[Update] Election Day 2012: Voter Turnout Strong in Simsbury

[Updated] Nov. 6 at 3:30 p.m.

The latest count by the Simsbury Registrar of Voters is 7,790 or approximately 48 percent of Simsbury's 16,351 registered voters at Simsbury's four poll locations at 1:30 p.m.

[Updated] Nov. 6 at 2:30 p.m.

The Tariffville District 4 poll has had over 50 percent turnout today. Poll workers are expecting a final push around 6 p.m.

[Updated] Nov. 6 at 2 p.m.

Simsbury's District 1 polling location is reporting more than 50 percent of that district's registered voters have already cast their ballots. At 2 p.m. more than 2,500 votes had been cast as a steady stream of people made their way into Henry James Memorial School.

Selectman Sean Askham said he hopes to see at least an 80 percent turnout in Simsbury today.

[Updated] Nov. 6 at 12 p.m.

The polls have been busy the first half of Election Day 2012 as nearly 40 percent of registered Simsbury voters have already cast their votes.

"The count is high," Simsbury's Democratic Registrar of Voters Karen Cortes said.

At 12 p.m. poll officials reported approximately 6,200 votes. The number of votes cast does not take into account the votes cast by absentee ballot.

[Updated] Nov. 6 at 10 a.m.

Simsbury voters were at the polls early this morning at the start of Election Day 2012.

"It was a blast of energy and votes early on this morning," Dane Woodberry, moderator for the District 2 poll said. "It's mellowed out since then."

If the 2012 Election is anything like the last presidential election, Woodberry said he expects a great turnout of the town's registered voters.

"Last time the whole town had an excellent turnout," Woodberry said.

Republican candidate for 16th District State Representative Charity Folk was outside the District 2 poll greeting voters as they entered Latimer Lane School to cast their votes.

Both Folk and John Hampton, the Democratic candidate for the 16th District, paid a visit to the District 4 poll when voting began at 6 a.m. Folk said both candidates agreed that they ran honest, clean campaigns.

"We ran a good race, it was fair," Folk said. "No matter who wins we'll still be working together," Folk said.

Folk's campaign will meet at the Iron Frog Tavern once the polls close to wait for the results. The Hampton campaign team will meet at the Old Well Tavern. Patch has not confirmed where independent candidate Robert Kalechman will be while waiting for results.

[Original story posted Nov. 6 at 5:00 a.m.]

Good morning, and welcome to Election Day 2012!

Today, Simsbury residents go to the polls to choose a president, a U.S. Senator, a U.S. Representative from the 5th District, a state Senator from the 8th District and a state Representative from the 16th District.

See below for information on where to go to cast your ballot and the list of candidates. We've also included how Simsbury voted in 2008, the year of the last presidential election, and in 2010, the last mid-term election.

Read it over, then visit your local polling station between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. to make your voice heard! And be sure to check back with Patch for updates throughout the day, including the announcement of the winners as soon as votes are tallied.

Candidate information and a copy of the Simsbury ballot can be found here.

Simsbury Polling Stations

• District #1: Henry James Memorial School
• District #2: Latimer Lane School
• District #3: Tootin Hills School
• District #4: Tariffville School

How Simsbury Voted in 2008 (88% Turnout)*

(D=Democrat; R=Republican; G=Green; I=Independent; WF=Working Families; CL=Connecticut for Lieberman)

*Results according to the Connecticut Secretary of the State's office.

PRESIDENT

• Obama-Biden (D) — 7,964 votes
• McCain-Palin (R) — 5,928 votes

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 5th DISTRICT

• Chris Murphy (D) — 7,264 votes
• David Cappiello (R) — 5,362 votes

8th SENATE DISTRICT

• Arthur House (D) — 6,242 votes (399 Working Families votes)
• Kevin Witkos (R) — 6,566 votes

16th ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

• Linda Schofield (D) — 7,607
• Robert Heagney (R) — 5,477

How Simsbury Voted in 2010 (73% Turnout)

(D=Democrat; R=Republican; G=Green; I=Independent; WF=Working Families; CL=Connecticut for Lieberman; SA=Socialist Action)

U.S. SENATE

• Richard Blumenthal (D) — 5,250 votes
• Linda McMahon (R) — 5,556 votes

U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 5th DISTRICT

• Chris Murphy (D) — 5696 votes (146 Work Families votes)
• Sam Caligiuri (R) — 5149 votes (82 Independent votes)

8th SENATE DISTRICT

• Donald O'Brien (D) — 3,753 votes (143 Working Families votes)
• Kevin Witkos (R) — 6,882 votes

16th ASSEMBLY DISTRICT

• Linda Schofield (D) — 6,585 votes
• Gregory Piecuch (R) — 4,381 votes

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