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More ROV Sites to View:
ROV, Voter Services, Elections, Election Forms, Links
Return to Suffield's HOME PAGE Frequently Asked Questions &
CT Voter Registration Information WHO'S WHO
Who are Suffield's Election Administrators?
Who are the Political Town Committee Chairpersons?
VOTER REGISTRATION
Why register to Vote?
Why should I vote?
What are the qualifications of electors?
Why should I register with a Political Party?
What are the Political Parties in CT?
If I join a Political Party, must I vote for that Party's candidate ?
If I move back into Suffield, do I need to re-register?
What if I am in a nursing home?
What happens if I am convicted of a felony?
How do I make changes to my voting status or information?
What is the penalty for falsifying voter registration information?
ABSENTEE BALLOTS
Who may vote by absentee ballot?
How can I get an Absentee Ballot?
VOTING
What is a write-in vote?
What are my rights as a voter?
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WHO ARE SUFFIELD'S ELECTION ADMINISTRATORS?
WHO ARE THE POLITICAL TOWN COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS?
HOW TO REGISTER VOTERS? WHY REGISTER TO VOTE?
Register to Vote because U.S. citizens at the age of 18 and older: -can campaign and run for political office.
-can help decide what happens to your country.
-can vote for people who share your same concerns and beliefs.
-can join political committees and parties and help shape policies in your town and state that impact your life.
-can participate in all elections on the local, state and national levels.
-can exercise all your rights under the United States Constitution.
-can help determine your level of property taxes and school board budgets.
-can vote out people who don’t represent your viewpoints and positions on issues.
-can select the people you want to run for office.
WHY SHOULD I VOTE?
You should vote because your vote makes a difference as history has proven.
History of One Vote: -In 1800 Thomas Jefferson was elected 3rd President of the United States by ONE VOTE.
-In 1845 – 1850 – 1859 Texas, California and Oregon were admitted to the Union. Each gained statehood by a margin of ONE
VOTE.
-Richard M Nixon would have defeated John F Kennedy in 1960, had only ONE more VOTE been collected in the precincts of
Illinois, New Jersey, Missouri and Texas.
-In 1994, the 2nd Congressional District of CT was initially won by a margin of 2 VOTES.
WHAT ARE THE QUALIFICATIONS OF ELECTORS?
In order to be admitted as an elector in a Connecticut town you must meet the following requirements: -you must be a United States Citizen;
-you must be a bona fide resident of the town in which he seeks to be admitted. (A bona fide resident is one whose fixed home is in the town in which he applies and to which home or town he intends to return when he is temporarily absent.)
-you must have attained the age of 18 years;
-any citizen 17 years of age as of the next election may register, with such registration being effective on the citizen’s 18th birthday.
WHY SHOULD I REGISTER WITH A POLITICAL PARTY?
Under Connecticut Statutes you cannot vote in a Political Party's Primary unless you are a member of its Party.
Enrolling in a political party enables you to: -vote in that party’s primary;
-nominate people to run for local committees, boards or commissions;
-be appointed for local committees, boards or commissions;
-participate in party caucuses.
WHAT ARE THE POLITICAL PARTIES IN CT? -Republican
-Democrat
-Green
-Libertarian
-A few other minority parties
-There is not any Independent Party in CT
-Unaffiliated = no party selection
IF I JOIN A POLITICAL PARTY, MUST I VOTE FOR THAT PARTY'S CANDIDATE?
Your vote is secret and you may vote for anyone you choose in elections. IF I MOVE BACK INTO SUFFIELD, DO I NEED TO RE-REGISTER?
Yes, you most likely have been removed from the active voter list and it will be necessary to register once again. WHAT IF I AM IN A NURSING HOME?
You may retain your prior address even if the nursing home is out of town so that you may continue to vote for the people and offices you are most familiar with. WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM CONVICTED OF A FELONY?
You lose the right to vote in Connecticut. The Registrars in the town of your last reported residence are notified by the Courts to suspend your voting rights. When it's determined that you have fully fulfilled all of the requirements of your sentence you can obtain a release letter from the court officers and with this you can register to vote again. (NOTE: This procedure is under review at this time in Connecticut, so if it applies to you, you may want to check with the Registrars of Voters for the latest statute determination). HOW DO I MAKE CHANGES TO MY VOTING STATUS OR INFORMATION?
Voter registration information changes are made by completing and submitting a new Voter Registration Form to the Registrar of Voters. This form is used for new voter registrations as well as voter registration changes. WHAT IS THE PENALTY FOR FALSIFYING VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION?
Falsifying voter registration informaton can result in conviction & imprisonment for up to five years & a fine for up to $5,000. WHO MAY VOTE BY ABSENTEE BALLOT?
Any qualified registered voter, if unable to vote in person, may vote by absentee ballot for one of the following reasons: -absence from town during all election hours
-illness or physical disability
-active service in the United States armed forces
-religious tenets, which forbid secular activity on day of election, primary or referendum
-working as an election official at a polling place other than your own.
For more detailed information please review the Absentee Ballot Fact Sheet .
HOW CAN I GET AN ABSENTEE BALLOT?
Any person who will distribute five (5) or more absentee ballot applications to persons other than the individual's immediate family must register with and obtain forms from the Suffield Town Clerk before distributing the forms.
An Absentee Ballot Application may be downloaded by an individual for: (1) the individual's own use; (2) the use of a member of the individual's immediate family; or (3) the use of a designee of the applicant.
For more detailed information please review the Absentee Ballot Application Process document.
WHAT IS A WRITE-IN VOTE?
A write-in vote is when an elector writes the name of a candidate (pre-approved by the Secretary of State) on their ballot in the appropriate area of the ballot. WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS AS A VOTER?
“ VOTER’S BILL OF RIGHTS”
Every registered voter in the state of Connecticut has the right to: -Inspect a sample ballot before voting;
-Receive instructions concerning how to operate voting equipment, on sample voting equipment before voting;
-Cast a ballot if the voter is in line when the polls are closing;
-Ask for and receive assistance in voting;
-Vote free from coercion or intimidation;
-Cast a ballot using voting equipment that accurately counts all votes;
-Vote by provisional ballot if the individual had registered to vote and the individual's name is not on the voter list;
-Be informed of the process for restoring the individual's right to vote if the individual was incarcerated for a felony
conviction;
-Vote independently and in privacy at a polling place, regardless of physical disability.
More Registrar of Voters Sites to View:
Voter Services
Election Forms
Elections
Registrar of Voters
Links
Return to Suffield's HOME PAGE
If you have any Election questions please E-Mail or call ROVs at (860) 668-3850
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