The Town Clerk’s Office has noted that absentee ballots are available for the budget referendum on Tuesday, April 28.

Connecticut has strict laws regarding who can vote absentee. Conditions to vote absentee are active service in the Armed Forces of the United States; absence from town of residence; sickness; religious tenets which forbid secular activity on the day of the election, primary, or referendum; duties as a primary, election, or referendum official at a polling place other than one’s own during all of the hours of voting; and/or physical disability.

To vote via absentee ballot, apply in person at the Town Clerk's Office, within Newtown Municipal Center at 3 Primrose Street, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm. Registered Newtown voters can also download a 2026 Application for Absentee Ballot from the Town Clerk's website (newtown-ct.gov/town-clerk) and mail it to Town Clerk, 3 Primrose Street, Newtown CT 06470.

Applications may be filled out through 4:30 pm Monday, April 27.

Ballots must be returned to the Town Clerk's Office by the close of polls at 8 pm on April 28.

Official ballot drop boxes are outside the north and south entrances of the Municipal Center and are usable 24 hours per day.

On the ballot, voters will be asked to consider the following items:

For the municipal budget: "Shall the sum of $51,453,298 be appropriated for the Board of Selectmen for fiscal year?"

"If the proposed sum of $51,453,298 is not approved, shall the revised number be higher?"

For the school budget: "Shall the sum of $95,961,919 be appropriated for the Board of Education for fiscal year?"

"If the proposed sum of $95,961,919 is not approved, shall the revised number be higher?"

Advisory Questions

Then there are six advisory questions on capital projects:

1. “Shall the $1,125,000 special appropriation and $275,000 bond authorization for the planning, design, acquisition and installation of an artificial turf field replacement at Treadwell Memorial Park be approved?”

Approval of this question authorizes the appropriation of $1,125,000, including $275,000 in bonding, to allow for the replacement of an artificial turf field at Treadwell Memorial Park. The project includes regrading as needed, replacement of field lighting with LED technology, replacement of controllers, and consulting, engineering, electrical, architectural, licensing and advisory costs related to the project.

2. “Shall the $720,000 special appropriation and $720,000 bond authorization for the planning, design, renovation of, and construction of improvements to Cyrenius H. Booth Library parking lot and sidewalks be approved?”

Approval of this question authorizes the appropriation and bonding of $720,000 to allow for renovations and improvements to the Cyrenius H. Booth Library parking lot and sidewalks. The project includes repairs to the front walkway and marble stairs, redesign and repaving of the parking lot, and construction of the driveway on the southern side of the library. It will include any related work, such as drainage and stormwater planning, installation of new lighting, speed bumps, removal of nuisance trees, and other parking features, including electric vehicle charging stations. The project will also add a drop-off area and increase handicapped parking.

3. “Shall the $600,000 special appropriation and $600,000 bond authorization for the planning, design, acquisition, construction, and installation of improvements to the Public Works Salt Storage Facility be approved?”

Approval of this question authorizes the appropriation and bonding of $600,000 to allow for the construction and installation of improvements to the Public Works Salt Storage Facility. The project includes the construction of an additional salt storage structure with the capacity of approximately 2,000 tons, which will be located adjacent to the Town’s existing salt storage facility, together with all related site work and improvements.

4. “Shall the $500,000 special appropriation and $500,000 bond authorization for the planning, design, renovation of, and construction of improvements to the parking lot on Trades Lane be approved?”

Approval of this question authorizes the appropriation and bonding of $600,000 to allow for the renovation and construction of improvements to the rear parking lot and yard area of the Town’s maintenance facility located on Trades Lane. The project includes repairs to and reconstruction of drainage systems; redesign, grading, and paving of the lot to accommodate department trucks and heavy equipment; creation of storage bins for yard materials; renovation and replacement of fencing; new lighting; and removal and abatement of the existing greenhouse and contaminated soil surrounding it; as well as related site, environmental, and stormwater improvements.

5. “Shall the $280,000 special appropriation and $280,000 bond authorization for the planning, design, renovation of, and construction of improvements to Head O’ Meadow Elementary School parking lot be approved?”

Approval of this question authorizes the appropriation and bonding of $280,000 to allow for the renovation and construction of improvements to the Head O’ Meadow Elementary School parking lot. The project includes the full repaving of the entire parking lot, replacement and repair of curbing, and reconstruction of sidewalks, all totaling approximately 90,000 square feet, together with all related site work and improvements.

6. “Shall the $200,000 special appropriation and $200,000 bond authorization for the acquisition of land, or easements, development rights and other interests in land for open space preservation, recreation, farmland preservation, or conservation be approved?”

Approval of this question authorizes the appropriation and bonding of $200,000 which would allow for the setting aside of funds for acquisition of land for purposes of open space preservation, recreation, farmland preservation, or conservation. This includes acquisition of land in fee, or easements, development rights, and other interests in land for such purposes. Acquisition may include, without limitation, agreements and/or covenants with landowners in order to maintain, improve, protect, limit the future use of, and conserve land for open space, and for surveys, site testing, and environmental remediation.

Those with questions regarding absentee ballots should contact the Office of the Town Clerk at town.clerk@newtown-ct.gov or call 203-270-4210.