How to Vote in Connecticut’s 2022 Elections

En español | While most of Connecticut’s 2022 electoral races will not require a primary election, the state’s Primary Election Day will take place on Aug. 9 for those races that do. Winners of the primaries progress to November’s general election, where voters will elect officials for U.S. House and Senate, the state House and Senate, governor, attorney general and several other state offices.

Connecticut’s November general election ballot will let voters weigh in on a state constitutional amendment that would allow the Connecticut General Assembly to introduce early in-person voting. The question will be: “Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the General Assembly to provide for early voting?” Voters can vote “yes” or “no.” 

New voting laws passed last year make it easier to vote absentee by ensuring availability of drop boxes, allowing voters with temporary disabilities and chronic illnesses to automatically receive absentee ballots, allowing absentee voters with visual impairment to receive a ballot electronically, as well as other provisions.

And a new law passed this year further expands eligibility for absentee voting, mainly to commuters, caretakers and other voters worried about illness. Previously, voters could only get an absentee ballot if they were working out of town during all polling hours on Election Day or if they personally had an illness or physical disability that made them unable to vote at their polling place during voting hours. Now, voters may qualify for an absentee ballot if they are traveling for only part of Election Day or if they are concerned about sickness, including COVID-19, for either themself or someone they are taking care of.

A new redistricting plan has changed certain boundaries of some state legislative and U.S. congressional districts and may affect which candidates appear on your ballot.

• Absentee voting: Only certain kinds of registered voters can request an absentee ballot, including those who cannot appear at their assigned polling place on Election Day due to absence, sickness or physical disability.

• Early in-person voting: Connecticut doesn’t currently offer early in-person voting. If you’re unable to vote on Election Day, request an absentee ballot.

• In-person voting on Election Day: The state’s primaries are Tuesday, Aug. 9; the general election is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Online: Use the state’s online voter registration system to register, check your registration, or change your name, address or party affiliation. You must have a current driver’s license, learner’s permit or non-driver photo identification card issued by the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and a signature on file with the DMV.

• By mail: Print out a voter registration form, complete it and mail it to your local registrar of voters.

• In person: Go to your local registrar of voters or your town clerk, or a state or public agency that offers voter registration, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles, state library or social service agency.

For the primaries, mailed-in registration applications must be either postmarked or received by your local registrar of voters by Thursday, Aug. 4. Or you can register in person at your local registrar of voters or town clerk until noon on Monday, Aug. 8.

For the general election, mailed-in applications must be postmarked or received by your local registrar of voters­ by Tuesday, Nov. 1. In-person registration at your local registrar of voters must also be done by Tuesday, Nov. 1.

If you miss registration deadlines for the general election, you can register and vote on Election Day at your designated Election Day Registration location between 6 a.m and 8 p.m. Election officials recommend arriving early, as there may be long lines and you must be registered by 8 p.m. You’ll need to show a copy of a current valid photo ID that includes your name and address, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document with your name and address. Same-day registration is not available for the primaries.

You can check if you’re registered to vote through the state’s voter portal.  

It does in partisan primary elections — only registered voters of a specific party may vote in that party’s primary. The parties can open their primaries to allow independent voters to participate, but that’s currently not the case.

If you’re a newly registered voter or an unaffiliated voter, the deadline to register with a party for the Aug. 9 primaries is noon on Monday, Aug. 8. 

If you are already affiliated with a party but want to change to a different party to vote in its primary, you must do so 90 days before the primaries — so, by Monday, May 9. Use the state’s online voter registration system or contact your local registrar of voters to change your party affiliation.

Only registered voters who cannot appear at their assigned polling place on Election Day due to absence during voting hours, sickness, physical disability, military service, religious tenets or duties as an election official can request an absentee ballot for the primaries and general election.

If you qualify for an absentee ballot, you must submit a separate application for the primaries and the general election unless you have a chronic illness or disability, in which case you can contact your town clerk to apply for a permanent absentee ballot. That will ensure you get an absentee ballot for each election without having to request one.

You can apply for an absentee ballot:

• By mail: Download and complete the application for an absentee ballot. Return the completed application to your town clerk. You can also request an application be mailed to you from your town clerk. 

• By fax: Fax the completed application, if your town clerk has a fax machine. But you must also mail the original application to the clerk, either separately or with your completed absentee ballot. The application must be received (not postmarked) by the close of polls Election Day for the absentee ballot to be counted. 

• In person: Visit your town clerk. You can apply through the day before Election Day.

There is no specific deadline for applying by mail or fax, but election officials encourage you to apply as early as possible to ensure your ballot arrives in time. Absentee ballots are distributed no earlier than 21 days before the primaries (Tuesday, July 19) and no more than 31 days before the general election (Saturday, Oct. 8). If your application is received after these dates, your ballot will be mailed to you as soon as your application is processed. 

In the event of an unforeseen illness or physical disability within six days of the polls closing, you can submit an emergency application for an absentee ballot. Read more on the state’s Absentee Voting webpage.

A new law calls for a new online system for requesting absentee ballots, but it’s unclear when it will be ready.

Complete the absentee ballot and return it:

• By mail: To your town clerk. It must be received (not postmarked) no later than 8 p.m. — the close of polls — on Election Day.

• Via drop box: Drop boxes are operational 29 days before Election Day (Monday, July 11, for the primaries, and Monday, Oct. 10, for the general election) through to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Find your local drop box via the state’s voter portal.

• In person: You must return it to your town clerk by the close of business the day before Election Day.
  

Yes. Log into the state’s voter portal to see if your absentee ballot was received by your town clerk.

No. Connecticut doesn’t currently offer early in-person voting, though the vote on a state constitutional amendment on November's general election ballot could change that. If you’re unable to vote in person on Election Day, request an absentee ballot. 

The primary elections are Tuesday, Aug. 9, and the general election is Tuesday, Nov. 8. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Use the state's voter portal to find your assigned polling place. 

Technically, no — unless you are a first-time voter. First-timers will be asked to show a copy of a current valid photo ID that includes a name and address, or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document with their name and address. 

All other voters will be asked to present either a Social Security card or any form of ID that shows either their name and address, name and signature, or name and photograph. However, you may sign an affidavit in lieu of presenting one of these IDs.

• U.S. Senate: One seat, currently held by Democrat Richard Blumenthal, who’s running for reelection.
• U.S. House: All 5 seats
• State Senate: All 36
• State House: All 151
• Governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of the state, comptroller, and treasurer
• The Connecticut Allow for Early Voting Amendment, which would introduce the option of early in-person voting in future elections, is on November’s general election ballot.

Editor’s note: This guide was updated on Aug. 9, 2022, with a link to a press release on how the new absentee ballot statute is being interpreted in regards to COVID-19.

• Follow AARP's political coverage at aarp.org/elections
• Keep up with local events and AARP advocacy efforts at states.aarp.org/connecticut