Connecticut Transportation Revenue Lockbox Amendment
Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to ensure (1) that all moneys contained in the Special Transportation Fund be used solely for transportation purposes, including the payment of debts of the state incurred for transportation purposes, and (2) that sources of funds deposited in the Special Transportation Fund be deposited in said fund so long as such sources are authorized by statute to be collected or received by the state?
A “yes” vote supports this amendment to prohibit lawmakers from using the state transportation fund for anything other than transportation purposes.
A “no” vote opposes this amendment that would prohibit lawmakers from using the state transportation fund for anything other than transportation purposes.
Transfer, Sale or Disposition of State Property Amendment
Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to require (1) a public hearing and the enactment of legislation limited in subject matter to the transfer, sale or disposition of state-owned or state-controlled real property or interests in real property in order for the General Assembly to require a state agency to sell, transfer or dispose of any real property or interest in real property that is under the custody or control of the agency, and (2) if such property is under the custody or control of the Department of Agriculture or the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, that such enactment of legislation be passed by a two-thirds vote of the total membership of each house of the General Assembly?
A “yes” vote supports this amendment to require a public hearing on bills to authorize the transfer, sale, or disposal of state-owned properties, such as state parks, forests, and conserved lands, to non-state entities and require a two-thirds vote of the Connecticut General Assembly to authorize the transfer, sale, or disposal of land under the control of the state agriculture or environmental protection departments.
A “no” vote opposes this amendment to require a public hearing on bills to authorize the transfer, sale, or disposal of state-owned properties and require a two-thirds vote of the Connecticut General Assembly to authorize the transfer, sale, or disposal of land under the control of the state agriculture or environmental protection departments.
Election Day registration and voting on Nov. 6
Same day voter registration passed in Connecticut in 2013 and will be available this November. U.S. citizens who are 18 on or before Nov. 6 can register to vote on Election Day. Unregistered voters can to go to Town Hall on Election Day to register. They must bring proof of identity and proof of residence to vote. If registered before 8 p.m., they will be able to complete a ballot and place in an envelope. If their ballot is uncontested at 8 p.m., it will go to the polling site at the high school where it will be counted separately from the official ballots and the absentee ballots. Unregistered voters in line at Town Hall at 8 p.m. will not be able to vote on Election Day. Voter registration is NON-transferable. If you moved from another town or state, you still need to fill out a new registration card, with your current address, in order to vote. You can do that by mail or online at voterregistration.ct.gov until Oct. 30. In person registrations are accepted up until Oct. 30 when the Registrars’ Office is open all day, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on this day. You will receive a letter of confirmation within two weeks. Please call or email the registrars if you have any questions.
Senior Van Service Available on Election Day
Homebound registered voters can arrange for transportation to the polls by calling the Social Services department at the Senior Center at 860-844-5353. The service is offered from 9 a.m. to noon on Election Day and it is strongly recommended that voters call now to arrange for a ride.
Voter ID
To check in quickly at the polls, it is helpful to bring a photo ID. Should you not have any ID on election day, but have previously proven your ID, at the time of your registration or when voting previously, you will need to spend a few minutes at the Moderator table to fill out a state required form. If you are a brand new voter, and you have not proven your identity, you MUST bring an ID to vote on Election Day, preferably a photo ID or you will be issued a provisional ballot.
Provisional and Overseas Ballots
Per the Help America Vote Act, provisional ballots will again be available for FEDERAL offices, not state or local offices. This November, this special ballot will have two offices for the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressional District 1, and for the U.S. Senate. Provisional ballots are identical to the overseas ballots available to U.S. citizens who live abroad.
Provisional ballots are issued to new voters who have NEVER shown an ID and to voters who insist they are registered but do not appear on the voter lists. The registrars have six days to find evidence that either the new voter provided ID at registration or the unregistered voter was removed from the list incorrectly.
Ballot Marking Alternative
All voters have the option to vote privately and independently using a touch screen or audio ballot marking system. This equipment is designed to allow people who can’t, or who would prefer to not use a marking pen to fill out their ballot, to vote on Election Day privately and independently at the polling site using this specially set up system. Voters can listen to the ballot, or enlarge the size of the ballot to make it easier to read and mark the ballot on a touch screen. The voter’s selections are filled in by the printer on their paper ballot.
Curbside Voting
Physically disabled or handicapped voters can vote using an absentee ballot through the Town Clerk before Election Day. Voters who have a temporary medical issue on Election Day, such as a severe arthritis flare up, can use curbside voting. By making a request at the polling site for help from two assistant registrars, a Democrat and a Republican, the curbside voter waits in a designated parking space. The assistant registrars check the voter in and are issued a ballot in a privacy folder that they jointly carry to the voter to fill out. After the ballot is completed, the assistant registrars carry the completed ballot, to the optical scanner voting machine to be counted. This service is not available to people who are not temporarily physically handicapped.
Voter lists are public information. The registrars always have a copy of this list and you are welcome to review it at the Town Clerk’s office during normal business hours. Copies of the list can be e-mailed by request. Everyone is encouraged to check Granby’s voter list BEFORE Election Day to ensure your right to vote. You can check your voter registration online using the SOS website: portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx Voter registrations are NOT transferable from another town or another state, so please make sure your registration is up to date.
Calendar Review
Tuesday, Oct. 30, is the in-person, and post mark date for mailed voter registration applications and for the Online Voter Registration system
Tuesday, Oct. 30, Special Voter Registration Day 9 am to 8 p.m. in Registrar of Voters office and is the Last Day to Register In Person, unless you are a brand new resident within the last two weeks, in the military service or just turned 18 years old.
Monday, Nov. 5, Special Voter Registration Session for brand new residents within the last two weeks, military service people and just turned 18 from 9 am to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 6, Gubernatorial Election at the Granby Memorial High School Community Gym – Polls open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 6, Election Day Registration at Town Hall Meeting Room, exclusively for unregistered voters – open 6 am to 8 p.m.
Absentee Ballot Applications are being collected by the Town Clerk for those who know they can’t get to the polls on Nov. 6. The application form is available at Town Hall or on the web at sots.ct.gov To be sure you are registered, do not mail the application; take it to the Town Clerk who can process applications and issue ballots in person up until Monday, Nov. 5 at 4 p.m.
Feel free to stop by to register to vote, figure out which is your voting district or make corrections in person at the Registrars’ Office in the Town Hall every Wednesday. Regular office hours are 9 am to 4 p.m.. Please note you can register online or get the voter registration form at town halls, libraries, DMV offices and at the Secretary of State’s website: sots.ct.gov
Questions? Contact Laura Wolfe and Paul Willis, the office phone number/ voice mail is 860-844-5322 and our e-mail address is: vr.granby.ct@gmail.com