Vote Tuesday! Republicans, Democrats Head to the Polls for Aug. 14 Primary

Registered Republicans and Democrats in Connecticut can vote in primaries in their respective parties on Tuesday, Aug. 14, for candidates running in state and federal elections.

Polls open across the state at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

While registered voters can't switch their party affiliation at this point, unaffiliated or unregistered voters can register by noon today to vote in either primary.

Meriden redistricted its polling locations in 2012 following the U.S. Census, which measures populations in communities every 10 years.

The locations were reduced from 17 to 13 following a City Council vote in April, said Democratic Registrar Maureen Flynn. Nathan Hale, Casimir Pulaski, Thomas Hooker and Platt schools are no longer polling locations, neither is Calvary Baptist Church, Flynn said.

Flynn provided Patch with the full list below. The numbers correspond with their precincts:

1. Immanuel Lutheran Church, 164 Hanover St.
2. Community Towers, 55 Willow St.
3. John Barry School, 124 Columbia St.
4. St. Rose Community Ctr, 34 Center St.
5. Meriden Fire Department, 260 Sherman Ave.
6. Washington Middle School, 1225 North Broad St.
7. Meriden Fire Department, 168 Chamberlain Highway
8. New Life Church, 262 Bee St.
9. Maloney High School, 121 Gravel St.
10. St. John’s Lutheran Church, 520 Paddock Ave.
11. Israel Putnam School, 133 Parker Ave.
12. Hanover School, 208 Main St.
13. Lincoln Middle School, 164 Centennial Ave.

If you need to find your location, the city has a very handy search mechanism on its website. All you have to do is look up your address and the site will tell you which precinct you belong in.

Also, we've attached a map of the whole precinct breakdown to this article.

All Connecticut residents, either Republicans or Democrats, who vote in Tuesday's primary will choose between two candidates each in their respective parties for the open U.S. Senate race.

This is the seat currently held by U.S. Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, a former Democrat-turned-Independent who is retiring. 

Democrats

• , current congressman from the Fifth District, the party's endorsed candidate and a Cheshire resident.

• Susan Bysiewicz, former Secretary of the State and Middletown resident.

Republicans

• Linda E. McMahon, a former CEO Of WWE, the party's endorsed candidate and Greenwich resident.

• , former congressman from the 4th Congressional District in Fairfield County and a resident of Bridgeport.

The Fifth Congressional District race is one of the hottest political contests in Connecticut in 2012. It’s the only race this year with an open seat, because the current representative, Chris Murphy, is running for the open Senate seat.

The ballot is made up of seven candidates — four Republicans and three Democrats.

Republicans

• , a Torrington attorney and state senator from Goshen who gained the state GOP’s endorsement during its convention this summer.

• Lisa Wilson-Foley, a Simsbury resident who has been involved in the healthcare business in the Farmington Valley.

• Justin Bernier, a Farmington resident, former U.S. Navy veteran and executive director of the Office of Military Affairs under former Gov. Jodi M. Rell.

• Mark Greenberg, a Litchfield businessman and owner of a non-profit animal rescue shelter.

Democrats

• Chris Donovan, of Meriden, the former House Speaker in the state's General Assembly, working families advocate and the Democratic Party’s endorsed candidate.

• Elizabeth Esty, an attorney, former Cheshire Town Council member and state representative.

• Dan Roberti, of Kent, a former public relations executive and activist.

The candidates will all rendevouz with their campaign staffs during Tuesday evening at hotels, restaurants and other venues, to watch as the vote returns from the primary are called in.

These campaign gatherings happen around the time the polls close, at 8 p.m., and supporters and local reporters will likely show up too.

Here’s a breakdown on where each candidate is expected to be after the votes are called in:

U.S. Senate

• Murphy Campaign: Omni Hotel, 155 Temple St., New Haven
• Bysiewicz Campaign: Mattabesett Canoe Club, 80 Harbor Drive, Middletown (Bysiewicz expected to address supporters at 8:30 p.m.)
• McMahon Campaign: Hilton Stamford Hotel, 1 Stamford Place, Stamford
• Shays Campaign: Campaign Headquarters, 2013 Main St., Stratford

5th District

• Roraback Campaign: BackStage Restaurant, 84 Main St., Torrington
• Wilson-Foley Campaign: Matthew’s Restaurant, 55 Mill St., Farmington
• Bernier Campaign: J. Timothy Restaurant, 143 New Britain Ave., Plainville
• Greenberg Campaign: Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1284 Strongtown Road, Southbury
• Donovan Campaign: Augusta Curtis Culture Center, 175 East Main St., Meriden
• Esty Campaign: CoCo Key Hotel, 3580 East Main St., Waterbury
• Roberti Campaign: Campaign Headquarters, 195 Grand St., Waterbury