Mitt Romney Gets 70% of Vote in Stratford Primary

Updated 11 p.m.

Stratford voted Mitt Romney its Republican of choice in Tuesday's statewide presidential party primary.

The former Massachusetts governor received about 70 percent of the vote in Stratford. Out of 666 total votes cast by registered Republicans in town, 461 went to Romney. The rest of the field: Ron Paul, 80; Newt Gingrich, 76; Rick Santorum, 40. Additionally, nine people voted 'uncommitted.'

There are 5,800 active registered Republicans (active meaning has voted in the last four years) in Stratford, which means voter turnout was 11.5 percent.

"It was even more lopsided than I thought it would be," said Republican Registrar of Voters Lou Decilio.

Statewide, Romney performed similar to the results in Stratford.

According to the Hartford Courant, Romney has secured 67.5 percent of the vote for the 96 percent of districts reporting results as of 10:30 p.m. Those results show the other candidates received the following votes:

• Ron Paul - 13.4%
• Newt Gingrich - 10.3%
• Rick Santorum - 6.9%

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'I Want to Make Sure My Man Gets In,' Says Oronoque Resident

Marjorie Goss casts her vote for Mitt Romney in today's Republican presidential primary.

(Published 1:20 p.m.)

As expected, Stratford residents are not coming out in droves to vote in today's statewide Republican presidential primary.

"People feel there's really no sense to it," said moderator Mal Starratt, the man in charge at the 9th District polling location, . "They figure it's a fait accompli and think, 'why do I have to come out?'"

"Santorum dropped out of the race and the other [candidates] aren't pushing in Connecticut," said Starratt, adding that Mitt Romney is a shoo-in to win the nomination.

As of noon, 4.1 percent of the town's registered active Republicans (238 people) had cast their vote in the presidential primary, according to Lou DeCilio, Republican registrar of voters. Add 33 absentee ballots and the percentage still does not hit 5 percent.

Casting her vote after the noon numbers were reported was Marjorie Goss, an Oronoque resident who supports Mitt Romney.

"I want to make sure my man gets in," she said outside the Bunnell polling station. "I think he's a brilliant man and the fact that he is rich is because he is a good business man."

And her thoughts on the former Massachusetts governor taking on President Obama: "I think he can get this country back on its feet."

Polls remain open until 8 p.m. The town's 11 voting locations are included at the end of this article.

"If we do get any type rush it'll be in the evening but I don't think it'll be much," Starratt said. As of noon, Bunnell had the most votes out of all the town's polling locations with 40.

Starratt also worked the 2008 Republican presidential primary, which saw John McCain winning Stratford's vote.

"It was a contest [in 2008]," he said. "People aren't excited about this."

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Low Voter Turnout Expected in Stratford for Today's Republican Primary

With Rick Santorum's recent bow out in the race for the Republican Party's nomination for president, Mitt Romney looks to have the role all but guaranteed, which is expected to lead to less Republicans voting in their presidential primary today.

(Published 5:15 a.m.)

Republican Registrar of Voters Lou DeCilio does not expect a high voter turnout in Stratford for today's statewide Republican presidential primary.

And the reason: no more Rick Santorum.

"Being the only legitimate option to Romney, turnout will be low," said DeCilio, who is also the chairman of Stratford's . "If you really wanted Santorum you probably won't come out."

Polls open at 6 a.m. Tuesday and close at 8 p.m. The town's 11 polling locations are included at the end of this article. On the ballot: Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum.

DeCilio said Gingrich might pick up some of Santorum's votes.

Stratford has 5,800 active registered Republicans (active meaning has voted in the last four years). Per state statute, you must be registered with the Republican Party to vote in today's primary, said DeCilio, adding that same rules go for Democrats.

"Some states allow you to walk in [to a polling station] and declare yourself and vote," DeCilio said. "I like the fact that you have to be registered to vote in a party's primary."

DeCilio said he has ordered enough ballots to account for a 60 percent voter turnout, which, compared to the last couple Repubilcan presidential primaries, should be more than sufficient.

The 2008 Republican primary in Stratford saw a 33 percent turnout with John McCain doubling Romney in votes. In 2000, 39 percent of registered Republicans in Stratford cast their vote in a presidential primary in which McCain also won, edging eventual President George W. Bush by about 100 votes.

STRATFORD POLLING LOCATIONS

(Unsure what district you live in? Check out this map.)

District 1A:

District 1B:

District 2:

District 3:

District 4:

District 5:

District 6:

District 7:

District 8:

District 9:

District 10:

If you are one of the nearly 6,000 registered Republicans in Stratford, are you voting in today's presidential primary? Why or why not? Tell us in the comments.