Stamford Democrats to vote Tuesday
Here’s what you need to know
STAMFORD — Democrats will vote on their candidate for mayor Tuesday, choosing between the current head of the city, David Martin, and state Rep. Caroline Simmons.
After Simmons won the endorsement of the Democratic City Committee in a tight vote this summer, Martin submitted enough signatures from registered Democrats to force a primary election. Martin was first elected mayor in 2013.
The Stamford mayoral election, and elections for other municipal offices, will take place Nov. 2. After Republican candidate Joe Corsello dropped out on Sept. 8, the only other candidate in the mayoral race is former Major League Baseball manager Bobby Valentine, who is running as an
unaffiliated candidate.
On Tuesday, Democrats in Districts 5 and 19 of the city will also vote on candidates for the Board of Representatives.
Bonnie Kim Campbell and Melinda Punkin Baxter are challenging incumbent Reps. Gloria DePina and Lila Wallace in District 5.
In District 19, Jennifer Matheny and Pina Basone are running against DCC-endorsed candidates Don Mays and John Pelliccia. The current representatives of the district, Bob Lion and Raven Matherne, decided not to seek reelection this year.
There are about 31,300 registered Democrats in Stamford, according to the Registrars of Voters. There are about 13,400 registered Republicans and 27,500 unaffiliated voters.
Only registered Democrats can vote in the primary. New voters who want to participate in the primary have until noon Monday to register in person as a Democrat. The deadline is the same for voters who are unaffiliated and want to change their registration to Democrat.
Ron Malloy, Stamford’s Democratic registrar, stressed that unaffiliated voters can only switch their registration to Democrat if they have not belonged to any party in the last 90 days. For instance, if someone was a registered Democrat in July and then changed their registration to unaffiliated in August, the person cannot switch back to Democrat and vote on Tuesday, Malloy said.
Malloy also noted that nearly 1,400 people are registered with the Independent Party in Stamford. Some may think that they are unaffiliated voters, he said, but they are actually affiliated with the Independent Party, a minor party.
Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. There are 20 polling locations across the city. Voters can find their polling place at www.stamfordct.gov.
Those who have applied for and received absentee ballots have until 8 p.m. Tuesday to drop them off at a ballot box in the parking garage of the Stamford Government Center, 888 Washington Blvd., or at a box outside the Harry Bennett library, 115 Vine Road. Voters were able to use COVID-19 as a reason for seeking an absentee ballot.
For those who have mailed in their absentee ballots, the town clerk’s office must receive them on Election Day at the latest or else they won’t be counted.