11 October—Have you noticed how few Trump-Vance signs pollute the hoardings for other Republican candidates? No further comment. Today, anyway.

While we’re on politics, this is the ballot that voters in Litchfield’s First, Third, and Fourth Districts will hold their noses and mark on Election Day. Or before that if they vote early (between 21 October and 3 November) or by absentee ballot (any time before 5 November).

Voters in Litchfield’s Second District will choose between Democrat challenger (and Northfield resident) Stephen Simonin and ultra-long-term Republican incumbent John Piscopo for the part of Northfield that’s been gerrymandered into the 76^th Assembly District. Otherwise, the ballots for all four districts are the same.

You’ll notice that the Presidential Electors for Robert Kennedy Jr, whose mother just died, and running mate Nicole Shanhan are still on the Connecticut ballot even though he (they) withdrew in favor of Donald Trump (and J.D. Vance). Truth be told, none of the presidential candidates is worth a vote. None. Not a one. Not that it matters, of course, since Kamala Harris is sure to get Connecticut’s electoral votes. At least she’s not Trump.

If you don’t want to vote for Democrat U.S. Senator Christopher Murphy and can’t stomach Republican challenger Matthew Corey, you can choose between the Green Party’s Justin Paglino and the Cheaper Gas Groceries Party’s Robert Finley Hyde, who just happens to be a QAnon promoter. (What are cheaper gas groceries?) Judging by his platform, Dr Dr Paglino (MD, PhD) should be much easier to stomach than the other three; and, more important, he’s also a piano teacher.

At the top of this year’s Connecticut ballot is the question about amending the State Constitution to let the pols in Hartford who have already screwed up the state screw it up even more. Actually, enabling absentee ballots for any reason—rather than the six eminently flexible ones currently on the books—is really a good idea. But the idiots in Hartford just last year enabled early voting.

Early voting is not only unnecessary, but also absolutely stupid—in addition to being yet another unfairly mandated expense to municipalities. The ruling party inflicted it on the state only because they could and it didn’t require a constitutional amendment. Typical. And the Republicans are almost as bad as the Democrats in Hartford.

So hold off on the absentee-ballot amendment until the General ASSembly does the right thing and rescinds early voting . . .