The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. We welcome supporting or opposing views on any published item. Received April 18, 2024.
Haddam’s spending for elections is estimated to be over-budget by $17,000 for the 2023-24 fiscal year and much of this overage can be attributed to the early voting for the Presidential primaries. The early voting took place for four days in late March in which 35 persons voted in the Democrat primary and 36 voted in the Republican primary.
The costs for every day of early voting includes keeping the polling places open, the hourly wages of the poll workers and providing food for those workers. For the Presidential election in November there are 14 days of early voting, which have been mandated by the state legislature, the costs of which will be borne in the town budget.
A recent press release issued by State Senator Rob Sampson and Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco decries the ‘wait and see’ approach of the state legislature to assisting municipalities with the additional costs associated with early voting.
People need to know that there is no free lunch here. Early voting, mandated by the state, is costing Haddam and every Connecticut town in their budgets.
Edward Munster, Haddam
