To the Editor:

Tuesday, Newtown was awarded a great honor. We received the Democracy Cup for the highest voter turnout in a mid-sized town. There are many people that helped make that happen.

The voters, the highway department, the school staff, and the volunteers making calls reminding you to vote.

Special thanks to John Voket of The Newtown Bee for going above and beyond helping us. John put in articles each week with different parts of the election process going along with our Letters to the Editor, and videos for both voting in person and absentee. This process was vital, helping us get the word out on protections and procedures being adopted to protect voters and staff.

Erica [Canfield, Deputy Registrar of Voters] and I applied for a grant offered by election supply companies and received $10,090.50 to be used towards COVID costs. This helped pay for supplies increasing our level for safe voting. The state covered the cost of mailing applications and ballots, as well some COVID safety items.

Over 300 people stepped forward to work the election, knowing that many regular workers could not. We hope that they are willing to continue working elections with us.

Last but not least, our staff and two additional workers hired assisted the Town Clerk’s staff in preparing all the envelopes to go out for the absentees. Weekend hours were also required for the absentees. Sue and Jan did whatever they could for either office, working full time instead of their regular ten hours a week. We are truly grateful for their assistance with this very challenging election.

I can’t forget Erica. She worked right along with me for more hours than we were able to sleep, for two months. We could not have done this important work without the support of our families.

It took a village. Thank you all, and any I forgot to add.

LeReine Frampton

3 Primrose Street, Newtown April 23, 2021