How to vote in Connecticut
On this page
- Voter registration deadline (online): 7 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (by mail): Postmarked by 7 days before Election Day
- Voter registration deadline (in person): Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (online): N/A
- Ballot request deadline (by mail): Received by 1 day before Election Day
- Ballot request deadline (in person): 1 day before Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Ballot return deadline (in person): Received by Election Day if proxy deliverer, or 1 day BEFORE Election Day if delivered by voter
Connecticut voter registration guide
- Register to vote (online): 7 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (by mail): Postmarked by 7 days before Election Day
- Register to vote (in person): Election Day
- If you can't remember if you're registered to vote, or you want to make sure your information is correct, you can check your Connecticut registration using the Connecticut voter registration lookup site.
- If you're not registered to vote, or you need to update your voter registration information, follow the instructions below.
To register in Connecticut you must:
- be a citizen of the United States
- be a resident of Connecticut and of the town where you want to vote
- be 17 years old (you can vote when you turn 18)
- not currently be declared mentally incompetent to vote by a court of law
- if convicted of a felony, have completed confinement and parole. If you have been convicted of an election related crime, you cannot vote until you have completed prison, probation, and parole.
You can register to vote online if you have a Connecticut driver license, driver permit, or nondriver ID card issued by the Connecticut DMV.
- Visit the Connecticut online voter registration site.
- Fill out all the required fields.
- You will be registered to vote as soon as you finish the workflow.
- You should receive your voter registration card in the mail within 2-3 weeks. If not, you might want to follow up with your local election office.
- The deadline to register to vote online is 7 days before Election Day.
- Download and fill out the National Voter Registration Form.
- Box 6 - ID Number: Connecticut Driver's License Number, or if none, the last four digits of your Social Security Number.
- Box 7 - Choice of Party: Connecticut has a closed primary system. You must register with a politcal party if you wish to vote in that party's primary elections.
- Box 8 - Race or Ethnic Group: Leave blank.
- Print, date, and sign the form. If you do not have a printer, you can print the form out at any local library. If you do not have a stamp, you can buy one from any grocery store: just ask the cashier to sell you one.
- Mail your voter registration form to the mailing address below. For faster delivery, send the form directly to your local election office.
- Your voter registration form must be postmarked by 7 days before Election Day.
- Contact your local election office to find where to register to vote in person.
Bring your Connecticut driver's license, birth certificate, Social Security card, student ID, state ID card or any ID that shows your name and current address. If you don't have a valid ID, you may also bring a utility bill that has your name, current address and a due date no later than thirty days after the election or, if you are a student, you may bring a registration or fee statement that includes your name and current address.
- Summary: Connecticut has Election Day registration. You can register and vote on Election Day.
- Where to go:
Go to your town's Election Day Registration location. Click here to find where to vote.
- What to bring:
Bring your Connecticut driver's license, birth certificate, Social Security card, student ID, state ID card or any ID that shows your name and current address. If you don't have a valid ID, you may also bring a utility bill that has your name, current address and a due date no later than thirty days after the election or, if you are a student, you may bring a registration or fee statement that includes your name and current address.
- Need help? Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Voting rights are immediately restored for most felonies immediately upon release from prison. If you were convincted for violating the Connecticut Election Code, your voting rights will be restored after you complete probation.
- You cannot vote while incarcerated.
- You can vote while on parole.
- You can vote while on probation.
- You can vote upon completion of your sentence.
- No financial obligations.
- Please visit Restore Your Vote for additional information.
Connecticut absentee and mail ballot guide
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): N/A
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 1 day before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 1 day before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day if proxy deliverer, or 1 day BEFORE Election Day if delivered by voter
You may vote by absentee ballot in Connecticut if:
- You will be absent from town during all the hours of voting
- You are ill
- You have a physical disability which makes it difficult for you to get to the polls
- You are active duty within the US military
- Your religion forbids non-religious activity on Election Day
- Your will be working as a poll worker at a polling place other than your own during all the hours on Election Day
Connecticut does not allow you to request your ballot online.
- Download the Connecticut absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received by 1 day before Election Day.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 1 day before Election Day.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a drop box if one is available nearby. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day if proxy deliverer, or 1 day BEFORE Election Day if delivered by voter.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
Track your ballot here: Connecticut absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if your signature is missing, or if your signature does not match the one the state has on file for you.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
You can apply for an emergency absentee ballot if you are become disabled or are hospitalized within 6 days of Election Day. You can choose to appoint a designee to deliver the application and ballot. Your application must include the date of injury and the address of the hospital (if you are hospitalized).
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends close of polls on Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is Election Day
Contact your local election office
Connecticut early voting guide
- Early voting starts: N/A
- Early voting ends: N/A
You must show an ID that shows your name and address, name and signature, or name and photograph. However, if you are a first time voter and registered by mail or are voting in a primary election then you must show a non-expired photo ID that shows your name and address. If you do not have a valid photo ID, you can still vote by showing a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address. If you are unable to provide a valid ID then you can still vote by signing and affidavit and using a provisional ballot.
Connecticut voter ID guide
You must show an ID that shows your name and address, name and signature, or name and photograph. However, if you are a first time voter and registered by mail or are voting in a primary election then you must show a non-expired photo ID that shows your name and address. If you do not have a valid photo ID, you can still vote by showing a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows your name and address. If you are unable to provide a valid ID then you can still vote by signing and affidavit and using a provisional ballot.
The signature on your absentee ballot application will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match.
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
You can register to vote online if you have a Connecticut driver license, driver permit, or nondriver ID card issued by the Connecticut DMV.
Bring your Connecticut driver's license, birth certificate, Social Security card, student ID, state ID card or any ID that shows your name and current address. If you don't have a valid ID, you may also bring a utility bill that has your name, current address and a due date no later than thirty days after the election or, if you are a student, you may bring a registration or fee statement that includes your name and current address.
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Connecticut elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Secretary of the State of Connecticut Elections Division P.O. Box 150470 Hartford, CT 06115-0470