The first week of Connecticut’s 14-day early voting window for the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election brought a brisk response to Branford’s early voting site. The window for the presidential election opened Oct. 21 and runs through Sunday, Nov. 3. Early voting is new to Connecticut this year.

Branford’s early voting polls are located at the Joe Trapasso Community House, 46 Church Street. Branford Deputy Registrar of Voters Peter Black said roughly 11% of the town’s 20,658 registered voters had responded to the polls by end of voting on Wednesday, Oct. 25. The site was averaging close to 700 voters daily, with 670 ballots cast on Oct. 21; 729 ballots on Oct. 22; and 662 ballots on Oct. 23.

“We really had no idea what to expect,” Black said. “I know the campaigns are pushing people, so it’s been a learning process here.”

Voters are part of the learning curve, as the early election ballot process is what Black described as a “hybrid” of in-person voting and absentee (mail-in) voting.

Each early voter who appears in-person is recorded on the voting rolls as having come to the poll for their single opportunity to vote in the election. The process involves checking in with identification at the point of entry, then heading over to another check-in area to again provide identification, where a barcode sticker is printed out and placed on a envelope provided to the voter with their paper ballot. At the voting booth, voters fill in their ballot, place it in the envelope; seal it, sign it, and write their name and address in areas designated on the front of the envelope. They deposit their envelope in the ballot box as they exit.

As with Election Day voting, same-day voter registration is also available at the early voting polling site. In addition to those who have never registered before, others who may need to register include people who haven’t voted in two consecutive presidential elections, as they are are scrubbed from rolls. An annual mail canvas produced by the Registrars of Voters and sent out in January also contributes to updating the voting rolls. Currently, Branford’s voting rolls show approximately 4,000 registered Republicans; 8,000 registered Democrats; and the balance, some 10,000-plus, unaffiliated, said Black.

Black said Branford’s response to the state’s early voting option aligns with what he’s hearing from other poll officials. He noted that Branford has historically had a high turnout in the presidential election.

In the final week of early voting, Branford’s polls at the Community House will be open Sunday, Oct. 27, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 29, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesday, Oct. 30, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday, Oct. 31, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Friday Nov. 1 through Sunday Nov. 3, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

All votes collected during the early election window will be processed and tallied on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5.

On Tuesday, Nov. 5, Branford’s seven voting locations will open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. sharp for the 2024 Presidential Election. Branford’s seven voting sites are: District One, Joe Trapasso Community House, 46 Church Street; District Two, St. Therese Church Hall, 105 Leetes Island Road; District 3, The Orchard House, 421 Shore Drive; District 4, Branford Fire Department Headquarters, 45 North Main Street; District 5, Indian Neck School, 12 Melrose Avenue; District 6, Mary T. Murphy School, 14 Brushy Plain Road; and District 7, Walsh Intermediate School, 185 Damascus Road.