Conducting a Voter Registration Drive in Connecticut

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Voter Registration Drive

Voter registration applications must be postmarked, received by a voter registration agency, or submitted online by the 7th day before an election (and by the 5th day before a primary). In-person registration for primaries must be completed by noon on the business day before the primary.

Connecticut also allows for Election Day Registration at a designated location in each town.
 
Same day registration is available during the 14-day early voting period for general elections.

Getting Started

Training Requirement: Connecticut does not require training for registration drives.

Notification and Registration Requirements: Connecticut does not have notification requirements for registration drives.

Compensation Restrictions: As a best practice, do not pay registration drive participants based on how many registrations they collect.

Obtaining Applications

State Form: The state mail-in voter registration application can be downloaded from the Secretary of State’s website: portal.ct.gov/SOTS/ElectionServices/Register-to-Vote/Voter-Registration-ApplicationEnglish-and-Spanish

The Secretary of State, registrars of voters, and town clerks must also provide a reasonable number of voter registration forms to any person upon request.

Federal Form: The federal mail-in voter registration application may be used in registration drives: eac.gov/voters/national-mail-voter-registration-form/

Photocopying Blank Forms: You may photocopy blank forms for voter registration drives.

Handling Applications

Incomplete Applications: Do not fill in missing information without express consent from the applicant, who is attesting to the truth of what is on the form. If the registrant is unable to sign, in the space provided for the signature, the assistant must write the name of the applicant followed by the word “by” and their own signature as authorized agent.

Photocopying Completed Applications: As a best practice, a voter’s full or partial Social Security number and/or driver’s license number should not be retained.

Submitting Completed Applications: Under the election code, completed voter registration applications must be mailed or returned to the registrar “immediately.” Check with your county office. Greenwich, for example, requires submission of completed applications by the following day.

The state registration application form should be returned to the registrar of the town of the voter’s residence.

The federal mail-in voter registration application may be returned to Secretary of State; Elections Division; 30 Trinity Street; Hartford, CT 06106

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

For more information, visit
www.fairelectionscenter.org