- physical disability
- illness
- absence from your town of residence
- religious tenets which forbid secular activity on Election Day
- active US Military
Absentee voting, including the processing of Absentee Ballot Applications and the distribution of Absentee Ballots, is managed by the Town Clerk's Office in Old Town Hall, 611 Old Post Road, 203-256-3090.
Absentee Ballot Applications
Absentee voting in Connecticut is a two-step process. A completed and signed Absentee Ballot Application must be filed with the Town Clerk before a ballot is issued.
Applications may be filed in person, by mail, or by e-mail. If filed by e-mail, the original, signed application must be returned with the ballot, or by mail, to the Town Clerk's Office by Election Day for the ballot to be counted.
Absentee Ballot Distribution
Absentee Ballots become available 31 days prior to an election. Within that 31 day window, Absentee Ballots are issued by the Town Clerk's Office upon receipt of a signed and completed application. An unvoted Absentee Ballot cannot be handled by another individual. Absentee Ballots must be mailed to the applicant if the applicant cannot or does not appear in person.
Certain special circumstances apply when a voter is hospitalized within five days of the election. Contact the Town Clerk's Office for more details on Emergency Absentee Voting.
Absentee Voting by Mail
Absentee Voting can be accomplished by mail. A signed application must be received by the Town Clerk before an Absentee Ballot can be mailed out. Absentee Ballot Applications may be issued from the Town Clerk's Office or printed from the Secretary of the State's Office. See details on Absentee Ballot Applications above.
Thirty one (31) days prior to an election, the Town Clerk's Office begins mailing out applicants' Absentee Ballots. When returning an Absentee Ballot by mail, please take special care to follow the instructions that are included in the envelope. If the materials you return are not properly signed and sealed, your vote may not be counted on Election Day.
Absentee Ballots must be received in the Town Clerk's office by 8:00 pm on Election Day. A secure ballot dropbox is available in front of Old Town Hall, 611 Old Post Road should you prefer this method over mailing your ballot.