Registrar of Voters FAQ
click here for the ROV website
1. What is the last day to register to vote?
Deadline for Unaffiliated voters to register in person at the Town Hall in order to participate in either the August 10, 2010 Democratic or Republican Primary is noon, Monday, August 9. Call 860-693-7839 if you have any question as to your voting status.
2. When are absentee ballots available?
Ballots are available 30 days before an election and 3 weeks before a primary during regular business hours.
3. Who Can Be A Voter?
Any person who is a U.S. citizen, has reached the age of 18 years, and is a bona fide resident of Canton may register to vote in Canton. A bona fide resident of Canton is someone whose home is in this town and, if temporarily absent, to which he/she intends to return. A 17-year-old who fulfills the other requirements may apply to register to vote. The registration becomes effective on his/her 18th birthday. An exception to this 17 year old rule applies if he/she turns 18 by the election, he/she is eligible to vote in the primary as a 17 year old.
4. When Can I Register to Vote?
You can register to vote in Canton as soon as you establish residency in the town. There is no waiting period.
5. How Do I Register to Vote?
Registering to vote is becoming much easier. Mail-in voter applications are now available from the Department of Motor Vehicles and other state agencies, the Public Library, and the Town Clerk’s office. A person temporarily living in Texas (for example) may register to vote in Canton by filling out a CT voter registration application and mailing it to the Canton Registrars. A national application is also available. People are still able to register to vote in person. Many prefer to do so. You can do this by going to the Town Clerk’s office. A prospective voter, when registering to vote in person must bring a driver’s license or some other form of identification (passport, birth certificate, etc.).
6. When & Where Do I Vote?
Regular elections are held every year on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November. Voting hours are 6 am to 8 pm. All elections are held in the Canton Town Hall in Collinsville. Referenda, which may be called by the Selectmen or by petition (generally on fiscal matters), are held in the Canton Town Hall. Hours are 6 am-8 pm.
7. How Do I Vote If I Am Away From Canton On Election Day?
You can vote in an election even if you are unable to make it to the polls on Election Day. You may vote by absentee ballot. There are several reasons for which a person may use an absentee ballot to vote. They are:
1. Absence from town during voting hours
2. Illness or disability
3. Active service in the armed forces
4. Religious beliefs that conflict with the election, primary or referendum
Absentee ballot applications are available from the Town Clerk’s office.
Students – don’t forget to get an absentee ballot application before going off to college!!
8. How Do I Join A Political Party?
You may either join a political party at the time you register to vote or remain unaffiliated. Unaffiliated voters may enroll in a political party at any time, and a person who is a member of one political party may leave that party and join another political party at any time. Membership in the new party becomes official 3 months from the date of application.
9. Why Join A Political Party?
According to Connecticut law, with certain exceptions, only enrolled members of a political party may participate in the caucuses, conventions, and primaries of that political party. With rare exceptions, elective and appointed office holders are members of political parties. A member of a party is free to vote for whomever he/she chooses in a general election.
10. What Is A Voter Canvas?
As required by the Secretary of the State and the laws of Connecticut, a canvas of all voters, to ensure the accuracy of the voter registry list, is conducted every year. Address change information is obtained from the National Change of Address system generated by the U.S. Post Office.
11. How does one lose The Right To Vote?
You can lose the right to become a voter upon conviction of a felony (a serious crime). You may be reinstated as a voter after serving a sentence, completing parole, and/or paying a fine. |