Darien Election Day 2012: Everything You Need to Know

Update 8:27 p.m.:

As of 7 p.m., but without a higher number than usual of absentee ballots counted, Darien voter turnout was 69.0 percent, compared with 71.6 percent at the last presidential election, in 2008, according to the latest returns from the Darien Registrars of Voters Office.

Update 7:41 p.m.:

Voting at Darien Town Hall was "very steady" through the day, after a surge in the morning, said Jeane Ham, the assistant registrar at that polling station. There were no glitches or major problems, she said.

"I was so impressed with a lot of the elderly people voting," she said.

Richard Errington, assistant registrar at the Hindley School polling place, said a machine briefly jammed once during the day, but it was quickly fixed. By 7 p.m., 81 percent of that voting district had voted, he said.

Update 7:31 p.m.:

Since 3 p.m., the town's turnout at polling places has failed to match the 2008 turnout. At 4 p.m., this year's turnout was 56.7 percent, for instance, and in 2008 it was 58 percent. At 6 p.m. this year, it was 64.7 percent vs. 67 percent in 2008.

Selectman David Campbell said turnout numbers may be supressed a bit because more town residents have been voting by absentee ballot rather than at the polling places. Town Clerk Donna E. Rajczewski said there have been a larger than normal number of absentee ballots this year.

Update 4:49 p.m.:

The voter turnout table at the bottom of the page has been updated to 4 p.m.

First Selectman Jayme Stevenson tweeted an offer to drive anybody to the polls who needed it, but nobody took her up on it. One person asked to be taken to a restaurant, but she declined.

Update 3:16 p.m.:

A table with the number of Darien voters who have turned out, hour by hour, has been inserted into this article, below (farther down for layout purposes).

Update 3:01 p.m.:

You can get vaccinated for the flu when you vote at Darien Town Hall today from 3 to 7 p.m. And bring a non-perishible food item!

Update 12:44 p.m.:

A drive from the corner of the Post Road and Noroton Avenue directly north to the District 5 polling station passes political signs for both candidates on yards (Democrats have been particularly strong with signs in Darien), and various other "signs of the times." You pass:

• some branches still down from Hurricane Sandy;

• a utility truck headed south (it didn't seem to be a CL&P truck), probably after hooking some more (last few) customers up to the electric grid;

• a house under construction (the successor to a tear-down; there's still construction going on in Darien during the slow, insipid recovery);

As of 12:20 p.m., 982 people had voted in District 5. That's about half the voters in the district, said Erika Morro, assistant registrar. There was no line, although there had been, early in the morning.

The walk from the parking lot near the school's front door took about twice as long as it did to vote. There's parking much closer, a bit further up, past the front door and to the right.

The atmosphere in the polling place (a room right by an entrance to the building) was pleasant — everyone was smiling.

Update 1:05 p.m. (out of order for layout reasons):

Comparing Tuesday (Election Day) and Wednesday (Storm #2 Day):

Damage across a wide

section of the U.S.

About half of us will

believe that happened

Tuesday.

Air full of disturbing noises

Airwaves full of disturbing

statements

All in all, once we've gotten through Tuesday, Wednesday can't be that tough. Anyone have more close comparisons?

Update 11:04 a.m.:

The Darien Republican Town Committee is holding an election night party, and everyone's invited. It starts at 7 p.m. at the RTC election headquarters (1072 Post Road across from Scena Restaurant), then at 9 p.m., it moves to The Goose, which will have appetizers and drink specials.

Update 10:04 a.m.:

Need a ride to the polls today? Ask your first selectman, Jayme Stevenson. She's between storms today, and she's offering.

Update 9:23 a.m.:

Posted as an announcement on Patch:

"Person-to-Person will be collecting food for our emergency food pantry at all Darien polling locations on Tuesday Nov 6th, in our first annual election day food drive.  Please bring non-perishable food donations to your polling location and look for our collection bins.  Thank you for your generosity in this time of need." (For more details, see also the image attached to this article.)

Original article:

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Good morning, and welcome to Election Day 2012!

Today, Darien residents go to the polls to choose a president, a U.S. senator, a U.S. representative representing the 4th District, a state senator representing the 25th District and state representatives from the 141st and 147th Districts.

See below for information on where to cast your ballot and the list of candidates. We've also included how Darien voted in 2008, the year of the last presidential election, and 2010, the last mid-term election.

Read it over, then visit your local polling station between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. to make your voice heard! And be sure to check back here for updates throughout the day, including the announcement of the winners as soon as votes are tallied tonight.

Also, check out our live blog to see what voters and candidates across the state are saying about Election Day. This is also where you'll find live election updates all of the races affecting Norwalk.

State and National Races

U.S. Senate

Chris Murphy (D) and Linda McMahon (R) are vying for the seat vacated by Joe Lieberman. (Click on "U.S. Senate" for updates, results and reactions.)

Fourth Congressional District

Jim Himes (D) and Steve Obsitnik (R) are after the seat currently held by Himes. (Click on "Fifth Congressional District" for updates, results and reactions.)

25th Senate District

Bob Duff (D) and Ted Hoffslatter (R) are vying for the seat currently held by Duff. (Click on "25th Senate District" for updates, results and reactions.)

27th Senate District

Carlo Leone (D) and Barry Michelson (R), along with Green Party candidate Ronald Sala are contesting the seat currently held by Leone. (Click on "27th Senate District" for updates, results and reactions.)

141st Assembly District

Terrie Wood (R) and Rob Werner (D) are vying for the seat currently held by Wood. (Click on "141st Assembly District" for updates, results and reactions.)

147th Assembly District

William Tong (D) and Nicola Tarzia (R) are contesting the seat currently held by Tong (Click on "147th Assembly District" for updates, results and reactions.)

Darien Board of Education

(Each voter may vote for any two candidates; three will win.)

Sarah Schneider-Zuro (R), Elizabeth A. Hagerty-Ross (R), Katie Stein (D) and Patty McCormick (D). Schneider-Zuro and Hagerty-Ross are incumbents. (Click on "Darien Board of Education for updates, results and reactions.)

Registrar of Voters

John J. Visi (R) and Kathy Hammell (D) are each running unopposed.

Darien Polling Places

Polls open at 6 a.m. and will remain open until 8 p.m. To find polling locations and voting districts in Darien, click here or see the table attached to this article.

Still not sure who you're voting for? Check out our Election Guide to see coverage of candidate debates, updates from the campaign trail, op-eds, letters and more.

How Darien Voted in 2008 (87% Turnout)

(The line for the winner of the race is in italics—D=Democrat; R=Republican; G=Green; I=Independent; L=Libertarian, WF=Working Families; CL=Connecticut for Lieberman)

PRESIDENT

• Obama-Biden (D) — 4,943 votes
• McCain-Palin (R) — 5,949 votes
• Nader and Gonzalez (I) — 63
• Baldwin and Castle (write in) — 5 (no other write-in candidates received votes)

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 4st DISTRICT

• Jim Himes (D) —3,061 votes
• Chris Shays (R) — 7,474 votes
• Richard Z. Duffee (G) — 28 votes
• Jim Himes (WF) — 84 votes
• Michael Anthony Carrano (L) — 66 votes

25th SENATE DISTRICT

• Bob Duff (D) — 3,145 votes
• Steve Papdakos (R) — 3,521 votes
• Bob Duff (WF) — 132 votes

27th SENATE DISTRICT

• Andrew J. McDonald (D) — 1,692 votes
• "Vacancy in nomination" (R) — 0 votes
• David Bedell (WF) — 0 votes

141th ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

• Terrie Wood (R) — 7,864 votes
• No Democrat nominated (D) — 0 votes

147th ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

Darien was not a part of the 147th district in 2008, but here's how that district voted then (total from Stamford and New Canaan):

• William Tong (D) — 8,348 votes
• "Vacancy in Republican nomination" (R) — 0 votes
• Brent Yarnell (write in) — 1 vote

How Darien Voted in 2010 (66% Turnout)

(D=Democrat; R=Republican; G=Green; I=Independent; WF=Working Families; CL=Connecticut for Lieberman; SA=Socialist Action)

U.S. SENATE

• Richard Blumenthal (D) — 2,633 votes
• Linda McMahon (R)  — 5,416 votes
• Richard Blumenthal (WF) — 217 votes
• Warren Mosler (I) — 59 votes
• John Mertens (CL) — 33 votes

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 4st DISTRICT

• Jim Himes (D) — 2,654 votes
• Dan Debicella (R) — 5,460 votes
• Jim Himes (WF) — 66 votes

25th SENATE DISTRICT

• Bob Duff (D) — 2,156 votes
• Artie Kassimis (R) — 3,183 votes

27th SENATE DISTRICT

• Andrew J. McDonald (D) — 838 votes
• Bob Kolenberg (R) — 1,825 votes

141st ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

• Terrie Wood (R) — 6,525 votes
• No Democrat nominated

147th ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

Darien was not a part of the 147th district in 2010, but here's how that district voted then (total from Stamford and New Canaan):

• William Tong (D) — 5,350 votes
• Dennis E. Mahoney (R) — 2,495 votes

Tuesday's Turnout

Update 3:15 p.m.:

Here's the turnout as of 1 p.m., by district. We'll catch up in a bit:

As of

7

am

8

am

9

am

10

am

11

am

Abs.

Ballot

Source: Darien Registrar of Voters Office