{news} Sec of State urges YOU to become a Democrat! "Affilate and Participate!" Theme!!!

[Green Party-CT]

                     http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/state/hc-11154824.apds.m0515.bc-ct--votejul11,0,6523671.story?coll=hc-headlines-local-wire 
  Parties, officials urging unaffiliated voters to choose                 Associated Press

July 11, 2006

HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Secretary of the State's office is teaming up with Democrats and Republicans to urge Connecticut's unaffiliated voters - the largest voting block - to pick a party.

The upcoming Aug. 8 primary is too important for voters to miss, Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz said Tuesday.

"This is a very fundamental right we all have as Americans, the right to choose our leaders," Bysiewicz said at a state Capitol news conference.

As many as 15 primaries are scheduled throughout the state, including Democratic primaries for the U.S. Senate and governor. There is also a Republican primary for the 1st Congressional District and a dozen primaries for state House and Senate seats.

Unaffiliated voters, as well unregistered voters, have until Aug. 7 at noon to register in person with a political party. They need to visit their local town or city halls. Bysiewicz said voters can switch back to being unaffiliated after the primary.

About 900,000, or 49 percent, of the state's voters are unaffiliated. They're the largest block, followed by Democrats and then Republicans.

Some local registrars of voters said that this year they've seen a larger-than-usual number of unaffiliated voters ask to switch to a political party, typically the Democratic Party.

George Cody, the Democratic registrar in New Canaan, said some Republicans have asked to change their affiliation to vote in the primary. But it's too late. The deadline to change from Democrat to Republican or Republican to Democrat was in May.

Judith Beaudreau, the Democratic registrar in Vernon, said she heard some unaffiliated voters saying they wanted to become Democrats to vote in the primary between U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman and challenger Ned Lamont.

The Senate battle has attracted national attention as Lamont gains ground in public opinion polls. Lieberman, who is popular among unaffiliated and Republican voters in Connecticut, plans to begin collecting signatures to secure a spot on the November ballot should he lose the Democratic primary.

Lieberman plans to run under a new party called Connecticut for Lieberman.

Meanwhile, Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy, who won the Democratic nomination at the recent party convention, is vying against New Haven Mayor John DeStefano on Aug. 8. Both hope to challenge Republican Gov. M. Jodi Rell in November.

  Copyright © 2006, The Associated Press 
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