Town Election Moved to April 30

The selectmen voted to reschedule the town election to April 30 in order to combine the election with the U.S. Senate primary, according to Town Clerk Barbara Stats.

The local election was originally scheduled for May 7, however, the governor signed an act that allows any municipality whose town election is within 30 days of the special state elections to move the original date, Stats said.

Both the local election and U.S. Senate primary will be held on April 30. There will be two check-ins and two ballots, but both elections will occur at the same time at St. Theresa's Parish, she said. 

Running a dual election saves money, Stats noted, and it may increase the turn-out. Both primaries, with the exception of a presidential primary, and local elections often have a low turn-out, Stats explained.

Three of the selectmen voted in favor of the change and Selectman Mike Prisco and Selectman Bob Mauceri did not vote given that they are up for re-election. Stats was also in favor of the switch.

"Under the act they had to consult with me, and yes, I was in favor,” she told Patch.

The deadline to register to vote in either April 30 election is now April 10. The only date that was not affected by the change is the deadline to return papers. Nomination papers are still due back on March 19, so any candidates in the process of circulating nomination papers will not be at a disadvantage because of the new election date, Stats said.