By Melissa Cruz, Parent Advocate
Are you registered to vote? Are you eligible? To be eligible to vote in Connecticut, you must be a U.S. citizen and 18 years of age by the day of the election.
You must also be a resident of a town in Connecticut. That’s it!
There are many options for voter registration. One of the fastest and easiest ways to register is online through the Secretary of State’s website: https://voterregistration.ct.gov/OLVR. You also have the option of registering at the Department of Motor Vehicles, and many other organizations offer paper registration forms. Some of these locations include your local Town Clerk and Registrars of Voters Offices, colleges and universities, public libraries as well as the Departments of Rehabilitation Services, So
cial Services, Developmental Services, and Public Health.
On Election Day, if you forgot to register to vote, it’s NOT too late! You can still register and vote on the same day at your Town’s Election Day Registration location or (EDR). The EDR location is open during the same hours as the polling place, 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM. Because you are registering to vote on the day of the Election, the I.D. requirements are more stringent. Some of the acceptable forms of I.D. include:
- Driver’s License
- Birth Certificate
- Learner’s Permit
- Utility Bill Within 30 Days of Election Day
- Paystub
- Paycheck
- Current Bank Statement
- Social Security Card
Advocacy Tip: If you are registering to vote on Election Day, check with your local Registrar of Voters about the location of the EDR and the requirements for I.D.s. Get there early – they can be very busy places on Election Day!
Voters with Disabilities – What are your rights? All polling places must be physically accessible to persons with disabilities. The route from the accessible parking to and through the polling place must be able to be navigated by individuals using mobility devices such as wheelchairs, canes, and crutches. The process or methods of voting must also be accessible to voters with disabilities. Some of the other rights of voters with disabilities include:
- Access to a sample ballot in large print.
- Any videos for use by voters must be closed captioned.
- Voting privately and independently – voting equipment for voters who cannot use a paper ballot to vote privately and independently.
- Moving to the front of the line if the disability prevents the voter from waiting.
- Unlimited time in the polling place to complete the ballot.
- Have someone assist you with marking your ballot – there are some exceptions to this rule.
- Vote using any method at the polling place. Currently, voters can manually complete a paper ballot or use the ballot marking device that must be available at all polling places and the Election Day Registration location.
- Bring a service animal into the polling place.
If you are a person who has a guardian or conservator of person, you cannot be denied the right to vote unless a probate court has issued a specific order stating that your right to vote has been taken away.
Advocacy Tip: If your polling place is not accessible – on Election Day, contact t
he Elections Division of the Office of the Secretary of the State at (860) 509-6100.
After Election Day, you can file a complaint with State Elections Enforcement Commission at:
State Elections Enforcement Commission
55 Farmington Ave
Hartford CT 06105
Phone Number: 860 256-2940
Website: https://portal.ct.gov/seec
“I’m the person who stands behind them, cheering them on with encouragement and accountability,” Katie says. “Working as an advocate is an incredible way to empower individuals to live independently.”