Background on Proposed Connecticut Constitutional Amendment on Early Voting

by | Oct 28, 2022 | Announcements, Voting & Elections

During the Nov. 8 State Election, registered voters in the Town of Lyme will be asked to vote “Yes” or “No” on the following ballot question: “Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the General Assembly to provide for early voting?”

The explanatory text for the proposed amendment can be found here.

As a reminder:

  • Registered voters in the Town of Lyme who are planning to vote in person on Nov. 8 will vote in the State Election and the Regional School District 18 Bond Referendum at Lyme Town Hall, 480 Hamburg Road, Lyme, Connecticut.
  • Individuals who are not registered voters, but who are considered under State law to be “qualified voters” for the purpose of the voting in the Regional School District 18 Bond Referendum, will vote at the Lyme Public Library, 482 Hamburg Road, Lyme, Connecticut. A “qualified voter” is any citizen of the United States of the age of 18 years or more who, jointly or severally, is liable to the town for taxes assessed against him on an assessment of not less than one thousand dollars on the last-completed grand list of such town.

In-person voting will take place on Nov. 8 from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

 

 

Sample Ballot for the Nov. 8 Election

by | Oct 28, 2022 | Announcements, Voting & Elections

Click here to see what the ballot will look like on Tuesday, Nov. 8, for the State Election. 

In-person voting for the State Election will take place at Lyme Town Hall, 480 Hamburg Road, Lyme, Connecticut from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

As a reminder:

  • Registered voters in the Town of Lyme who are planning to vote in person on Nov. 8 will vote in the State Election and the Regional School District #18 Bond Referendum at Lyme Town Hall, 480 Hamburg Road, Lyme, Connecticut.
  • Individuals who are not registered voters, but who are considered under Connecticut State Statute 7-6 to be “qualified voters” for the purpose of voting in the Regional School District #18 Bond Referendum, will vote at the Lyme Public Library, 482 Hamburg Road, Lyme, Connecticut. A “qualified voter” is any citizen of the United States of the age of 18 years or more who, jointly or severally, is liable to the town for taxes assessed against him on an assessment of not less than one thousand dollars on the last-completed grand list of such town.

Reminder: Where to Vote on Nov. 8

by | Oct 28, 2022 | Announcements, Voting & Elections

Registered voters in the Town of Lyme who are planning to vote in person on Nov. 8 will vote in the State Election and the Regional School District #18 Bond Referendum at Lyme Town Hall, 480 Hamburg Road, Lyme, Connecticut. 

Individuals who are not registered voters, but who are considered under Connecticut General Statute 7-6 to be “qualified voters” for the purpose of voting in the Regional School District #18 Bond Referendum, will vote at the Lyme Public Library, 482 Hamburg Road, Lyme, Connecticut. A “qualified voter” is any citizen of the United States of the age of 18 years or more who, jointly or severally, is liable to the town for taxes assessed against him on an assessment of not less than one thousand dollars on the last-completed grand list of such town.

In-person voting will take place from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Election Update from Town Clerk – Absentee Ballots

by | Oct 25, 2022 | Announcements, Voting & Elections

Important Deadlines

We are now two weeks away from the November 8 State Election and Regional School District #18 Bond Referendum.  Those wishing to vote by absentee are encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible to receive your ballots and then return them in time to be counted.  The last day for the Town Clerk to issue absentee ballots is November 7.  Completed ballots must be returned no later than 8:00 PM on November 8.

Applying for Absentee Ballots

You may apply for an absentee ballot for the State Election by:

  • utilizing the State of Connecticut’s portal at https://oabr-sots.ct.gov/ (ballot will be mailed);
  • printing out an application from the State’s website at https://bit.ly/2ulgNDz and submitting it either by mailing it, dropping it in the drop box (ballot will be mailed); or
  • visiting the Town Clerk’s office to obtain applications (ballot may be given to you the same day).

You may apply for an absentee ballot for the Regional School District #18 Bond Referendum by:

  • printing out an application from the State’s website at https://bit.ly/2ulgNDz and submitting it either by mailing it, dropping it in the drop box (ballot will be mailed); or
  • visiting the Town Clerk’s office to obtain applications (ballot may be given to you the same day).

If someone submits an absentee ballot application and has checked “election” in Section III of the application, they will receive an election ballot.  If someone submits an absentee ballot application and has checked “referendum” in Section III of the application, they will receive a referendum ballot.  If they wish to vote in both, they must submit two forms, one with “election” checked and one with “referendum” checked.  These are two separate events occurring on the same day.  In Section III of the absentee ballot application, you will see that the applicant is directed to “check only one,” either “election” or “referendum,” which necessitates two forms if the voter wishes to vote in both events.  If you are using the State’s online portal to submit your absentee ballot application, you will only receive an election ballot.  If you wish to vote absentee in the referendum, you could then submit a separate application to the Town Clerk by dropping it off in the drop box, mailing it or bringing it into the office.

Returning Completed Ballots

You may return your completed ballot by:

  • dropping it into the secure drop box on the sidewalk at Lyme Town Hall;
  • mailing your ballot; or
  • hand delivering your ballot to the Town Clerk’s office.

Questions

Should you have any questions, please contact the Town Clerk at 860-434-7733 or townclerk@townlyme.org.

 

Legal Notice: Town of Lyme Warning of Referendum for Regional School District 18 – Lyme/Old Lyme Schools

by | Oct 24, 2022 | Announcements, Voting & Elections

The electors and qualified voters of the Town of Lyme are hereby warned and notified to meet where such persons are entitled to vote on November 8, 2022, between the hours of 6:00 A.M. and 8:00 P.M. (E.T.), for the purpose of approving or disapproving the following question:

  1. “Shall the resolution approving an appropriation and bond authorization in the amount of $57,555,000, of which it is expected that an estimated $9,775,000 shall be reimbursed by the State of Connecticut, for the planning, design, demolition, construction, renovation, equipping and furnishing of Mile Creek School, Center School, Lyme Consolidated School and Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School and related costs, adopted by Regional School District No. 18 at a Regular Board of Education Meeting held on September 7, 2022, be approved?”

          The ballot label for said question shall read as follows:

“Shall the resolution appropriating and authorizing bonds in the amount of $57,555,000, of which it is expected that an estimated $9,775,000 shall be reimbursed by the State of Connecticut, for the planning, design, demolition, construction, renovation, equipping and furnishing of Mile Creek School, Center School, Lyme Consolidated School and Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School and related costs, be approved?

YES______                                                             NO______”

The voting will be by paper ballot.  Those desiring to vote for the resolution shall mark the square under the question on the paper ballot at “Yes”.  Those desiring to vote against the resolution shall mark the square under the question on the paper ballot at “NO”.

Absentee ballots will be made available as provided by law.

Electors of the Town and qualified voters are entitled to vote.  A qualified voter is any citizen of the United States of the age of 18 years or more who, jointly or severally, is liable to the Town for taxes assessed against him or her of not less than $1,000 on the last completed grand list of the Town, or who would be so liable if not entitled to an exemption under subdivision (17), (19), (22), (25) or (26) of Section 12-81 of the Connecticut General Statutes.

The polls will be open during the hours between 6:00 A.M. and 8:00 P.M. (E.T.) and electors will cast their vote at the following places:

Registered Voters:  Lyme Town Hall, 480 Hamburg Road, Lyme, CT 06371
Qualified Voters: Lyme Public Library, 482 Hamburg Road, Lyme, CT 06371
Central counting of absentee ballots will be at Lyme Town Hall, 480 Hamburg Road, Lyme, CT 06371

Copies of the full text of the resolution are on file and open to public inspection in the office of the Town Clerk of Lyme and in the offices of the District Board of Education.

Dated at Lyme, Connecticut this 24th day of October 2022.
Linda A. Winzer, Lyme Town Clerk

Town of Lyme Legal Notice for November 8, 2022, State Election

by | Oct 24, 2022 | Announcements, Voting & Elections

The Electors of the Town of Lyme are hereby warned to meet at their respective polling places in said town on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, for the following purposes:

I.  To cast their votes for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, United States Senator, Representative in Congress, State Senator, State Representative, Secretary of the State, Treasurer, Comptroller, Attorney General, Judge of Probate, and Registrar of Voters.

II. To vote on the following question for the approval or disapproval of a proposed AMENDMENT to the Constitution of Connecticut, a vote of “YES” being a vote for approval, and a vote of “NO” being a vote for disapproval:

        1. Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the General Assembly to provide for early voting?

The full text of such proposed question with explanatory text, printed in accordance with §2-30a of the General Statutes, is available at the town clerk’s office for public distribution.

The vote on the proposed questions is taken pursuant to the Constitution of Connecticut.

Notice is hereby given that the location of the polling places is as follows:

Voting District:  1

Location of Polling Place:  Lyme Town Hall, 480 Hamburg Road, Lyme, CT  06371

Election Day Registration (EDR) location:  Town Clerk’s Office, Lyme Town Hall, 480 Hamburg Road, Lyme, CT 06371

Voting tabulators will be used. The polls will be opened at 6:00 AM and will remain open until 8:00 PM.

Dated at Lyme, Connecticut, this 24th day of October 2022.
Linda A. Winzer, Lyme Town Clerk

Voting by Absentee Ballot

by | Oct 4, 2022 | Announcements, Voting & Elections

Absentee ballots for the November 8 election can start being mailed to eligible voters who have requested them on October 7.  That is the first date that, by law, absentee ballots can be made available to Connecticut residents. 

How To Request & Return an Absentee-Ballot Application

Lyme residents who are planning to vote by absentee ballot should fill out and return their absentee-ballot application for a ballot now so that they can receive their absentee ballot as soon as possible.  (You must complete an absentee ballot application in order to receive an absentee ballot.)

  • Absentee-ballot applications can be downloaded by clicking on this link: https://bit.ly/2ulgNDz.  (Scroll down the page and choose either an English or Spanish “Application for Absentee Ballot.”)
    • If you are requesting an absentee ballot for the November 8 election, you should check the “Election” box in Section III.
    • If you are requesting an absentee ballot for the school building referendum, you should check the box for “Referendum.”
    • If you want to vote by absentee ballot in both the election and the referendum, you must fill out two separate applications – one for the election, one for the referendum.
  • Absentee-ballot applications can be returned by dropping them in the Official Ballot Drop Box on the sidewalk outside of Town Hall.

As far as who is eligible to vote by absentee ballot in this election, Connecticut Secretary of State Mark Kohler has said, “Access to absentee ballots was expanded this year … Voters are eligible to vote by absentee ballot if they are unable to go to their polling place on Election Day because of absence from their town for a period of time on Election Day, because of a sickness or because of a disability. This includes voters who are unable to go to their polling place because of a sickness or physical disability of another person, or because of the continued presence of a sickness, such as the COVID-19 virus.”

The Secretary of the State website elaborates on eligibility further, saying, “A voter who is a caretaker of an immunocompromised person can vote by absentee ballot if the sickness and/or physical disability of the person in their care renders the voter unable to appear at their polling place. Similarly, a voter who, in the voter’s best judgment, is unable to appear in the polling place because of the continued presence of a sickness such as the COVID-19 virus is eligible to vote by absentee ballot.”

Other eligible residents include active members of the U.S. armed forces and individuals whose religious beliefs prevent them from performing secular activities like voting on Election Day.

If you submit an application, you must check a reason for requesting an Absentee Ballot under Section IV of the application, and you must sign and date the application.

How To Fill Out an Absentee Ballot

The Lyme Town Clerk offers this advice for filling out an absentee ballot:

  • When you receive your ballot packet, it will contain five items: the outer envelope (designated with the letter “C”), the inner envelope (designated with the letter “B”), an instruction pamphlet, a flyer regarding the ballot drop box and the ballot.
  • Fill out your ballot, darkening only one oval per column. You may see the candidate you wish to vote for listed more than once, which indicates they were endorsed by more than one party.  Do not fill in all ovals for that candidate, darken one oval only.
  • Insert the ballot into the inner “B” envelope and seal it. You must sign and date this envelope in order for your vote to count. This is part of statutory election law.  Ballots in unsigned envelopes will not be counted.
  • Insert the inner “B” envelope into the outer “C” envelope and seal it. Your ballot is now ready to be returned.

How To Return an Absentee Ballot

The easiest and most effective way for Lyme residents to return an absentee ballot is to drop it in the Official Ballot Drop Box on the sidewalk out of Lyme Town Hall – no later than 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Voters can also return their absentee ballots by mail to the Town Clerk (Lyme Town Hall, 480 Hamburg Road, Lyme, CT 06371) – but the ballots must arrive before 8:00 p.m. on November 8 to be counted.

Voters can also return their absentee ballot to the Town Clerk in person any day prior to Election Day.