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Killingworth Selected for Post-Election Audit

In accordance with Connecticut General Statutes Section 9-320f(a), 5% of all voting precincts in the state were randomly selected for a post-election audit of their tabulator totals following the recent election. Killingworth was among the precincts chosen, and its audit took place at the Secretary of the State’s Office, located at 165 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, on Nov. 22.

The audit process is part of Connecticut's ongoing efforts to ensure election accuracy and transparency. Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas had emphasized the state’s commitment to election integrity, citing the partnerships between her office, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the Connecticut Intelligence Center, and the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC).

“Many people do not realize the extensive work that goes into ensuring every vote is accounted for accurately,” Thomas had stated. “Our election process is structured to safeguard transparency, accuracy, and security.”

This year’s election was marked by a series of firsts, including the implementation of a 14-day early voting period. Over 740,000 early voting ballots and 122,000 absentee ballots were cast, all of which were counted manually on election day. These factors, combined with limited equipment and longer Same Day Registration lines, contributed to a slower-than-usual tabulation process.

Despite these challenges, Thomas reported that the election ran smoothly overall, with voter turnout reaching 76.16% of the state’s 2.3 million registered voters.

“Early voting has been a win for the public,” Thomas said, “but it has placed heavy demands on our election workforce.”

The audit in Hartford involved manually comparing the tabulator results with hand counts to verify accuracy. Killingworth’s audit was one of several measures Connecticut used to maintain public trust in its elections. Final voter turnout was reported at 1.7 million, a slight decrease from the 1.9 million turnout in 2020.

Thomas expressed her gratitude to election officials across the state, including registrars, town clerks, moderators, and poll workers. Their efforts, she noted, were critical to ensuring a safe, secure, and successful election for Connecticut voters.