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04/26/2016 03:04 PMZip06/The Sound went out to polling places mid-day to find about 25 percent of the town's registered Democrats and Republicans had already turned out to vote in Branford's seven districts by 1 p.m.
Moderators at each poll characterized the response as "steady" from the time polls opened at 6 a.m. this morning, and several noted they were seeing a higher number of voters that those who'd come out for past primary events.
"It's definitely more voters than we usually see for any primary," said Fourth District moderator Lowell Collingwood, overseeing voter turning out at the district's polling place, Branford Fire Headquarters.
While registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans in Branford, voters from both parties were coming out this morning and early afternoon. Town wide, Branford has 6,425 registered Democrats and 3,259 registered Republicans.
District 7 (Walsh Intermediate School) moderator Dan Dibisceglie said voters were making a point of finding their way to the polling place this morning. Of the district's 1069 eligible registered voters, 665 had turned in their ballot by 1 p.m.
"We're averaging about 35 voters an hour," said Dibisceglie at 1 p.m. today. "We though the rain and weather was going to drive away voters, but it's been steady."
District 2 (St. Therese Church, Stony Creek) moderator Kathleen DaRos said the district had polled 26.5% of its eligible voters by 1 p.m.
"Even with the pouring rain this morning, they were coming in," said DaRos.
One noticeable component missing from outside of each polling place: solicitors backing candidates on the ballots. Political lawn signs, which are regulated by law to be at least 75 feet from the entry to any polling place; were also largely absent.
The polls remain open until 8 p.m. tonight. Only voters registered as Democrats or Republicans may vote in the April 26 primary. As they enter the voting area, voters are separated by party. At each party's respective table, identification is presented to an official checker and a ballot clerk before the voter is given the paper ballot matching their registered party. Voters then head to the voting booth to fill in ballots, which are turned in to be scanned and will be reported by the district to the town's Registrar of Voters.
On the April 26, 2016 State of Connecticut official Presidential Primary Democratic ballot, candidates are listed in the following order of appearance: Roque "Rocky" De La Fuente; Hillary Clinton; Bernie Sanders; Uncommitted.
On the April 26, 2016 State of Connecticut official Presidential Primary Republican ballot, candidates are listed in the following order of appearance: Ted Cruz; Ben Carson; Donald J. Trump; John R. Kasich; Uncommitted.