To gain party affiliation, you can go online and fill out a voter registration card and check the box marked “party enrollment change”. Be sure to write in a political party. The website is available 24/7 at: voterregistration.ct.gov/OLVR/welcome.do The registrar’s office will be closed to the public if the town hall is still on lock down due to the pandemic. However, you can knock on the door, and use the cart outside of the building to fill out the form if you prefer to register in person. Party membership does not cost anything, nor are party members obligated to vote along party lines.
There is a 90-day waiting period for those switching political parties to attain party privilege, so it is too late to switch for the Aug. 11 primary. The 90-day deadline does not apply to unaffiliated and new voters; they can register to join a major political party up until noon on Aug. 10.
The primary in August will also be an opportunity for potential municipal and state candidates to contest their party’s nominee. As of this writing, no one has yet qualified to primary but both parties still have presidential candidates contesting the front runners.
Democratic candidates who qualified to have their delegates be on the Aug. 11 ballot: Joe Biden, Tulsi Gabbard, and Bernie Sanders, (and Uncommitted). Michael Bloomberg, Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Tom Steyer and Elizabeth Warren have all officially withdrawn.
Republican candidates who qualified to have their delegates be on the Aug. 11 ballot: Rocky De La Fuente and Donald Trump, (and Uncommitted). Bill Weld has officially withdrawn.
Poll workers are on the frontlines for democracy
On June 3, the registrars will host a Zoom meeting to discuss Voting Safely in 2020. This program is for poll workers and, if successful, will be repeated for voters. The registrars will use this to test using Zoom for online local training, as well as discuss the many serious issues that need to be addressed to ensure the safety of poll workers. Past, present and future poll workers have been sent invitations.
Poll workers can be volunteers or paid. Volunteer poll workers must be at least 16 years old and can choose to volunteer for a few hours, as desired to fit their schedules. If you would like to be added to their list or if you did not receive the poll worker information eletter, please contact the registrars at: registrarofvoters@granby-ct.gov
Poll worker training will be done in late July and early August for the presidential/state primary, and again in October for the Nov. 3 election. Poll worker training is required to serve. For more information or to apply please contact the registrars at: registrarofvoters@granby-ct.gov