Enfield primary tied to petition error; judge rulings diverge and town faces about $40,000 bill

Committee testimony identified two lawsuits connected to the petition and calendar issues: one in Enfield and one in Hartford. Senior staff attorney Aayita Karini told the committee the Secretary of State's office was a notice party and was represented by the state Attorney General; the office itself did not litigate as a primary party. "Our office is represented by the office of the attorney general in matters in which we are a notice party," Karini said.

The two cases produced different outcomes. The Hartford judge found "substantial compliance" and allowed the candidate on the primary ballot; in Enfield the court concluded the petitioning did not meet that standard, which affected ballot preparations and timing. Senator Samson and other lawmakers noted the town of Enfield incurred roughly a $40,000 cost for the primary election consequences of the error; the Secretary acknowledged the expense and said any reimbursement would require legislative or OPM action because her office lacks authority to unilaterally cut a municipal check.