#MIDDLEBURY
A visit to the polls at Shepardson Community Center this morning shortly after 8 a.m. left this reporter with the impression there is not much interest in the presidential primary. At the entrance to the parking area were two yard signs for Ted Cruz and one for a Republican contender for Democratic Rep. Elizabeth Esty’s seat in Congress, Clay Cope. Cope also had a sign by the exit to the parking area.
That was it. There were no signs for any of the other presidential candidates.
Downstairs, in District 1, a total of 138 votes had been cast. Upstairs, in District 2, a total of 70 votes had been cast.
Upstairs, we saw one potential voter turned away — Donna Capalbo. It turned out Capalbo, who registered to vote 30 years ago when she became voting age, was registered as unaffiliated. Since Connecticut holds closed primary elections, only those registered as Democrats or Republicans can vote today.
“I’m disappointed I couldn’t vote,” Capalbo said. “How do you know that?”
