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Guilford Prepares for Election with Influx of Volunteers, Says No Fraud Concerns

With just under two weeks until one of the most unique, difficult, and hotly contested elections in modern history, Guilford is preparing to provide maybe the most essential service of a democracy: the ability to vote in a safe, accurate election.

More than 4,000 absentee ballots had been returned to the registrars as of Oct. 19, according to Guilford Registrar of Voters Gloria Nemczuk (R), with more than 6,000 ballots requested. Simultaneously, the town has more than 50 volunteers, is running dozens of hours of training, and has both its registrars working seven days a week to make sure everything goes smooth throughout the election process.

“We’ve had so many volunteers to help at the polls...we can’t even give them all positions. We’re so blessed” in Guilford, said Lisa Kops (D), Guilford’s other registrar.

A surge of younger volunteers have been “absolutely fantastic,” Kops said, as the town sees almost unprecedented participation and interest in the political process, including a large influx of voter registrations, many coming from people who are just moving to town.

The deadline for pre-election registrations is Tuesday, Oct. 27, and Nemczuk said she is encouraging all residents to register either online or in person before the election to avoid the longer process of doing so on Election Day.

With politicians at the national level casting doubt on the absentee voting process (or voting in general), Kops and Nemczuk are assuring the town there is no cause for alarm, and the integrity of the election is being upheld just as it has every other year.

Nemczuk said they are not concerned about double-voting—a person casting an absentee as well as an in-person ballot. Received absentee ballots are checked off of voter rolls right before Election Day, Nemczuk said, so anyone whose absentee ballot is received before Nov. 3 will not be allowed to vote in person.

Any absentee ballot that comes in on Election Day or the night before will after the election be checked against the lists of those who voted in person, and if that person voted at the polls, the absentee ballot will be thrown out, according to Nemczuk.

National and state leaders have called for amateur “poll watchers” to guard polling sites, sparking concerns about voter intimidation. Nemczuk said the town already has what it calls “unofficial checkers,” who are allowed in the polling places to observe (though not participate) in the process.

Secretary of the State Denise Merrill earlier this month sent a memo to local election officials detailing protections against voter intimidation. Anyone who sees or experiences voter intimidation can report it to 1-866-SEEC-INFO (1-866-733-2463) and/or email elections@ct.gov.

Partisan activity is generally disallowed within 75 feet of the entrance of a polling site. Nemczuk said moderators would be prepared to call the police if there were any instances of potential voter intimidation.

While polling locations and timing are unchanged (all of which can be viewed on the registrars’ website www.ci.guilford.ct.us/departments/registrar-of-voters), there are a few differences this year, Kops and Nemczuk said.

Anyone in line for Election Day registration—registering and voting on the same day—will be allowed to cast a ballot as long as they are in line before 8 p.m. That process takes place on the second floor of Town Hall.

It can take about 15 minutes per person to register and vote, Nemczuk said, so voters are encouraged to register before the deadline for pre-election, which is Oct. 27.

The town served 189 Election Day registrations in 2016, according to Nemczuk.

The secure drop box, which will be accepting ballots on Election Day, will be locked at 8 p.m., and no ballots received after that time on Nov. 3 will be accepted.

Despite the large number of absentee voters, Nemczuk said she expects to be able to file results on Election Day, taking advantage of a new law that allows towns to open the outer envelope and verify the inner envelope, saving time, though ballots still cannot be tabulated until Nov. 3.

The town will not require that voters wear masks into the polling places and must accommodate everyone, though Nemczuk said she was “asking if they please could.”

Connecticut law does allow for the issuance of an $100 fine for any person who fails to wear a mask or cloth face covering when safe social distancing cannot be maintained.

Pets are also not allowed in polling places, something that has been an issue in year’s past, though service dogs and mini-horses are allowed, according to Nemczuk.

For polling sites and hours, ballot applications and sample ballots, and online voter registration, visit www.ci.guilford.ct.us/departments/registrar-of-voters.