Connecticut’s presidential primary will be held on Tuesday, April 26, and here’s what residents need to know to be able to vote in West Hartford.

By Ronni Newton

Presidential primaries and caucuses have been taking place throughout the country during the past several months, and on April 26, 2016, properly-registered Connecticut voters will have the opportunity to cast a ballot for their choice of candidate to receive the nomination.

Although there are many similarities to voting in a primary and a general election – such as the locations of the polling places and the times the polls are open (6 a.m. through 8 p.m.) – there are some significant differences.

One critical difference is that you must be registered in one of the state’s major parties – as either a Democrat or Republican – in order to vote in the primary, and you may only vote in the primary for the party with which you are registered. You have until noon on April 25 to register with one of the major parties if you are unaffiliated, but changes from one major party to the other take three months to become effective.

In addition, one other major difference is that 17-year-olds can vote in the primary if they will turn 18 before the general election date of Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2016.

West Hartford’s Registrars of Voters Beth Kyle (Republican) and Alice Weibel (Democrat) have provided the following important details. More information can also be found on the Town of West Hartford’s website under the “Voting” tab.

It’s important to first confirm that you’re a registered voter, and registered in the proper location if you have recently moved. Use the Secretary of the State’s voter lookup site — www.dir.ct.gov — to see whether you’re registered and to find your April 26th polling place. If you need to register, use Connecticut’s new online voter registration system — www.voterregistration.ct.gov — that matches your driver’s license with your name and birth date. You can register in your new town, change your party affiliation, or update your address in your current town up to a week before the election. Connecticut law requires registered voters to be:

• U.S. citizens
• at least 18 by Election Day (Iif you are currently 17 years old, but will be 18 years old by the November 8th election, you may register to vote and you may vote in the primary if you register with a major party.)
• eligible for restoration of voting rights if previously convicted of a disenfranchising felony
• a bona fide resident of your town

There are 2 major parties in Connecticut: Democratic and Republican, and there are several minor parties. If you are not enrolled in a political party, you are considered an “Unaffiliated” voter in the State of Connecticut and you may NOT vote in the primary.

If you are an Unaffiliated voter and would like to affiliate with a party, you have until 12 noon (in person) the day before a primary to do so in order to qualify to vote in that party’s primary.

In order to change party affiliation, you must complete a voter registration card and check the box marked “Party Enrollment Change.” You may also do this in-person at the ROV office during business hours or online at online (https://voterregistration.ct.gov/OLVR/welcome.do) if you have a DMV record on file.

Be prepared for your trip to the polls. Bringing your ID is important, especially if you’ve been alerted by the registrars that you must provide additional proof of residency and identity. You may visit the Secretary of the State’s website to view acceptable forms of ID.

If you are in need of an absentee ballot, you may apply for one at the Town Clerk’s office. Connecticut laws governing absentee voting are very specific. They require you to swear, under penalty of perjury, that you are unable to vote at the polls because of illness, physical disability, absence from town during all voting hours, religious tenets, military service, or service as an elections official. Absentee ballot applications must be signed by the voter. Voters may not sign applications for their college-age students or for busy spouses. Signing an application for someone else, except for a voter with a physical handicap, is a Class D felony.

The Registrar of Voters office is located at West Hartford Town Hall, 50 South Main St., Room 209, and is open the following hours:
Monday, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, 12:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Friday, 8 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

For more information, call (860) 561-7450.

Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford!