Wallingford, Conn. – The town will perform a “discrepancy recount” on Friday following a shortage of ballots on Election Day. Republican registrar of voters Joan Ives‑Parisi told Connecticut Public the town experienced a record turnout for the gubernatorial race, which led to the depletion of the ballot supply.
“We just had a record turnout for the gubernatorial, which we were happy to see because we want people to vote, but it did cause a shortage of ballots,” Ives‑Parisi said.
State contingency procedures require officials to print additional ballots when supplies run low. The Secretary of the State, Stephanie Thomas, explained that the newly printed ballots should be segregated and counted by hand. Instead, Ives‑Parisi said, about 100 of those ballots were mistakenly processed through a tabulator.
“It’s fairly common, but these were mistakenly run through the tabulator,” Thomas told Connecticut Public’s The Wheelhouse. “This is why I’m always like, it’s great we have paper ballots, so the only delay is they now have to hand count.”
Why a recount matters
Ives‑Parisi agreed with the Secretary’s recommendation for a recount, emphasizing the town’s commitment to voter confidence.
“We want to put the voters in Wallingford… at ease that their ballots were all counted properly, and their votes went where they should,” she said.
The recount also aligns with the close margins in State Senate District 34, where Republican incumbent Paul Cicarella faces Democratic challenger Brandi Mandato. The outcome could determine whether Democrats secure an historic Senate majority of either 32‑4 or 33‑3.
Thomas added, “We may have a little bit of time to wait, but it’s not like we won’t know the results,” and reiterated the value of paper ballots: “This is exactly why Connecticut uses paper ballots. We don’t guess. We check. We’re committed to ensuring every ballot is counted fairly and accurately.”
What residents can expect
The discrepancy recount will be conducted by hand, as prescribed by state law, and the town expects the process to be completed promptly. Voters are encouraged to stay informed through the town’s official channels for updates on the recount timeline and final results.
Wallingford’s proactive approach underscores the importance of transparent election administration, especially in tightly contested races that could shape the balance of power in the Connecticut Senate.
Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.
