McGee Files Complaint, Seeks Hearing on Primary Results

One week after a recount of votes cast in the August 14 Democratic primary for state representative in the fifth assembly district (Windsor, Hartford), candidate Brandon McGee has filed a complaint in superior court.

According to McGee, the complaint filed alleges the election's outcome was affected by improper actions on behalf of elections staff in both Windsor and Hartford.

Following a recanvass of votes cast in both towns, , beating McGee by just one vote. Windsor Mayor Don Trinks finished in third place.

According to a statement released by McGee, the complaint filed in court alleges election officials:

• "improperly allowed absentee ballots to be counted that were not counted by tabulation on primary Election Day or during the recanvass;
• "improperly allowed absentee ballots to comingle, allowing for an improper count;
• "and lost a ballot that was cast in McGee’s favor in Windsor’s John F. Kennedy voting district."

The complaint says the actions specified are in violation of state statues, and requests a court hearing be held.

While alleging improper actions were taken by election officials, McGee was explicit in saying, "...nowhere in this action is my campaign alleging any wrongdoing by either Mr. Canty or Mayor Trinks."

"I want to ensure that those who exercised their right were not deprived of their voice, and that the will of the people is ascertained without question of process," he added.

In detailing the recanvass, the complaint, according to McGee, names Hartford Democratic Registrar of Voters Olga Iris Vazquez, Hartford Town and City Clerk John Bazzano, Windsor Democratic Registrar of Voters Anita Mips, Windsor Town Clerk Agnes Pier, Secretary of State Denise Merrill, the state elections enforcement committee, and fifth assembly district candidates Canty and Trinks.

Canty was declared the official winner of the primary and Democratic nominee by the secretary of state's office following the recanvass.

Prior to the completion of the recanvass, McGee described the primary as "a roller coaster ride from the very beginning."

As Windsor Town Hall closed its doors on Primary Night, McGee and Canty were briefly under the impression that the Hartford candidate was ahead by one vote, only to learn hours later that unofficial results showed a tie at 774 votes received. Following the recount in Windsor, Canty found himself up by one — a lead that was maintained throughout the Hartford recanvass and eventually verified by the secretary of state.

*This article has been amended to avoid the inference that either unofficial or official results showed a victory for McGee on Primary Day. A previous version of this article read, "Between Primary Day and the announcement of recanvass results in Hartford one week later, election results had McGee ahead of Canty by one, both candidates tied at 774 votes received, and then Canty ahead by one vote.