What to know about Connecticut’s August 2024 primary

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Connecticut’s Aug. 13 primary is a chance for registered Democrats or Republicans to cast their ballot following an early voting period.

Connecticut holds closed primaries, meaning only those registered to specific political parties can participate.

News 8 is your local election headquarters . Here’s what you need to know.

Key dates

• July 23 – Absentee ballots available

• Aug. 2 – Deadline for unaffiliated voters seeking to vote during the early voting period before the primary to file party enrollment application.

• Aug. 5 – Early voting begins

• Aug. 11 – Early voting ends

• Aug. 12 – Deadline for issuing absentee ballots (outside of special exceptions for those overseas or ill)

• Aug. 13 – Primary voting day, with polls open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Early voting

For the first time in Connecticut, in-person early voting is an option. The period will run from Monday, Aug. 5, to Sunday, Aug. 11.

Voters can cast their ballots in person between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on each day except Aug. 6 and Aug. 8, when the hours will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Click here to find your early voting location.

New voters looking to register and vote during the early voting period have until noon on the business day before the early voting day of their choice.

Unaffiliated voters looking to enroll in a party and vote during the early voting period have until noon on Aug. 2.

Absentee voting

Absentee voting is available only for those who cannot vote at their designated polling place and meet the below criteria:

• Are you an active member of the armed forces of the United States?

• Will you be out of town on Election Day?

• Does sickness prevent you from voting in person on Election Day?

• Do your religious beliefs prevent you from performing secular activities like voting on Election Day?

• Will you be performing duties as an election official at a polling place other than your own on Election Day?

• Does a physical disability prevent you from voting in person on election day?

Information on absentee ballots can be found on the Secretary of the State’s website .

Absentee ballots must be received by 8 p.m. by mail, drop-box, or in-person by a designee.

Primary Day voting

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 13.

Those currently unaffiliated can enroll as a Democrat or Republican in person at the registrar of voters or town clerk’s office until noon on Aug. 12.

Those already in a political party and looking to switch parties had a deadline of May 13.

Find your polling place

Voters can find their polling place and other Election Day at either the Secretary of the State’s website or their local registrar’s office.

Election Day hotline

Anyone who sees anything suspicious or has issues while voting can contact Connecticut’s Election Day Hotline at 1-866-733-2463 or email elections@ct.gov .

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