What are party primaries?

Primaries are elections held by political parties to determine which candidates qualify to run for office in November’s general election. You will see Connecticut’s largest parties—the Democratic Party and the Republican Party—listed on your Connecticut voter registration form. There are also many minor parties, including the Green Party, the Independent Party, the Libertarian Party, the Working Families Party, and more.

How many primaries are there this year and who is running?

There are 18 party primaries throughout the state, including a Democratic primary for governor, Republican or Democratic primaries in the 1st, 4th, and 5th Congressional Districts as well as several state Senate and House Districts. You can see who's running HERE.

Why do Connecticut’s primaries matter?

• Primary voters have a lot of power to influence the outcomes of Connecticut mid-term elections this year. Connecticut has a “closed primary system”, meaning that parties only allow their members to vote in the primary to determine the party’s candidates for the general election.
• In 2025, over 42% of Connecticut’s 2.5 million registered voters were not affiliated with a party and were therefore excluded from participating in the primaries.
• Primary voter turnout is much lower than general election turnout, which means that an even smaller percentage of party-affiliated voters decide who the candidates will be in November. In Connecticut, only 7.6% of eligible Republican voters and only 16% of eligible Democratic voters cast a ballot in their August 2024 party primary.
• If a district is dominated by one party, the outcome of the general election tends to be determined by that party’s primary election—if they hold one—so primary voters can play a big role in influencing who ultimately wins in November.

Who is on my primary ballot this August 11?

Check out the Connecticut Secretary of the State's Primary Sample Ballots to see which parties will be holding a primary in your town and who will appear on your primary ballot, or contact your City Clerk.

Can all registered voters participate in the primaries?

No. Due to Connecticut's closed primary system, any registered voter who wishes to participate in a party primary must be registered with that particular party. To vote in a Democratic Party primary, you must be registered as a Democrat. To vote in a  Republican Party primary, you must be registered as a Republican. Registering with a party doesn’t mean you have to vote for that party’s candidate in the November general election.

What are the differences and similarities between an "Independent voter" and an "unaffiliated voter"?

In Connecticut, an Independent voter is registered as a member of the Independent Party, while an unaffiliated voter is not registered with any political party. Independent voters and unaffiliated voters alike are not allowed to vote in either a Republican Party primary or a Democratic Party primary.

How do I register or update my registration in time to vote in a party primary on August 11?

Check your registration status, affiliation, and polling location online at MyVote.CT.gov/lookup or by calling your Registrar of Voters. New voters and unaffiliated voters have until the deadlines below to affiliate with a party and vote in a the August 11 primaries:

• July 24 by mail (must be postmarked by this date), at the DMV (by close of business), or online (by 11:59 p.m.)
• August 10 by noon, in person with your Registrar of Voters (for new and unaffiliated voters).

For voters currently enrolled with a party who wish to switch their party affiliation and vote in another party's primary, it's too late. The deadline was three months before the primary - or May 11, 2026.

I am registered with a party and ready for the primary. How and when do I vote?

1. Absentee Voting (no excuse needed!)
   Your absentee ballot must be received by the town clerk by 8 p.m. on August 11.
2. Early Voting in person at an early voting location from Monday August 3 to Sunday August 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with extended hours from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on August 4 and 6, 2026.
3. Primary Day - In person on August 11 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m at your regular polling location. Find your polling location online at MyVote.CT.gov/lookup or call your town hall. If you're waiting in line by 8 p.m. you have the legal right to vote regardless of the time it takes for the line to move. 

Where can I find more Connecticut election information?

Visit VOTE411.org for nonpartisan election information from the League of Women Voters Education Fund, or go to the source by visiting the Secretary of the State's Voter information page at MyVote.CT.gov.