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But it will still be a once-in-a-lifetime event for the electors — who include state Reps. Bob Godfrey of Danbury and Christopher Rosario of Bridgeport — as they cast their presidential ballots Monday for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who won the popular vote in the Connecticut in November.
The official Vote of the Electoral College will be at noon Monday, Dec. 19, in the Senate Chamber of the State Capitol in Hartford with Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill presiding. The outcome of the presidential election becomes official as the Electoral College votes Monday in each state.
In a Facebook message Friday from Rosario, he said he learned he would be on the slate of electors during the State Democratic Party Convention.
"Members of the party voted us in during the convention," Rosario said.
As for Rosario's opinion on the outcome of the election, he said he was disappointed that Clinton didn't pull off the national win.
"I still believe she is the most qualified candidate for the presidency," Rosario said. "It should be interesting to see what happens across the country."
In a phone call Friday, Godfrey agreed with Rosario. "I’m a Democrat. I wish the election had turned out better," he said. "I'm frightened for the country, and I fully intend to fulfill my promise to vote for Hillary Clinton."
The electors rehearsed Friday for the ceremonial vote, Godfrey said.
"This is the most formal meeting I have ever gone to -- ever," he said.
"All the electors were given scripts with specific details," Godfrey said. "It’s not like a regular legislative committee. We choose officers and we go to balloting."
According to Godfrey, the first ballot, which is for president, is written, signed and sealed.
"It's sealed with sealing wax in the state’s seal and there is a special seal for the presidential electors," he said. "When that's done, we do it all over again for vice president," with the Connecticut votes slated to go for Tim Kaine.
The other five Democratic electors in Connecticut who will be casting ballots are:
- Barbara C. Gordon from West Hartford,
- Steven James Jones from Tolland,
- Ellen S. Nurse from Hartford,
- Edward F. Piazza from New Haven and
- Alderwoman Tyisha S. Walker from New Haven.
At the ceremony, the National Anthem will be sung by "American Idol" contestant and military veteran Famecia Ward.
The Invocation will be performed by Mohammed Qureshi, president of the Connecticut Chapter of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community. The Benediction will be performed by the Rev. Virginia Army, rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Vernon.
Across the nation on Monday, electors will meet in each state and cast ballots vote for president and vice president.
Clinton won the popular vote nationwide and in Connecticut, but Republican candidate Donald Trump prevailed in the state-by-state vote.
Trump is projected to be elected with 306 electors from 30 states plus a quarter of Maine. Clinton is projected to receive 232 electors from 19 states plus three-quarters of Maine and Washington, D.C.
In Connecticut, Clinton won by a wide margin, with 54.57 percent of the vote. Trump captured 40.93 percent, with Libertarian Gary Johnson at 2.96 percent and Green Party candidate Jill Stein at 1.39 percent.
The entire Electoral College event in Hartford will be broadcast live on cable on the Connecticut Network (CT-N) and online by clicking here.
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