Voting for the first time? Not sure how to vote while at UConn? We've got you covered.
Here's what you need to know about voting in Connecticut.
Why should you vote? Whether you vote or not is entirely up to you. Citizens have as much of a right not to vote as they do to vote. Looking at the numbers, though, young voters have the highest potential to change elections simply due to the fact that they turnout the least of all age groups.
“We are the biggest voting bloc, so we have the most potential to really have a voice and make a change,” said Cheyenne Tavares, co-coordinator of UConnPIRG’s New Voters Project.
In 2016, just 46.1% of eligible voters between the ages of 18-29 voted, according to Census data. Two years later, only 36% of young people voted in the 2018 midterm elections.
When and where do I go to vote?
The election for U.S. President and Congressional and state offices will happen on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Citizens can vote any time from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on election day. All Connecticut voters in line at 8 p.m. will be permitted to vote, even if they have not yet reached the ballot boxes, according to the Connecticut Secretary of State Denise Merrill’s website.
For UConn students, our local polling station is Mansfield Town Hall at 4 South Eagleville Rd in Storrs. Prospective voters can either cast a ballot in person at this polling location, or submit an absentee ballot. For more information about voting in Mansfield, go here.
What do I need to bring?
Voters in Connecticut have to bring a form of identification, especially if they are doing same-day in-person registration. That identification does not have to be a photo I.D., though, it can be your name and a signature, your name and address or your name and photo.
How do I get an absentee ballot? How do I fill it out? Can I track it?
Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Connecticut Secretary of the State’s office mailed an absentee ballot application to all active, registered voters. If you want to vote by absentee ballot, you need to fill out that application out and send it back by Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. Ballot applications are also available online on the Secretary of the State’s website and your town website.
All voters are allowed to use COVID-19 as a reason not to vote in person this year. In a typical election year, absentee ballots can be requested for any of the following reasons: active military service, illness, religious beliefs, you’ll be out of town on Election Day, you’re working as an election official or you have a physical disability that prevents you from voting in person.
To fill out your ballot, simply fill in the circles next to the names of the candidates you are voting for and sign it. However, do not make any stray marks on the ballot or it could be rejected. Election officials are not required to notify you before rejecting your ballot, according to the Washington Post.
All ballots must be received by the time polls close on Election Day to count in Connecticut, according to the Secretary of the State’s website.
Connecticut does not have absentee ballot tracking. However, Mansfield will have a ballot box to begin collecting ballots prior to Nov. 3.
Who’s on the ballot?
There are a number of state and national races being decided on this November.
Nationally, this is a presidential election year, so there is the big question of Incumbent President Donald J. Trump (R), former Vice President Joe Biden (D) or third party. Neither Connecticut Senate seat is up for reelection this year. However, voters get to elect five candidates to serve in the U.S. House from each of the state's five congressional districts.
As for state races, many state House of Representatives and state Senate seats are on the ballot, as is the registrar of voters. To view a sample ballot from Mansfield, click here.
Do I have to register to vote? Am I eligible?
Yes, all prospective voters must register to vote before the election. If you intend to vote in person, Connecticut does have same day voter registration. However, if you are in line to register to vote when the polls close at 8 p.m., you will not be allowed to vote – you must be in the voting line by that time.
If you are going to submit an absentee ballot, all mail-in and online registrations must be in by Oct. 27, according to vote.gov.
All people who are 18 years or older on Election Day, are U.S. citizens in living in Connecticut and do not have outstanding “confinement and parole” as a result of a felony conviction are eligible to vote, according to the state of Connecticut.
Since this is not a primary election, voters are not required to be a member of a political party to vote.
Can I vote early in Connecticut?
No. Connecticut does not allow early voting.
Is there a way I can get involved on campus to inspire people to vote?
UConn’s Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) has a campaign running this year to increase voter registration and education on campus.
Tavares said their goal is to help students create a voting plan and register 2,000 people to vote by election day.
UConnPIRG held a virtual event this week with Secretary of State Denise Merrill to celebrate National Voter Registration Day on Sept. 22. First observed in 2012, the holiday is meant to serve as a designated day for voters to register, so they don’t miss registration deadlines.
Tavares noted that Merrill talked about efforts to increase the safety of in-person voting by ordering “a lot” of personal protection equipment (PPE) for poll workers on election day.
“[Merrill]’s always great, has a lot of insight and she's been working really hard to make sure that we can still participate in our democracy and also be safe at the same time,” Tavares said.
The New Voters Project is also working with the Hunger and Homelessness campaign from PIRG to create a toolkit to help homeless people learn how they can vote, even without an address, Tavares said.
“We want to make everyone feel like they can use their voice and anything that they want to make a change on,” Tavares said.
For those who want to get involved in the New Voters Project, weekly meetings are open to all on Thursdays at 5 p.m.
Top photo via studentvote.org