Ask The Registrar

Q1: Did Kamala Harris and the Democrats do worse in Stratford than they did statewide?

Actually, they received a higher percentage of votes here than statewide. The Democrats’ Biden-Walz ticket received 59% of the presidential vote in Stratford, compared to 56% statewide. Meanwhile, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Chris Murphy received 63% of the vote here, 59% statewide, and Democratic U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro received 61% here vs. 59% statewide.

Q2: The Republicans seemed to be picking up support before the 2024 election. Did the number of people in each party change significantly going into Stratford’s Nov. 5 election?

No. Among active voters, the percentage of voters registered as Democrats in Stratford totaled 36.7% in November 2024, down slightly from 37.4% in January 2024. The percentage of voters registered as Republicans ticked slightly upward, from 18.2% in January 2024 to 18.4% by Election Day. Some 43.0% of registered voters were Unaffiliated in January 2024, rising to 43.6% by Nov. 5. So, on Election Day, there were still about twice as many registered Democrats (13,271) in Stratford as Republicans (6,682). But there are more Unaffiliated voters (15,765) than are in either party.

Q3: You have said that turnout was 75% in the Presidential Election. Will it be that high for the next couple of elections?

The historical trends are clear and rarely change. Presidential elections draw 73%-75% of registered voters in Stratford; this year it was it was 75.4%.
We expect the Mayoral election in 2025 to attract about 33%-35% of registered voters, based on past elections. The 2026 election with the Governor on the ballot should attract about 50% of voters, while the 2027 election –with the Town Council and Board of Education topping the ballot – will traditionally attract about 28% of voters.

Q4. What other elections will be held in Stratford before the next Presidential Election in 2028?

Most Connecticut towns have an election every fall. In Fall 2025, elections for Mayor, Town Council, and Board of Education top the Stratford ballot. In 2026, the Governor’s race will be the main event. In 2027 you can vote on candidates for such positions as the Town Council and Board of Education. And in 2028, it will be time for another presidential election.

Q5: Do we know who the candidates for Stratford Mayor will be in the 2025 election?

Republican incumbent Laura Hoydick has not yet publicly said whether she will seek a third consecutive four-year term. (There is no term limit on the Mayoral position in Stratford.) There has been no public discussion of potential Democratic candidates. The major parties traditionally nominate their mayoral candidate in July. If any party members want to challenge the nomination, they can try to gather enough voter signatures to force a primary election in September.

Q1: How did Early Voting turn out in Stratford?

In Stratford and across Connecticut, Early Voting certainly was popular. Some 43.0 percent of the 27,259 ballot cases in Stratford were from Early Voting. That compares to 48.5% who voted on Nov. 5 at the town’s 10 voting locations, 5.7 percent cast an Absentee Ballot, and a final 2.7 percent voted through Same-Day Registration.

We asked 80+ people during each of the two weeks of EV how they learned about EV. In the first week, the most common answers were the Mayor’s weekly e-mailed event list, other Internet publicity, and the signs that the Registrars posted across town. In the second week, almost every person questioned said they were told about it by family or friends, suggesting the word of mouth was widespread and positive.

Q2. Did Early Voting increase the number of people who voted in Stratford?

In presidential elections, Stratford’s turnout is usually 73 to 75 percent of all registered voters. This year, turnout was 75.4%, and it’s unclear whether the small increase was from the addition of EV or strong interest in the presidential race.

Previous studies in other states concluded that EV does not dramatically increase turnout; that seemed to be the case in Stratford, too.

Q3. How did the Baldwin Center fare as the Early Voting location?

The location we picked for EV in Stratford also probably contributed to its success.
We received unanimously high marks from people who praised the Baldwin Center for being centrally located and for having a large parking lot and an ideal side room for the actual voting and registration. Warm and sunny weather for most of the 14 days didn’t hurt, either.

Q4: I still don’t understand that ballot question they wanted us to vote on. Did it pass?

The question was approved by a 55%-45% margin in Stratford, and it also won approval statewide. It will allow all voters to mail in an absentee ballot if they so desire; currently, you need a specific reason to use an AB in Connecticut such as being ill, taking care of an ill person, or being out of town on Election Day. We expect the change to take effect in the November 2026 election.

Q5. Is this it for elections for a while? I’m worn out.

Stratford, and all of Connecticut, has a major election each and every fall. So in Fall 2025 you can look forward to voting for Mayor, Town Council, Board of Education, and land use board positions. In 2026, the Governor’s race will top the ticket. In 2027 you can vote on candidates for the Town Council and Board of Education. And in 2028, it will be time for another presidential election.

For all of these, you can again count on 14 days of Early Voting; the number of days and specific hours each day are stipulated by the Legislature.

Q1: I tried Early Voting on Oct. 21 at The Baldwin Center. I liked it. How is it going?

You were one of 931 voters who cast an Early Voting ballot at the Baldwin Center on Day 1, or one every 35 seconds! On the first three days, a total of 2,487 of your neighbors tried it out. There has been a short line of voters waiting at 10 a.m. when we open, but no substantial line after that until we close at 6 p.m.

Early Voting seems to be popular with the voters who have tried it. Some Republicans told me they like being asked to present an ID before casting a ballot; some Democrats seem to like it because it provides more options for voting. Everyone praised the Baldwin Center as the ideal spot, with its central location in town and substantial parking behind the library.

EV continues daily through Nov. 3. Hours are posted on the town web page.

Q2: Does Early Voting look like regular Election Day voting?

When you arrive, instead of crossing your name off a paper list of eligible voters, we electronically record that you used Early Voting, preventing people from trying to vote a second time on Nov. 5 or via Absentee Ballot.

We then print out your name and address on a sticker, which we place on an envelope. On a regular ballot, you mark your favorite choices as usual, then place the ballot in the envelope and seal it. You sign your name and date, place it in a white Ballot Drop Box, then get your I VOTED! sticker. That’s it.

Q3: What do you do with these ballots? Do you count the votes on the same day?

We open the Ballot Drop Box every night after voting stops at 6 p.m. Two poll workers – one Democrat, one Republican — count the ballot envelopes. We place the ballots in a locked container, with a numbered seal, and store them in a secure location until Election Day.

On Nov. 5, the Registrars of Voters hire ballot counters from both parties to beak the seals, open the envelopes, and feed the ballots into the same kind of tabulator machines used at the polling locations.

Q4: How does Early Voting differ from Absentee Ballot voting?

You must separately apply to the Town Clerk for an Absentee Ballot; email [email protected]. The Clerk confirms you are a registered voter, then mails you a ballot. You fill it out at home, then you need to get it back to the Town Clerk by 8 p.m. sharp on Nov. 5. You can mail it back. Or you (or an immediate family member) can drop it into the white Ballot Dropbox, on the side of Town Hall along Main Street. There are two cameras trained on the Dropbox, and the box is emptied twice a day.
So in Early Voting, you are filling out the ballot at home. In EV, you do it at the Baldwin Center.

Q5: Will Early Voting lead to shorter lines on Nov. 5?

Other states with Early Voting find that about 20% of voters use it, and it leads to reduced reliance on Absentee Ballots and day-of-voting.

But there is little evidence, from other states, that adding Early Voting actually increases turnout. So we expect the overall percentage of people voting (75%-77% in Stratford in a presidential year) to remain about the same in 2024 despite the addition of EV.

Q1: What are my options for voting in this presidential election?

You have three options:
1)You can vote at your normal polling location on Nov. 5, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Check your location here: https://portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx
2) If you are unable to go to the polls on Nov. 5 due to being out of town or another approved reason, you can vote via Absentee Ballot. Contact the Town Clerk:
[email protected]. Approved reasons for an AB are listed here: https://portal.ct.gov/sots/election-services/voter-information/absentee-voting
3) Finally, you can take advantage of Year 1 of Early Voting in Connecticut. 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.

Q2: Why not just let everybody cast an Absentee Ballot if they want to?

There is a question on the Nov. 5 ballot that would allow universal mail-in ballots, in addition to voting in-person on Election Day or through Early Voting. So you can have a voice in helping to make that decision.

Q3: What happens if Stratford runs out of ballots on Nov. 5?

The short answer is that we can legally photocopy ballots and count them by hand, but we have never come close. We study turnout from past elections and over-order what we will need. It is challenging to project how many voters will cast a ballot on Election Day … or through Absentee Balloting … or through Early Voting, and the state requires that we report how many ballots were cast in each of the three categories. And while people will vote at the usual 10 polling locations in town, there actually will be 19 different ballots there because some town polling districts have multiple legislative races.

So we will order more than 100% of ballots needed for the town’s 34,000+ registered voters, all in hopes of avoiding the problem of running out. We also monitor how many people vote, each hour, at each of the 10 polling locations, to spot any areas that are running short on ballots.

Q4. I am physically unable to go and vote Nov. 5. Why can’t you just send me a ballot every year?

We do have Permanent Absentee Ballots available in Connecticut. You need to supply a doctor’s note. If interested, contact the Town Clerk: [email protected].

Q5. What happens if I am not registered to vote? Can I still cast a ballot Nov. 5?

We encourage you to check now to see if you are registered: https://portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx .If you are not registered, you can do so online: https://voterregistration.ct.gov/OLVR You also can come to our office, Room 117 in Town Hall (2727 Main St.) and we can check on your status and be sure you are registered.

Connecticut does allow same-day registration on Election Day. The process can be slow, and the lines can be long. On Nov. 5 you can go to Town Hall, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and both register to vote and cast a ballot there. But again, we urge you to handle the registration process ahead of time so that you can vote at your neighborhood voting location and avoid longer lines.

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.