The Easiest Route: Online Registration
For many, the quickest way to register is online through the Secretary of the State's website. To use this system, you must have a current Connecticut Driver's License, Learner's Permit, or a non-driver ID card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The system uses the information on file with the DMV to verify your identity and address. If you don't have a DMV-issued ID, you can still use the online form by providing the last four digits of your Social Security number. This streamlined process is designed for convenience and is the most common method for new voters and those updating their information.
Registering by Mail
If you prefer to register by mail, you'll need to fill out a paper voter registration form. The form asks for your Connecticut driver's
license number or the last four digits of your Social Security number, similar to the online process. If you don't have either, you are required to submit a copy of an identifying document along with your form. This rule is part of the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA) for first-time voters registering by mail. Acceptable documents include a copy of a current and valid photo ID, a recent utility bill, a bank statement, a government check, or a paycheck that shows your name and current address. Sending one of these documents with your application ensures your registration is processed without any hitches.
In-Person and Same-Day Registration
Connecticut offers the valuable option of registering to vote in person, both ahead of time and on Election Day itself. You can visit your local town hall's Registrar of Voters office to register. For standard in-person registration, you'll need to prove your identity and residency. The state also provides for Same-Day Registration (SDR) during early voting periods and on Election Day for general elections. For SDR, you must appear at a designated location in your town—which is not necessarily your polling place—and provide proof of both identity and residency. For proof of identity, you can use a birth certificate, driver's license, Social Security card, or a valid student ID. For proof of residence, documents like a recent utility bill, lease agreement, paycheck, or even a postmarked piece of mail will work.
What If I Don't Have a Standard ID?
Connecticut law ensures that a lack of photo ID does not prevent a citizen from participating in elections. While poll workers will ask for identification when you go to vote, a photo is not strictly required for most voters. You can present a Social Security card or any pre-printed form of ID that shows your name and address, name and signature, or name and photograph. This can include a credit card with your signature, a student ID, or a utility bill. If you arrive at the polls with no identification at all, you can typically sign an affidavit, a sworn statement affirming your identity under penalty of false statement, and then cast a regular ballot. However, first-time voters who registered by mail without providing ID must present an acceptable form of identification the first time they vote in a federal election.
A Note for First-Time Voters
The requirements can feel slightly different if it's your first time voting in a federal election after registering by mail. This is due to the HAVA law. If you fall into this category, you will see a mark next to your name on the voter list. You will be required to show either a current and valid photo ID with your name and address or a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or another government document that shows your name and address. Once you have fulfilled this one-time requirement, you will not have to do so in future elections.
