You may register in person with your town’s Registrar of Voters or by visiting a voter registration agency (e.g., the DMV, Department of Social Services, etc.). You may register online at myvote.ct.gov/register. If you don’t have a CT driver’s license with a signature on file, you will be instructed to print your completed form and mail it to your Registrar of Voters. Groups such as the League of Women Voters or colleges often make paper applications available at voter registration events.

To vote in a primary election in CT, you must be enrolled in the party holding the primary. If you are not in a party, the term used in CT is Unaffiliated. Be sure to check your party enrollment several months before each primary election to ensure you are enrolled properly.

In Connecticut, there is an election every year. Election Day is always the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. In Connecticut, municipal offices such as Mayor, First Selectman, and Board of Education are elected in odd-numbered years. State and federal offices such as President, Governor, Congress, and the General Assembly are elected in even-numbered years.

Election laws change from time to time, and this can cause shifts in the election calendar. For example, there are specific dates when someone is allowed to register or change their party enrollment.  You may find all key election dates each year on Connecticut’s election calendar by visiting MyVote.CT.gov and clicking on the “Important Election Dates and Deadlines” link. 

On Election Day, polling places are open from 6 am to 8 pm. During most days of early voting, you may vote between 10 am and 6 pm; there are extended hours of 8 am to 8 pm on the Tuesday and Thursday prior to a primary election and the general election in November. Know before you go by checking the hours at MyVote.CT.gov.

Polling places may change from election to election and early voting locations may differ from your Election Day polling place. Prepare for each election by looking up your location at MyVote.CT.gov/lookup.

Making a plan to vote in advance of the election is a great way to avoid last-minute emergencies or a busy schedule derailing you. In Connecticut, there are three ways to vote: Early Voting (in-person voting during a set period prior to Election Day), by Absentee Ballot if you qualify, or in-person on Election Day.

In Connecticut, before voting by Absentee Ballot, you must sign under penalty of perjury that you would be unable to vote in-person on Election Day due to one of six reasons, which can be found at MyVote.CT.gov/absentee.

If you are eligible to vote via absentee ballot, you must first apply for the ballot. You may apply in person with your City/Town Clerk or online at MyVote.CT.gov/getmyab. Absentee ballot applications may only be available during certain timeframes prior to the election. Check with your Town Clerk for dates of availability.

Once the Town Clerk receives and approves your application, an absentee ballot will be mailed to you when it becomes available a set number of days prior to the election. You will receive a ballot package with a ballot, instructions, an inner envelope, and an outer envelope. Be sure to read through all the instructions first and follow them carefully to ensure your vote is counted.

Once your ballot is marked, placed in the signed and sealed inner envelope, return the entire package in the outer envelope to your City/Town Clerk by mail or in-person. Or you can drop it off in a secure drop box in your City/Town. Do not allow someone else to return your ballot unless they are allowed to do so in accordance with the law.

If you need assistance filling out or returning your absentee ballot, find out who may legally assist you by going to MyVote.CT.gov/absentee. 

To view your sample ballot before Election Day, visit MyVote.CT.gov/sampleballots.

One of the best ways to prepare to vote is to take a look at your town’s sample ballot. Each town and city in Connecticut are responsible for producing its own ballot, and all ballots must be uploaded to the MyVote.CT.gov website prior to each election. Viewing your town’s sample ballot is a great way to see the list of candidates running and any ballot questions you may need to vote on. Questions can sometimes be complicated, so having time to research the issue(s) before you go vote can be very helpful.