Early Voting by Absentee Ballot Begins

Voters who have already submitted applications have begun receiving absentee ballots, enabling them to vote early in the November 3, 2020 election.

Earlier, Secretary of the State Denise Merrill (D) sent out absentee ballot applications to all voters, explaining that,

All voters are eligible to vote by absentee ballot because of COVID-19 if they choose to do so. Polling places will also be open for those who choose to vote in-person.

Those who choose to vote by absentee ballot must submit an application for the general election, even if they already did so for the primary election.

In July, state legislators overwhelmingly approved legislation that allow expanded eligibility for absentee balloting, to ensure that people will be able to exercise their right to vote while maintaining social distancing due to the ongoing pandemic.

Absentee balloting involves submitting an application to the Town Clerk’s office. The Town Clerk’s office then mails the actual ballot to each voter who applied. Voters can then complete the ballots and mail them or drop them in the ballot drop box in front of City Hall.

Many people are expected to vote early this year by voting using absentee ballots. Many states allow early and mail-in voting in all election years.

The absentee ballots sent out by the office of New Britain Town Clerk Mark Bernacki (R), included a message to voters that,

To ensure that your ballot will be received on time, please place your ballot into both the inner and outer envelopes and place your ballot into the secure drop box located in front of city hall. Once deposited in the secure drop box your ballot is considered received by the town clerk. Your ballot must be deposited in the secure drop box no later than 8:00pm on election day.

Several items are included with the ballots that are sent to voters. Three of these items are to be used by voters to prepare their ballots for return to the Town Clerk’s office for counting — the ballot and two different envelopes.

Of course, each voter completes the ballot, itself, voting for the candidates of their choice. The voter then seals their ballot in the envelope which is labeled, “B Inner Envelope for Absentee Ballot.” That envelope says,

Be sure to sign and date this envelope below. Put your completed ballot (A) — and nothing else — inside this envelope, seal the envelope, and put it inside the outer serially-numbered envelope (C).

The “B” envelope is then sealed in a second envelope that is included with the ballot. That envelope is labeled, “C.”

After a voter seals their ballot inside the “B” inner envelope, and seals the “B” envelope inside the “C” outer envelope, the voter has the option to mail it to the City of New Britain Town Clerk or drop it in the ballot drop box outside of City Hall on West Main Street. Many people are choosing to use the ballot drop box because of delays with postal delivery.

The City Hall is located at 27 West Main Street, 06051.

There are actually two ballot drop boxes at City Hall. The other is located outside of the Town Clerk’s office on the first floor inside City Hall, itself. Two other ballot drop boxes have been made available to New Britain, but have apparently not been used to make the boxes available in other parts of the city.

Merrill’s office tells voters that they may, “Track when your ballot is mailed to you at myvotect.gov/lookup.” That website says that,

On this page you will be able to see if your absentee ballot was received by your town clerk. If it does not say that your absentee ballot was received on this page, then your absentee ballot has not yet been received and you should contact your town clerk.

The phone number of the New Britain Town Clerk’s office is 860-826-3344.

For people who are not already registered to vote, the Secretary of the State’s office has a website allowing people to register to vote online. That website is voterregistration.ct.gov.

Merrill’s office has a website with more information about voting by absentee ballot, including how to download and complete an application for an absentee ballot.

Those who will be voting in person, or who register to vote on election day, will be voting on November 3, 2020. This year’s election includes choices for President, Congress, State Senator, State Representative and Registrar of Voters.