UPDATE: Poll Locations Serving Seniors Closed By Republican Registrar

UPDATE: Rep Joe Zullo clarified his position in a second news release. See the full text at the bottom of this post.

EAST HAVEN, CT — In a statement issued by East Haven Mayor Joseph A. Carfora, he "expressed deep concern and disappointment over the recent actions taken by Alberta Vitale, the Republican Registrar of Voters to close two critical voting districts for the presidential primary."

Vitale closed East Farm Village, a poll location known by its street address, Messina Drive, and Woodview, both senior living facilities. The polling locations were created by Town ordinances in 1987 and serve East Haven’s senior population. This decision appears to have been made without any guidance or collaboration. Her actions disrupt a system that has been in place since 1987 and has the impact of disenfranchising our senior voters by making it more difficult for them to cast ballots.

"The closure of these voting districts is an unacceptable move that threatens to disenfranchise some of our most vulnerable residents—our senior citizens," Carfora said. "For decades, our election process has ensured that all voters, particularly our seniors, have easy and accessible polling locations. This abrupt and unilateral change undermines that commitment and disregards the voices of those who rely on these polling places."

Carfora said that when he learned about Vitale's action, Town Attorney Michael Luzzi began the "necessary steps to ensure that these historical polling places are open and accessible for November’s general election."

"I have personally spoken to the Lieutenant Governor, and we are speaking directly to other appropriate authorities at the state," Carfora said. "The investigation of all actions related to this matter is ongoing. This cannot be about funding either. Ms. Vitale and her Democratic counterpart went through the budgeting process this past spring. At no time was the possible closing of these polling locations mentioned. Their budget was approved after they made budget presentations to the Board of Finance and to the Town Council."

For more than 37 years, Carfora noted, "East Haven’s elections have been conducted with a focus on accessibility and inclusivity."

"The recent decision by the Republican Registrar of Voters to close these districts stands in stark contrast to our town values," he said. "...this change will not be tolerated and calls for immediate action to restore the voting districts to their previous state."

"Our seniors have the right to participate in our Democratic process without unnecessary barriers," he said. "We must protect the integrity of our elections and ensure that every eligible voter has the opportunity to cast their ballot without hindrance."

Carfora's office is actively working with legal advisors, community leaders, and state Rep. Joe Zullo, who said he is in "lockstep" with the Mayor's office and legal department to address this issue and restore the closed voting districts.

"These districts are enshrined in our local code of ordinances, and I wholeheartedly support their being protected and made available in this cycle and future years," he said. "You have my support in tackling this issue locally and at the state level."

In a separate statement emailed to Patch, Zullo, who said the poll locations were "eliminated from use this election cycle due to administrative action of the office of the registrar of voters in East Haven," vowed to get to the bottom of the action.

"As I explained to Mayor Carfora and Town Attorney Luzzi today, I will collaborate in every way appropriate to address this locally and at the state level," Zullo said.

Carfora said he "urges all residents to stay informed and engaged, and to reach out to the Mayor’s office with any concerns or questions regarding their voting rights."

Updated news release from Rep. Zullo:

Zullo to East Haven Mayor, Town Officials Regarding Messina Drive and Woodview Polling Stations: “I Won’t Stand for this Becoming a Political Circus; Partisan Games Should Yield to Collaborating on Developing Solutions”

Following recent comments by Mayor Joseph A. Carfora allocating blame to the Republican Registrar of Voters for the temporary elimination of polling places at East Farms Village and Messina Drive, East Haven State Representative Joseph Zullo released the following statement:

“The Mayor and his administration are playing political games and exploiting a terrible situation for purely political reasons. The Mayor is correct, in his recent comments, that he and I are in ‘lockstep’ in our position that we support protecting voting access and ensuring election security and integrity. However, while I appreciate his partnership early in this process to address this issue, I wholeheartedly oppose his administration’s politically expedient response to this situation as of late.

This is my first public rebuke of the Mayor and his administration in the five-plus years of our overlapping public service, a fact which should not only highlight our historically collaborative work, but which should underscore how important this issue is to me and to the hundreds of seniors being affected by it. There is too much at stake for this to become political.

I have seen demonstrable written evidence, in the form of a text exchange between the Republican and the Democratic registrar, that the Republican registrar’s Democratic counterpart knew about and agreed with the decision to temporarily suspend using polling stations at Messina Drive and Woodview for the Republican primary election this week. Whether the Democratic registrar appreciated the fallout or logical results of the decision as they relate to the November election is unclear. However, there was communication, and it is irresponsible for the Town to be placing blame squarely on one individual.

Frankly, it is bewildering to me that the administration does not appear to have had regular contact with both its registrars, particularly in the lead up to election season, as that would have prevented this unfortunate situation from unfolding in the first place.

When this matter was brought to our collective attention, I was proud to work collaboratively with the Mayor and his team to try to identify solutions to address it. However, when news officially broke about the matter, I was disheartened and somewhat angered to learn that the Mayor visited both Messina Drive and Woodview independently, railing against the Republican registrar, appearing to use the unfortunate incident to score political points, and excluding me from the process. Those visits should have served as opportunities for bipartisan discussion and collaboration.

I won’t stand for this becoming a political circus, and I hope the Mayor appreciates that his rushed decision making in response to news reports about it, even if not intended, has caused hurt feelings and strained relations amongst everyone. It certainly hasn’t aided in the development of a solution, to-date.

If there is doubt or confusion as to the standing of these polling locations or their fitness for use this November, I call upon the Mayor to confer with his legal team and, if appropriate, convene the Town Council to take whatever action is necessary to clarify the issue – if not for this election, for all future elections. I have already asked my staff to explore the issue at the State level and I have vowed that, on day one of the 2025 legislative session, I will introduce legislation aimed at ensuring this can never and will never happen again in East Haven or in any community in Connecticut. I invite the Mayor to not only collaborate on that legislation ahead of the 2025 legislative session, but to join me, on opening day of the 2025 session, to file and present that legislation for deliberation.

However, for the time being, I demand that the partisan political games end and that they yield to collaborating on developing solutions. This isn’t a time to grandstand. It isn’t a time to place blame. It’s a time to take collaborative, bipartisan action.”