Immediate Action to Prevent Voter Disenfranchisement in South Windsor, CT

My Seat Isn’t What’s at Stake. Your Vote Is

By Dr. Harrison Amadasun

On November 4, South Windsor voters went to the polls and made their voices heard. They chose six Democrats and three Republicans to serve on the Town Council and approved several charter revisions to guide our town’s future.

It was democracy working exactly as it should. The next morning, that trust was shaken.

Without public discussion or a vote of the Council, Town Manager Mike Maniscalco and Town Attorney Richard Carella announced they would retroactively apply one of the new charter changes, specifically, the rule limiting any one party to five council seats.

That decision would nullify thousands of votes already cast and overturn the certified results of the election.

Under this interpretation, in spite of nearly getting 4000 votes would be denied the seat that voters awarded me. Instead, someone who received fewer than 3000 votes would be seated in my place.

That’s not democracy. That’s disenfranchisement.

What is clear is that people went to the polls with the understanding that, should the charter amendments be approved, these revisions would take effect in the next election in 2027. To change the rules after the fact is not only unfair, it undermines confidence in the entire electoral process.

This isn’t about me personally. It’s about every voter who took time to cast a ballot, trusting that their voice would matter. If municipal employees are allowed to reinterpret the law after the polls close, no one’s vote is safe.

Our municipal government is supposed to serve the people, not overrule them. When administrative decisions override clear voter intent, it sets a dangerous precedent that extends far beyond this election. Whether you voted for a Democrat, a Republican, or anyone else, you deserve to know your vote counts.

On Monday, the new Town Council will be sworn in. Whether or not I’m among them, I’ll continue to stand with the voters who demanded accountability, transparency, and respect for the democratic process.

This moment is bigger than any one seat. It’s about preserving the integrity of our elections, the foundation of local self-government.

In South Windsor, that principle must never be negotiable.