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Greenwich Town Clerk Carmella Budkins is hoping for an impressive voter turnout in Tuesday's elections. By the looks of the absentee ballots, people are more involved than ever.
"Absentee ballots are a little heavier this year," she said last week. "People have a lot of interest with the governor, the senatorial and congressional races. It seems like a lot more people are going to be out of town."
Budkins said that in previous years, voter turnout in state elections had been about 30 percent, but she hopes this election's turnout will be about 40 percent. But she is concerned about vote complacency. "People don't realize that every vote does count," Budkins said. "It starts in your town. Every vote makes a difference."
In a recent survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, Connecticut had a 4 percentage percent increase in general election voter turnout from 2004 to 2008.
According to Budkins, more than 1,500 absentee ballots were sent out and she expected most to be returned. Registered voters can still request an application for an absentee ballot by going to the Town Clerk's office, visiting online or calling 203-622-7897.
"[Absentee ballots] need to be into us by 8 p.m. on Election night," she said. "I go to the Post Office for a last pickup around 4 or 5 p.m."
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