent
Richard Poli - Incumbent
Robert A. Werner - Incumbent
This article originally appeared on the Darien Patch
