Granby budget history
Over the years, Granby’s process for voting on the annual town budget has evolved beyond the vintage New England hand-counted in-person vote at a specific time at a Town Meeting. We still hold a Public Hearing two weeks before the vote where residents can publicly express their opinions on the proposed budget, but the actual Budget Referendum is now a separate all-day event conducted by a machine vote.
The budget first went to an automated referendum in 2013. Before that, a referendum was not required unless the first in-person vote was rejected. Typically, in the past 20 years, a budget vote at a public meeting drew 4–5 percent of the electorate, whereas (with some exceptions) 13–20 percent of eligible voters come out for a machine vote.
The 2020-21 budget was adopted by the Granby Board of Finance without a public vote, as per an Executive Order by Governor Lamont.
In 2024, voting hours changed from 12–8 p.m. to 8 a.m.–8 p.m.
The 2026-27 budget
This year, the public hearing for the budget that goes into effect on July 1 will be held on Monday, April 6 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium. The machine vote will be on Monday, April 20, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. in the Town Hall Meeting Room, 15 North Granby Road—not at the high school.
For all these votes, you will need an ID, preferably a photo ID. The check-in lines will be separated based on street address, not last name. As in the past, non-registered Granby property owners will also be allowed to vote if their name appears on the last published grand list, but they will need to fill out a special form at the assessor’s table.
Absentee ballots can be filed, in person only, with the Town Clerk during Town Hall business hours, after the public hearing. There is insufficient time to do mailings for budget referendums. There are no early voting days for a budget referendum.
If the budget does not pass on April 20, the BOF will present an amended budget proposal at a public hearing on April 27, with a machine vote May 4. Please note that, although the BOF is allowed to present an amended budget that is higher than the original budget, it would almost certainly be for a reduced amount.
High School Senior Registration Drive
The Registrars of Voters will conduct a Spring Voter Registration Drive at the Granby Memorial High School on Thursday, April 2. High school seniors who will be 18 years of age by the Nov. 3 General Election will be eligible to register at this session. If seniors who have state-issued IDs, such as a driver’s license, should bring them to facilitate the registration process.
Poll workers are needed
The Registrar’s office has compiled an email list of poll workers and sent out a request for help for 2026 events. New poll workers are always welcome. Send us an email if you can help this year. If the “2026 Poll Worker Survey” missed your inbox, please let us know.
Volunteer poll workers must be at least 16 years old and may volunteer for a few hours to fit their schedules. Poll worker training is being done starting in March for the annual budget referendum. We will provide it again this summer if there are bond questions going to a referendum, or if there is early voting and a state primary in August.
In the fall, training will begin in late September for the 14 days of early voting and the Nov. 3 Gubernatorial Election. One session of poll worker training is required to serve for each event; for more information, or to apply, contact the Registrars at: registrarofvoters@granby-ct.gov