How Many Times Have You Voted?

What do you mean you’re not a registered Republican? Why does that matter? Okay okay, it does. Connecticut is a closed primary state which means only electors registered with the GOP may vote. Yes, it’s a foregone conclusion Mitt Romney will win Connecticut on his way to locking up the GOP presidential nomination. Bring on the general election, baby! From CT Secretary of the State Denise Merrill:

Merrill: Polls are Open for 2012 Republican Presidential Preference Primary

Secretary of the State Announcing Election Hotline, Encouraging Registered Republicans to Bring Identification with them to the Polls

Hartford: Secretary of the State Denise Merrill today reminded registered Republicans in Connecticut that as of 6:00 a.m. polls are now open for the 2012 Presidential Preference Primary. The order of the Republican presidential candidates on the ballot is Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, and Rick Santorum, followed by a ballot line for “uncommitted.” There is no Democratic primary today since the only Democratic candidate who qualified for the Presidential Preference Primary ballot is President Barack Obama. Connecticut state law specifies that at least two candidates are needed in order to hold a primary. The Secretary of the State’s office and the State Elections Enforcement Commission have once again opened the Election Day hotline 1-866-SEEC-INFO (1-866-733-2463) to report problems at the polls. In addition, the two agencies are providing an email alert contact – elections@ct.gov – for voters to use if they encounter any difficulties casting ballots during the day.

“Connecticut is one of five states in our region today going to the polls to choose a Republican Presidential nominee for 2012, along with voters in New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Rhode Island,” said Secretary Merrill, Connecticut’s Chief elections official. “We are expecting a very smooth primary day, but we will be monitoring the situation on the ground should any issues arise.”

Voters who do use the hotline or email to describe problems at the polls can either state their name or report issues anonymously; but are asked to state the town and polling place where they are observing the problems, and provide as many specifics or details as they can. This will greatly assist SEEC or Secretary of the State’s staff to address the issue and find a solution as expeditiously as possible. In addition to the email and telephone hotline, the Secretary of the State’s office and staff from the SEEC will hold two separate conference calls during the day today to share information about potential problems or complaints at the polls, and coordinate the appropriate response.

Only registered Republicans are eligible to vote in the Presidential Preference Primary today. Secretary Merrill is encouraging any registered Republicans who do want to vote to bring identification with them to the polls. Acceptable forms of identification under Connecticut state law include a social security card, or identifying materials that show either the voter’s name and address, name and signature, or name and photograph. Voters can go to the Secretary of the State’s website www.sots.ct.gov to see if they are registered to vote and where their polling place is located.