Community Corner
Nutmeg State Poised for April Primary
Connecticut holds regional primary next month with four other states.
Residents of 10 states cast their ballots in the "Super Tuesday" primaries this year, less than half the number of states that participated in 2008. That means this year's results will provide fewer delegates and have less impact on the final choice of a Republican presidential nominee.
That's why the outcome of the first-of-its-kind regional primary on April 24 for five northeastern states, including Connecticut will be so important. The other states participating on that day; New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Delaware, will all deliver a large population of voters, Secretary of State Denise Merrill said in a statement. The results of primary will provide a number of "allocated delegates" for the Republican candidates, Merrill said.
Merrill announced this week the primary ballot in Connecticut will have four Republican candidates:
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- Rick Santorum
- Newt Gingrich
- Mitt Romney
- Ron Paul
The order of the candidate's names on the ballot will be determined on March 20, Merrill said, in a lottery drawing open to the public. Election history shows candidates at the top of the ballot often fare better than those in the last spot.
No applications for petitioning candidates were received in Merrill's office, she meaning a Democratic primary won't be held in Connecticut. President Barack Obama will receive all of his party's delegates from the state.
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Unaffiliated or new voters who wish to vote in the April Republican primary must send their mail-in registration to be received by their town's registrar by April 19. Walk-in registrations will be accepted by April 23.
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