Connecticut voters faced a 75-foot rule and a mistaken date on Election Day

Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas said election day proceeded smoothly across the state, despite a viral social media error and a death at one polling location.

The confusion began when the New Haven FBI office posted that voting would take place on Wednesday. Thomas said her team contacted the mayor's office and local press to correct the record. "We were all able to respond and talk to the mayor's office, get out our own social media posts, and reach out to the New Haven press, so that hopefully, if any members of the public were confused, we could counter that," Thomas said.

A separate incident occurred in Killingly, where a person died at a polling site on Monday night. Law enforcement began an investigation, but the site opened for voting on Tuesday anyway. Thomas said the state relied on long-standing partnerships with local officials to handle the situation.

Federal election monitors were present in New Haven, though Thomas said their role is limited by state law. She noted that only three monitors were reported on site as of Tuesday morning. "I'm only aware of three people being here so far, and they are relegated like any other member of the public to stay outside the 75-foot rule, and they can ask voters questions as they exit, but no one is compelled to talk to them," she said.

Thomas addressed reporters from the state armory at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday. She told voters not to worry, adding that the state would keep the process safe and secure. Polls in Connecticut closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday.