Three weeks after the closing of Connecticut polls, the results of the 2024 general election have been conclusively certified by the Office of the Secretary of the State, according to a Nov. 27 press release.
Per the official statement, “Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, Treasurer Erick Russell, and Comptroller Sean Scanlon signed the Board of Canvassers Documents for the 2024 election, formally certifying the winners in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes sections 9-315 and 9-319.”
The certification follows a post-election period of contested outcomes, including calls for a recount in the University of Connecticut’s home senate district by Republican candidate Chris Reddy and the completion of recount efforts for House and Senate races in Torrington, Conn..
With the formal statement from the Secretary of State, the ballot totals of these races are officially in the books. Speaking on the significance of this moment, State Treasurer Erick Russell said, “The certifying of election results is an essential act of accountability and democracy. Trust in the electoral process is the underpinning for how we shape our shared values and all of the work we undertake as one state, in service of the common good. To build the community we want, we need everyone to participate, and that can’t happen without faith in the process.”
Alongside Russell, State Comptroller Sean Scanlon shared his view of the certification as a fundamental step in guaranteeing a fair and democratic process. “A founding principle of our democracy is certifying the will of voters regardless of which party wins,” said Scanlon. “I am honored to participate in that process today, and I am grateful to the hardworking public servants and volunteers who helped ensure the safety, fairness, and transparency of our democratic process in Connecticut and all those who came out to make their voices heard.”
Secretary Thomas further emphasized the certification as a critical step in confirming CT ballots. “Although the election ended for most voters on November 5th, this certification is another step in the process of finalizing an election,” said Thomas. “I am grateful to the registrars, town clerks, polling place workers and those that played an important role in ensuring a fair, transparent and secure 2024 election.”
Voter turnout in the 2024 election surpassed 76% in the state, beating the national average of 64%, according to U.S. News and World Reports. Compared to the 2020 election cycle, which featured the highest national voter turnout since 1968, the number of Connecticut voters declined four points from a previous total of 80%.
The recent election was the first to feature a two-week early voting period, mandated by Connecticut House Bill 5004 passed in May 2023. According to Thomas, the additional procedures made tallying election results more time-intensive than in years past.
“This year’s results appeared to come in slowly and can be attributed to several factors including: Over 740,000 Early Voting Ballots and over 122,000 Absentee Ballots could not be opened until election day. Those ballots must be fed one-by-one through the tabulator to be counted,” read the Nov. 8 statement. “Limited equipment and long Same Day Registration lines on Tuesday evening also played a rol[e]; Registrars must manually input three types of data, and this takes time: election results, voter statistics, and ballot question results.”
Per the Nov. 27 release, the Secretary of State’s 2024 Statement of Vote detailing the ballot numbers in each race is set to be released before the end of the year.