Thumbs up, thumbs down

Thumbs up to voting. With a vital election only a week away, the deadline to register to vote is Tuesday, Oct. 27, or seven days prior to the election. The state also has Election Day registration, but it’s not available at all polling locations. Though the presidential race is getting most of the attention, all five of Connecticut’s U.S. congressional seats are also up this year, as well as seats in the state House of Representatives and state Senate. Local races can have an outsized impact on people’s daily lives, even as they are less likely to be the focus of multimillion-dollar ad campaigns and so can slip under the radar. Whether by absentee or in person, everyone eligible to vote is encouraged to take advantage of their right to do so.

Thumbs down to a sobering outlook for Connecticut’s economy. A report issued last week by economists at the University of Connecticut suggests that it could take a decade for the state to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and that “even an optimistic scenario argues recovery will be slow and painful.” Connecticut had been mostly treading water economically even before the coronavirus hit, and the last thing it needed was a massive blow to its service sector, entertainment venues and other key cogs of the system. The report calls for strengthening the state’s IT infrastructure and investing in data centers, among other solutions, advice that state leaders would be wise to follow.

Thumbs up to continued good news in the state’s real estate market, and not just limited to the southwestern corner. Though reports since COVID-19 hit have shown marked gains in Fairfield County, with many New Yorkers seeking open space in the suburbs, a recent finding showed the Hartford area was one of the hottest residential real estate markets in the nation during September. “Demand is off the charts right now,” a real estate executive said. “Buyers of all ages are coming into the market,” and finding that much of Connecticut offers what they’re looking for. The state needs to capitalize on this positive development as it seeks a lasting COVID recovery.

Thumbs up to another year of open enrollment on Access Health CT, Connecticut’s health insurance exchange, which begins Nov. 1 for 2021 plans. Open enrollment this year comes at a time of uncertainty, with the Affordable Care Act, which undergirds the system and has withstood numerous court challenges, facing yet another test in the U.S. Supreme Court shortly after Election Day. Regardless of what transpires there, health care will remain a key concern for many state residents, and the need for an improved system will continue no matter who is elected to public office this year.