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11/01/2016 03:15 PM

Ready to Go: Election Day 2016 in Madison


Democratic Registrar of Voters William Gowanlock works with the town’s new handicap-accessible voting machine. Photo by Zoe Roos/The Source

Madison Election Day officials are almost ready for Tuesday, Nov. 8. Now less than a week a way, the registrars of voters came together on Oct. 28 to publicly program and test the voting tabulators that will be used during the General Election.

Democratic Registrar of Voters William Gowanlock said close to 60 officials will be working on Election Day, doing everything from staffing the polls to calculating absentee ballots. This year Madison polling stations will have a new feature—a handicap-accessible voting machine that allows voters to complete a ballot visually or via an audio system.

“It actually prints a poll ballot that will go through the tabulator,” Gowanlock said.

According to the 2013 census, Madison has a population of 18,114. The registrars currently report 12,872 registered voters in town. With the possibility of a record year on the way in terms of voter turnout, Gowanlock said the registrar’s office is ready.

“We always get a fairly high turnout, so it depends,” he said. “We order one ballot for everybody, so we will see.”

In addition to be asked to select a U.S. president, senator, and member of Congress, Madison residents will also be asked to vote on a candidate for 12th District State Senate, Republican candidate Bruce Wilson of Madison or Democratic incumbent Ted Kennedy, Jr., of Branford. Voters will also be asked to vote for a state representative for the 101st District. Noreen Kokoruda (R) is running for re-election and is unopposed for the seat.

William Gowanlock (D) and Peter Metz (R) will be on the ballot again for Registrar of Voters; both will be elected.

A sample of the 2016 ballot appears on page 9.

On Election Day, polls will open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Voters living in District 1, which includes all registered voters who live on the even numbered side of Green Hill Road and south, will vote at the Madison Senior Center, 29 Bradley Road.

Voters living in District 2, which includes all registered voters who live at properties on the odd numbered side of Green Hill Road and north, will vote at Dr. Robert H. Brown Middle School, 980 Durham Road.

More information on polling places and voter registration can be found on the Town of Madison Registrar of Voters page: www.madisonct.org/399/Registrar-of-Voters.