State deems Guilford absentee ballot applications ‘valid’

GUILFORD — The Secretary of the State’s office has determined that absentee ballot applications sent from a local campaign are valid after town Republicans filed a complaint Wednesday.

Republican Town Committee member Deborah DeMusis and Guilford resident George Mack submitted a complaint to the State Elections Enforcement Commission, alleging that Democratic and independent candidates vying for the Guilford Board of Education, as well as their campaign adviser, illegally distributed unsolicited absentee ballot applications.

The absentee ballots were allegedly pre-filled with the voters’ information. When someone helps a voter fill out an absentee ballot application, they need to complete a section stating they assisted the applicant and provide a “wet signature,” or a signature that is singed in ink.

DeMusis and Mack said in these applications, a pre-printed signature was provided from Bill Bloss, the campaign adviser for Protect Guilford Schools, which represents two Democratic candidates — Moira Rader and Arnold Skretta — as well as three independents — Jennifer Baldwin, Kristy Faulkner and Noel Petra.

Ted Bromley, the state’s director of

elections, said “due to a miscommunication,” campaigns may not have realized they could not use a reproduced signature on the pre-filled applications.

“Although Connecticut statute does require a ‘wet ink’ signature, it is clear that campaigns could have justifiably relied on our advice to believe the opposite was true,” Bromley wrote Thursday to Michael Brandi, the executive director and general counsel for the SEEC.

“This miscommunication should not affect the voters of Connecticut,” Bromley wrote.

Bromley said his department communicated with town clerks Oct. 6 to clarify the issue. He also stressed that “any completed applications received from a voter should be processed as normal, as that is a valid application and the voter should not

be penalized for this miscommunication between our office and representatives of campaigns.”

DeMusis and Mack said in their complaint they knew of at least six people who received the letter, which included an absentee ballot application, campaign materials and a return envelope addressed to the town clerk. The two allege the letter was distributed to thousands of Guilford voters.

The municipal election is Nov. 2. Residents will be able to vote for the first selectman, two selectmen, four members of the Board of Finance, five members of the Board of Education and one member of the Board of Assessment Appeals.