Some voters in Connecticut will have the chance to vote early for the first time on Tuesday.
Connecticut's presidential primary is April 2nd, but voting will be held Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday to allow Democratic and Republican voters to cast their votes early.
“I'm asking everyone I know to come and vote early,” Middletown Democratic Voter Registrar Patricia Alston said Monday.
Middletown poll workers set up voting booths inside Middletown City Hall for early voting.
President Joe Biden clinched the Democratic nomination earlier this month. Former President Donald Trump secured the Republican ticket on the same day.
Still, Alston hopes voters can come to the polls and see how the process works. When lawmakers approved early voting last year, they required two weeks of voting days before the November election.
Alston also wants to sue for more funding from the state.
“It’s new, it’s extra effort, it’s extra work,” Alston said.
Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas recently asked Congressional appropriations committees for $5 million to support early voting in cities and towns. She also called for funding for public awareness campaigns.
House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora said Congress needs to support local governments.
“We need more funding to do this program,” he says.
House Speaker Matt Ritter said Congress may not give cities the $5 million Thomas requested. He first wanted to know what the voting results would be in the primary.
“When I say we're making a small budget adjustment, you think it's the smallest one I've ever seen,” Ritter said.
