QUESTIONS ABOUT VOTING

Can I vote early by mail?

We don’t have so-called early voting in Connecticut but we have expanded use of absentee ballots. You can mail in your completed ballot as soon as you receive it, which could be in the first or second week of October.

How do I request a mail-in ballot? When’s my deadline?

Every registered voter in Connecticut should have already received an absentee ballot application. If you did not get one or if you are an inactive voter, you may register online at myvote.ct.gov/register. The registration home page is: voterregistration.ct.gov/OLVR/welcome.do . You may also request a ballot in person in your town hall, but check the hours and procedures.

The deadline to request a mail-in ballot is Nov. 2, the day before the election. But your ballot must be received by Election Day, so the only way that will work is if you go in-person to town hall, obtain a ballot and drop it off in the drop boxes that every town has in place.

Does COVID-19 qualify as a reason to mail in or drop off my ballot?

Yes. Previously, the rules were stricter but fear of COVID-19 is an allowable reason for an absentee ballot in this election. You do not have to have the illness or have been exposed to it or have a person in your household with a COVID-19 issue.

Can I register to vote online?

Yes, if you have a CT driver’s license, at myvote.ct.gov/register. If you do not have a CT driver’s license, go to myvote.ct.gov/ register to print a form to give your local voter registrar.

I’m in the armed forces or otherwise overseas.

How do I register to vote?

Go online at myvote.ct.gov/register. If you do not have a CT driver’s license, you might be running out of time to participate in this election.

How do I check if I’m registered to vote? How do I make sure my ballot was counted?

You can check your registration status online at myvote.ct.gov/lookup. You can track your absentee ballot at myvote.ct.gov/ lookup.

Can I receive an absentee ballot and decide on Election Day whether to vote in-person or drop my ballot in a town box?

Yes. It is perfectly legal to request and receive an absentee ballot and then not use it, and instead vote in person.

What do I need to bring with me to vote?

For most voters, any kind of preprinted form or ID with a photo is appropriate. If a voter does not have a photo ID, a paycheck stub or a utility bill is appropriate to show at the polls. If a voter doesn’t have any of that, they may sign an affidavit, under the potential criminal penalties of issuing a false statement. For first-time voters who registered by mail, current and valid photo IDs, utility bills or a paycheck stub with their name and address are required of the very small number this would affect.

I waited in a long line to vote, only to realize I left my ID at home. Can I still vote?

You can sign a form attesting to your identity, with potential criminal penalties.

Where do I go to vote in person?

Look it up at myvote.ct.gov/lookup. Does the address on my ID have to match my address on the official list of registered voters?

For most voters the photo ID has to have their name and address, to make it easier for poll workers. A driver’s license should be enough if the voter registered at the DMV. If the voter registration doesn’t match the address, any preprinted form of ID, including Social Security card, government documents, utility bills or paycheck stubs will suffice. Or, voters can sign affidavits with potential criminal penalties.

I’m a student. Where do I register to vote, at school or at home?

You register to vote where you have a legal domicile, or address where you live. Since many students have an address at school and with their families, they can vote in either place although they can be registered in just one. If you are in school in another state, you may choose to vote in that state as long as you are registered there — but be sure to check the rules in that state, as each state has its own registration and voting laws. Students may also vote by absentee ballot in the state where they attend school as long as they are registered in their home state.