Editor’s Note: Over the next few weeks, we will be running these stories from the League of Women Voters, East Shore about what motivates some of our area residents to vote. LWV also is offering information about the absentee ballot initiative that will be Connecticut’s ballots on election day, Tuesday, Nov. 8.

To a huge extent, the quality of our life is determined by the actions of human beings. In America, citizens fortunately have the ability to select, by voting, the people who are given the power and responsibility to determine how various crucial aspects of our society work, through the enactment and enforcement of laws which regulate them. Examples are 1) maintenance of types of national and local governments, 2) establishment and protection of human rights, 3) regulation of commercial activities, and 4) protection of our environment.

Since life in America, as elsewhere, is far from perfect, most people care about working together to improve the conditions of our lives. Voting is the crucial communal activity wherein each of us adds his or her meaningful weight in deciding what the community as a whole believes will provide the best available elected officials able to make the world a better place.--Brooks Low, Guilford

To find out more about voting in Connecticut, where to register, and more visit https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS. To find out more about League of Women Voters, East Shore, visit https://my.lwv.org/connecticut/lwv-east-shore-0.

Early Voting Question On Ballot Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022

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

That’s the question that will be on Connecticut’s ballot on November 8, 2022.

Did you know that Connecticut is one of only 6 states with only one day of in-person voting? Sounds absurd, right? The busy citizens of Connecticut deserve more time to vote in-person, not just the 14 hours on Election Day.

Our election laws are part of our state constitution, so to make Early Voting (EV) a reality, all eligible voters need to vote “yes” on the referendum question.

Early Voting FAQs

Q: Why do we need Early Voting?

A: Early Voting offers all voters another in-person option, more flexibility means more opportunities for eligible voters to cast their ballot without worrying about whether or not they can make it to the polls on Election Day.

Q: I voted by absentee ballot in the Town Clerk’s office. Isn’t that the same thing as Early Voting?

A: No. Voting by absentee ballot is not the same as Early Voting. In our state, you can only vote by absentee ballot with a valid excuse, which are written in our constitution. Early Voting would allow any eligible citizen the choice to vote on a day beside Election Day.

Q: Is Early Voting safe and reliable?

A: Yes, the process is the same as on Election Day, with the same amount of checks and balances.

Q: Will Early Voting cost the taxpayers a lot of money?

A: Not necessarily. There are ways to keep the cost to a minimum. The overwhelming number of states who have Early Voting have figured out ways to make the change cost neutral, Connecticut can too.

Q: When will Early Voting become law if the referendum passes?

A: If the Early Voting question is passed, it will be up to the legislature to determine the parameters and therefore, the state will not be able to institute Early Voting until 2024.

Editor’s Note: This article was changed on Oct. 18 to correct the spelling of Low’s last name.