Written by John Schwing
WESTPORT — Connecticut's presidential primary will officially take place next week, but with candidates already confirmed for both the Democratic and Republican parties, voters are wondering what's the point in voting? You may think so.
Having your voice heard regardless of the consequences is fundamental to American democracy, but there is another issue at play: history.
For the first time, voters in Westport and across the state will be able to cast their votes four days before the actual primary voting date, on Tuesday, April 2nd.
The proposed state constitutional amendment was approved in 2022 with strong support from voters and was voted on this week, four days before primary voting begins on Tuesday, March 26th. The measure also received overwhelming support from Westport voters, by a vote of 3-4. -1 margin.
Before early voting began in Connecticut, it was an outlier among 50 other states, one of only four states that had some form of ban on early voting. Her remaining three are Mississippi, Alabama, and New Hampshire.
In the first presidential primary, voting will take place over four designated days prior to the April 2nd primary.
For this November's general election, a law approved last year requires municipalities to offer 14 days of early voting.
The local early voting schedule for the presidential primary is as follows:
- It will be held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, March 26-28, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in City Hall, Room 201, 110 Myrtle Ave.
- Saturday, March 30, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the City Hall Auditorium.
- Early voting will not be held on March 29th, March 31st, or April 1st.
- On the preliminary day, April 2, voting will take place in the City Hall auditorium from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- All voting in this year's presidential primary will take place at City Hall rather than at the usual precinct polling places.
- Voters must register with the political party they plan to vote in the primary election. Independent voters or voters registered with a minority political party are not eligible to vote.
If you have any questions, please call the Voter Registration Office at 203-341-1115.
