Voting in-person? Here's what to expect if you go to the polls on Election Day
The lines will be long and people will be spaced 6 feet apart. Don't forget your mask and a form of ID.
Photo from mansfieldct.gov
Here’s how COVID-19 and social distancing will affect the polling center at the Mansfield Community Center, which is where UConn students vote in-person. The answers below are from Vera Ward, Mansfield’s Republican registrar of voters.
Q: What social distancing measures will be put in place at the polling center?
A: The lines will be long, and people will be spaced 6 feet apart. They will be mostly outside. We ask that people wear a mask, but people who refuse to wear a mask will still be allowed to vote, there will just be a path cleared for them. People should use their own black and blue pens, otherwise we would have to sanitize them after each use. We will have people sanitize voting stations, and we will have hand sanitizer on the way out. We ask that people do not use hand sanitizer before voting, as it will dampen the ballots.
Q: Do you think it will take longer for people to vote in person because of this?
A: Yes. I don’t know how long exactly as it depends on the volume of people, but it will take longer to vote. The line will be even longer for same-day registration in the Town Hall.
Q: President Donald Trump urged his supporters to form an "army" of poll watchers on Election Day. Rumors of voter fraud have been rampant. Will there be any kind of security/police presence at the community center poll to reassure people?
A: Yes, people are concerned and no, we have no reason to expect any trouble—just possibly long lines waiting socially distant from one another. And, yes, we will have police presence for the duration of the polling hours at each of the polling places—this is not unusual and have had police presence at previous elections.
What else to know about voting in-person in Connecticut
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 website of Connecticut Secretary of State Denise Merrill.
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.
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 offer 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.