Early Voting: What You Need to Know

Early voting was approved by Connecticut voters in 2022. During the 2023 legislative session, the General Assembly authorized in-person early voting for elections held after April 1, 2024. Under this schedule, the first election utilizing early voting will be the Presidential Preference Primary on April 2, 2024.

The early voting dates for this election have been modified to reflect the Good Friday holiday and Easter Sunday. Early Voting will be held Tuesday, March 26 through Thursday, March 28 and Saturday, March 30.

Under the new law, each town must establish at least one early voting location, approved by the Secretary of the State, which is accessible to voters with physical disabilities. Municipalities with populations of at least 20,000 may offer

additional locations, if approved by their legislative body.

The length of the early voting period depends on the type of election:

▪ 14 days for general elections;

▪ 7 days for most primaries; and

▪ 4 days for special elections and the presidential preference primary.

For all elections, early voting locations must be open from 10am to 6pm. For general elections and most primaries, the locations must be open on the last Tuesday and Thursday of the period from 8am to 8pm.

March 25 – Unaffiliated voters have until noon on March 25 to enroll in a party to be able to vote during early voting.

March 26, 27, 28, 30 – Connecticut will have four days of early voting – March 26, 27, 28 and 30. Hours will be 10am to 6pm. Voters should check with their local town registrar’s office for their town’s early voting location.

April 1 – The deadline to register in person in your city or town is noon on April 1 if you want to vote on April 2. April 1 at noon is the deadline for unaffiliated voters to enroll in a party in person for voting on April 2.

April 2 – Connecticut’s Presidential Preference Primary election will be on April 2. Polls will be open from 6am to 8pm.

November General Elections:

Absentee Ballot voting requires a reason (from a list of six found at MyVote.CT.gov). Early Voting is available to every eligible voter without a specific reason. Early Voting may only be done in person, not via mail or drop box. You must provide adequate identification, as if voting in person on election day.

The election official at your Early Voting location will record that you’ve cast your ballot, preventing you from voting early at any other location, submitting an absentee ballot, or voting on Election Day.

Ballots cast during Early Voting will be sealed and stored securely in each town. They will be opened and counted on Election Day.

Anyone encountering problems on Election Day should call the Election Day Hotline at 1-866-733-2463 or send an email to elections@ct.gov.