Secretary of the State Denise Merrill wants to overhaul Connecticut's localized election system, having one professional registrar oversee elections in each city and town.Under the Democrat's proposed legislation, the current system of locally elected, partisan registrars of voters would be scrapped. They'd be replaced by a municipal employee who meets certain qualifications.
While most registrars work hard and do a good job, Merrill says recent problems at the polls prove the system needs to be modernized and professionalized.
Melissa Russell, president of the Registrars of Voters Association of Connecticut, has said she's worried polling problems in Hartford have tainted people's opinions of all registrar. In a statement, her association called it vital to preserve the current, two-party elected registrar system and maintain checks and balances.
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