Stonington 2024 Election Voter Guide: Meet The Candidates

STONINGTON, CT — On Nov. 5, Stonington residents cast their votes for several key federal and state positions, including the office of president, U.S. senator, Congress, state representative and state senate.

At the top of the ballot, residents will be asked to vote on a referendum question, "Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the General Assembly to allow each voter to vote by absentee ballot?"

For President, the candidates are: Kamala Harris and Tim Walz, Democrat, Donald J. Trump and J.D. Vance, Republican, Jill Stein and Butch Ware, Green Party, Chase Oliver and Mike ter Maat, Libertarian, and Robert Kennedy Jr. and Nicole Shanahan, Petitioning candidate.

For United States Senate, the candidates are: Christopher S. Murphy, Democrat, and Matthew M. Corey, Republican. Murphy is also endorsed by the Working Families Party. Other candidates include: Justin C. Paglino, Green Party, and Robert Finley Hyde, Cheaper Gas Groceries Party.

For U.S. Congress, the candidates are: Joe Courtney, Democrat, and Mike France, Republican.

For state senator, the candidates are: Andrew Parrella, Democrat, and Heather Somers, Republican. Somers is also endorsed as an Independent.

For state representative, the candidate in the 41st District is Aundre Bumgardner, Democrat, who is running unopposed. Bumgardner is also endorsed as an Independent and by the Working Families Party. In the 43rd District, the candidates are Ty Lamb, Democrat, and Greg Howard, Republican.

For Registrar of Voters the candidates are: Karen O'Keefe, Democrat, and Peggy Roberts, Republican.

Town Charter Changes

Stonington voters will also weigh in on five questions regarding the town's charter. Those questions are as follows:

1. Shall the charter be revised, effective upon the approval of voters, to fill the position of Town Clerk by the selection of well qualified hired candidates to be selected through a hiring process upon advice and consent of the Board of Selectmen; thereby eliminating the elected position of Town Clerk at the conclusion of the current term of office?
2. Shall the charter be revised, effective upon the approval of voters, to fill the position of Tax Collector by the selection of well qualified hired candidates to be selected through a hiring process upon advice and consent of the Board of Selectmen; thereby eliminating the elected position of Tax Collector at the conclusion of the current term of office?
3. Shall the charter be amended to include standards for the qualification, recruitment, review, recommendation, and approval of the appointed Town Clerk and Tax Collector, other administrative officials and directors?
4. Shall the charter be revised, effective upon the approval of voters and following the next municipal election, to increase the term of the First Selectman from two to four years?
5. Shall the charter be revised, effective upon the approval of voters, to (A) add two appointed alternates to the Board of Assessment Appeals; (B) reduce the Inland Wetlands and Water Courses Commission from seven to five members; (C) add two appointed alternates to the Shellfish Commission; (D) add two appointed alternates to the Water Pollution Control Authority; and (E) reduce the Commission on Aging from twelve to nine members and adding three appointed alternates?

Voting Details

Early voting in Connecticut begins Oct. 21 and concludes on Nov. 3. Early voting will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. except on Oct. 29, Oct. 31 where extended early voting is scheduled from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Early voting locations will be listed here.

Polls in Connecticut are open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can use the Secretary of State’s website to find your polling place. Voters who are in line by 8 p.m. will be allowed to vote.

Connecticut also allows for Election Day registration at designated centers in each town. People must be registered by 8 p.m. in order to vote using Election Day registration.