Opinion: Connecticut Defends Everyone's Right To Vote

The following op-ed was written by Democratic state Sen. Will Haskell, who represents all or parts of Westport, Weston, Wilton, Ridgefield, New Canaan, Bethel and Redding:

If you're registered to vote in Connecticut, keep an eye on your mailbox. In the next few weeks, you'll receive an application for an absentee ballot from Secretary of State Denise Merrill. The 2020 general election is around the corner, and I have a feeling we'll be telling the story of this pivotal choice for generations to come. That's why Connecticut has stepped up to make sure that no voter slips through the cracks. We're setting a national example for how to protect public health while defending every citizen's right to vote.

Although it's called an absentee ballot application, rest assured that you are guaranteed to be approved for a ballot. I fought to make sure that everyone is eligible to vote absentee during this pandemic. When you receive your absentee ballot application, check the box concerning COVID-19 and immediately return it to Town Hall. You can do so through the mail, or by dropping the application in the secure absentee ballot drop boxes installed in each town. Don't be alarmed if your ballot doesn't arrive for some time -- town clerks will begin mailing out ballots on October 2nd.

Just like the application for an absentee ballot, you can return your ballot through the mail. Like many of you, I'm deeply concerned about President Trump's recent changes to the U.S. Postal Service, so I want my constituents to know that they can also drop off their ballot in a secure ballot drop box outside Town Hall. If you do send your ballot through the mail, you can use the Secretary of State's website to confirm that your absentee ballot has been received.

A few other quick tips: even though you may mean well, please don't assist your neighbor or friend with their application or ballot. Only a voter’s immediate family member or health care provider can lend a hand, and they must be listed as a "designee." Also, Connecticut law does not permit you to pick up your neighbors ballot and drop it off at Town Hall for them. Only a voter or his or her designee can be in possession of a ballot. Of course, you can always vote in person at your local polling site if you feel safe doing so. Masks will be available, and social distancing protocols will be in place to keep staff and volunteers safe.

Voting is complicated, and once this pandemic subsides it's time to renew the conversation about how to make our democracy more accessible. In the past, I've supported early voting, automatic voter registration and online absentee ballot requests, and it's clearer than ever that we need to bring our elections into the 21st century. We need to reckon with the fact that every one of my Republican colleagues in the Senate voted to remove the absentee ballot drop boxes, and that the right to vote safely has been damaged by partisan games. But for now, I'm laser-focused on making sure that this historic election doesn't leave anyone behind. Here in Connecticut, I'm proud that no one will be forced to choose between their health and their right to vote. If you have any questions about casting your ballot this November, please don't hesitate to reach out to my office.