Connecticut’s municipal elections, coming up Nov. 4, don’t decide who’s in the White House or who represents the state in Washington, D.C. Rather, they determine who decides close-to-home issues such as whether taxes go up, town roads will be fixed or class sizes increase.
Offices including mayor, selectman, town councilor and town clerk, board of education and constable are on the ballot, which varies from town to town. Sample ballots are available on the Secretary of State’s website, myvote.ct.gov.
The deadline to register to vote by mail is Friday. Registrations can be dropped off in person by Friday, done online, postmarked by Friday if mailed, or done at the DMV before the close of business.
Limited in-person registration is available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the early voting period Oct. 20 to Nov. 2.
Am I registered to vote?
You can check here. If you’re not registered yet and are eligible, you can register during early voting or on Election Day at the designated location, which may not be your regular polling place. The Secretary of the State has a list of early voting locations by town where you can find your location.
A list of where to vote on Election Day is available here:
Am I eligible to vote?
Those who are turning 18 on or before Election Day, are a United States Citizen and a resident of a Connecticut town are eligible to vote. Those who have been convicted of a felony must have completed confinement.
A first-time voter fact sheet is available here.
Can I vote absentee?
Connecticut has strict laws regarding who can vote absentee with only six reasons allowable:
Are you an active member of the armed forces of the United States?
Will you be out of town on Election Day?
Does sickness prevent you from voting in person on Election Day?
Do your religious beliefs prevent you from performing secular activities like voting on Election Day?
Will you be performing duties as an election official at a polling place other than your own on Election Day?
Does a physical disability prevent you from voting in person on election day?
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you are eligible to vote absentee. You can request an absentee ballot at myvote.ct.gov/getmyab. By law, only you, an immediate family member or your personal designee can apply for or return your absentee ballot. If it is within six days of the election, an emergency ballot may be requested.
Can I vote early?
Unlike absentee voting, anyone can vote early for any reason or no reason.
It must be done in person at a designated polling location between Oct. 20 and Nov. 2 between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. That includes two weekends and two extended weekday hours are also offered: voting will be offered Oct. 28 and 30 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
You may register and vote on the same day during the Early Voting period before regular general elections.
According to the secretary of the state:
When you arrive at the Early Voting location, you will check in and be verified as an eligible voter.
You will then receive your ballot with an envelope.
You will complete your ballot at a privacy booth and seal it in the approved envelope.
Before you leave, place the sealed envelope in the secure receptacle as instructed by the election officials.
Ballots will be secured unopened until Election Day.
About identification: “When you arrive at the polling place the poll worker will request that you present ID but if you do not have any, then in most cases, you may sign an affidavit in lieu of presenting ID. There are several options for identification, and they do not need to be a driver’s license or have a photo.”
To receive important election updates text VOTE to 860.321.4221.
For more information or specific questions, visit myvote.ct.gov. In Spanish here.
