Stonington asks candidates not to gather at Town Hall on election night
Stonington — The Election Day tradition here of political candidates and their supporters gathering in the basement of Town Hall to wait for the announcement of the results will be a casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Friday, the town issued a statement asking that no candidates or their supporters come into Town Hall for election results on Tuesday.
“We know this is a time honored tradition, and hope to welcome everyone back next year,” the statement read. “Also, given that we expect many votes to come in via absentee (to date we have received over 4,000) the final results will likely not be ready until late that evening, or possibly the next day.”
In addition, Town Hall will be closed to the public for normal, in-person business on Election Day so the main hallway can be used to count absentee ballots. Town Hall staff, though, will be working in the building and can be reached by email or phone.
Residents who are not registered to vote can take advantage of Election Day registration by entering and exiting the building through the side door in the rear of the building from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Those looking to view the public process of absentee ballot counting may come to the same entrance and will be shown the viewing area.
Anyone needing to drop off absentee ballots can place them in the official drop box outside Town Hall by 8 p.m.
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