You asked for (1) the number of people who cast votes in each of the state elections held since 1990; (2) the voter turnout in recent municipal elections; and (3) turnout in the special elections held to fill state representative seats in Norwalk and Danbury on January 29, 2002. With respect to state elections, you are interested in the number of people who actually voted and the trend in that figure. OLR Report 2002-R-0223 presents the turnout figure as a percentage of registered voters and the voting age population (the number of people over the age of 18).

SUMMARY

While voter turnout as a percentage of registered voters and as a percentage of the voting age population has been decreasing in the past decade, the actual number of people voting is going down as well when we compare the turnout at gubernatorial elections (1990, 1994, and 1998) or at presidential elections (1992, 1996, and 2000). Though participation peaks during presidential elections, the general trend over the decade is down somewhat.

Participation in municipal elections varies considerably among towns in the state. For example, in the 2001 elections it varied between 18% and 66%. However, the statewide average (as a percentage of registered voters) over the decade was always less than participation at state elections held in even-numbered years. Statewide voter turnout at municipal elections went down from almost 55% in 1991 to around 40% in 2001. The actual number of voters at municipal elections also declined during the decade, from 888,415 in 1991 to as few as 723,490 in 1999. It increased a bit in 2001 to 766,843.

Participation in special elections is even less than regular elections. Special elections were held on January 29, 2001 in Danbury and Norwalk to fill vacancies in the 137^th and 138^th state House of Representative seats. Turnout in both cases was less than 20% of registered voters. In Danbury, 2,332 people voted and in Norwalk, 2,139 voters turned out. This contrasts with the voter turnout at the November 2001 municipal elections of around 45% in both towns.

VOTERS AT STATE ELECTIONS

Table 1 shows the number of voters who cast ballots in state elections since 1990. This is the number of people "checked as having voted" on the voter registration lists. Figure 1 represents the information in a graph.

Table 1: Number of Voters in Connecticut,

State Elections 1990-2000

*The total number of people checked as having voted on voter registry lists, including "overseas" and "presidential" voters.

** Presidential election year.

Source: Statement of Vote, General Election, prepared by the Secretary of the State, printed in compliance with statute, various dates.

VOTERS AT MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS

Table 2 shows the actual number of voters as well as the turnout rate, that is, the percentage of registered voters who actually went to the polls at municipal elections in the state. Figure 2 displays the numbers in graph form. Generally, both the percentage of registered voters and the actual number of people voting decreased over the decade.

Voter turnout in municipal elections varies considerably among towns. An attached chart, prepared by the Office of the Secretary of the State, shows the turnout in each Connecticut town at the May 7 and November 6, 2001 municipal elections. It ranges from a low of 18. 4% in Bridgewater to 66. 2% in Washington. The statewide average was 41. 3%.

Table 2: Number of Voters in Connecticut,

Municipal Elections 1991-2001

*The total number of people checked as having voted on voter registry lists, including "overseas" and "presidential" voters.

**158 towns, November elections only. Figures for 11 towns with May elections not available.

*** 165 towns. Figures for four towns not available.

The average statewide turnout at municipal elections is less than turnout at state elections, but the difference is greater when compared to presidential year elections. Figure 3 shows the turnout percentage for all elections from 1990 to 2001.

SPECIAL ELECTIONS

Turnout at special elections is usually much less than at regular elections. As an example, we contacted the towns where special elections were held on January 29, 2002 to fill vacancies in state House of Representative seats. Turnout, as a percentage of registered voters, was 19. 4% in Danbury (138^th District) and 18. 9% in Norwalk (137^th District). This compares to turnout of 46. 6% in Danbury and 44. 6% in Norwalk for the citywide elections held last November.

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