Republicans Win Top Ballot Billing in Court

Mitt Romney, Linda McMahon and other Republicans will get top billing on the ballots in Connecticut after the state Supreme Court ruled in favor of Republicans, according to the Associated Press.

Republicans sued for the placement because although Gov. Dannel P. Malloy beat Republican Tom Foley in 2010, the governor’s votes were split between the Working Families Party and Democrats. State law says that the party with the most votes gets top billing in the next election, and the Republicans had 20,000 more votes than Democrats due to the two-party split.

In the past, all you would have to do is look to the party of the sitting governor to know which party would receive top billing on the ballot.

Secretary of State Denise Merrill, a Democrat, fought against the Republican request for top billing. According to the Associated Press, she said she “‘interpreted the statute in good faith and with due diligence.”

This decision trickles all the way down to the local town clerk's office. Clinton Town Clerk Karen Marsden was waiting to hear the decision before she could submit the finalized ballot to the printer.

For Clinton voters, the ballot will also include two questions regarding proposed changes to the town charter.

Do you think having top billing on the ballot makes a difference to the voter when they vote?