Paul Bass Photo
Paul Garlinghouse at a campaign event on the Green.
What do you call a three-way race in which two candidates automatically win?
The race for New Haven registrar of voters.
City Clerk Michael Smart confirmed Tuesday that a Green Party candidate, Paul Garlinghouse, has collected enough petition signatures of voters to have his name appear on the ballot in the Nov. 3 election for the position. (The secretary of the state’s office still has to certify the ballot spot. But unlike in races for multi-town offices, only one clerk’s office — New Haven’s — is involved in reviewing and certifying all the signatures for municipal races.)
Two other registrar candidates’ names will appear on the ballot, as well: those of the incumbents, Democrat Shannel Evans and Republican Marlene Napolitano.
Unlike Garlinghouse, they can’t lose on Nov. 3. Because under an anti-democratic fix devised by an oligopolistic cartel … (Oops, correction:) Because of a state law passed by Democrats and Republicans, Democratic and Republican registrar candidates automatically win general elections and serve four-year terms. Even if a third candidate wins more votes.
If a third-party candidate like Garlinghouse succeeds in winning more votes than one of the major-party candidates, then taxpayers end up paying for three registrars, along with assistants, instead of two registrars with assistants. (The Working Families Party at one point elected a third registrar in Hartford.)
Registrars oversee voter registration, culling and updating of voter lists, distribution of absentee ballots and candidate petitions, and Election Day poll working and ballot counting.
Garlinghouse is an attorney who has represented immigrants and victims of police brutality
He said he hopes to use the position to expand democracy in New Haven should he win.
“Thanks to hundreds of New Haven residents who asked for me to be on the Green ballot line for registrar of voters,” he stated in a release issued Tuesday. “My platform is to encourage democracy through making voting as seamless and accessible as possible, and through making running for office less daunting for potential candidates.”
The process of petitioning onto the ballot offered him “an inside perspective on how this process can be made smoother and more welcoming for New Haven citizens who want to run for local office,” Garlinghouse stated.
“My vision is to see hundreds of people with new ideas and enthusiasm compete in elections. Democracy means competition, not just one choice for each office.”