Republican and Democratic Volunteers Pull for Candidates on Election Day

Republicans and Democrats have set up shop across North Haven today to drive voters to the polls.

Stationed at the Communication Workers-America on Dixwell Avenue, North Haven Democrats are currently conducting phone banking for State Representative incumbent Steve Fontana, and will then begin calling for national candidates.

Noting public fatigue from robo-calls from both parties over the past week, former First Selectwoman and member of the Democratic Town Committee Janet McCarty said response from call recipients has been largely positive.

"We're getting 90% answering machines," said McCarty. "But those who do pick up are supportive."

McCarty is unambiguous about what she sees as the stakes in today's elections.

"The whole tenor of the country's politics could change," she said.

Volunteers were reluctant to make predictions about today's results, but suggested that many voters decisions at the top of the ticket would trickle down to local candidates.

Barbara Feinberg, the former Registrar of Voters, noted that there may be cases of over-voting for Democrats, due to gubernatorial candidate Dan Malloy's endorsement by the Working Families party. Those who vote for Malloy for both parties will need to have their ballots counted by hand, a process that could delay results.

Meanwhile, at the Republican Town Committee's campaign headquarters at Fantasia on Washington Avenue, volunteers calculated turnout by party in order to guide phone banking later in the afternoon.

On rows of tables filling the space, volunteers organized lists of voters by district and party affiliation, crossing off names when individuals were reported to have voted.

Based on an unofficial count conducted by the Republicans, the breakdown of votes by affiliation as of 10am was 20% Republican, 18% Democrat, and 14% independent.

Joseph D'Errico of the North Haven Police Commission and a member of the Republican Town Committee expressed optimism for a GOP win at the polls, stating that he believed polls showing Democratic Senatorial candidate Blumenthal with a double-digit lead over Republican McMahon to be inaccurate.

"I think we're in for a lot of surprises today," said D'Errico. "We could see as many as 70 to 80 new seats go to Republicans."

D'Errico echoed suggestions that the top of the ballot would play a large role in deciding local races, and praised David Yaccarino for his hard work during the campaign.

"Nobody deserves to win more than Yaccarino," D'Errico said.

Turnout at polls appears to have slowed in the afternoon, but is expected to increase around early evening.