Did You Vote Yet?

TODAY!  BUDGET REFERENDUM!  Parking information: On Thursday, May 17th, there will be designated parking spaces on School Street for those that vote at the Municipal Center.  There will also be designated voting parking spots in the rear lot off of Wooster Street.

Voter information:  The machine vote for the Budget of the Town of Bethel for Fiscal Year 2012-2012 will be held on Thursday, May 17, 2012 between the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

"You will need to report to your assigned polling district to vote, either Berry School, the Hurgin Municipal Center or the Stony Hill Fire House.  If you are unsure where you should report to vote, please contact the Office of the Bethel Registrar of Voters at 203-794-8516 as soon as possible," from the Registrar of Voters.

 Early this morning, First Selectman Matthew Knickerbocker announced that he is urging all residents to come to their polling place, and to make sure they check their districts, because some of the districts were changed by the State of Connecticut.

 Above that, Knickerbocker said, “I am urging everyone to vote for all three budgets.”

Residents will be able to vote on each, Town, Education, and Capital Expense, budget seperately. “They don’t usually have the chance to vote on Capital Expenses, but this year they do,” he said.  “It keeps all of our teachers employed, it keeps current programs intact, and moves our road plan ahead, so we can keep construction going on our roads through the second year. So I am urging everyone to vote Yes! Yes! Yes!”  

Knickerbocker also said that despite the presence of St Mary’s Carnival, the town went to great lengths to keep the sidewalks clear and parking for voters ample.  “There is parking in front of the Municipal Center, and reserved parking in the back by our new handicapped ramp,” he said. 

Postcards announcing the referendum were sent out a week ago and were received by most residents by last weekend.  

At 10am, both poll locations reported a steady stream and were in fact a little busier than lasy year at this time. 

At the Municipal Center, Registrar of Voters Mary Legnard reported for District 1 and 4, Mary O’Leary reported for District 3 and at 10 am, that the counts for this morning were as follows:  

 District 1  48

District 4 136

District 3  258

District 5 47

O’Leary’s words of advice were, “Make sure everyone comes to vote so they can’t complain tomorrow.”