Connecticut absentee and mail ballot guide
Absentee ballots and mail ballots are the same thing, and the process for getting one is straight forward.
- Request your ballot by the deadline
- Receive your ballot in the mail
- Return your ballot by the deadline
- Earliest day to apply: January 1
- Request deadline (online): 1 day before Election Day
- Request deadline (by mail): Received by 1 day before Election Day
- Request deadline (in person): 1 day before Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (by mail): Received by Election Day
- Deadline to return your ballot (in person): Received by Election Day if proxy deliverer, or 1 day BEFORE Election Day if delivered voter
You may vote by absentee ballot in Connecticut if:
- You will be absent from town during all the hours of voting
- You are ill
- You have a physical disability which makes it difficult for you to get to the polls
- You are active duty within the US military
- Your religion forbids non-religious activity on Election Day
- Your will be working as a poll worker at a polling place other than your own during all the hours on Election Day
- Visit the Connecticut absentee ballot website.
- Fill out all of the required information.
- Hit save or submit when you are done.
- The deadline to apply online is 1 day before Election Day.
- Download the Connecticut absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Print the application.
- Sign and date your application. This is very important.
- Mail or hand-deliver your completed application directly to your local election office as soon as possible, but no later than the deadline.
- If it’s close to the deadline, call your local election office and see if they will let you submit your application via email or fax.
- Your application must be received by 1 day before Election Day.
- Visit your local election office.
- Ask the clerk to give you an absentee ballot application.
- Fill out all of the required fields.
- Sign and date your application.
- The deadline to apply in person is 1 day before Election Day.
- Carefully read and follow the instructions, and fill out all required fields.
- Sign and date the outside envelope.
- Mail or hand-deliver your ballot to your local election office. You can also hand-deliver your ballot to a drop box if one is available nearby. You can use our Find Out Where To Vote tool to find an official drop box.
- If you mail your ballot, it must be received by Election Day.
- If you hand-deliver your ballot, it must be received by Election Day if proxy deliverer, or 1 day BEFORE Election Day if delivered voter.
- If you miss the deadline – or forget to sign the outside envelope – your vote will not be counted.
- ID required when requesting a mail-in ballot:
- Online applications: You can request your absentee ballot online if you have a Connecticut driver's license or non-driver ID number.
- Paper applications: If you do not have a Connecticut DMV ID, you may complete a paper application.
- ID required when returning a mail-in ballot:
Your signature on the return envelope will be compared to the signature on your voter registration card to ensure they match. If you forget to sign the return envelope, your ballot might be rejected.
Track your ballot here: Connecticut absentee ballot tracker
Ballot curing is the process of resolving any problems with your absentee or mail ballot to ensure that your vote is counted. After tracking your ballot, contact your local election office to fix any issues that have been noted.
- Your ballot will be rejected if your signature is missing, or if your signature does not match the one the state has on file for you.
Some states have special procedures that allow you to obtain an emergency ballot if a medical or other emergency occurs after the standard absentee ballot application window.
Emergency Ballot Rules
You can apply for an emergency absentee ballot if you are become disabled or are hospitalized within 6 days of Election Day. You can choose to appoint a designee to deliver the application and ballot. Your application must include the date of injury and the address of the hospital (if you are hospitalized).
Dates & Deadlines
- Emergency ballot request ends close of polls on Election Day
- Emergency ballot return deadline is Election Day
Contact your local election office
Local election office
Contact your local election office if you have questions.
Statewide election office
This is the statewide agency that is ultimately responsible for Connecticut elections. You can contact them with questions, but your local election office will probably respond faster.
Secretary of the State of Connecticut Elections Division P.O. Box 150470 Hartford, CT 06115-0470