NEWINGTON, Conn. (WTIC Radio) - Over two dozen Newington residents gathered outside Town Hall Tuesday morning to voice concern over a new proposal that would eliminate five voting districts.
The proposal now before the town council would reduce the town's eight voting districts down to three.
According to concerned residents, this action would making polling locations less accessible to residents, preventing many from voting.
The proposal was made in response to the state's redistricting, Town Councilor Kim Radda said. It's also an effort to save the town about $38,000 a year while decreasing staffing needs amid challenges to find volunteers for polling places, she explained.
However, Radda is calling on fellow town council members to reject the proposal.
"[The proposal] drastically impedes voter access to polling locations for many residents, particularly our more vulnerable residents [such as] seniors, those with disabilities, those with limited mobility or access to transportation as well as those who live in the northern part of town because this proposal completely eliminates the polling places to the north of the city," Radda said.
Opponents of the proposal also claim that this proposal, if approved, will lead to longer lines at the poll, increased traffic and parking issues at those sites and even more confusion.
State Representative for Newington Gary Turco (D) voiced his concern by stressing the fact that this would significantly increase the number of voters for each polling location.
This proposal would increase the average number of voters per voting district from around 2,700 voters to over 7,000 voters per district, Turco said.
"The redistricting that the state did based on the 2020 census information would only result in a small percentage of Newington residents that have to vote in a new voting district. Nothing this drastic needs to happen here in Newington," Turco said.
In a written statement, Mayor Beth DelBuono said it's disappointing to see state elected officials create unnecessary division, calling the act of conflating the proposal with voter suppression "irresponsible" and "disrespectful" to the local community.
State Senator Matt Lesser disagreed. "When you reduce five of eight of the polling places in town, you make it vastly more difficult [to vote]. You make somebody drive from one end of town to the other just to cast a vote, that is voter suppression."
"We won't let national politics and rhetoric into our local decisions," DelBuono wrote.
She also reassured residents in her statement that local leaders are committed to making the polls easily accessible to all.