If you are going to vote, you need to be represented fairly. The Census is how we determine so much of what our government does.
Census results help determine how billions of dollars in federal funding flow into states and communities each year, for infrastructure, health and emergency response.
The results determine how many seats in Congress each state gets.
Read more about the Census, and when you get your letter, respond. You can do it by mail, online or in person. You can avoid making someone come to your door by responding before April 1.
If you live outside of NY or CT, check Vote.org for information on making sure you are registered, getting registered if you are not, and getting to the polls.
Connecticut dates to remember
Presidential Primary: Updated to August 11, 2020
State Primary: August 11, 2020
NY State dates to remember
Presidential Primary: April 28, 2020
(The Early Voting period for the April 28th Presidential Primary will be April 18, 2020 – April 26, 2020.)
State and Other Federal Primary Elections: June 23, 2020
(The Early Voting period for State and Federal June 23rd Primary will be June 13, 2020 – June 21, 2020.)
In most states (including CT and NY), you must register with your town or city before you can vote. Don’t put it off until the last minute. Register now and be ready for the next election.
- In Connecticut, you can register online, by mail or in person. Check here.
- In New York, you can register online, by mail or in person. Check here.
- There is information for the rest of the country here
REGISTER YOURSELF, AND THEN HELP A FRIEND OR NEIGHBOR REGISTER AS WELL!
PRIMARIES: The rules vary state by state, but in NY and CT you MUST be registered with a party in order to vote in the primaries, where you decide who will be on the major party tickets. Keep in mind that the primaries are usually just the major parties, and if you do not register as a Democrat or a Republican, you will not be able to vote for the candidates in those parties in the primary. Being a Libertarian, Green Party or any other party member does not mean you cannot register with one of the major parties and take part in the critical primary elections. More information for NY and CT is below.
Where Do I Go To Vote?
- Look up your polling place in Connecticut
- Look up your polling place in New York
- Look up your polling place in The Rest of The U.S.
Connecticut provides Election Day Registration at specific locations.
Click here for more information
You Must Be Registered Before You Can Vote
Here are some of the links and phone numbers you might have heard on the air on WPKN about elections and voting.
Connecticut
In most cases in Connecticut, you can register to vote up to one business day before an election or primary, if you do it in person at your town or city registrar of voters. Connecticut allows for Election Day Registration, but you need to do it at specific locations. Check here for information about EDR in Connecticut.
Mail-in applications are allowed, but you need to do it well in advance of election day. Applications are available in English & Spanish here.
Additional information is available at the CT Secretary of State’s Office. Find out more about:
There are many smaller membership parties in CT. They may have different processes for choosing candidates, so find out more about:
Contact your local town clerk or registrar of voters for a list of other parties in your town.
New York State
New York State Board of Elections
- You can register in person at your county board of elections
- You can call the 1-800-FOR-VOTE hotline to request a voter application.
- You must be registered to vote. Here are the deadlines.
You need to register with a specific party to vote in the primary. Find out more about
There are many smaller membership parties in NY. They may have different processes for choosing candidates, so find out more about:
Contact your local town clerk or registrar of voters for a list of other parties in your town.
You can find links for other states at
Rock The Vote
USA.gov