Connecticut

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State of Connecticut Elections and Voting

Election Day is November 5

  • October 29                  Deadline to postmark or hand deliver voter registration applications (same-day voter registration is available at the polls)
  • November 4                Deadline to request absentee/mail-in ballot
  • November 5                Deadline to return absentee ballots by mail and hand-delivery
  • November 5                Election Day

 

To register to vote in Connecticut, you must:

  • Be at least 17 and turning 18 on or before Election Day
  • Be a United States citizen
  • Be living in Connecticut
  • Not be currently incarcerated by reason of a felony conviction (A person is eligible to have their voting privileges restored upon release from incarceration in a correctional institution)

 

How to register to vote:

The pre-election voter registration cutoff deadline is seven (7) days before Election Day. Connecticut also has Election Day Registration on Election Day itself for voters who need it.

 

Voter ID Requirements

  • At the poll, you must present:
    • Your social security card, or
    • Any pre-printed form of identification that shows your:
      • name and address, or
      • name and signature, or
      • name and photograph, or
  • You must sign a statement under penalty of false statement on Form ED-681 entitled, “Signatures of Electors Who Did Not Present ID”, provided by the Secretary of the State that the elector whose name appears on the official check list is the same person who is signing the form.

Visit VoteRiders for more information on voter ID requirements in Connecticut.

 

Absentee Voting

Connecticut has strict laws regarding who can vote absentee.

  • 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.

Under Connecticut law, in order to vote by absentee ballot, a voter must be an active, registered voter (more on Connecticut’s voter rolls can be found at myvote.ct.gov/voterrolls) and have filled out an absentee ballot application. Absentee ballot applications are available for download online (at myvote.ct.gov/absentee) and at the office of the Town Clerk in each town.

 

Early In-Person Voting

The length of the early voting period depends on the type of election:

  • 14 days for general elections
  • 7 days for most primaries; and
  • 4 days for special elections and the presidential preference primary

These periods generally include weekends (but not legal holidays) and end two days before the election to allow elections officials to prepare for election day. The opening date is shifted to accommodate this (e.g., for a general election, early voting opens at least 15 days before the election). For all elections, early voting locations must be open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Additionally, for general elections and most primaries, the locations must be open on the last Tuesday and Thursday of the period from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

 

Resources

 

Tribes in Connecticut

Federally recognized tribes

  • Mashantucket Pequot Indian Tribe
  • Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut

State recognized tribes

  • Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation
  • Golden Hill Paugussett
  • Schaghticoke Tribal Nation

 

Native Vote Coordinator

Sign up to be a local Native Vote coordinator.

 

Major Party Contact Information

Democrat
Chair, Nancy DiNardo
www.ctdems.org

Republican
Chair, Ben Proto
www.ct.gop

Posted in States.