CONNECTICUT, USA — With Connecticut's primary election today, the Secretary of the State provided reminders for voters to be both informed and prepared.
According to the SOTS, the primary election for state, district and municipal offices is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 13, following an early voting period. A calendar including important dates for the primary can be found here.
Primary voting
Voters who are enrolled in the Democratic and Republican parties can vote in the primary election, according to the SOTS. Those who are currently unaffiliated are able to enroll in either party and have until Aug. 12th at noon to do so in-person via the registrar of voters or the local town clerk.
Those who are already in a political party and are looking to switch parties will be unable to do so as the deadline was May 13.
Voters can find their polling place and other info in regard to voting on Tuesday at either the SOTS website or at their local registrars' office.
Polls on the day of the primary will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 13.
U.S. Senate race on the ballot
A race to keep an eye on in August is for the U.S. Senate. While Democrats endorsed Sen. Chris Murphy for a third term, Republicans will decide between Gerry Smith, a four-term first selectman of Beacon Falls, and Matthew M. Corey of Glastonbury.
While Smith was endorsed during a state convention, Corey won enough delegate support and triggered a primary. The primary race will decide who challenges Murphy in the November election.
Republicans will also hold a primary in the state's 4th Congressional District, which covers most of Fairfield County. At a May convention, Bob MacGuffie of Fairfield won the party's endorsement, but Michael Goldstein, a physician and attorney from Greenwich, earned enough votes to primary. The winner will try to unseat Democratic incumbent Rep. Jim Himes.
Several races for the state legislature will also include August primaries.
For more info on the races in the primary, click here.
Miscellaneous resources
Anyone who sees anything suspicious, or has issues while voting can contact the Election Day Hotline at 1-866-733-2463, or email elections@ct.gov.
Those looking on how to register online can do so here. To look up voter registration, visit the webpage here.
Early voting
The early voting period took place from Monday, Aug. 5 to Sunday, Aug. 11.
During an early voting period, voters can cast their ballots in-person and can do so between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on each day except for Aug. 6 and Aug. 8, when the hours will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Early voting can not be done via mail or a drop box.
Those looking to determine their early voting location can visit the SOTS website here, where the information will be posted one to two weeks before the election. They can also contact their local Registrar of Voters office directly, the Secretary said.
Voters at early-voting locations will be checked in and verified as an eligible voter, according to the SOTS. They will be given a ballot with an envelope and then fill it out in a private booth.
Once the ballot is complete, voters will seal them in approved envelopes that will then be placed in a secure container, and remain unopened until Election Day, when they will be counted, the SOTS said.
According to the SOTS, election officials at the early voting locations record each voter both electronically and manually to prevent them from voting at any other location, including via early voting, absentee ballot, or voting on Election Day.
New voters looking to register and vote during the early voting period have until noon on the business day before the early voting day of choice. Unaffiliated voters looking to enroll in a party and vote have until noon on Aug. 2.
Connecticut is the 47th state to have adopted a form of early voting, the SOTS said. In-person early voting was made available for the first time this year.
Absentee voting
According to the SOTS, absentee voting is available only for those who cannot vote at their designated polling place and meet the below criteria:
- 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?
Information on obtaining an absentee ballot can be found on the SOTS website here. Absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m., whether by mail, drop-box or in-person by a designee.
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