And The Envelope Please ...

The town’s registrars of voters and their staff could very easily do their version of the Oscar Awards emcee line: “And the envelope please…”

In fact, all municipalities around the state are doing that … Not only are they pushing the envelope to voters, but they’re eagerly awaiting voters to push back the envelope.

For the past week – and until May 1 – the Greenwich Registrar of Voters office is a pretty busy place. So far, about 1,400 of the nearly 35,000 registered voters have pushed the envelope back by mailing signed voter registration papers.

“We are required by law to do an annual canvass,” explained Sharon Vecchiolla, the Democrat Registrar of Voters.

Vecchiolla says each municipality can decide how to conduct their canvass – some use postcards, others like Greenwich prefer a bi-lingual letter with a pre-printed, postage paid return envelope.  The federal government requires both English and Spanish language questionnaires that seek to verify a voter’s name, address, telephone number and birth date.

Given the volume of mail, Vecchiolla, Republican Registrar of Voters Fred Decaro, and their staff – Lynn Giacomo and Ruby Durant – use automated machines to stuff and seal the envelopes and then to open them when returned.

Each is then manually categorized – no changes; a name change; address change; undeliverable; deceased, so that computerized records can then be updated.

“We are keepers of the book,” Vecchiolla said. Voters who do not comply with the canvass cannot be denied their right to vote, but they may face a delay, especially if they moved to a different voting district within town.

The registrars hope to surpass last year’s total of 23,825 returned registrations. For each one not returned, the staff must try to make contact with second mailings, and checking other records for updated addresses.

After that’s all done, then Vecchiolla said preparations begin for the election season which this year will feature all local offices. If there is to be a primary challenge in either party, it will be held Sept.13, Vecchiolla said.

For the record, there are 8,858 registered Democrats; 13,192 Republicans; 12,306 unaffiliated; and 322 registered to other parties.

If voters haven't received a canvass notice or a resident would like to register to vote, log on to http://www.greenwichct.org/VoterRegistration/VoterRegistration.asp; call Vecchiolla at (203) 622-7889 or Decaro at (203) 622-7890; or visit the Registrars' Office on the first floor of Town Hall.