Everything you need to know about voting on Tuesday
Connecticut residents will head to the polls Tuesday, almost two years into a global pandemic. But with the widespread availability of vaccines, Election Day 2021 will likely look more normal this year.
Like last year, state residents can vote by absentee ballot using the COVID-19 pandemic as a qualifying reason. In order to be counted, absentee ballots must be received by the municipal clerk by the time polls close on Tuesday, either through the mail or dropped off in-person.
The state has a hotline for any issues at the polls. The number is 866-7332463, or email elections@ct.gov
Below is everything you need to know about voting in the 2021 local election in Connecticut.
How do I check if I’m registered to vote?
The secretary of the state’s website has a tool to see if you’re registered to vote. Enter your town, first and last name, and date of birth to find your registration status, as well as your polling place (where you go to vote). If you submitted an absentee ballot, the database will show if it’s been received by your town clerk.
Can I still register to vote?
The deadline to register online, by mail or in person ahead of Election Day has passed. If you haven’t registered to vote yet, you can still register on Election Day in Connecticut.
Each town has its own Election Day registration site separate from its polling place. You’ll vote at the Election Day registration site once you register.
You’ll need to bring proof of your identity and residence in order to register to vote on Election Day.
When are polls open?
All polling places in Connecticut will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Election Day registration locations are open during the same hours.
What about identification?
A driver’s license is not required to vote in Connecticut, but voters should bring a form of identification that includes their name and address, or name and signature, or name and photograph. A Social Security card is also a valid form of ID.
First-time voters need to bring a “copy of a current and valid photo identification that shows your name and address,” according to the secretary of the state or a copy of a utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document with your name and address.
What if I forgot my ID?
You can sign an affidavit affirming your identity with criminal penalties for making a false statement.
What can and can’t you wear to the polls?
Supreme Court decisions and state law both apply here. “What it boils down to is if it has the candidate’s name and or likeness on it then it’s not OK,” said Gabe Rosenberg, a spokesperson for the secretary of the state’s office. Clothing with a campaign or political slogan is allowed. So a “Trump 2020” T-shirt would not be allowed, but a “Make America Great
Again” hat would be acceptable.
An Oct. 6 memo from the office of the secretary of state also notes the ban extends to clothing that “advocates for an issue on the ballot.” In the event someone shows up to the polls wearing an article of clothing that’s prohibited, they should be asked to remove it or cover it up, the state says.
Do you have to wear a mask to the polls?
The short answer is most likely. While Connecticut has no universal indoor mask mandate, people who are not vaccinated are still required to wear a mask indoors in most public
spaces. Local municipalities also have the ability, under an executive order from Gov. Ned Lamont, to require people to wear masks indoors, and many require visitors to government buildings to mask up.
In the event someone refuses to wear a mask, moderators or poll workers should give the voter the opportunity to get a mask from their car or give them one, according to a Sept. 30 memo. If the voter still refuses, poll workers should offer them a provisional ballot to fill out in their car or a ballot that they can fill out “in a segregated part of the polling location away from other voters.”