Voting by absentee ballot available to all Bristol residents this year, beginning with primaries

Posted By: Jack Krampitz June 23, 2020

By Jack Krampitz

Connecticut’s primaries have been moved to early August. With that in mind, I checked in with Jennifer Brunoli of the City of Bristol Registrar of Voter’s office to find out what expect. She directed me to the city’s Registrar of Voters Voting and COVID-19 webpage where I found the following information.

First, by the end of June, every eligible voter in the either the Democratic and Republican parties will receive an absentee ballot application. Both parties are fielding primaries, despite all challengers having dropped out of the race.

So every eligible voter in Bristol will be able to vote by absentee ballot, with one important reminder.  For your vote to count, it must be received by the close of polls on election day, Aug. 11. Voters have until Aug. 10 to register.

YOU WILL BE AS SAFE AT THE POLLS AS YOU ARE DURING YOUR TRIPS TO STORES

Second, the city’s plan as of now is to consolidate voting to three polling places, in accordance with the Secretary of State’s “Safe Polls Plan,” which seeks to limit person-to-person contact at the polls and expand the absentee ballot access.

  • The Registrar’s Office is working diligently stocking supplies in preparation for the upcoming August Primary and November Election.
  • ​We want to ensure that voting in person at your polling location will be as safe as going to the grocery store or Home Depot.​
  • ​Voters can expect the following protocols:​
    • Gloves and masks will be worn by all poll workers
    • Gloves to be offered to every voter upon entering
    • Contactless ID verification
    • 6’ social distance markers for check-in
    • One way flow through polling location
    • Voters will be encouraged to bring and use their own blue or black pen to mark the ballot
    • Continual sanitization of all surfaces, marking pens and privacy booths

The State of Connecticut’s Registrar of Voters website states:

“For the August 2020 Presidential and State Primary, all voters can vote by absentee due to the COVID-19 virus, pursuant to the Governor’s Executive Order No. 7QQ.  Just check the COVID-19 box on the application.”