Election Day Turnout Stats Reveal Surprising Leaders Among Towns
/Statewide turnout in Connecticut for the November 6, 2012 elections was 73.77%, according to statistics released by the Office of Secretary of the State Denise Merrill. That is a decrease from 2008's turnout of 78.14%, but enough to rank the state seventh nationally. Bridgewater led the way with 94.75% turnout and was the only municipality to exceed 90%. Just missing the 90% mark were Middletown (89.86%) and Ridgefield (89.42%). Twelve municipalities exceeded 85% turnout. Each of the state’s 169 municipalities had turnout of at least 50% (Waterbury and Windham were lowest at 56%).
In reviewing the number of individuals who voted in the 2012 elections, the stats are quite revealing, and perhaps illustrative as political eyes look ahead to the 2014 elections.
Stamford topped the list, with just over 47,000 voters, followed closely by New Haven with nearly 45,000. Rounding out the top five were Bridgeport, Hartford, and West Hartford. Four communities underscored the maxim that registration is a first step, but turnout is the giant leap. The number of voters in Hartford and West Hartford differed by only 1,001, although Hartford has 11,000 more registered voters. Greenwich, which has about 11,000 fewer registered voters than Waterbury, had in excess of 3,000 more people voting this year, according to the statistics released.
Fairfield placed 6th, one of only six towns where more than 30,000 people voted. Rounding out the top ten were Greenwich, Danbury, Waterbury and Milford. Just missing the top ten was Hamden, with 25,610 voters, and Bristol, with 24,571.
Number of people voting / Percentage of registered voters voting
Stamford 47,289 71.60%
New Haven 44,973 62.48%
Bridgeport 37,510 52.22%
Hartford 33,452 65.14%
W. Hartford 32,451 80.81%
Fairfield 30,081 78.97%
Greenwich 29,894 81.93%
Danbury 27,763 78.83%
Waterbury 26,566 56.09%
Milford 25,610 75.90%
Hamden 24,641 71.97%
Bristol 24,571 69.93%