By Julie O’Brien
Question: How do I check if I’m registered to vote?
Answer: Election Day is coming up on November 5, so now is a good time to check your status and prepare to vote.
To receive important election updates text VOTE to 860-321-4221. For all you need to know about elections in Connecticut, visit MyVote.CT.gov or call 860-509-6200.
The first step is to confirm you are registered to vote. The Connecticut Secretary of State maintains a Voter Registration Lookup website at www.portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx.
If you are already a registered voter, this site will also display your polling location. Registration status and polling locations can also be confirmed by the New Canaan Registrar of Voters on the first floor of Town Hall; by calling 203-594-3060, or at www.newcanaaninfo.
If you are registered, and know your polling location, you are set to vote in person on November 5. Remember to bring your photo ID.
For those who would like to vote early, Connecticut’s Early Voting period will run from October 21 through November 3. Early Voting hours are from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, and from 8:00 am – 8:00 pm on October 29 and 31.
To vote early, visit the Registrar of Voters office in Town Hall. Once there you will request your ballot, fill it out, and return it to the registrar. Ballots cannot be taken off site during Early Voting.
Connecticut law allows voters to receive an absentee ballot if they cannot appear at the assigned polling place on Election Day or during Early Voting. To see if you are eligible to apply for an absentee ballot, and to submit an application, visit myvote.ct.gov/getmyab.
You may also visit the New Canaan Town Clerk’s office to request an absentee ballot now through November 4. Ballots can be dropped off 24/7 in the Ballot Drop Box at Town Hall, returned to the Town Clerk Office, or returned to your polling location by 8:00 pm on Election Day, November 5.
For those who still need to register, there are several options. As a reminder, to register to vote in Connecticut you must:
– Be a citizen of the United States.
– Be a resident of Connecticut and of the town in which you wish to vote.
– Be at least 17 years old and be at least 18 years old on or before Election Day (17 year olds who will turn 18 on or before Election Day may participate in the general primary.)
– Have completed confinement if previously convicted of a felony, and have had your voting rights restored by Registrars of Voters.
If you would like to register by mail, that deadline is approaching. You can register to vote online at www./voterregistration.ct.gov/OLVR/welcome.do no later than October 18.
You can also register in person by visiting the Registrar of Voters office in New Canaan Town Hall (on the ground floor) during normal business hours. If you register before October 18, you can either vote at the polls on November 5, or submit your ballot during the Early Voting Period.
Registrations received after October 18 will also be able to vote in this year’s elections. However, those ballots will be required to be filled out onsite and then returned to the Registrar.
Connecticut residents take their responsibility to vote seriously. According to the Connecticut Secretary of State, a record 1,861,086 people cast a ballot in the 2020 general election out of an all-time high of 2,334,979 registered voters. Total statewide turnout was almost 80%.
What do you want to know about living in New Canaan? Is there a resource you are looking for or something you need in our area? We want to hear from you! Send in your ideas or queries to Julie@NewCanaanSentinel.com and your question may be featured in a future column.
