News Clips

“I couldn’t really walk away from this,” said Merrill, who expects to work with another group that filed with the SEEC last month called Vote for Democracy. Cheri Quickmire, executive director of Common Cause in Connecticut, the election watchdog who is a member of that group, said she expects Vote for Democracy to work hand-in-hand with Yes for Freedom to Vote Early. “We’re looking forward to combining our efforts and make sure this amendment passes at the ballot box and comes back to the General Assembly to hammer out the details,” Quickmire said in a Friday phone interview...

It’s no secret that numerous states are actively taking steps to impede voting access for millions of Americans, which will discourage voting, create more bureaucratic barriers, and depress voter turnout. In recent years Connecticut has taken a different and better path — rightly addressing restrictive laws and making voting easier for all eligible Connecticut citizens.

Can’t find childcare – it’s hard to vote. Have an unexpected business meeting in Manhattan that pops up on your calendar – it’s hard to vote. Work two jobs – it’s hard to vote. Taking care of your elderly family member – it’s hard to vote. Establishing an early voting period is a move that addresses both voter equity and accessibility by allowing a longer time frame for you to vote.

“This isn’t a Republican or a Democrat issue, this is about ensuring all Connecticut voters have the freedom and the ability to vote in elections,” Ed Hawthorne, president of the Connecticut AFL-CIO, said, adding that he has seen people in scrubs get out of their cars on Election Day, saw how long the lines were, and left.

"Republicans also expect a three-way primary for secretary of the state. Dominic A. Rapini of Branford won the endorsement, trailed by Brock L. Weber of New Britain and Rep. Terrie Wood of Darien."

"Rep. Stephanie Thomas got the endorsement for secretary of the state after several frantic hours of lobbying and vote-swapping at the Democratic convention in Hartford on Saturday. (...) She defeated an accomplished list of candidates including Sen. Matt Lesser of Middletown, Rep. Hilda Santiago of Meriden, Rep. Joshua Elliott of Hamden and New Haven’s Health Director Maritza Bond. (...) All three Democratic candidates for state treasurer, and four of the five candidates for secretary of the state, earned a spot on the primary ballot..."