TO PARTY OR NOT TO PARTY…that’s just one of the questions
In 1947, my father returned as a twenty-one year old WWII veteran, to live with his aging grandparents here in Hampton. As a Roosevelt and Truman devotee, he felt strongly about participating in democracy. Meeting with then registrar and neighbor, Vera Jewett Hoffman, he completed his card to register as a Democrat.  As he told it, Vera clucked her tongue at him disapprovingly, with “no, Junior, I’m sorry, I just can’t do this. I can’t believe that your (Republican) grandfather would approve.” And sent him home without completing his registration.   Returning shortly, with grandfather, William C. “Ba” Oliver in tow, he was able to register and then vote, as Ba reminded Vera, “any damn way he likes.”

Voter registration has come a long way since then, even more so, since I first swore an oath with Town Clerk, Peggy Fox back in 1981. While voter registration is still offered in paper format at a Registrar’s office in Town Halls, most is now done online, from home computers, State or Government agencies such as the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Information is then collated electronically for identity corroboration with DMV, and forwarded to the Connecticut Voter Registration System (CVRS). Both the paper and electronic formats are entered and accepted by the local registrars in CVRS. However, all registration cards, whether submitted by hand or electronically, are printed and stored in the registrars’ office. This includes changes in address, name, or party changes. The date that the registrar accepts the application is the day the voter is eligible to vote.

Political Parties are not just your parents’ parties anymore. Independents are truly part of the Independent Party; you can be an unaffiliated voter or register with the Green, Libertarian, or Working Families Party. But, if you want to participate in a Primary, it’s still the two-party system (Democratic/Republican) in Connecticut, a closed-primary state. At the August primary, some found this a challenge, having previously voted in states with open primaries. With an explanation of our State’s system, most chose one or the other for the next primary cycle.

Town Committees are local political organizations affiliated with each State Party. They have their own rules, and elect members every two years. To participate and vote within a committee and/or caucus (election event to endorse candidates for office), members of the committee and participating member at the caucus must be registered to vote with that specific party.

Mugwump is a wonderfully archaic designation for those who change their party on one or more occasions. From the Native Algonquin, it was originally used to describe a “boss or bigwig”. Later, the implications meant someone who “sat on the fence” about a candidate or issue, with “his mug on one side and his wump on the other.”

This past winter, an individual who participates on several boards, changed voter registration from one major party to another. This voter was then recommended to the “new” party’s Town Committee as an eligible member, and, while not in attendance, was voted in at their caucus. However, to be eligible to participate and vote in the new party takes a 90-day waiting period (unaffiliated voters may apply and be eligible the next day).

For all elections, including a caucus, it is required to provide an enrollment checklist of eligible voters. In this particular caucus, the only attendees were party members of the Town Committee. Recognizing such, the caucus chair chose to bypass the use of the checklist (which would have verified the nominated slate as eligible party members) and asked for a vote by acclamation. New members, new committee. All set? Well…not exactly.

Minority political party representation is provided for by State statute regarding limits on party affiliation in board and commission membership. In this recent situation, the change was from one major party to another. While a member does not have to leave a board if their change of affiliation affects the balance of the membership, when a subsequent vacancy occurs the member’s new affiliation is taken into consideration for naming a replacement.  Specifically, the required minority representation had been absent since January, creating a divisive issue when the board’s vacancy needed to be filled in June.

With some elected exceptions, most of our Board and Commission members are volunteers. Some are professionals, some not. We are none of us, perfect. Our small communities in this currently divided republic are gifted with the persistent experiment that we call democracy. When we make mistakes, let’s be open and own them. Part of living in a small town requires trust and the ability to relate to each other (we don’t even have to like each other). We may or may not be mugwumps; we don’t have to share a fence. Maybe share an opinion, or perhaps a kind word. That could work, at least for now.

Mary Louise Oliver