Matt Ritter

In addition to selecting candidates for public office, voters are being asked to decide if absentee ballots should be expanded to all voters.

Allowing “no excuse” absentee ballot voting in the future is a state referendum question on this year’s ballot. Currently in Connecticut, voters must apply for an absentee ballot and provide a reason for needing one, such as illness or being out of town on Election Day.

Approved by the legislature, the question voters are being asked to vote YES or NO for reads “Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the General Assembly to allow each voter to vote by absentee ballot?”

A total of 35 states plus the District of Columbia presently provide all voters access to absentee ballots. For elections during the COVID 19 pandemic, Connecticut did as well.

Voting is a cornerstone of our democracy, and it is important to continue to work toward increasing ballot access and voter turnout in our elections. Allowing every voter the ability to use an absentee ballot could be a potential way to help achieve this goal. This year, Connecticut voters will have the chance to decide.

You can learn more about this ballot question by reading this article from CT Mirror.