Not only can you help decide who obtains the most powerful elected position in the world Tuesday. You can also tell the U.S. military to take a fiscal hike.
The first vote is binding. The second? New Haven is offering some friendly advice.
Those questions — who should serve as U.S. president for the next four years and whether the U.S. should cut the military budget — appear on the ballot when polls open in New Haven Tuesday. You can vote any time between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Some people (especially in parts of East Rock) have been confused about where to vote this Tuesday. Because of state and local redistricting, some voters have to go to different polling stations in odd-numbered years than in even-numbered years. To find out for sure where you vote Tuesday, click here for the Secretary of the state’s site and plug in your name and birth date. If you’re still confused, call the Registrar of Voters at 203 – 946-8035.
As of late Monday, there was still some confusion about the polling location for people with even-numbered addresses on Cottage Street between Livingston and Whitney. East Rock Alderman Justin Elicker said the state site incorrectly sends people to Celentano School when they should be going to Wilbur Cross High School. The city is reprinting lists to correct the error: Those people should go to Cross, said Republican Voting Registrar Rae Tramantano. If you’re confused, it might make sense to call the registrar to double-check, or even be prepared to be sent from one location to the other.
Technically you can vote to elect a state senator and a state representative Tuesday. But all those candidates — all Democrats, all incumbents — are running unopposed.
Technically you can vote for a Democratic and a Republican registrar of voters. But those candidates, too, are running unopposed, and the outcome is not in question. (A Green candidate ended up not making it onto the ballot.)
Here are offices where you can choose between or among candidates:
• U.S. President. The names on the ballot: Democrat Barack Obama, Republican Mitt Romney, Rocky Anderson (appearing here on the Independent line), and Libertarian Gary Johnson.
• U.S. Senate. Christopher Murphy appears on the Democratic and Working Families lines. Linda McMahon appears on the Republican and Independent lines. Paul Passarelli appears on the Libertarian line.
• U.S. Congress. Incumbent Rosa DeLauro appears on the Democratic and Working Families lines. Wayne Winsley appears on the Republican line. To find out how they stand on major issues, check out the following stories and videos:
• Who’s Your Taxes Match?
• Who’s Your Civil Rights Match?
• Who’s Your Foreign Policy Match?
• Who’s Your Enviro Match?
• Who’s Your Health Care Match?
In addition to voting for candidates, you can weigh in on a referendum question. It reads as follows:
“Shall Congress reduce military spending; transfer funds to convert to civilian production; create jobs to rebuild our infrastructure; meet pressing human needs?”
In this case, your vote will be counted, but the outcome will be advisory.