Voters Called The Local Polls November 3, Absentee Voting Saturday
Residents who are unsure of whether they can make it to the local polling places on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, can cast absentee ballots during a special voting session being held Saturday, October 31, at Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street, from 9 am to noon.
Secretary of the State Denise Merrill is joining the Connecticut Town Clerks Association urging voters using absentee ballots to mail them in early to avoid mail delays. Under Connecticut election law, absentee ballots will be counted if they are received by town clerks before 8 pm on Election Day.
Any absentee ballots received after that time will not be counted, according to a release. Absentee ballots for Tuesday’s elections will continue to be available until the close of business, 4:30 pm on Monday, November 2.
Any registered voter who will be out of town on Election Day or unable to vote — due to illness, physical disability, active duty military service, religious reasons or because they are a poll worker — can go to myvote.ct.gov and download an application for an absentee ballot.
“I want to make sure any Connecticut voters unable to go to the polls and cast a ballot next Tuesday, November 3rd, get their absentee ballots and mail them in early,” said Secretary Merrill. “Connecticut town clerks are always very helpful with anyone seeking to vote by absentee ballot, and those ballots are available now. But don’t wait too long before filling them out and mailing them in; no one would want any delays in the mail to prevent your vote from being counted. Call your town clerk today if you’re going to need an absentee ballot to vote.”
Westport Town Clerk Patricia Strauss, who also serves as president of the Connecticut Town Clerks Association, said state law requires an absentee ballot be delivered to the town clerk’s office by 8 pm on Election Day.
“Each year, many ballots arrive a day or two late, and are recorded as late returns but never opened,” she said. “To ensure your vote is counted, I recommend mailing or delivering your ballot immediately to your respective town clerk’s office.”
Polling Places
On Election Day, November 3, polls will be open for municipal elections from 6 am until 8 pm. Newtown voters must report to their respective polling locations:
*Districts 1 and 1-5 vote at Newtown Middle School, 11 Queen Street;
*District 2 and District 3-2 votes in the Reed School, 3 Trades Lane;
*Districts 3 and 3-5 vote at Head O’ Meadow School, 94 Boggs Hill Road.
You may find your voting location by street name online at newtown-ct.gov/public_documents/newtownct_registrar/findstreet.
LeReine Frampton, Democratic Registrar of Voters, issued a brief release reminding residents that the state recently changed election night reporting laws, which may delay official results — particularly on close races — until at least the following morning.
“Previously we were instructed to get the results finished by midnight and then review and correct later,” Ms Frampton stated. “This was changed, so for state and federal elections, the tabulator results are sent to the state election night and any hand counts or adjustments are reported within 48 hours.”
For a municipal election, there is no preliminary reporting she explained.
“Tabulator results will be read at each polling place and a copy hung on the wall as always,” Ms Frampton stated. “Our office has 48 hours to certify our results with all items accumulated and then forward those results to the secretary of the state and the town clerk.”
In the event of close qualified races, a recount will be scheduled Thursday morning, November 5, if needed.
“Please remember to vote — you will make a difference,” the registrar added.