Will Newtown Rise To The Democracy Cup Challenge?

By Steve Bigham

If voting for the next US President wasn’t enough incentive to get you to the polls next Tuesday, the secretary of state is now offering an award to the town with the largest voter turnout.

 Voter turnout has dropped drastically across the state in recent years, according to Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz. In response, the East Haddam Civic Association is sponsoring a statewide voter turnout competition for the November 7 election. The first annual Democracy Challenge Cup is a contest that will award towns with the best voter turnout (by percentage of registered voters), a trophy to display in their town or city hall. The award is being offered in three categories – for small, medium and large municipalities.

The secretary of state’s office is co-sponsoring the event and will be on hand to present the trophies to the winning towns sometime in early December.

Every Connecticut town will be eligible for this award.

Newtown is expected to be among those towns contending for the cup. In 1992, according to registrars, Newtown had the third largest percentage of voter turnout nationwide with 92 percent. In 1996, 82 percent of the town’s registered voters turned out.

“I urge people to exercise their responsibility to vote in this important election for the country, state and town,” First Selectman Herb Rosenthal said.