Turnout at Easton polls was nothing out of the ordinary as of 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, according to poll worker Maria “Marsha” Watson. But that could be attributed to the fact that one-third of the town’s registered voters had already cast their ballots through early voting..
“I would say probably fewer (voters) than in years past — but it’s been a constant trickle,” Watson said.
Among Easton’s roughly 5,700 registered voters, 1,800 — about 32% — voted during the first two weeks of the early voting period, according to Republican Registrar of Voters Dori Wollen. In addition, about 250 people voted by absentee ballot.
The two voting options in one of the most contested presidential races in history add up to an involved electorate, said Democratic Registrar of Voters David Smith.
“There has been an incredible outpouring of interest in this election, starting with the early voting, which has been the first time in the State of Connecticut that we have had early voting,” Smith said. “The folks who turned out for the early voting were many in number, far more than anybody expected.”
Smith said that by 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, roughly 4,600 of the town’s 5,760 registered voters — about 80% — had cast ballots, either early or in person.
“It’s incredible that we have had that kind of turnout already,” Smith said a few hours before the polls closed, “and we still have plenty of time left for people to make last-minute choices in this election.”
Results will be posted as they become available.
