Elections in Connecticut

Last updated

United States presidential election results for Connecticut [1]
Year Republican  /  Whig Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 715,31139.21%1,080,83159.24%28,3141.55%
2016 673,21540.93%897,57254.57%74,1334.51%
2012 634,89940.72%905,10958.06%18,9851.22%
2008 629,42838.22%997,77360.59%19,5921.19%
2004 693,82643.95%857,48854.31%27,4551.74%
2000 561,09438.44%816,01555.91%82,4165.65%
1996 483,10934.69%735,74052.83%173,76512.48%
1992 578,31335.78%682,31842.21%355,70122.01%
1988 750,24151.98%676,58446.87%16,5691.15%
1984 890,87760.73%569,59738.83%6,4260.44%
1980 677,21048.16%541,73238.52%187,34313.32%
1976 719,26152.06%647,89546.90%14,3701.04%
1972 810,76358.57%555,49840.13%18,0161.30%
1968 556,72144.32%621,56149.48%77,9506.21%
1964 390,99632.09%826,26967.81%1,3130.11%
1960 565,81346.27%657,05553.73%150.00%
1956 711,83763.72%405,07936.26%2050.02%
1952 611,01255.70%481,64943.91%4,2500.39%
1948 437,75449.55%423,29747.91%22,4672.54%
1944 390,52746.94%435,14652.30%6,3170.76%
1940 361,81946.30%417,62153.44%2,0620.26%
1936 278,68540.35%382,12955.32%29,9094.33%
1932 288,42048.54%281,63247.40%24,1314.06%
1928 296,64153.63%252,08545.57%4,3980.80%
1924 246,32261.54%110,18427.53%43,78910.94%
1920 229,23862.72%120,72133.03%15,5594.26%
1916 106,51449.80%99,78646.66%7,5743.54%
1912 68,32435.88%74,56139.16%47,51924.96%
1908 112,91559.43%68,25535.92%8,8334.65%
1904 111,08958.12%72,90938.15%7,1303.73%
1900 102,57256.92%74,01441.07%3,6092.00%
1896 110,28563.24%56,74032.54%7,3654.22%
1892 77,03246.80%82,39550.06%5,1683.14%
1888 74,58448.44%74,92048.66%4,4742.91%
1884 65,89848.01%67,18248.95%4,1773.04%
1880 67,07150.51%64,41148.50%1,3160.99%
1876 59,03348.33%61,92750.70%1,1740.96%
1872 50,31452.41%45,69547.59%00.00%
1868 50,78851.49%47,84448.51%00.00%
1864 44,69351.38%42,28848.62%00.00%
1860 43,48653.86%17,36421.50%19,89524.64%
1856 42,71753.18%34,99743.57%2,6153.26%
1852 30,35945.46%33,24949.79%3,1734.75%
1848 30,31848.59%27,05143.35%5,0298.06%
1844 32,83250.81%29,84146.18%1,9433.01%
1840 31,59855.55%25,28144.45%00.00%
1836 18,79949.35%19,29450.65%00.00%

Various kinds of elections in Connecticut occurs annually in each of the state's cities and towns, the exact type of which is dependent on the year. Elections for federal and statewide offices occur in even-numbered years, while municipal elections occur in odd-numbered ones. The office of the Connecticut Secretary of State oversees the election process, including voting and vote counting. [2] In a 2020 study, Connecticut was ranked as the 20th easiest state for citizens to vote in. [3]

Contents

Historically, Connecticut was a bastion of Republicanism, although this was typically a liberal "Yankee" brand of the Republican Party. From the Civil War to the 1990s, the state voted Republican all but nine times on the presidential level. It only voted Democratic in the elections of 1876, 1888, 1912, 1936, 1940, 1944, 1960, 1964, and 1968. However, since the 1992 election, the state has voted Democratic every time, and since 1996, it has been by double-digit margins. [4]

However, Democrats have controlled the state legislature for all but 13 years since 1959 and have held both Senate seats since 1989, as no Republican has won a Senate seat in the state since 1982. Every seat in the House of Representatives is held by a Democrat, with the last Republican having lost in 2008. That election marked the first time since the 1850s that no Republican represented Connecticut or any state in New England region in the House. [5] [6]

Offices elected by the people of Connecticut

Federal

State

Local

Elections for local government include elections for municipal leadership positions (such as mayor or first selectman), legislative bodies (such as a city council or a board of aldermen), and other elections for various municipal positions and boards and commissions, as governed by each municipality's respective charter and/or ordinances. Of the 169 towns and cities in the state, all hold municipal elections in odd-numbered years, and most hold them on the traditional Election Day in November. Fifteen [12] communities in the state, however, hold their municipal elections in May.

Unlike in most U.S. states, there is no form of county government in Connecticut. The eight counties in the state now exist solely for geographical purposes. Governing at the county level was abolished in the state in 1960, and its last holdover, county sheriffs, were eliminated by an amendment to the state constitution in 2000.

Party affiliation in Connecticut

The majority of Connecticut voters are affiliated with either of the two major political parties, but the plurality of voters have no party affiliation.

The state of Connecticut has a closed primary system, whereby only electors enrolled in a political party can vote in their party's primary election. A registered Republican, for example, is only allowed to participate in Republican primaries, while a voter not affiliated with any political party (called an “unaffiliated” voter in the state) is not allowed to vote in any party primary.

Party registration as of November 1, 2022 [13]
PartyTotal votersPercentage
Unaffiliated 1,033,47041.76%
Democratic 898,30336.3%
Republican 502,48220.3%
Minor parties 40,1431.62%
Total2,474,398100%

Recent election results

Federal

State

Other voter responsibilities

Connecticut has no system of initiative or referendums at the statewide level, but any proposed amendment to the state constitution, after having first been passed by both houses of the state legislature in accordance with Article XII of the Connecticut Constitution, must be ratified by the people of the state via a ballot question. Additionally, in accordance with Article XIII, every 20 years (or 20 years after a constitutional convention was last called for) citizens of the state shall be allowed to vote on whether a constitutional convention to amend or revise the state constitution should be called.

Constitutional Question 1
November 8, 2022 (2022-11-08)
Results
Choice
Votes %
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svgYes694,83360.56%
Light brown x.svgNo452,45339.44%
CT 2022 Early Voting Referendum.svg
Municipal results
Yes:      50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%
No:      50–60%     60–70%

The most recent constitutional amendment proposition was Question 1 in 2022 which allowed the legislature to create a period of early voting for elections in the state of Connecticut. [14] and it passed 60.5% to 39.5%. The most recent constitutional convention question appeared on the ballot on November 4, 2008, and the call for a convention was rejected 847,518 to 579,904.

While there is no statewide initiative or referendums, many municipalities have some form of it for issues of local concern. Additionally, five municipalities [15] afford voters the right to recall local elected public officials, a practice that does not extend to state offices. [16]

Filling U.S. Senate vacancies

On June 26, 2009, Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell signed into law a bill that requires that a special election be called under most circumstances should a vacancy occur in either of Connecticut's two U.S. Senate seats. [17] Prior to this law, the governor of the state had the right to appoint a replacement to fill such vacancies.

Since passed, this law has not yet been used.

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Leip, David. "Presidential General Election Results Comparison – Connecticut". US Election Atlas. Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  2. ↑ Dionne Searcey (October 1, 2020), "When Your Job Is to Make Sure Nov. 3 Isn't a Disaster", Nytimes.com
  3. ↑ J. Pomante II, Michael; Li, Quan (December 15, 2020). "Cost of Voting in the American States: 2020". Election Law Journal: Rules, Politics, and Policy. 19 (4): 503–509. doi: 10.1089/elj.2020.0666 . S2CID   225139517.
  4. ↑ "Connecticut Presidential Election Voting History - 270toWin".
  5. ↑ Susan Haigh (November 9, 2008). "G.O.P. a Dying Breed in New England". USA Today. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  6. ↑ Jon Lender & Mark Pazniokas (November 5, 2008). "Jim Himes Defeats Christopher Shays in 4th District". The Hartford Courant. Retrieved April 18, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Connecticut Election Results". The New York Times. November 3, 2020.
  8. ↑ "Probate Court Jurisdiction". State of Connecticut – Judicial Branch. Archived from the original on June 17, 2010. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Chapter 146* Elections". Archived from the original on January 20, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Bysiewicz Swears In First-Ever Third Party Registrar of Voters Elected in Connecticut" (PDF). Office of the Connecticut Secretary of the State. January 7, 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 14, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Connecticut Public Radio - Media for the curious". www.yourpublicmedia.org.
  12. ↑ "Winners of Elections for Mayor, First Selectman or Warden - Monday, May 2, 2005" (PDF). Office of the Connecticut Secretary of the State. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Statistics and Data" (PDF). Portal.ct.gov. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Connecticut Question 1, Allow for Early Voting Amendment (2022)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  15. ↑ McCready, Brian (June 16, 2010). "Parents aim to oust Milford board member". NHRegister.com. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Paul Newman Could Become Westport Selectman in Recall Election". WestportNow.com. August 10, 2003. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
  17. ↑ Office of the Governor (June 26, 2009). "Gov. Rell Signs Bill Requiring Elections to Fill U.S. Senate Vacancies". Ct.gov. Retrieved June 24, 2010.
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