Labriola, McKinney, Cafero Make GOP Appeal for Top Line of the Ballot

State Senate Republican Leader John McKinney (R-Fairfield), State House Republican Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr. (R-Norwalk) and Connecticut Republican Party Chaiman Jerry Labriola today issued a formal challenge to the ordering of candidates on state ballots for the November election.

In a letter to the Secretary of State, the Republican leaders charge that Connecticut General Statutes were not followed in the 2011 municipal elections when the Democratic Party was listed first on all ballots. That’s because state law, Connecticut General Statute 9-249a, dictates the following:

(a) The names of the parties shall be arranged on the machines in the following order:

(1) The party whose candidate for Governor polled the highest number of votes in the last preceding election;

(2) Other parties who had candidates for Governor in the last preceding election, in descending order, according to the number of votes polled for each such candidate…

According to the Secretary of State, in the 2010 election for Governor, the parties’ candidates polled as follows:

Republican: Tom Foley 560,874 votes
Democrat: Dannel Malloy 540,970 votes
Working Families Party: Dannel Malloy 26,308 votes.

As a result, the Republican leaders say their party’s candidates should have been on the top of the ticket in 2011 and they should be on the top of the ticket now. They are requesting a written confirmation from the Office of the Secretary of State that it will abide by Connecticut law for the 2012 elections and list the Republican Party’s candidates first.

Chairman Labriola said, “I have had a good working relationship with the Secretary of the State and I know she cares deeply about the integrity of our elections. In light of the facts and arguments we have presented, I am confident she will make the right decision and follow state law.”

“The Republican Party line for governor garnered more votes than any other party line in 2010. Under Connecticut law, our candidates for state and federal office deserve the top-line designation on this year’s ballot. The Republican Party has earned that,” said Senator McKinney.

Representative Cafero said, “We believe we have a solid case to make that Republican candidates for office this fall should be placed first based on the results of the 2010 gubernatorial election. We have case law to support our position.’’