With only uncontested races and no questions on the ballot, turnout for Tuesday’s municipal election was expected to be light. And it was, at 11.5%. A total of 1,320 voters cast ballots, out of a pool of 11,463 eligible voters.
There were 43 absentee ballots cast, according to Democratic Registrar of Voters Carole Young-Kleinfeld, which she characterized as a low number. Voting was evenly spread among Wilton’s three districts.
The cost for running the election is expected to be between $11,000 and $12,000. Costs include printing of ballots and paying poll workers. From this Election Day forward, costs will also include staffing a location to accommodate Election Day registration.
In Wilton, Tuesday saw six voters register as a new state law allowing Election Day registration went into effect. These voters had to register at town hall before going to a polling place to cast their ballot. The law stipulates that Election Day registration may not occur at a polling place. Election Day registration pertains only to elections and not primaries or referenda.
Ms. Young-Kleinfeld said everything ran smoothly Tuesday, although poll workers and election moderators reported there are people who are still unsure of their polling place, following redistricting in 2011.
“It should be the same place where they voted in the last presidential election,” she said, which was just last year. “This is something to consider, how we’re going to make it easier for people to find out where they vote.”
Turnout
The turnout was the lowest in recent municipal elections, Ms. Young-Kleinfeld said. Past turnouts totaled:
37% in 2005
21% in 2007
38% in 2009
25% in 2011
In 2005 there was a contested race for first selectman and in 2009 a contested race for Board of Finance. Also in 2009, there were questions on the ballot regarding charter revision and allowing liquor sales. In 2011, voters were asked to approve or deny beer sales in grocery stores.
Votes were cast Tuesday as follows:
Board of Selectmen
Jim Saxe (R) — 938
Richard Dubow (D) — 816
Board of Finance
Warren L. Serenbetz (R) — 916
Jeffrey Rutishauser (R) — 919
Richard Creeth (D) — 816
Board of Education
Bruce Likly (R) — 796
Glenn Hemmerlee (R) — 723
Chris Stroup (I) — 676
Board of Assessment Appeals
Frank Oliveri (R) — 960
Planning & Zoning Commission
Four-year terms:
Peter Shiue (R) — 884
Joe Fiteni (R) — 887
Sally Poundstone (R) — 920
Franklin Wong (D) — 787
Doris Knapp (D) — 808
Two-year terms:
Marilyn Gould (R) — 880
Bas Nabulsi (D) — 794
Zoning Board of Appeals
Four-year terms:
Tim Meyer (R) — 914
Brian Lilly (D) — 782
Two-year term:
Al Nickel (R) — 957
Alternates:
L. Michael Rudolph (R) — 894
Andrew McNee (D) — 772
Constables
Richard Ziegler (R) — 741
Christopher Gardner (R) — 753
Christopher Dubrowski (R) — 767
Deborah McFadden (D) — 604
Bo Mitchell (D) — 508