Does your neighbor know about the Early Voting question on the November 8 ballot?

Does your neighbor know about the Early Voting question on the November 8 ballot?

transparent image of Hartford with "Vote YES to early voting" written over top
Type: 
Blog Post

If you asked 10 of your neighbors, how many do you think would know about the Early Voting question on the November 8 ballot? You may be surprised. To increase those numbers, Patricia Rossi, our VP of Advocacy, has written a template letter that you can adapt to send to your own neighbors. Don't underestimate the power of word of mouth and let us know if this template is helpful! Send a quick message to advocacy [at] lwvct.org.

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Dear Neighbor, 

The General Election is on November 8.  An important referendum question will be on your ballot. I’m eager to draw your attention to it because the issue is important and the question won’t jump out at you--you’ll need to look for it. It may be in the upper right corner or on the other side of your ballot.

You will be asked to vote “yes” or “no” to the question: 

“Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the General Assembly  to provide for early voting?” 

A majority “yes” vote will allow the legislature to craft an Early Voting plan for Connecticut.  We are one of 4 states without early voting options for eligible voters.  The others are Mississippi, Alabama, and New Hampshire. 

Why would we want the opportunity to vote early?  Currently in Connecticut the only way to vote other than between 6 am and 8 pm on Election Day is with an absentee ballot. Obtaining one requires an excuse: active military service, absence from the voting district on election day, illness, a religious barrier, or election duties.  This places a barrier to the ballot box for voters who are:   

    • Long-distance commuters, 
    • Workers who may lose wages if they take time off from the work day, workers who cannot predict their schedules week to week, 
    • Elderly or sick voters who may have “good days and bad days,” and those who care for them. 

Providing Early Voting has advantages beyond making it easier for eligible voters to participate in our democracy.  It generates shorter lines and lightens the burden on election workers on election day. It supports Racial and Disability Justice by providing fair and equal access to the ballot box. And, it is popular: 80% of Americans support early voting.  This support is nonpartisan: 74% of Republicans, 80% of Independents, and 85% of Democrats approve of early voting (Gallup 2016). 

Find out where the question will be on your ballot by visiting myvote.ct.gov and viewing 2022 Sample Ballots by Town. Please don’t skip it.

Thank you,

Your neighbor, [Name]

League to which this content belongs: 
Connecticut