Primary Day is Tuesday, Sept. 12th, 2023!

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 7th, 2023!

 

PLAN YOUR VOTE! CHECK THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:

In 2023, WHAT RACES ARE ON MY BALLOT?

Bridgeport voters will vote for candidates for the following positions:

Mayor: elected citywide
City Clerk: elected citywide
Town Clerk: elected citywide
City Council: 2 seats per District: 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139
Board of Education: 4 seats elected citywide
City Sheriff: 3 seats, elected citywide

CAN I SEE MY SAMPLE BALLOT?

Yes, sample ballots are available from the Town Clerk before every election. If you are a registered Democrat, click here to see your sample ballot for the Democratic Primary on Tues., Sept 12th.

I DON’T KNOW WHAT CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT I LIVE IN. HOW CAN I FIND THIS INFORMATION?

You can find this information by locating your street address on the district map here. Below is a list of Bridgeport City Council Districts by neighborhood. 

City Council District 130: West End, Black Rock
City Council District 131: West Side, South End, Downtown
City Council District 132: West Side, Brooklawn
City Council District 133: Brooklawn, North End
City Council District 134: North End
City Council District 135: North End, Reservoir
City Council District 136: The Hollow
City Council District 137: East Side
City Council District 138: East Side, Mill Hill
City Council District 139: East End

HOW CAN I REGISTER TO VOTE?

Online: Use the state’s online voter registration system to register, check your registration, or change your name, address or party affiliation. You must have a current driver’s license, learner’s permit or non-driver photo identification card issued by the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and a signature on file with the DMV.

By mail: Print out a voter registration form, complete it and mail it to the Registrar of Voters. The Registrar’s Office is located at Margaret E. Morton Gov. Center, 1st Floor, 999 Broad Street, Bridgeport, CT 06604. Phone: (203) 576-7281

In person: Go to the Registrar of Voters or the Town Clerk, or a state or public agency that offers voter registration, such as the Department of Motor Vehicles, Bridgeport Library or the Bridgeport Generation Now office at 1119 Main Street, Bridgeport CT 06604.

WHAT IS THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE?

For Primary Day, Tues., Sept. 12th, 2023: voter registration cards must be postmarked or received by the registrar of voters by Thursday, Sept. 7th. Or you can register in person at your local registrar of voters or town clerk until noon on Monday, Sept. 11th.

For Election Day, Tues., Nov. 7th: voter registration cards must be postmarked or received by the registrar of voters­ by Tuesday, Oct. 31st. In-person registration at your local registrar of voters must also be done by Tuesday, Oct. 31st.

Same-day Registration: You can also register and vote on Election Day at your designated Election Day Registration location between 6:00 a.m and 8:00 p.m. You must be registered by 8:00 p.m in order to vote. You’ll need to show a copy of a current valid photo ID that includes your name and address – OR a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document with your name and address. Same-day registration is not available for the primaries.

DO I HAVE TO REGISTER WITH A POLITICAL PARTY TO VOTE?

In primary elections in Connecticut, only registered voters of a specific party may vote in that party’s primary. In general elections, all registered voters – even those unaffiliated with a political party – may vote. 

If you’re a newly registered voter or an unaffiliated voter, the deadline to register with a party for the Sept. 12th primaries is noon on Monday, Sept. 11th.

If you are already affiliated with a party but want to switch parties to vote in its primary, you must do so 90 days before the primaries. This year, the deadline is Monday, June 5th.

OK I’M REGISTERED! HOW CAN I VOTE?

Early in-person voting: Connecticut doesn’t currently offer early in-person voting.

Absentee Voting: If you qualify, you can vote early using an absentee ballot. To request an absentee ballot, complete an application and mail it to Bridgeport Town Clerk at City Hall Room 122, 45 Lyon Terrace, Bridgeport, CT 06604. You can also call the Town Clerk at 203-576-7208 and request an application be mailed to you.

In-person voting on Election Day: The primaries are Tuesday, Sept. 12th; the general election is Tuesday, Nov. 7th. Your polling location will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m on both days.

I DON’T KNOW WHERE I VOTE. HOW CAN I FIND MY POLLING LOCATION?

You can check your polling location and your voter registration on the state’s portal here. You can also click here to find your City Council district and your polling location on the map.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I QUALIFY FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT?

A new 2022 law expands who is eligible to vote using an absentee ballot.

Can I vote using an Absentee Ballot? Ask yourself these 6 questions:

1. Are you an active member of the armed forces of the United States?
2. Will you be out of town on Election Day?
3. Does sickness prevent you from voting in person on Election Day? (includes if you are concerned about COVID-19 or caring for a sick relative)
4. Do your religious beliefs prevent you from performing secular activities like voting on Election Day?
5. Will you be performing duties as an election official at a polling place other than your own on Election Day?
6. Do you have a physical disability that prevents you from voting in person on Election Day?

If you answered YES to any of the above questions, you may vote using an absentee ballot. If you answered NO to all of these questions, you must vote in person on Election Day.

To receive your absentee ballot please complete and sign an application and return it to your Town Clerk. Only a voter’s immediate family member or caregiver may assist you as a “designee,” so do not allow anyone other than your designee help you complete your absentee ballot application, fill out your ballot, take your ballot or deliver your completed ballot for you.

NO ONE should come between you and your right to vote!

OK, I QUALIFY FOR AN ABSENTEE BALLOT! HOW DO I APPLY?

You must submit a separate application for the primaries and the general election. You can apply for an absentee ballot:

Online: Click here to Request an Absentee Ballot Online. You must have a state-issued I.D. to apply online.

By mail: Download and complete the application for an absentee ballot. Return the completed application to the Bridgeport Town Clerk. You can also call the Town Clerk at 203-576-7208 and request an application be mailed to you.

In person: Visit the Bridgeport Town Clerk. You can apply through the day before Election Day. Election officials encourage you to apply as early as possible to ensure your ballot arrives in time.

OK, I SUBMITTED MY APPLICATION! WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY BALLOT?

For Primary Day, Tues., Sept. 12th: Absentee ballots will be mailed starting Tuesday, Aug., 22nd. During primary elections, absentee ballots are distributed no earlier than 21 days before the election.

For Election Day, Tues., Nov. 7th: Absentee Ballots will be mailed starting Saturday, October 7th. During general elections, absentee ballots are distributed no more than 31 days before the general election.

If your application is received after these dates, your ballot will be mailed to you as soon as your application is processed. In the event of an unforeseen illness or physical disability within six days of the polls closing, you can submit an emergency application for an absentee ballot. Read more on the state’s absentee ballots fact sheet.

If you have a chronic illness or disability, you can apply for a permanent absentee ballot. That will ensure you get an absentee ballot for each election without having to request one.

I RECEIVED MY ABSENTEE BALLOT. HOW DO I RETURN IT?

Remember – only a voter’s immediate family member or caregiver may assist you as a “designee,” so do not allow anyone other than your designee help you complete your absentee ballot, take your ballot or deliver your completed ballot for you. You can return your ballot the following ways:

By mail: Mail it to Bridgeport’s town clerk. It must be received (not postmarked) no later than 8 p.m. — the close of polls — on Election Day.

Via drop box: Drop boxes are operational 29 days before Election Day (Monday, July 14th, for the primaries, and Monday, Oct. 9th, for the general election) through to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. Click here to see the locations of Bridgeport’s drop boxes.

In person: You must return it to Bridgeport’s town clerk by the close of business the day before Election Day.

Once you’ve returned your absentee ballot, you can track whether it’s been received by Bridgeport’s Town Clerk using the state’s portal here.

I’M STILL WORRIED ABOUT COVID-19. CAN I USE AN ABSENTEE BALLOT?

Yes! In 2022, you can still use the COVID-19 pandemic as a legal excuse for needing an absentee ballot to vote. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to use an absentee ballot:

  1. Click here to download the absentee ballot application in English or in Spanish
  2. Fill it out and mail it or bring it to Bridgeport’s Town Clerk, City Hall Room 122 , 45 Lyon Terrace, Bridgeport, CT 06604
  3. Wait to receive your absentee ballot in the mail
  4. Complete your absentee ballot in the privacy of your home
  5. Do not let anyone touch or take your absentee ballot
  6. Mail your absentee ballot back to Bridgeport’s Town Clerk or put it in one of Bridgeport’s secure ballot drop boxes

Absentee Ballot drop boxes are located at:

  1. Margaret E. Morton Government Center, 999 Broad Street, Bridgeport
  2. City Hall 45 Lyon Terrace, Bridgeport
  3. Fire House #10 950 Boston Avenue
  4. Fire House, 245 Ocean Terrace