CONNECTICUT

State Voting Guide

Voter Registration Deadline: 18 days before an election.

Election Day registration is available at certain locations beginning at 6:00 a.m. and ending at 8:00 p.m. For more information on election day registration, please visit: https://portal.ct.gov/sots/election-services/election-day-registration/election-day-registration

 

2024 Election Information

General Election: November 5

  • Voter Registration Deadline: October 18
  • Early Voting Period: October 21- November 3

 

For additional information on any local and municipal elections, please visit: https://portal.ct.gov/sots/common-elements/v5-template—redesign/elections–voting–home-page.

Students have a decision about where to register to vote.

You have a right to register to vote at the address you consider the place where you live, whether that is your family’s home or the place where you attend school. You should update your registration anytime this home address changes.

You may only be registered and vote in one location.

Connecticut’s paper registration form asks for your Connecticut driver’s license or ID number or the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you do not have one of these numbers, you can include the following with your registration form:

  • A copy of a current and valid photo I.D.;

  • A copy of a current utility bill;

  • A bank statement;

  • A government check;

  • A paycheck; or

  • A government document that shows your name and address

To register to vote using the state’s online registration system, you must have a driver’s license, learner’s permit or non-driver photo identification card issued by the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

To register on Election Day, you will need proof of identity and proof of residency such as a student ID card and a utility bill or tuition statement that lists your name and Connecticut address. Contact your local Registrar of Voters office to make sure you bring proper ID with you.

All registered voters are asked to present a form of ID when voting in person on Election Day. You can show:

  • Your Social Security card; or
  • Any form of preprinted ID that shows your (i) name and address; or (ii) your name and signature; or (iii) your name and photograph.

 

If you do not have an acceptable ID, you may sign an affidavit affirming your identity. More information about voter ID requirements in Connecticut is available at

portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Election-Services/FAQ/FAQ—Voter-Identification.

Contact your local Registrar of Voters office to make sure you bring proper ID with you.

Make a plan. Look up your voting site and hours at: https://portal.ct.gov/sots/election-services/voter-information/where-and-how-do-i-vote

Or, track your absentee ballot through the Secretary of the State’s Voter Registration Lookup Portal: https://portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx

By Mail (Absentee): Connecticut requires an excuse to vote by mail. Acceptable excuses include:

  • Active service in the U.S. armed forces;
  • Absence from town during all hours of voting on Election Day;
  • Illness;
  • Physical disability;
  • Your religion forbids secular (non-religious) activity on that day; or
  • Working at a polling place other than your own during all hours of Election Day.

 

Your vote-by-mail application must be received by the municipal clerk by the day before Election Day, however, it is recommended that you apply at least seven days before Election Day to ensure you have time to receive and complete your ballot. If you submit an absentee ballot electronically, you must also mail the printed, signed copy to your clerk by the close of polls on Election Day.

Voters with print disabilities may request a ballot delivered by email. More information is available at: portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Election-Services/Voter-Information/Accommodations-for-Voters-with-Print-Disabilities

You can return your absentee ballot by mail or in-person at your municipal clerk’s office or at a secure drop box. Please contact your municipal clerk’s office for drop box locations. Completed absentee ballots must be received by the clerk by the close of polls, 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

You can watch a tutorial on how to complete an absentee ballot on the Connecticut Secretary of the State’s website available at: https://vimeo.com/896641848?share=copy

For more information on voting by mail (absentee), visit the Connecticut Secretary of the State’s website at:

https://portal.ct.gov/sots/election-services/voter-information/absentee-voting

https://portal.ct.gov/sots/election-services/voter-information/absentee-ballot-process

Early Voting

Connecticut also allows voters to vote in person before Election Day. Connecticut provides 14 days of early voting for general elections, 7 days for most primaries, and 4 days for special elections and presidential preference primaries. No excuse is required for early voting. If you are not registered, but want to vote during the Early Voting period, you may register in person every day of Early Voting at the Early Voting location.

To find your early voting location, click here.

For more information on early voting, visit the Connecticut Secretary of the State’s website at: https://portal.ct.gov/sots/election-services/early-voting/early-voting

Election Day

Voting sites will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. If you are in line by the closing time, you have the right to vote.

If you are not registered, but want to vote on Election Day, you may register in person on Election Day at your Election Day Registration site. Contact your local Registrar of Voter’s office for information about your town’s designated Election Day Registration location and ID requirements.

 

Does Registering to Vote Affect My Federal Financial Aid?

No. Where you register to vote won’t affect federal financial aid like Pell Grants, Perkins or Stafford loans, or your dependency status for FAFSA.

Does Registering to Vote Affect My Status as a Dependent on My Parents’ Taxes?

No. Being registered to vote at a different address from your parents does not prevent them from claiming you as a dependent on their taxes.

Does Registering to Vote Impact My Tuition Status?

No. Being deemed out-of-state for tuition purposes does not prevent you from choosing to register to vote in your campus community.

Will Registering to Vote in Connecticut Affect My Driver’s License or Car Registration?

Voting in Connecticut may affect your driver’s license and car registration. You may wish to contact the Department of Motor Vehicles for more information.

Fair Elections Center and Campus Vote Project intend the information contained herein to be used only as a general guide. This document should not be used as a substitute for consultation with a licensed Connecticut legal professional.

Last updated April 2024