Absentee Ballots

You may use an absentee ballot if you are unable to vote in person for any of the following reasons:

  • Active service in the Armed Forces of the United States
  • Absence from town of residence
  • Sickness
  • Religious beliefs forbidding secular activity on election day, primary or referendum
  • Service as an election official at a polling place other than the polling place where they vote; or
  • Physical disability

You may use an absentee ballot in an election or referendum where voting machines are used and the polls are open for much of the day. Registered voters who are enrolled with a political party may request an absentee ballot for a primary as well as for the general election. Note that it is not possible to vote at a Town Meeting by absentee ballot -- you must attend the meeting personally.

There are two steps in the absentee ballot process:

  • First you need to submit an application for an absentee ballot;
  • Then you receive and return the actual ballot.

How and when this happens depends on how much time there is before the election or referendum in question:

  • If the election or referendum is a couple of weeks or more away, you can do the whole thing by mail. Start by printing and filling out the:
  • If a referendum is to be held with less than three weeks notice, use this form:But note that this is very unusual -- the first form is almost always the one you want. This does not mean that you have decided to vote with less than three weeks to go -- it means that the referendum was authorized with less than three weeks notice.

    Mail the completed application to:

    Town Clerk
    Town of Washington
    P.O. Box 383
    Washington Depot, CT 06794

  • Otherwise you must appear in person at the Town Clerk's office to complete the application form. (If you are unable to go, a relative or caregiver can pick up the application on your behalf.) The ballot can then be personally delivered or mailed back to the Clerk.

    If the absentee ballot forms are ready, you may complete the entire process with one visit to the Town Clerk's office.

For more information on voting and absentee ballots, see: