Connecticut General Assembly: Connecticut General Assembly elections, 2026 – Ballotpedia

Connecticut Gubernatorial: Connecticut gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026 – Ballotpedia

Vote by mail ballot

• Registered voters can apply for a vote-by-mail ballot by following the instructions found HERE or contacting their Twon Clerk.
• Absentee ballot applications are available for download online at myvote.ct.gov/absentee

Then vote and return your ballot one of the following ways:

1. You can return the ballot via the United States Postal Service or in person in the Town Clerk’s office
2. Via the Secure Drop Box which will likely be located outside of the town hall.
3. All ballots must be received by the close of polls, 8:00PMon election day
4. Voters who return their absentee ballot prior to Election Day will not be allowed to vote in a polling place on Election Day unless they have gone to their municipal clerk’s office before 10:00 am on Election Day to request their absentee ballot be withdrawn and received an affidavit certifying that the absentee ballot has been withdrawn
5. If you have further questions about the laws surrounding absentee ballots in Connecticut, email LEAD@ct.gov or call (860) 509-6100.

Who can return an Absentee Ballot?

• By law, only the voter, an immediate family member who lives with the voter (such as a spouse, child, parent or sibling) or a designee caring for a voter with an illness or disability – such as a doctor or nurse – can return an absentee ballot. 
• The only other legal designees are a town police officer, Registrar of Voters, Deputy Registrar of Voters, or Assistant Registrar of Voters. See C.G.S. 9-140b (a) (b) 

In-person early voting

No matter where you live in the county, you can vote for your specific ballot at any of your county’s designated in-person early voting locations. Find your county’s locations HERE 

Early voting locations will be open from at least 10 am to 8 pm on Mondays through Saturdays, and from at least 10 am to 6 pm on Sundays. No appointment is necessary. Accommodations will be made for voters with disabilities.

At your polling place on election day

Vote in person at your polling place, from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Accommodations will be made for voters with disabilities. Click HERE for your polling place, listed on the Polling Locations page.

To register to vote in Connecticut, you must meet the following criteria:

1. Be a United States citizen. Be at least 17 years old, though you cannot vote until you reach 18.
2. B a resident of Connecticut and of the twon you wish to vote
3. If previously convicted of a felony, have completed confinement. Voting rights are generally restored upon completion of confinement. To restore voting rights of convicted felons, read HERE
4. To register:
   • Register online through Connecticut’s voter registration system, by mail, or in person with your town’s Registrars of Voters. Register online HERE
   • Connecticut does not use county election offices. Elections are administered by local towns and cities.
5. You are ineligible to register if you are currently serving a period of confinement for a felony conviction
6. The registration deadline for the next election is 18 days before election day.
7. Connecticut also offers Same Day Registration, allowing eligible voters to register and vote on Election Day at their town’s designated Same Day Registration location

More information can be found HERE

You can check the ballot status HERE

Search for your nearest polling place by clicking HERE

Sources of information may include:

• Campaign literature
• Candidate websites and social media
• Press reports ads (radio, television, mailings)
• Information about candidates’ parties and platforms
• Candidate speeches
• Candidate debates
• www.VOTE411.org

Television and radio advertisements: Evaluate what insights you gained about the candidate from the ad. Did it provide information on their stance on issues or their qualifications? Consider whether the ad was tailored to appeal to specific demographics, such as women, the elderly, or minorities. If an ad heavily or exclusively targets your emotions, ensure to verify the facts presented.

Fact-checking: Utilize reputable and impartial fact-checking platforms to delve deeper into candidates’ claims and statements.

Pamphlets, flyers, and candidate websites: Exercise caution when reviewing these materials. While they may offer valid and substantive information, they could also contain distortions or evasions. Be alert for unfounded accusations or falsehoods directed at opponents.

Political party and platform: Consider the positions of a candidate’s party on issues important to you, even if the candidate hasn’t directly addressed them.

Character Attacks/Diversion Tactics: These involve derogatory remarks about an opponent’s personal traits that are irrelevant to their performance in the office. References to race, ethnicity, or marital status may also be employed to sow prejudice.

Loaded Statements: Statements like “I oppose wasteful spending” lack specificity and insinuate that the candidate’s opponent supports it. Empty Phrases: Beware of vacuous terms like “law and order” or “the American way” designed to evoke emotional responses rather than convey meaningful information.

Provocation: While politics can be robust, resorting to harassment and intimidation as campaign tactics is unnecessary. Be cautious of candidates who attempt to portray opponents as weak or inept through aggressive tactics.

Shifting Accountability: When a candidate blames another party or individual for significant issues like unemployment or inflation, it’s crucial to fact-check these claims.

Overpromising: Be wary of candidates making impractical pledges that no elected official could realistically fulfill.

Dodging Substantive Matters: Some candidates skirt around providing clear responses to direct questions. Be vigilant of candidates who discuss benefits without addressing associated costs or providing implementation details.

Visit VOTE411.org to view candidates’ responses to policy questions.

Once you’ve gathered information from campaigns and other sources, you will want to learn what other people think of the candidate. But do not discount your own informed judgments!

Seek the opinions of others in the community Find out who they support and why, and what shaped their political opinions.

Learning about endorsements provides clues to the issues a candidate supports.

Look into campaign contributions Where did the candidate get the funds to finance a campaign? How might these contributions affect the candidate’s conduct in office?

Before placing complete trust in the findings of a poll, it is essential to pose the following inquiries:

1. Who funded the poll? Polls backed by political parties or candidates may withhold unfavorable data.
2. What questions were posed? Were they framed in a biased manner? It is crucial to identify not only overtly biased questions but also those subtly nudging respondents towards a predetermined answer, lacking room for nuanced responses.
3. Who were the respondents and how many were surveyed? What was the method of selection? A random or proportional representation of the population is crucial for reliable results. Smaller sample sizes lead to wider margins of error in the findings

The way a candidate conducts their campaign can serve as a significant indicator of their potential performance as a public official following the election. A candidate who conducts an open, issues-centered campaign is likely to transition into an accessible, honest, and considerate public official.

1. Accessibility: Is the candidate open to debating opponents? Do they regularly engage with the press? Are they willing to speak before diverse groups, including those who may not share their views?
2. Information: Does the campaign provide clear information on the candidate’s positions on various issues? Are position papers readily available? Is it easy to access the candidate’s voting records?
3. Media Presence: While seeing a candidate at rallies or shaking hands in public may not provide insight into their positions, media interactions are crucial. Pay attention to interviews and forums where candidates discuss their stances and policies.
4. Does the candidate give full answers on your key issues?
5. What happens when answers are evasive or off the point?
6. Who selected the audience? A disinterested party or political party?
7. In what venues does the candidate make appearances? Does the campaign emphasize events where the candidate can only talk on safe and narrow topics?

Ask yourself these final questions:

• Which candidates’ views on the issues did you agree with the most?
• Who ran the fairest campaign?
• Which candidate possesses the most comprehensive understanding of the issues?
• Which candidate has the leadership qualities you are looking for?
• Is the choice clear? If so, pick a candidate.