The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Switching political parties? The deadline is Jan. 2
Anyone planning to switch political parties in time to vote in Connecticut’s presidential primary on April 2 is running out of time to do so.
Per the Office of the Secretary of the State, voters who switch parties must wait three months before voting as a member of their new party. That means those currently registered as a Democrat who wish to participate in the state’s Republican primary (or vice versa) must update their affiliation by Jan. 2, this coming Tuesday.
In a recent press release, Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas urged residents to heed this deadline.
“I hope this reminder encourages voters to check their voter registration to make sure they are ready to vote in April, as voters can sometimes be inadvertently unsubscribed from a party, be new to the state and unfamiliar with the election laws or just not think about the Presidential Preference Primary until it is too late to make the change,” Thomas said.
Here is what else you should know about switching party affiliation in Connecticut.
Why does party affiliation matter?
Connecticut has closed primaries, meaning only people affiliated with a party can participate.
In this way, Connecticut differs from states such as Massachusetts, where unaffiliated voters may choose which primary to vote in, and from others, such as Vermont, where anyone can vote in either party, regardless of affiliation.
Both the Democratic and Republican parties in Connecticut will hold presidential primaries on April 2, four weeks earlier than in previous cycles, allowing voters here to help choose who will compete in November’s general election.
On the Democratic side, President Joe Biden faces limited opposition from within his party as he seeks reelection. On the Republican side, Donald Trump is a heavy favorite to be his party’s nominee for the third straight cycle but must ward off challenges from former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and others.
Why might someone want to change parties?
Of course, some people might switch affiliations due to a shift in ideology or a change of heart about which party best reflects their beliefs.
However, they might also swap parties during a primary year to participate in the election they expect to be more competitive, to sabotage a candidate from the opposing party they don’t like or to help a candidate they think would be easier for their party to beat.
Given that Republican primaries in Connecticut and elsewhere are expected to be more competitive than Democratic ones, it’s likely at least some Democrats will be tempted to switch registrations in time to vote for or against Trump.
How do I change parties?
Those seeking to change parties can do so in person, by mail or online.
Online, visit voterregistration.ct.gov and follow the instructions. When prompted, select “change voter registration,” and check the box for “party enrollment change.” Later, you will be asked whether you wish to register with the Democratic Party, the Republican Party or “other.”
If you prefer to complete the process by mail, download the appropriate form from the Secretary of the State’s office (in English or Spanish), complete it, and send it to the registrar of voters in the town or city where you live.
In person, visit the registrar of voters’ office, which is typically located at your local town hall. More detailed, town-specific information should be available at municipal websites.
What if I’m not affiliated with a party and want to be?
The process for registering with a party is essentially identical to the process outlined above for switching affiliations. Simply complete the forms online, by mail or in-person and select the party you wish to identify with.
The one major difference: Those who are registered as unaffiliated but wish to affiliate with a party have until March 15 to do so.
Residents who are not registered to vote at all have even more time. They must submit their registration, including party selection, online or by mail by the fifth day before a primary, or in person before noon the day before the primary.
Those who are not sure which party, if any, they’re affiliated with can check their registration online through the Secretary of the State’s website.
“I hope this reminder encourages voters to check their voter registration to make sure they are ready to vote in April.”
Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas