Voter Registration Extended to November 1
HARTFORD — Secretary of the State Denise Merrill reminds eligible Connecticut voters who want to cast a ballot in the November 6 presidential election that they now have until 8 p.m. Thursday, November 1, to register to vote in person at their town offices.
The extended deadline was set by an executive issued by Governor Dannel P. Malloy on Sunday, October 28, as Hurricane Sandy was bearing down on the Atlantic coast.
“Hurricane Sandy is clearly a major disaster for our state, and while many residents are just trying to pick up the pieces, our Presidential election is less than a week away,” said Secretary Merrill, Connecticut’s chief elections official. “We wanted to make sure that everyone was aware of the fact that there are two extra days to register to vote if you want to cast a ballot on November 6th, thanks to Governor Malloy’s executive order.
“I urge anyone who has not yet registered to take advantage of this opportunity if you can. We are also now in the assessment mode and will guide our election administration partners on the local level through the difficulties presented by this serious storm. After this morning’s conference call we will be able to see how many polling places lack power, and where help is needed.
The good news is that we have a core of extremely dedicated, hard working local officials who are committed to making sure voters can cast ballots next Tuesday. We are fully supportive of their efforts and we will help guide them through this difficult period as we have done in the past. Our communities are very resilient and I am confident we will be able to conduct a successful election, even in less than ideal circumstances.”
State law allows polling place locations to be changed prior to an election if both Democratic and Republican Registrars of voters agree to a plan to move or consolidate polling precincts.
Similar decisions were made in the aftermath of the rare October snowstorm in 2011 that also took place one week before the general election.
Registrars and town clerks have also offered to help colleagues who lack electric power by offering their own office space to print and prepare voter lists, and enter newly registered voters into the Connecticut Voter Registration System.
Any eligible voter in Connecticut — a United States citizen who is a resident of the state aged 18 or over — can register to vote in person until Thursday, November 1, if they want to cast a ballot in the November 6 presidential election.
Those interested may visit www.sots.ct.gov to download voter registration forms, see if they are registered to vote, see where their polling place is located or download an application for an absentee ballot.