Greenwich registrars offer safe voting tips
GREENWICH — With less than four weeks to go until Election Day and an already record number of absentee ballots sent out in Greenwich, safety and security of voting is a big issue in town.
On Tuesday, a steady stream of residents headed to the secure drop box locations at Town Hall and the lobby of the police station — with some dropping off applications for absentee ballots and others returning their filled-out ballots. The Town Clerk’s Department mailed 10,000 absentee ballots last week, with more requested every day. The demand has more than doubled this year, likely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, officials said.
With the strong voter interest, the town registrars of voters held a Zoom presentation with Greenwich Reform Synagogue on Tuesday night to discuss what residents need to know about voting safely.
Republican Registrar Fred DeCaro III and Democratic Registrar Mary Hegarty stressed the security of voting by absentee ballot as well as the safety measures planned for the town’s polling locations to protect voters and poll workers from the coronavirus.
When it comes to absentee ballots, Hegarty stressed three common mistakes to avoid — because incorrectly filled out ballots will be rejected.
She said a voter must remember to:
Put the ballot inside the inner envelope, and put that into the outer envelope. If the ballot is returned in the outer envelope, it can be rejected.
Sign the inner envelope after putting the ballot inside. This is the most frequent mistake that leads to rejecting an absentee ballot.
Return only one ballot per envelope. It doesn’t happen often, but Hegarty said couples sometimes send ballots back in the same envelope. Each ballot must be returned separately; only one ballot can be counted from each envelope.
“These mistakes are not very difficult to avoid,” she said. “People have heard horror stories and are very concerned about whether their ballot will be properly counted. I can assure you that here in Greenwich and across the state of Connecticut, your absentee ballot will be properly counted in this election.”
Absentee ballots can be returned by mail or in the drop boxes, which are checked daily. The town clerk keeps the returned ballots sealed in a vault until they are given to the registrars for tallying.
A ballot can be legally transported only by a voter, a family member or a designated caregiver, Hegarty said. If a voter is unable to mail or drop off their absentee ballot, it would be illegal for a neighbor or friend to transport it. When there is no other option, the registrars can send a police officer or a designated representative to get a ballot.
“Do not dawdle,” Hegarty said. “Late-arriving ballots mean no vote. The last possible moment to deposit your ballot in a ballot box is Election Day, 8 p.m.”
For those voting in person, masks will be required and social distancing will be enforced for what is expected to be a high turnout election, DeCaro said.
To speed up voting and add protection, he said a voter can:
Bring their own ballpoint pen to the polling place instead of using the one supplied. But no Sharpies, though, because they “have very, very strong ink in them and will go right through paper” and create problems, DeCaro said.
Bring a flat surface such as a book or a clipboard that they can use when filling out their ballot, instead of using the booths.
Measures will be taken to keep the polling place clean, Hegarty said. Special poll workers will serve as “COVID safety monitors” and clean the privacy booths and other contact surfaces constantly throughout the day, she said.
For ID at polling places, DeCaro said voters could bring a photo ID, a Social Security card or items with a name and signature such as a credit card. Voters can also sign an affidavit at the polling location affirming their identity.
One frequently asked question, according to DeCaro, is whether voters can request an absentee ballot “just in case” and then decide to vote at the polls instead.
“If you have not returned your absentee ballot by either putting it in the mail or putting it in a drop box, you are legally entitled to come to the polls and vote,” he said. “If, however, you have done either of those things, then obviously you don’t want to be at the polls.”
DeCaro said voters can find “a wealth of information” at www.greenwichct.gov/vote, including their registration information, party affiliation, state legislature district and polling place — complete with a Google map.
There’s also an absentee ballot status lookup where a voter can find out whether their application has been received, if a ballot has been mailed to them and also whether the town has received their ballot.
“There is no tracking during transit, but at least you have the comfort of knowing your application has been received and when your ballot has been returned,” DeCaro said.