Record Early Voting and Tight Races Define 2025 Election Night
Connecticut’s 2025 municipal elections delivered a night of high drama, unexpected twists, and record-breaking early voter turnout. From Bridgeport’s contentious mayoral battle to technical hiccups in small towns, the state’s 169 municipalities saw democracy in action—sometimes messily, but always passionately.
Early Voting Surge Changes the Game
For the first time, Connecticut allowed early in-person voting, and voters responded in droves. According to Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, more than
740,000 people cast ballots early, with towns like Norwalk, West Hartford, and Stamford each seeing over 17,000 early voters. In Burlington, over half of the town’s 7,645 registered voters participated before Election Day, a trend mirrored in a dozen other towns.
This surge in early and absentee voting—totaling over 850,000 ballots statewide—meant that
33% of registered voters had already participated before polls closed, with
29.2% voting early and
4.3% by absentee. The heavy use of these options led to delays in posting results, as ballots could not be opened and counted until Election Day morning.
Town-by-Town Results: Key Races and Local Drama
Bridgeport: Mayoral Showdown Grabs Headlines
Bridgeport, Connecticut’s largest city, was the epicenter of election night suspense. With only
27% of precincts reporting, challenger John Gomes led incumbent Democratic Mayor Joe Ganim
44% to
39%—but the outcome remained uncertain as the city awaited the count of controversial absentee ballots. The race was already under a cloud of legal scrutiny, with court battles over ballot security and allegations of irregularities.
East Hartford: Unofficial Results Released
East Hartford posted its
unofficial municipal election results online, reflecting the trend of towns moving quickly to share preliminary numbers with residents. However, as with all Connecticut municipalities, these results remain unofficial until certified by local registrars and the Secretary of the State’s office.
North Stonington: Ballot Envelope Confusion
In North Stonington, hundreds of early ballots were at risk of being invalidated due to unsigned envelopes—a mistake traced to incorrect instructions from local registrars. As many as 1,144 ballot envelopes were potentially affected, forcing some voters to return to the polls to ensure their votes counted. The final impact on local races remains unclear as officials work to resolve the issue.
Delays and Certification: When Will Results Be Final?
Connecticut’s decentralized election system means each town manages its own count. Local registrars must enter initial results into the state’s Election Management System by midnight on Election Night, but corrections and recounts can continue through Friday. Final, certified results are due to the Secretary of the State’s office by Tuesday, November 12.
The heavy volume of early and absentee ballots, combined with technical and procedural hiccups in some towns, means that
many races remain too close to call. Voters and candidates alike are bracing for possible recounts and late-night drama as the final numbers trickle in.
What’s Next for Connecticut Voters?
- Expect
official, certified results by November 12.
- Watch for recounts in towns with razor-thin margins or ballot irregularities.
- The success of early voting may shape future elections, with officials already discussing improvements for 2026.
Connecticut’s 2025 elections proved that even in a small state, local democracy can deliver big surprises—and that every vote, whether cast early or on Election Day, truly matters.
Sources
1. Here are the results to the key Election Day 2025 races around Connecticut
2. CT election day: Scenes from polls statewide as voters cast ballots
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6. Priscilla Anne Hoste1
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