Secretary of the State: No Democratic presidential primary April 24

HARTFORD — There will be no Democratic presidential preference primary on April 24 and only four candidates on the Republican ballot for that day, said Secretary of the State Denise Merrill in a statement Monday.

Merrill said Friday was the deadline to turn in primary petitions and no Democratic or Republican candidates sought forms from the Secretary of the State’s office.

Registered Republicans will be able to choose April 24 from the four presidential candidates: Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and Ron Paul. The order of the candidates on the Republican ballot will be determined by Merrill at a public lottery drawing March 20, according to the statement.

“This week is super Tuesday, and we are now one step closer to a decision by Connecticut voters as to whom they choose to run for President this fall,” Merrill said. “No primary will take place on the Democratic side, as the convention delegates will be awarded to President Obama according to state party rules. Republicans will be going to the polls to choose between the four candidates I selected for the ballot last month, and later this month I will need to determine in what order those candidates will appear on the ballot for Tuesday, April 24. I want to once again take this opportunity to remind unaffiliated voters they have until Monday, April 23 to affiliate with the Republican party if they want to cast a ballot in the primary.”