Press Releases
10/23/2025
“Elections Evolve — and So Must We”: Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas Urges Partnership and Preparedness at COST Fall Conference
(Plantsville, Connecticut) – When Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas asked a room full of local leaders how many thought the state’s early voting period was too long, hands shot up across the audience. But when she asked how many had spoken to their legislators about it or testified at the public hearing, nearly every hand went down.
That moment — part gentle challenge, part civics lesson — captured the essence of Thomas’s message at Wednesday’s Connecticut Council of Small Towns (COST) Fall Conference: democracy depends on active collaboration, not quiet frustration.
“We can’t keep expecting elections to look the way they did when we first learned to vote,” Thomas told the crowd. “Laws change every year, technology evolves, and new generations bring new ideas. Our towns have adapted at every turn — but they can’t do it alone.”
Over the past few years, Connecticut has undergone the most significant transformation to its election system in decades. Early voting, expanded cybersecurity measures, and new voting equipment have all become part of local officials’ responsibilities. Yet even as small towns manage these changes with limited resources, new federal proposals threaten to add more administrative burdens without improving election security, Thomas warned.
“Connecticut already meets or exceeds every major federal standard for election integrity,” she said. “We use paper ballots, conduct post-election audits, and keep our systems offline for security. The real threats to our democracy aren’t in how we count votes — they’re in how we support the people who make elections happen.”
Thomas praised the thousands of local election officials who have kept Connecticut’s system secure and accessible — noting that in last November’s election, four in ten voters took advantage of early voting, with some towns seeing more than 60 percent participation before Election Day.
To sustain that progress, she called for renewed investment and coordination across all levels of government. “Elections are like any other industry,” she said. “They require continuous learning, modernization, and collaboration to meet changing needs.”
Betsy Gara, executive director of COST, said the secretary’s visit was a welcome opportunity to focus on the needs of small towns.
“Our towns are doing more than ever to run fair and secure elections,” Gara said. “Secretary Thomas understands the challenges we face and is committed to making sure local voices are heard.”
Looking ahead to the 2026 election cycle, Thomas said her office will continue to focus on strengthening cybersecurity, ensuring clear communication with local officials, and maintaining public trust.
“Our system is safe, reliable, and locally grounded,” she concluded. “Connecticut’s democracy works because we all have a hand in it — and because, at every level, we’re willing to adapt and work together.”
Secretary Thomas - COST event - photo 1
Secretary Thomas - COST event - photo 2
Secretary Thomas - COST event - photo 3
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