5th District Had Highest Voter Turnout On Apathetic Primary Day

The 5th Congressional District had the greatest percentage of registered voters turnout for Aug. 14′s primary compared to the state’s four other congressional districts, according to the secretary of the state’s office.

Statewide, just 2 in 10 registered Democrats went to the polls. Among Republicans, the turnout was slightly better — nearly 3 in 10.

The 5th District, which featured a three-way Democratic congressional primary and a four-way Republican congressional primary, had a total voter turnout of 27.2 percent — significantly higher than the other four districts.

The 1st District had a total voter turnout of 21.7 percent, and the 2nd District had a turnout of 21.8 percent. Voter turnout was 19.7 percent in the 3rd District, and 21.4 percent in the 4th District.

A greater percentage of 5th District registered Republicans — 32.3 percent — voted in the primary than 5th District registered Democrats — 23.5 percent.

Similarly, a greater percentage of Republicans throughout the state went to the polls — 27.7 percent. There are 409,723 registered Republicans in Connecticut, and 113,538 cast ballots on Aug. 14.

Only 19.2 percent, or 138,004, of the state’s 717,241 registered Democrats voted in the primary.

Secretary of the State Denise Merrill says the numbers are slightly below normal for Democrats and slightly above normal for Republicans in a statewide primary.

“Democrats and Republicans throughout Connecticut had their voices heard and made a choice about who will represent their parties on the ballot in November,” Merrill said in a prepared statement.  “As we start down the road to the general election, I urge all those who are eligible to register to vote, research the candidates, and come out on November 6 to cast a ballot.”

Goshen, Republican congressional Andrew Roraback’s home town, saw the highest voter turnout percentage in Connecticut. In Goshen, 59.4 percent of  its registered Republicans voted in the primary.

Plainfield had the lowest voter turnout percentage. Only 11.3 percent of the town’s registered Democrats voted.