Durham, Middlefield Voters Turn Out for Primary

By noon Tuesday, fewer than 400 voters had cast ballots in the Democratic and Republican primaries being held in Durham and Middlefield, a low turn out anticipated by election officials.

In Durham, where election officials are coping with the impact of last year's redistricting which divided the town into three voting districts, 234 residents had voted.

"They've mandated that we have to run the primary the same way we run in November, so basically it's turning into a dry run," said election moderator Lou Battapaglia.

Battapaglia said 29 poll workers will spend the afternoon and evening directing voters at Korn Elementary, where the polls close at 8 p.m.

Despite the change to voting districts in the town, Republican Registrar of Voters Pam Lucashu said she hadn't heard any complaints by voters.

By contrast, 64 Republicans had turned out to vote by 11 a.m. at the Middlefield Community Center. 104 Democrats were listed as having voted over the same period.

Democrats Susan Bysiewicz and Chris Murphy are battling for the chance to run against the winner of today's Republican primary — between Linda McMahon and former U.S. Rep. Christopher Shays — for Sen. Joseph Lieberman's seat in Washington.

Check back with Patch Tuesday night for primary results.