State Officials will announce Results of Primary and Voter Registration Drive
What: Hartford elections officials will be on campus to conduct a voter registration drive Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. At the same time, students who are registered as Democrats or Republicans will be able to vote for the candidate of their choice in a “mock” presidential primary. A lever machine will be used. Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz will announce the results at approximately 3:30 p.m. She will also speak about the importance of the youth vote. Also in attendance will be Democratic State Chairwoman Nancy DiNardo and Republican State Chairman Chris Healy, as well as the heads of the Trinity Democratic and Republican Clubs. Surrogates for the candidates will speak at a reception following the event.
When: Thursday, January 24, 3:15 p.m.
Where: The Washington Room, Mather Hall on the Trinity campus.
Background: Connecticut is one of 24 states that will hold either a presidential primary or caucus on Tuesday, Feb. 5, a day that has come to be known as Super Duper Tuesday. Some polls show that Democrat Hilary Rodham Clinton and Republican John McCain are ahead in their respective party contests in Connecticut, although the races are still fluid with large numbers of voters still undecided. U.S. Sen. Barack Obama has launched a large TV buy in the hopes of overtaking Clinton.
Voters ages 18 to 25, who have historically not voted in large numbers, recorded their best turnout in the 2004 presidential election in several decades. There is already evidence that this key voting block could be energized to vote in large numbers again this year. Indeed, the “Millennials,” as pundits have dubbed them, have demonstrated their interest with surprisingly large turnouts in the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. The so-called Millennials are socially active, engaged in volunteerism and determined to improve the world, according to some sociologists.
Also, it’s often the case that young voters reflect the attitudes of their parents. Thus, the Jan. 24 mock presidential primary at Trinity could be a key indicator of how Connecticut will vote on Feb. 5.