Gov. Ned Lamont, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, congressional candidate Luke Bronin and other local candidates held a news conference in West Hartford urging Connecticut residents to vote.

By Mia Jaworski

The news conference, held at Gastropark in West Hartford, came three days before early voting begins in Connecticut and just over two weeks before Election Day. 

Also in attendance were Tiffani McGinnis, a candidate for the 18th House District, state Rep. Kate Farrar, who represents the 20th House District, and Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam.

Early Voting

In Connecticut, early voting for the Nov. 3 general election begins Monday, Oct. 19, and runs through Nov. 1.

The officials encouraged residents to make a plan to vote, arguing that the election will shape the future of Connecticut and the country, particularly on issues including affordability, health care, housing and voting access.

Early voting in West Hartford will take place from Monday, Oct. 19, through Sunday, Nov. 1, in the Town Hall Auditorium on the third floor.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with extended hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27, and Thursday, Oct. 29. Same-day voter registration will be available during all early voting hours. All registered West Hartford voters may vote at Town Hall during the early voting period.

On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, voters must cast their ballots at their assigned polling place.

No Excuse Absentee Voting

In May, Ned Lamont signed into law legislation providing all eligible voters in Connecticut with the option of casting their ballots in elections and primaries using absentee ballots.

Connecticut voters can now cast absentee ballots without providing a specific reason, making voting more accessible for those facing transportation, work, caregiving or mobility barriers.

Voters can request an absentee ballot online or by submitting a paper application. The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Nov. 2, 2026.

Candidates Urge Voters to Make Their Voices Heard.

Speakers at the press conference urged Connecticut residents not to take the election for granted, pointing to affordability, health care, housing and voting access as issues that could shape the state and country’s future.

“We cannot afford to take this election for granted,” said Luke Bronin, a former Hartford mayor and Democratic candidate for Connecticut’s 1st Congressional District. He urged voters to reject what he described as the “chaos and the corruption and the cruelty” of President Donald Trump’s administration.

Bronin said Connecticut should continue to serve as a model for government focused on residents’ needs, arguing that state leaders must continue working to address the rising costs of housing, child care and other necessities.

Lamont encouraged residents to take advantage of the expanded voting options and make their voices heard.

“Don’t let anybody tell you their vote doesn’t make a difference,” Lamont said. “If we didn’t find out two years ago how much votes make a difference. We know that now.”

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy warned that federal Medicaid cuts could have significant consequences for Connecticut residents, saying Republicans had delayed the most severe cuts until after the election.

“Of course, Republicans conveniently postpone the worst of the Medicaid cuts until just after the election, but nobody’s fooled,” Murphy said. “Everybody knows that these cuts are coming.”

Murphy said reversing cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, and Medicaid would be an immediate priority if Democrats regained control of Congress.

Murphy also credited Lamont with expanding voting access in Connecticut, saying the state’s early voting options resulted from deliberate efforts to make elections more accessible.

“We shouldn’t take for granted the fact that on Monday, everyone in Connecticut has a chance to early vote,” Murphy said. “That happened because Ned Lamont made it a priority.”

Governor Lamont and and U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy joined other Democratic leaders at Gastropark in West Hartford on Friday to encourage residents to make a plan to vote on Oct. 16, 2026. Photo credit: Mia Jaworski

The speakers also highlighted child care costs, food assistance and public safety as issues they said would be shaped by the election.

West Hartford residents can vote early at Town Hall’s third-floor auditorium from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, Oct. 19 through Nov. 1. Extended hours are available from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 27 and 29. Same-day voter registration is available during all early voting hours. On Election Day, Nov. 3, voters must cast their ballots at their assigned polling place.

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