Nearly three dozen people were in line at Newtown Municipal Center Monday morning, when an early voting period for the 2024 general election opened. It was the first time in state history for registered voters to take advantage of an option already available in 46 states.

Some people, according to Republican Registrar of Voters Erica Canfield, had been in line for two hours before polls opened at 10.

“They’ve been here since 8 o’clock,” she said as she and others in the office made their final preparations.

Vince Cuocci was the first Newtown resident to vote Monday morning. He was the first of 711 people who cast their ballots during the next eight hours.

More than 56,000 voters across the state, or roughly 2.5% of eligible voters, took advantage of early voting on Monday, Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas reported.

“After all the hard work put in by our election workers to prepare for yesterday and the next 13 days, I am glad to see voters taking advantage of this convenient form of in-person voting,” Thomas said via press release issued October 22. “It provides voters more opportunities to cast their ballot, which is helpful for those with challenging schedules or when any last-minute issues make getting to the polls on Election Day impossible.”

In 2022, 60% of voters voted in support of the constitutional amendment allowing for early voting, making Connecticut the 47th state to adopt this form of expanded ballot access.

“Yesterday’s high turnout reflects voters’ continued enthusiasm for greater opportunities to vote,” Thomas noted.

Locally, Canfield said the reception during the first three days of early voting was “wonderful.”

The Office of the Registrars recorded another 578 ballots on Tuesday and another 699 by end of day Wednesday, October 23.

“We’re doing very good. Nobody waits too long, and everybody’s been super, super friendly. Everyone’s been getting along in line,” she said. “I think everyone’s happy to see so many people in town taking part in this.”

Early voting first began earlier this year with the Presidential Preference Primary in April, when 8,852 Connecticut voters turned out. In August, 17,826 voters voted early for the statewide Primary.

The Process

Early voting is nearly identical to Election Day voting with two main differences.

The first difference is all voting takes place in one location, rather than voters going to locations based on their home.

The second is — as with absentee voting — all ballots cast during the early voting period remain secured and unopened until Election Day.

Local voters can begin the early voting process by visiting the Office of the Registrar within Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street. Voters will show their ID so registrars can check them off in a computer. They are then given an envelope for their finished ballot.

A clerk will also give each voter the appropriate district ballot, based on their home address.

Voters then go to any of eight polling stations in the main corridor of the municipal center or one of six stations within meeting room 2. The meeting room stations provide seating; the hallway stations are standing locations.

Once ballots are filled in they are folded in half and put into the envelope, which is then secured. Voters then sign their envelopes.

The clerk will check each envelope to make sure it is properly closed and marked.

The envelopes are then placed into a secured ballot box that will remain locked until Election Day.

Early voting continues daily to Sunday, November 3. Hours are 10 am-6 pm daily except Tuesday, October 29, and Thursday, October 31, when hours are 8 am-8 pm. Canfield cautions local voters to visit the municipal center during those posted dates. The registrar’s office will be open on Monday, November 4, but early voting will be closed.

“We’re working that day,” Canfield said. “We’ll be getting ready for Election Day on Tuesday.

Absentee voting is still an option. Voters must return those ballots by mail or in a dropbox in their town — Newtown has them outside the northern and southern entrances to Newtown Municipal Center — by 8 pm Tuesday, November 5. Newtown residents can also deliver absentee ballots directly to the Office of the Town Clerk, also within the municipal center.

One woman who did not want to share her name Monday was happy to have participated in the new process.

“I’m really glad I came early,” she said, leaving the municipal center by 10:15 Monday morning. “I don’t like long lines, and there was just a little confusion when everything started at 10, but everyone was very nice.

“Everything was fine and I’m glad I did this.”

Campaigning Reminder

Canfield offered a reminder to those planning to utilize the early voting option: as with regular voting, campaigning is not allowed within 75 feet of where early voting is taking place.

“You cannot have a person’s name or likeness — including their picture or silhouette — on your body, book, a hat — nothing,” she said Wednesday afternoon.

Slogans for any candidate are acceptable and allowed, she said; however, “names and likeness are not, including silhouettes,” she reiterated.

Anyone who appears at the Office of the Registrars planning to participate in early voting will be asked to remove hats or other items. Shirts must be turned inside out.

“This is the same rule as at the polls,” Canfield noted.

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.