CT's secretary of state says early voting system can still be improved
According to the Secretary of State's office, less that 8,900 people out of more than 1.2 million registered Democrats and Republicans around Connecticut cast their ballots during this most recent seven-day early voting.
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As Connecticut's second election with early voting wrapping up, Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas admits the system can still be improved.
While many states around the country embraced early voting during COVID for the 2020 election, Connecticut first started allowing it this year for the presidential primaries in the spring, and now, for the local primaries.
According to the Secretary of State's office, less that 8,900 people out of more than 1.2 million registered Democrats and Republicans around Connecticut cast their ballots during this most recent seven-day early voting.
Although Thomas says she expected this to be a low turnout election, she also believes that not many voters knew early voting was even an option, especially after the state Legislature previously rejected funding that her office had requested for a "get out the vote" educational campaign.
"From the data collected around the country, there is a direct correlation to the amount of advertising, and the amount of early voters," said Thomas. "(The low turnout) comes as no surprise absent a coordinated statewide campaign."
Thomas says her office will try to do more to let people know about the 14 days of early voting the state has planned for the November general election, including putting informational pamphlets at every library in the state.
However, if turnout remains low, Thomas admits the state may look into cutting down on the number of early voting days in the future, especially, considering the amount of resources it takes.
