As next week’s primary elections approach, officials are warning voters with absentee ballots to get them in the mail on Thursday.
Under Connecticut law, ballots received by mail after 8 p.m. on Aug. 11 cannot be counted.
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Anna Posniak, president of the Connecticut Town Clerks Association, told Connecticut Public Radio that if voters can’t get their ballots mailed back, they do have another option.
“After Thursday, Aug. 6, voters should opt to use the absentee ballot drop boxes that were provided by the Secretary of the State’s office to deliver their ballot as the post office takes two to three days for local mail,” Posniak said. “If any town hall is open to the public, the voter can go into the town clerk’s office to deliver their ballot to their town clerk as well.”
Absentee ballot use is up this year due in part to an executive order issued by Gov. Ned Lamont to expand mail-in voting because of the coronavirus pandemic. The process hasn’t gone entirely smoothly. Many voters have yet to receive their ballots due to a delay in mailing.
Posniak said if voters still haven’t received their absentee ballot in time to mail it back, they should follow up by contacting their town clerk.
“There are options for the voter to ... receive a second ballot,” she said. “They will have to fill out an additional application declaring they haven’t received their ballot. We will void the first ballot and issue them a second ballot that will be cast for them on election day.”
Another alternative, if they feel comfortable, is to vote in person, and that should also be arranged through their town clerk.
“State statute does allow any voter on election day to call the town clerk prior to 10 o’clock in the morning to let them know they’ve changed their mind and want to go to the polls.”
Posniak said that all polls across the state will be open, with social distancing, mask wearing and frequent cleaning protocols in place.
Absentee ballots can be rejected if voters do not follow the instructions on the document. This includes signing and dating the ballot and ensuring it’s sealed in the inner envelope provided.
Ali Oshinskie is a corps member with Report for America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms.
