EARLY VOTING
As of January 1, 2024, Connecticut residents will have the option of early voting. Legislation passed by the state legislature in May 2023, requires 14 days of early voting for general elections, 7 days of early voting for most primaries, and 4 days of early voting for special elections and presidential preference primaries. Every municipality in the state will be required to establish at least one early voting location and has the option of establishing more.
For more information on the Connecticut Secretary of State’s office regarding a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and a timetable for upcoming primary and general elections dates for early voting, visit the link here: EV_FAQs_Dates_Hours.pdf (ct.gov)
WHERE IS MY POLLING PLACE?
Voters can find their polling place by using the Voter Lookup Tool on the Secretary of State’s website: https://portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx
REGISTRATION FORMS
Registration is necessary to vote in local, state and national elections. Voter registration application forms can be obtained from the Registrar of Voters or Town Clerk at any town/city hall in Connecticut. Registration can be done in person or by mail-in application. Forms may also be obtained at public libraries, Department of Motor Vehicles and other state agency offices, and on the Secretary of State’s website: (https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Election-Services/Voter-Information/Voter-Registration-Information) In-person registration must be done by noon on the last business day before a primary and by the 7th day before an election. Mailed applications must be postmarked at least 5 days before a primary and 7 days before an election.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE?
Any U.S. citizen living in Connecticut and will be at least 18 years old by the day of an election may register to vote. Anyone with a temporary or permanent physical disability can have an application mailed to them or request a Registrar visit at their residence. A registered voter who is unable to vote in person may request an absentee ballot.
Voters must enroll with a political party in order to vote in that party’s primary. A party affiliation can be designated with registration. Voters who wish to change or drop their party affiliation can do so by notifying the Registrar. A U.S. citizen who is not registered may obtain a Presidential Ballot just to vote for President/Vice President from the Registrar or Town Clerk.
Convicted felons who are on either parole or probation have the right to vote in Connecticut. In June of 2021, the Connecticut state legislature restored voting rights to people with felony convictions who have been released from prison and placed on parole status. Those serving probation–the term used to describe offenders who have been convicted of an offense but did not serve any prison time–have been allowed to vote in Connecticut since 2002.
Election Day Registration
Election Day Registration permits anyone to register and vote in person on Election Day who meets the eligibility requirements for voting in this state and is not already registered, OR is registered in one town but has moved to another town. By law, a person is eligible to register and vote if he or she is (1) a US citizen, (2) age 18 or older, (3) a bona fide resident of the town in which he or she applies for admission, and (4) has completed confinement and parole if previously convicted of a disfranchising felony.
Election Day Registration is not available at your polling place but is available at a designated Election Day Registration (EDR) location in each town, beginning at 6 am and ending at 8 pm. Individuals will register and vote at the designated EDR location in each town. Please plan to arrive early in the day as there may be long lines. Individuals must be registered by 8 pm in order to vote, and will need to provide proof of identity and residency.
Anyone encountering election-related problems can contact the Election Day hotline at 1-866-733-2463 or by sending an email to elections@ct.gov.
Absentee Ballot Information:
Registered voters in Connecticut may vote by absentee ballot if they are unable to vote in person for any of the following reasons:
Registered voters who are enrolled with a political party can request an absentee ballot for primaries as well as for general elections.
How to Obtain an Absentee Ballot
Registered voters can obtain applications for absentee ballots from their local Town Clerk or Registrar of Voters. If the voter is already out of town, application forms can be mailed to them as long as sufficient time is allowed for round-trip mailings of the application and the ballot. Applications in English or Spanish can also be downloaded from the website of the Connecticut Secretary of the State: (https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Election-Services/Voter-Information/Absentee-Voting. Applications for absentee ballots may be requested and mailed to the voter beginning 31 days before the general election. Absentee ballots for a primary election must be mailed 21 days prior to the election. For a referendum, absentee ballots must be mailed 19 days prior.
Where to return an Absentee Ballot
Applications must be returned by mail or in person to the local Town Clerk either separately or along with the absentee ballot, or via the secure drop box that the Office of Secretary of State has provided in each town, which will likely be located outside town hall. Absentee ballots and applications must be received by the poll closing time on the day of the election, primary or referendum or they will not be counted.
Applications for absentee ballots may be requested and mailed to the voter beginning 31 days before the general election.
Deadlines for Absentee Ballots
Anyone encountering problems on Election Day should contact the Election Day Hotline at 1-866-733-2463 or send an email to elections@ct.gov.
For additional information on Connecticut voting legislation and other general information, visit the Connecticut Judicial Law Libraries webpage on Election Laws: https://www.jud.ct.gov/lawlib/law/electionlaw.htm
For more detailed Voter Information, visit the Connecticut Office of the Secretary of State website: https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Election-Services/Voter-Information/Voter-Fact-Sheet
For information on military and overseas citizens and how they can vote, state voting requirements & information, and much more, visit the National Association of Secretaries of State website, here: https://www.nass.org/can-I-vote
For information on “Voting Rights of Convicted Felons in Connecticut”, visit the 2-1-1 eLibrary on the topic here: https://uwc.211ct.org/voting-rights-of-convicted-felons-in-connecticut/
To Find Providers in Connecticut’s Community Resources Database:
Search by service name: Voter Registration Offices
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SOURCES: Connecticut Judicial Law Libraries, “Connecticut Law About Election Law” webpage; Project Vote Smart website; Connecticut Secretary of the State
PREPARED BY: 211/jm
CONTENT LAST REVIEWED: August2024