No Excuses! Absentee Voting Is on the Ballot this Year
by League of Women Voters of Connecticut
“Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the General Assembly to allow each voter to vote by absentee ballot?”
Connecticut voters will see the above question on their November 5 ballot. A “yes” vote supports authorizing our State Legislators to make absentee voting available to ALL eligible Connecticut voters for any reason. A “no” vote opposes any changes, keeping current language in the State Constitution that requires a voter to have a specific reason… to request an absentee ballot.
Currently, Connecticut voters can request an absentee ballot only if they cannot make it to the polls on election day for… active military service, absence from town of residence during voting hours, sickness, physical disability, religious beliefs precluding secular activity on election day, or performance of duties as an election official at a different polling place during voting hours.
Under the amendment, an absentee ballot would still be returned either in person or by mail to the voter’s city or town clerk’s office by the close of business the day before the election, or dropped in an official ballot drop-box before the polls close at 8 p.m. on election day…
Connecticut is behind… other states when it comes to access to absentee voting. It’s time to catch up! Connecticut’s restrictions on voting access are outdated – 28 states do not require a specific reason to vote absentee, including New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. Eight states and the District of Columbia conduct their elections entirely by mail. Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/yc5frjvw.