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Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Secretary of the State Denise Merrill today are reminding all city voters (any U.S. citizen residing in the state age 18 or older) not yet registered to vote that Election Day Registration takes effect for the first time for the municipal elections on Tuesday, November 5, 2013.
Any eligible voter in Middletown who wishes to cast a ballot but has not yet registered to vote is permitted to go to the Registrar of Voters office on Election Day, present the proper identifying documents, register to vote, and cast a ballot at their city or town hall.
The Registrar's Office is on the ground floor of City Hall, on 245 DeKoven Drive.
Connecticut became the 11th state to enact Election Day voter registration in 2012 when Governor Malloy signed into law Public Act 12-56 which was given final passage by the Connecticut General Assembly on May 5, 2012.
“The
right to vote and access to elections is a paramount right and
responsibility of our democracy,” said Governor Malloy. “Same day voting
helps to ensure that all citizens have a voice in their government. I
am proud of the work we’ve done in Connecticut to bring our electoral
process into the 21st century by using technology to make voter
registration more efficient and easier and not impede participation in
our electoral process – while some states are moving in the opposite
direction.”
“We
are very excited to implement this long overdue reform in 2013 that
will make it easier for our busy voters in Connecticut to cast a
ballot,” said Secretary Merrill, Connecticut’s chief elections
official. “Some states have had Election Day Registration in place for
more than 40 years, and we have seen evidence that states allowing this
practice see voter turnout percentages of up to 10% higher than states
that do not. I have been working closely with Registrars of Voters
across Connecticut to make sure everyone is ready to accommodate those
voters who for whatever reason have not yet registered prior to Election
Day. We want to give every eligible voter in Connecticut a real chance
to make their voice heard on the crucial budget, educational,
environmental and economic issues facing many towns in Connecticut this
fall.”
The
law enacting Election Day Registration permits anyone to register and
vote in person on Election Day if he or she meets the eligibility
requirements for voting in this state and is either: (1) not already a
registered voter or (2) is registered in one municipality but wants to
change his or her registration because he or she currently resides in
another municipality. By law, a person is eligible to register and vote
if he or she is (1) a U. S. citizen, (2) age 18 or older, and (3) a
bona fide resident of the municipality in which he or she applies to
register to vote. Those wishing to register and vote on Election Day
must appear in person at the designated location at town or city hall
and declare under oath that they have not previously voted in the
election. They must complete the application for voter registration and
provide documents to prove their identity and residence.
Once
the new voter is properly registered, the Registrars of voters must
provide a special Election Day Registration (EDR) ballot and envelope to
the voter and record its issuance to that particular voter. The voter
must (1) declare under oath that he or she did not previously vote in
the election and (2) sign an affirmation that is printed on the back of
the security envelope. The new voter must secretly mark the ballot in
the presence of the registrars or their designees, place it in the EDR
envelope, and deposit the envelope in a secured EDR ballot box.
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