Recount Confirms Tie Vote in Killingworth Republican Board of Finance Primary

Secretary of the State Denise Merrill today notified the Republican  Registrar of Voters and the Town Clerk of Killingworth that according to state election laws an adjourned primary is to take place on Tuesday October 1, 2013 between Republican candidates David Denvir and Robert Rioja, who each received 236 votes in the September 10th primary for Board of Finance.  The tie-vote was confirmed by a mandated automatic recount of primary results in Killingworth.  Denvir and Rioja were two of four candidates running for a total of three available seats on the Board of Finance.  Two other candidates in the primary each received more votes and will advance to the general election on November 5, 2013. 

“Tie votes are rare but they do happen,” said Secretary Merrill, Connecticut’s chief elections official.  “According to our state laws, the adjourned tie-breaker primary in Killingworth will take place Tuesday October 1st to determine the third winner in the Board of Finance primary in Killingworth, who will go onto the ballot for the November 5th municipal election. This should serve as a good reminder why it is so important that everyone who is eligible cast a ballot – since every vote truly does count and just one vote can make a big difference!”

According to Connecticut general statutes 9-446, an adjourned primary will be held between the two tied candidates three weeks after the municipal primary, which falls on Tuesday October 1, 2013.  Only the names of the tied candidates will be on the ballot for the adjourned primary, which will be open to Republican voters in Killingworth who were registered to vote in the primary.  Any new Republican voters who have registered after 12:00 p.m. on Monday September 9, 2013 will not be eligible to vote in the adjourned primary.