Registrar of Voters

The Registrars of Voters are responsible for maintaining an accurate voter list and supervising all town, state and federal elections in a non-partisan and fair manner. The Registrars also register new voters and remove the names of persons who had died or moved out of Bethany. The gradual increase in Bethany’s population is usually accompanied by an increase in the number of registered voters. Voter registration is the responsibility of residents themselves to register to vote in Bethany. The Registrars are happy to assist voters with any questions regarding voter registration or elections.

Early Voting is here!

Early Voting will take place in March 2024 for the Presidential Preference Primary (PPP). Early Voting days and hours will be as follows:

-Tuesday, March 26, 2024: 10am to 6pm

-Wednesday, March 27, 2024: 10am to 6pm

-Thursday, March 28, 2024: 10am to 6pm

-Saturday, March 30, 2024: 10am to 6pm

Early Voting will take place in the Commission Room at the Bethany Town Hall. Please bring your ID with you to vote. Please Note: there is NO Same Day Registration for a Primary Election.

Here is some useful information with regards to Primary Elections:

The PPP will take place on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.Our polling location is at Bethany Town Hall.When you registered to vote, you were asked “Do you wish to enroll in a Political Party?”If you chose “No”, you are not eligible to vote in a Democratic or Republican Primary.
Even if you have always voted for a particular party, we do not know that and we should not know that.
If you are Unaffiliated (checked “NO”), you can change to a party the day before the primary.(Please note, we do not yet know how this will work for Early Voting.)

If you are unaffiliated with any party, including “Independent”, as that is a party in CT, you would have had to change your party 90 days before the primary. With the PPP on April 2, 2024, 90 days before was January 3, 2024.

Please visit the CT Secretary of the State website, via this link, for more Early Voting information:

https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Election-Services/Early-Voting/Early-Voting

Registrar of Voters Notification of Mandatory Enrollment Session for Presidential Preference Primary

The Registrars of Voters announce important election dates for the upcoming Presidential Primary election to be held on Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Registration sessions will be held during the times listed below. All registration sessions will be held in the Registrar’s office upstairs in Town Hall.

Friday, March 15th from 9am until 8pm- voter registration session. Deadline to register to vote using the Online Voter Registration System.
Friday, May 3rd from 9am until 5pm-Limited registration session for voters whose qualifications changed as to age, citizenship or residence since April 29th.

Absentee Ballots: Applications for absentee ballots should be made through the Town Clerk’s office. Applications may be obtained from the Town Clerk or may be downloaded from the Connecticut Secretary of the State web site at www.ct.gov/sots .

Deadlines: All voter registrations must be postmarked on or before April 29th, in order to vote in the May 6^th election. The deadline for registrations taken in person is Monday, April 29th by 8:00p.m.

Town Clerk’s Offices are available to accept voter registrations and party changes, or provide absentee applications Monday through Friday, from 8:30a.m. to 4:00p.m.

Questions Answered
Am I registered to vote in Bethany? You may use this link to the Secretary of the State’s website to check. You may also call or e-mail us – we would be happy to confirm your voting status. http://www.dir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx
What are the registration requirements? To register to vote in Bethany, a person must be (1) a U.S. citizen, (2) a resident of Bethany, (3) at least 17 years of age (but 18 to vote), and (4) if convicted of a disenfranchising felony, released from confinement and parole.
What are the registration deadlines? Before a referendum: Residents may register to vote up to the last business day before a referendum. Before a primary: mail-in registrations must be postmarked by the 5th day before the primary date; residents may register in person by 12:00 noon of the last business day before a primary. In Connecticut, voters must be affiliated with the party holding the primary in order to participate.* Before an election: mail-in registrations must be postmarked by the 7th day before an election OR residents may register in person by the 7th day before the election.
Can I get a mail-in voter registration card? Mail-in voter registration cards are available at the Town Clerk’s office and the Clark Memorial Library.
How do I change my name, address or party affiliation? Changes of address, party affiliation or name can be made with the same mail-in registrations cards. *Please note that if you are switching between political parties (for example, before a primary), there is a 90 day waiting period before party privileges mature.
Who is eligible to vote in referenda? Those eligible to vote in referenda are (1) registered voters or (2) U.S. citizens who are 18 years of age and liable for taxes on property assessed at not less than $1,000 on the last-completed Grand List.
When are elections held? Election Day is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The Amity Regional School budget goes to referendum vote every year on the first Tuesday in May.
How can I vote absentee? Absentee ballots are handled by the Town Clerk’s office. The process involves (1) applying for an absentee ballot, and (2) receiving, filling out, and delivering the ballot. Both steps can be carried out in person at the Town Clerk’s office or by mail. If you send your ballot by mail, be sure to give enough time for the Post Office to deliver it before Election Day. Any vote arriving after the last delivery does not count! Ballots and applications may also be deposited in the drop box outside Town Hall 30 days prior to an election, primary or referendum.
How can I work at the polls? Working as an election official can be a rewarding and interesting experience. You may either check off the box when you register to vote or call the Registrars to express your interest.
How do I obtain an Absentee Ballot? Registered Voters You my obtain an Absentee Ballot application from the Town Clerk, Monday through Friday during regular business hours, starting 30 days before an election. You may also print and mail an Absentee Ballot application for state, local or federal elections on the Secretary of State’s website Print Absentee Ballot Application. Applications can also be placed in the dropbox outside Town Hall. Deployed Military Personnel Federal Voting Assistance Program Federal Post Card Applications are available to deployed Uniformed Service members and their families living abroad. These cards are used to register to vote, request an Absentee Ballot and update your contact information. Americans Living Abroad Voting While Living Outside the U.S.

Questions Answered

Am I registered to vote in Bethany?

You may use this link to the Secretary of the State’s website to check. You may also call or e-mail us – we would be happy to confirm your voting status. http://www.dir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx

What are the registration requirements?

To register to vote in Bethany, a person must be (1) a U.S. citizen, (2) a resident of Bethany, (3) at least 17 years of age (but 18 to vote), and (4) if convicted of a disenfranchising felony, released from confinement and parole.

What are the registration deadlines?

Before a referendum: Residents may register to vote up to the last business day before a referendum. Before a primary: mail-in registrations must be postmarked by the 5th day before the primary date; residents may register in person by 12:00 noon of the last business day before a primary. In Connecticut, voters must be affiliated with the party holding the primary in order to participate.* Before an election: mail-in registrations must be postmarked by the 7th day before an election OR residents may register in person by the 7th day before the election.

Can I get a mail-in voter registration card?

Mail-in voter registration cards are available at the Town Clerk’s office and the Clark Memorial Library.

How do I change my name, address or party affiliation?

Changes of address, party affiliation or name can be made with the same mail-in registrations cards. *Please note that if you are switching between political parties (for example, before a primary), there is a 90 day waiting period before party privileges mature.

Who is eligible to vote in referenda?

Those eligible to vote in referenda are (1) registered voters or (2) U.S. citizens who are 18 years of age and liable for taxes on property assessed at not less than $1,000 on the last-completed Grand List.

When are elections held?

Election Day is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The Amity Regional School budget goes to referendum vote every year on the first Tuesday in May.

How can I vote absentee?

Absentee ballots are handled by the Town Clerk’s office. The process involves (1) applying for an absentee ballot, and (2) receiving, filling out, and delivering the ballot. Both steps can be carried out in person at the Town Clerk’s office or by mail. If you send your ballot by mail, be sure to give enough time for the Post Office to deliver it before Election Day. Any vote arriving after the last delivery does not count! Ballots and applications may also be deposited in the drop box outside Town Hall 30 days prior to an election, primary or referendum.

How can I work at the polls?

Working as an election official can be a rewarding and interesting experience. You may either check off the box when you register to vote or call the Registrars to express your interest.

How do I obtain an Absentee Ballot?

Registered Voters
You my obtain an Absentee Ballot application from the Town Clerk, Monday through Friday during regular business hours, starting 30 days before an election. You may also print and mail an Absentee Ballot application for state, local or federal elections on the Secretary of State’s website Print Absentee Ballot Application. Applications can also be placed in the dropbox outside Town Hall.

Deployed Military Personnel Federal Voting Assistance Program
Federal Post Card Applications are available to deployed Uniformed Service members and their families living abroad. These cards are used to register to vote, request an Absentee Ballot and update your contact information.

Americans Living Abroad
Voting While Living Outside the U.S.