The Polls on Election Day in Essex, Deep River and Chester; They Close at 8:00 p.m.

November 6, 2012  By admin

The early morning rush had just ended, but there was still a steady stream of voters coming into the polling stations of Essex, Deep River and Chester. By and large it looked like a large turnout of voters in the three towns.

In Essex the largest polling station in town is at Essex Town Hall. Although campaign supporters are not permitted to get too close to the Town Hall entrance door, they are permitted to hold their campaign signs at the entrance of the Town Hall parking lot.

State Representative Phil Miller at Essex Town Hall parking lot

State Representative Phil Miller of the 36th House district was personally on hand, as were sign carrying supporters of State Senate candidates in the 33rd Senate district, specifically, Democratic candidate James Crawford and Green Party candidate Melissa Schlag.

Also, in the parking lot, just after they both had voted, were the Republican 36th House district candidate, Vin Pacileo, and his wife, Laura. Neither Miller nor Pacileo made an outright prediction that they were going to win the race, though Miller said that he was “cautiously optimistic.”

Republican State Representative challenger Vin Pacileo and his wife, Laura

Up in Deep River at the polling place just behind the Deep River Library, there was also a steady stream of voters.  Working alone at the very entrance of the parking lot was local Deep River architect, John Kennedy. Kennedy is an avid supporter of Melissa Schlag, the 33rd Senate district candidate on the Green Party Line, as his decorated van illustrated.

“Melissa Schlag for State Senate” supporter, John Kennedy in Deep River

Although fervent in his support for Schlag, Kennedy hesitated to make a prediction that her victory was a “shoe in.”

Next stop, going up the west bank of the Connecticut River is the Town of Chester. By far the busiest voting station in Chester is at the Town Hall. A steady stream of voters was entering Town Hall from the parking lot to cast their ballots late in the morning.

On hand to great voters at the very entrance of the parking lot were two Democratic stalwarts, Peter Zamarei and Larry DiBernardo. Both said that the polls had been very busy throughout the morning. However, as Zamarei pointed out, “Voting is a very personal thing,” and he felt that people do not talk a lot about who they voted for.

Democratic Party supporters, Peter Zanarei and Larry DiBernardo in Chester

Also, DiBernado said that there had been no arguments at the polls. “It is too late to argue,” was the way he put it.  The campaign signs beside the two campaigners mentioned the entire Democratic ticket, including the re-election campaign of President Barack Obama.

Obama re-election signs were not evident at either the Essex or Deep River polling stations mentioned above.