'Provide An Easier Voter Experience': Westport Registrar Discusses Move To 1 Polling Site

WESTPORT, CT — Westport is shifting from using five polling sites for elections to one site, beginning with the Connecticut primary on Aug. 11.

All election voting in Westport will be conducted at Bedford Middle School at 88 North Ave., next to Staples High School. In past years, ballots were cast at Saugatuck Elementary School, Greens Farms Elementary School, Long Lots School, Coleytown Middle School and the Westport Library.

Maria Signore, Westport's Republican Registrar of Voters, tells Patch that the decision to consolidate the polling sites into one location was partly born out of convenience.

"The reason why we made the decision to consolidate, was to provide an easier voter experience," Signore said. "Being in one place makes it easier to find the correct polling district. It also provides better parking and lighting for early or late hours."

By utilizing one polling site instead of five will also help with security. "We would be able to provide police at one polling place, if necessary," she said.

Additionally, voting patterns have changed, in part due to the pandemic six years ago.

"This is the first election with no excuse absentee balloting," Signore told Patch. "In the past, we have had approximately 50 percent of people using either early voting or by absentee. If no excuse absentee voting performs according to plan, there will be less voters on election day."

With fewer voters at the polls, fewer workers at the Bedford Middle School polling site will be needed.

"We will reduce our election day staff from approximately 56 to approximately 26," Signore said.

Primary Day in Connecticut in 2026 is Aug. 11, and Election Day is scheduled for Nov. 3.

For more information on Westport's elections, click here.