State rep. vote ends in tie twice

WINDSOR, Conn. (WTNH) -- It's been seven long weeks since Primary Day and one State Rep. nomination has now been settled.

Update:
McGee won by a vote of 1,095 to 942, unofficially, following the second re-vote.

Democratic voters in Windsor and Hartford's North End are voting again because the primary election ended in a tie, twice!

"I forgot today was election day," one voter said, "just happened to see the sign and I said, 'let me come and give my support,' because I'm a Democrat."

"You going to help us win as State Rep," asked Leo Canty.

"Definitely," the voter said.

When voting concluded in the August 14th Democratic primary 60-year-old Canty, a longtime labor leader and political activist was tied with one of his opponents.

"What's up, you vote," asked Brandon McGeee.

"I came to vote," a voter said laughing.

Tied with 28-year-old McGee, a political newcomer in this district that includes a slice of Hartford's North End and a large section of Windsor. The first recount showed McGee down by one vote. He took it to court and a second recount ended in another tie: 774 votes each.

The last time that happened was in a State Rep. race in New London in 2006, and it was settled by a coin toss. Since then the law has been changed.

Now if the tied candidates agree it goes back to the voters for a re-vote which was deemed a better path for Democracy than the toss of a coin.

However, most of the people News 8 spoke with Tuesday said this should have happened weeks ago without the need of a court case.

"I don't think they should have had to go to court," said Yvonne Francis, of Windsor, "I think they should have just said; 'okay, let's just re-vote' and do it."

"Well I think it was handled right," said Julie Fewster, of Windsor, "I just think every vote counts."

"Once they noticed they had a problem the first time around, they should have just done the re-vote right away," said Windsor resident Michael Spagnoli.

Only Democrats that were registered on August 14th can vote Tuesday in this special-special re-vote primary for the State Rep. nomination.