West Hartford led the state in early voting for the 2026 general election, and turnout was steady at the polls throughout Election Day. [Updated, 5:20 p.m.]

By Ronni Newton

Updated, 5:20 p.m.

The Registrar of Voters Office provided updated turnout results as of 4 p.m., indicating that 10,205 people had cast their votes on Election Day at polling places throughout West Hartford.

The total number of votes cast as of 4 p.m., including early voters, those who returned absentee ballots by Monday night, and same day registrants, was 22,311. Turnout as of 4 p.m. was 53.96%.

Gov. Ned Lamont, who is being challenged by Republican Ryan Fazio in this year’s election, was visiting polling places throughout the state on Election Day, and made Bristow Middle School in West Hartford his last stop. He was joined there by U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, local candidates for state representative Tiffani McGinnis, Kate Farrar, and Olaleye Onikuyide, as well as members of the Democratic Town Committee and other supporters.

“I just love the fact that there’s a big turnout,” Lamont said. “People are really paying attention. I kind of like the fact that a lot of Democrats are turning out but even more I love the fact that people are turning out because they know their vote matters.” Affordability is a top issue with voters, he said, and electric rates have been brought down and health care costs are his next priority, Lamont said.

“We’re all feeling good,” Blumenthal said about the national picture. “Because people are really angry, not just about the cost of living going out of sight but corruption.”

Original story

More than 10,000 West Hartford voters cast their ballots during the two-week early voting period for the 2026 general election, but as of noon on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, another 6,265 had voted at one of 10 regular polling places throughout town according to Registrars of Voters Beth Kyle and Elizabeth Rousseau.

In addition, as of noon there were 55 residents who voted through the “Same Day Registration” option at Town Hall, according to the moderator. As of Monday evening, 1,694 absentee ballots had also been returned.

Information provided by the registrars indicated that of the 41,125 West Hartford voters, 44.38% had cast a ballot by noon on Election Day. Just over 25% of voters had used the early voting option.

There were no reported issues with tabulators at any of the polling places, or other problems reported with the voting process.

Carole Mulready, head moderator at Conard High School, told We-Ha.com on Tuesday morning that there were 10-12 people waiting in line when the polls opened at 6 a.m., and after that the pace was steady. Voting at Conard is held in the cafeteria, which is accessed off Berkshire Road rather than through the school’s main entrance on Beechwood Road, and Mulready said there was initially a bit of confusion with an electronic sign that said “vote here” on Beechwood Road, but it had been corrected by 8:30 a.m.

Check back with We-Ha.com for further updates, and final results as soon as they are tabulated.

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