Covid-Related Absentee Ballot Returns By Record-Breaking Numbers

As of early Tuesday evening 8,225 absentee ballots have been returned to the Town Clerk’s Office out of 14,306 requests citywide, dwarfing the amount of absentee voters from the last presidential election four years ago, as electors take advantage of Covid-related early voting.

The return breakdown is as follows: 6,053 Democrat, 503 Republican, 1,605 unaffiliated, other 51.(13 voided)

The returns will increase exponentially with six days until the vote count.

The percentage returns among Democrats and Republicans so far are roughly the same, 60 percent, with unaffiliated voters about 10 points behind.

City electors have the option to mail in their ballot, enclose in one of four city drop boxes or go to the polls election day Tuesday. Polling places are open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Bridgeport has roughly 70,000 registered voters, the largest among Connecticut municipalities.

In the last presidential election, 2016, roughly 39,000 Bridgeport voters turned out, representing 56.44 percent, according to state election tallies. 2,180 electors voted by absentee.