Ask The Registrar

Q1. Somebody said that people start voting for president in Stratford on Oct. 21. How is that possible?

Connecticut is in Year 1 of offering Early Voting for all primary and general elections. The Legislature mandated that every town offer two weeks of early voting leading up to the Nov. 5 election (except for the Monday before the election, when we are setting up the polling locations).

Oct. 21 begins the two-week period.

Q2. I am out of town on Nov. 5. What are my options?

It sounds like you qualify for an Absentee Ballot; they are distributed after Oct. 4, and you usually mail it back to Town Hall. If interested, contact the Town Clerk: [email protected]

To take advantage of Early Voting, go to the Baldwin Center, 1000 East Broad St. (adjacent to the library). We will have ballots there from all 10 voting locations in Stratford. You can vote there from Oct. 21 to Nov. 3, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. In addition, on Tuesday Oct. 29 and Thursday Oct. 31, hours are extended from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (I am not sure how many people want to vote on Halloween night at 8 p.m., but we will be there.

Q3. Was Early Voting successful in the August primary?

Some 44 other states offer some form of EV; studies do >not< find it leads to higher turnout. We are finding that roughly 10 percent of Stratford voters take advantage of EV. Other states find the percentage increases in succeeding years as voters get used to it.

While Early Voting gives you more options, it is expensive for the town to pay all the necessary poll workers. Stratford estimates it will cost the town more than $40,000 total to meet the state mandate for the April and August primaries and the November general election. (It is hard to agree on an exact cost; for example, if a town IT worker wires the Baldwin Center during the normal work week, should that cost be included?)

Q4. I think I am registered to vote, and I want to be sure to vote in November. Is there any way to check online?

Yes, go to https://portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx and supply your name and address. The web site will confirm your registration and confirm where you would vote on Election Day.

Q5. Does all the publicity surrounding the presidential race make more people vote?

We expect about 75% of all registered voters in Stratford to cast ballots for the Nov. 5 election. When the governor and/or U.S. Senate races are on the ballot, about 50% of Stratford voters cast a ballot. Next year, with the mayor’s race topping the ticket, turnout will be about 35%. And when the Town Council and Board of Education races top the ballot, turnout is about 28%.

The presidential race does attract more attention, which may lead to higher turnout, as you suggest. But people vote for many different reasons. Some may cast a ballot only for president because they think the office has more power … or because they think they know national issues better than municipal issues … or they feel the stakes are higher.

Q1. Stratford is holding primary elections on August 13, 2024. Are you eligible to vote?

All registered Republicans can take part in the GOP primary election to choose the party’s candidate for U.S. Senate. All 10 usual polling locations in Stratford will be open.

Q2. How about the Democrats?

Only registered Democrats in state Senate District 23 can take part in a primary election to choose the Democratic candidate for a contested state Senate seat. The Senate District includes only some of the voters who usually cast ballots at Stratford’s D1 (Lordship School), D3 (Johnson House) and D4 (Franklin School).

• There are 1,265 Democrats in District 1, but only 67 Democrats from D1 live in Senate District 23 and are therefore eligible.
• In District 3, 1,683 Democrats out of 1,817 party members are eligible.
• In D4, 617 of the 1,270 registered Democrats are eligible.

How do you know if you live in state Senate District 23?
Go to https://portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx and supply your name and address. In the middle of the screen, you will get your polling location, followed by your state Assembly District number and then the state Senate District number. For example, my own information says:
Polling Location Address
State: Chapel Street School 120 21
So, I vote at Chapel Street School. My state Assembly District is 120. My state Senate district is 21. So, I am >not< eligible to vote in the Aug 13 Democratic primary since it is only for Democrats in Senate District 23.

If you are still having questions, e-mail us at [email protected] and we will look up your voting status and let you know.

Q3. What are my options for voting?

Eligible voters can cast a ballot:

• On Election Day, Aug. 13
• During seven days of Early Voting, held at the Baldwin
  Center Aug. 5-11
• By applying for an Absentee Ballot from the Town Clerk
  (contact [email protected])

Q4. Who is on the ballot?

Republican voters will help decide which GOP candidate should oppose Democratic incumbent U.S. Senator Chris Murphy this fall: Beacon Falls First Selectman Gerry Smith, who was endorsed by the GOP, or challenger Matthew Corey. That is the only office on the GOP ballot.

Eligible Democrats can vote for one of two Democratic state Senate candidates: incumbent Sen. Herron Gaston, who was endorsed by the party, or challenger Ernest Newton. That is the only office on the Democratic ballot.

Q5. What if I don’t belong to a party?

If you are currently an Unaffiliated voter (not a member of any formal political party), you can switch to the Democrats or Republicans and take part in that party’s Aug. 13 primary if you act by noontime on Friday, August 2. You can switch parties here: https://voterregistration.ct.gov/OLVR

Q1. Do we know if there is a Primary election in Stratford in August? Why have another primary
when we just had one in April?

All Stratford Democrats and Republicans had the option of voting in an April 2, 2024 primary for whom their party’s candidate for President should be. There will be party Primaries in August because some candidates for state office who were endorsed by their party were challenged by insurgent candidates. So there is an August 13, 2024, primary election in Stratford — but whether you are eligible to vote depends on your party and voting location. All registered Republicans town-wide can vote in a primary to help decide which GOP candidate should oppose Democratic incumbent U.S. Senator Chris Murphy: Beacon Falls First Selectman Gerry Smith, who was endorsed by the GOP, vs. challenger Matthew Corey. That is the only office on the GOP ballot; again, every registered Republican is eligible to vote, in Stratford and statewide.

Q2. How about if I am a Democrat?

It’s complicated. Really complicated. If you live in State Senate District 23 — which includes parts of Stratford’s District 1 (Lordship School), D3 (Johnson House), and D4 (Franklin School) — yes you can vote on Aug. 13 for one of two Democratic candidates: the incumbent Democratic state Sen. Herron Gaston, or challenger Ernest Newton III, who once held the seat. Newton gathered enough petition signatures to force a primary. Again, that is the only office on the Democratic ballot. Turnout is going to be extremely light in both primaries.

Q3. So how do I know if I live in state Senate District 23?

The state does not make it easy to check. You can go to https://portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx and supply your name and address. In the middle of the screen, you will get your polling location, followed by your state Assembly District number and then the state Senate District number. For example, my own information says:

Polling Location Address

State: Chapel Street School 120 21

So I vote at Chapel Street School. My state Assembly District is 120. My state Senate district is 21. So I am >not< eligible to vote in the Aug 13 Democratic primary since it is only for Democrats in Senate District 23.

Q4. And you wonder why turnout is so low?

It’s even worse. There are 1,265 Democrats in District 1 who may want to vote, but only 67 Democrats from D1 are in Senate District 23 and therefore eligible. The numbers are better in District 3, where 1,683 Democrats out of 1,817 are eligible. And in D4, 617 of the 1,270 Democrats are eligible. Again if you want to know your status, try to website listed above. If you still have questions, e-mail us at [email protected] and we will look up your voting status and let you know.

Q5. So if I am unaffiliated or not associated with a political party, I get cheated and I can’t vote in a party primary in Connecticut?

Connecticut is a “closed primary” state: only party members get to vote in a party primary. Nationwide, that is the norm: in 30 of the 50 states, neither major political party offers an “open primary” where non-party members could take part.

Q1. Why is there an election in Stratford on August 13?

There will be a town-wide (and statewide) Republican primary election to determine the GOP candidate to face Democratic U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy on Nov. 5. Beacon Falls First Selectman Gerry Smith won the Republican convention’s endorsement on May 13, but longtime GOP candidate Matthew Corey received enough support to qualify for a primary. Corey ran against Murphy in 2018 and lost.

Q2. How about on the Democratic side?

Two potential candidates are trying to collect enough signatures to force a primary on August 13, 2024.

• Former state Sen. Ernie Newton hopes to run against incumbent Herron Gaston in state Senate District 23. Most of the district is in Bridgeport, but some Stratford residents in District 1 (Lordship School), D3 (Stratford Academy/Johnson House), and D4 (Franklin School) would be eligible to take part.
• Michael Singh hopes to force a Democratic primary in state Assembly District 21 against incumbent Rep. Joseph Gresko. He faces a June 11 deadline to collect enough signatures. Most Stratford residents in District 1 (Lordship School), D2 (SHS), D3 (Stratford Academy/Johnson House) D4 (Franklin School), D5 (Nichols School), and D6 (Wooster School) would be eligible to take part.

For any August primary, you have the option of seven days of Early Voting, to be held only at the Baldwin Center, Aug. 2 – Aug. 11. Absentee ballots will also be available from the Town Clerk once the races are set; 203-385-4020.

Q3. Do you need extra poll workers due to Connecticut now offering Early Voting?

We are always looking for reliable poll workers who can check any partisanship at the door and help us conduct elections that are fair and transparent, effective and efficient. If interested, send an e-mail to [email protected]. We have had extraordinary success with using ~25 Bunnell and Stratford high school students as poll workers in recent elections. Most of them gain initial experience in helping us run mock elections for their Senior-year class officers, and then they come to work for us. Entry-level positions pay $255 for a very long day.

Q4. I kept reading about new voting machines for every town in Connecticut. What happened?

As often happens with the state, it is taking more time than expected : ) The current tabulators, which read your ballot when you insert it, have been used for 15+ years; they aren’t even manufactured anymore, and Registrars have to play scavenger if they need to replace a part. The state Bonding Commission has approved the purchase of new machines for all towns, and there are two vendors who are finalists to supply them. Look for new, more sophisticated tabulators to be used starting in 2025.

Q5. When does Stratford vote again for Mayor?

Incumbent Mayor Laura Hoydick’s term runs through 2025, so voters will cast a ballot in November 2025 for Mayor, along with choosing candidates for Town Council, Board of Education, and other municipal offices.

Q1. With the April 2 presidential primary election behind us, what are the next big election events in Stratford and all of Connecticut?

The Democratic and Republican town committees will meet the week of May 21 and endorse candidates for the state Legislature and for Registrars of Voters. Each party also will hold multi-town meetings or state conventions to endorse candidates for any legislative seats that cover more than one town, plus candidates for the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate.

Potential candidates who do not get a party endorsement can gather petition signatures and try to force a party primary election on Aug. 13.

Q2: I see there is a recount of votes in the April 2 primary in Stratford, but only in District 3 (Stratford Academy/Johnson House). Why a recount; was there a potential error?

The Secretary of State orders a recount in 5% of the polling places in Connecticut after every election, as a way of measuring the accuracy of the voting tabulators and the overall balloting system. Stratford, with its 10 polling locations, always seems to be picked. This year we were again selected, but only for District 3.

The Registrars’ office will hold the recount Monday, April 29, at 9 a.m., in the Town Council chamber. The recount is open to public viewing.

Q3: You sent me a letter, asking if I still lived in my Stratford house. I have lived there for 20 years! Why did I get the letter?

At the start of each year, Stratford and all towns comply with state law which requires a canvass of registered voters to make sure they are still eligible to cast a ballot. We compare our voting rolls to U.S. Postal Service records of people who changed their mailing address, either to leave Stratford or to move to Stratford. We also work with a multi-state group called ERIC to share information on voters who have moved in or out of Connecticut. We also get an updated list of registered voters who are presumed to have passed away.

We treat the information as a starting point in our effort to keep the voting rolls up to date. If we are told a local voter has moved out of town, we first send a letter to the person’s last known Stratford address, asking if they still live there. (You presumably received such a letter.) If the Post Office returns it to us, saying “not deliverable,” we reclassify any voter at the address as “Inactive”; if four years go by without any activity, we take them off our voting rolls.

In all, we make 9,000 changes a year involving our 34,000 registered voters. For more information, see our most recent Annual Report.

Q4. I used Early Voting (EV) to cast a ballot in the April 2 presidential primary, and I liked the setup at the Baldwin Center. Is it here to stay?

The Legislature has approved rules to implement EV for all elections. There is likely to be a state Senate primary election among Democrats in parts of Stratford on Aug. 13, 2024, and there would automatically be seven days of Early Voting for such a primary. And there will be a mandated 14 days of Early Voting preceding the Nov. 5 presidential election, when voters also will choose candidates for U.S. Senate, the U.S. House, the state legislature and Registrar of Voters.

All EV will be held at the Baldwin Center. For all elections, you still can vote via Absentee Ballot or at the 10 regular polling places on Election Day.

Q5. Does Early Voting increase turnout? What does it cost the town?

Connecticut’s initial experience with EV paralleled that of 46 other states that use it: Early Voting provides greater convenience to voters, but there is no evidence of increased overall turnout.

In terms of cost, the Legislature gave each Connecticut town a flat $10,500 to help pay for the implementation of EV in 2024. We estimate EV cost Stratford an extra $14,000 just for the April 2 primary alone, plus a projected $46,000 more for the November election, plus even more for any needed August 13 primary election.

Given the 1,293 Stratford residents who cast an Early Voting ballot in April, that works out to a cost for the town of $10.83 for each EV ballot cast.

Q1. Why is there an election April 2? Can I vote in it?

Registered Democratic and Republican voters in Connecticut will officially endorse their party’s candidate for president through a primary election April 2. While there are four candidates listed on each party’s ballot, Democrat Joseph Biden and Republican Donald Trump are the overwhelming favorites to win.

To vote in a party’s primary election, you must be registered to vote as a party member. If you are Unaffiliated, you can join the party as late as noon on the day before the primary and take part.

Q2. What are my options for voting?

You have three options:

1. You can vote at your local Stratford polling location on April 2, between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m. To check on your registration or voting location, click here.
2. You can vote via Absentee Ballot if you meet certain conditions in Connecticut such as being sick or away on business on Election Day; for a list of conditions, click here. You must apply for an AB, then fill it out, sign an outer envelope, and return it by 8 p.m. on Election Day. For further details, contact Town Clerk Susan Pawluk;
    [email protected] ; 203-385-4020
3. Finally, you can take advantage of the state’s inaugural Early Voting program. You can go to the Baldwin Center (1000 West Broad St.) on Tuesday, March 26; Wednesday, March 27; Thursday, March 28; and Saturday March 30; from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. You fill out a ballot, place it in an envelope, and sign the outside; it will be counted on Election Day.

Q3. I hate standing in line. What is the quickest way to vote?

In Stratford, you rarely wait for more than 10 minutes to vote at any polling location on Election Day. It may be even easier to use an absentee ballot, where you operate on your own schedule as long as the ballot is received at Town Hall by 8 p.m. on April 2.

For Early Voting, we plan to have four lines available to check people in. But other states with EV have reported longer long lines on Day 1, a tapering off in the middle, and then longer lines again as Election Day approaches.

Q4: What will Early Voting look like in Stratford?

Most people will park in the Baldwin Center lot, behind the Library, and use a separate entrance to a room called The Studio which is directly accessible from the parking lot.  You will present an ID, and your name will be recorded as having voted. An election worker will generate a sticker with your name and address, place it on the outside of an envelope, and give it to you with a ballot for your particular party. You will go to a privacy booth, fill out your ballot as usual, put it inside the envelope, sign the outside, and place the envelope into a white Ballot Dropbox at the site. (We also use a white Ballot Dropbox outside Town Hall during election campaigns.

The envelopes will be counted each night by election workers from both parties, secured to avoid tampering, and brought to a Town Hall vault for safekeeping. The same process will be followed for each of the four days. The ballots will not be opened until Election Day, when they will be put through a normal vote tabulator.

Q5: What if I use Early Voting, then change my mind about for whom to vote?

You cannot change your EV ballot once you cast it into the Dropbox. Since you will have been recorded as having voted, you also will be blocked from voting again on Election Day or via Absentee Ballot.

Q1: In Stratford, where will I be able to vote early, and when?

You have the option to go to the Baldwin Center (1000 West Broad St.) on Tuesday, March 26; Wednesday, March 27; Thursday, March 28; and Saturday March 30 and take part in Early Voting from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Other options are to vote via Absentee Ballot if you meet criteria such as being sick or away on business or to vote at your usual polling location on April 2.

To vote in a Democratic or Republican primary, you must be registered with the party. If you are Unaffiliated, you can join the party beforehand in order to cast a ballot.

Q2: What will Early Voting look like in Stratford?

While we are still working out final details, most people will park in the Baldwin Center lot, behind the Library, and directly enter the room called The Studio which is accessible from the parking lot. You will present an ID, and your name will be recorded as having voted. An election worker will generate a sticker with your name and address, place it on the outside of an envelope, and give it to you with a ballot for your particular party. You will go to a privacy booth, fill out your ballot as usual, put it inside the envelope, and place the envelope into a white Ballot Drop mailbox.

The envelopes will be counted each night by election workers from different parties, secured to avoid tampering, and brought to a Town Hall vault for safekeeping. The same process will be followed for each of the four days. The ballots will not be opened until Election Day, when they will be put through a normal vote tabulator.

Q3: What if I change my mind about whom to vote for?

You cannot change your ballot, and since you will have been recorded as having voted, you will not be able to try to vote on Election Day.

Q4: What is your biggest worry about Early Voting?

Long lines. Most other states have some form of Early Voting. Based on their experience, we project perhaps 30 percent of eligible Stratford voters may take advantage of it. We are working to reduce the chance of long lines.

If you are interested in Early Voting, we encourage you to go on the Wednesday or Thursday to avoid lines; other states have found there is a surge of voters at the start (Tuesday) and the end (Saturday) of the process.

Q5. Do you expect this to produce a big increase in voter turnout in Stratford?

No, based on the experience in other states. Early Voting will be convenient for some people and will give you another way to cast a ballot. But it often just shifts voters away from Election Day balloting, Absentee Voting, and the other ways of casting a ballot, based on the experience elsewhere.

The lack of competitive contests in 2024 for the Republican and Democratic presidential nominations also may dampen turnout in the April 2 presidential primary. Our best guess is 25% of Stratford’s 19,144 registered Democrats and Republicans – or 4,786 voters – will cast a ballot.

If 30 percent of them come through the Baldwin Center’s early voting, that means up to 1,500 voters will be standing in line to use Early Voting over the four days.