General FAQs | Voting and Registration FAQs

General Frequently Asked Questions

• Who can register to vote?
  Any U.S. citizen who attains the age of 17 years and who has not been convicted of a felony unless their voter rights have been restored, and truthfully fills out a voter registration application (Form ED-671).


• What types of elections can I vote in?
  2008: Presidential Election, residents will vote for the President, Vice President, members of Congress, State Senators, State Representatives, and Registrars of Voters.
  2009: Southington Town Election, which includes Town Council members and all elected boards.
  2010: State Election, including the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and other State offices, plus members of Congress.
  2011: Southington Town Election, which includes Town Council members and all elected boards.
  
  
  In addition to the regularly scheduled elections there also can be Primary Elections (You must be registered in the Party holding the Primary) to chose candidates or delegates, and Referenda. Be sure to check on this page in the future for updates!
  
• How do I register to vote?
  Contact us in person or writing, or by phone, fax, or e-mail requesting a mail-in application. You can download an application form here.
  Use the motor vehicle application received with your drivers license application.
  
  
• Where do I vote?
  For your convenience, this Street List has been created to show you important voting information. Just click on your street to get your district number, then click on your district number for your polling place (where you go to vote).
  
  NOTE:
  
  Primary and General Elections are held at the above locations at the hours announced.  Referenda are usually held at one location only - Derynoski Elementary School from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Persons eligible to vote in:
  
          General Elections: all Southington voters.
          Primary Elections: those who meet the above requirements, plus be a member of the appropriate political party.
          For Referenda: all Southington voters.
  
  To Find out more information about your voting district, please phone us at (860) 276-6268 or Email us.
A special voter making session will be held at Southington High School for students who are 18 years old, or have turned 17 and will be 18 prior to Election Day of that year. The session is usually held during March or April in the school atrium.


• Three important facts to remember if you want to register just before an election:
  
  
  • Mail in registration cards:
  We can accept your mail in voter registration card provided it is postmarked on or before the 14th day before Election Day. (For 2005 Election this date is October 25th)
  
  
  • Voter making sessions:
  a) Saturday, three weeks before the election 10:00AM to 2PM in Registrars of Voters office at the Town Hall. (The 2005 date is 10/22/2005)
  b) Tuesday, Two weeks before Election Day 9AM to 8PM. In Registrars office. This is the last time you can register for this November’s election. (The 2005 date is October 25, 2005)
  
  
  • Exceptions to the above cutoff dates are:
  a) If you move into town after the one week cutoff date. (you must show closing papers or a lease dated after that date)
  b) You become a citizen after the one week cutoff date. (You must show your citizenship papers dated after that cutoff date)
  c) You turn 18 after that cutoff date.
  
  If you fall into one of the above categories you can register up until noon the day before the election in the Registrar of Voters office.


• When do I vote?
  In Southington, there is a general election EVERY November. Election Day is the first Tuesday After the first Monday in November. The polls open at 6:00am and close at 8:00pm.


• Who does what at the polls?
  • Moderator: The moderator is in charge of the polling place and performs or directs all operations during the voting day.
  • Assistant Registrars (there are two): The Assistant Registrars represent their respective registrars of voters in the polling place overseeing the voting operations on Election Day and also reinstating voters whose names have been removed from the active voting list and placed on the inactive list who have not moved from that address.
  • Checkers: The Checkers check off the names of voters as they present themselves to vote. They also monitor the identification presented by voters prior to having their names checked off. All voters must be checked off before voting.
  • Unofficial Checkers: The Unofficial Checkers, sometimes called "Party Checkers" make a note of the voter number of all persons voting so this information can be picked up and brought to the respective party campaign headquarters by runners assigned by the various political parties involved in the election.
  • Machine Tenders: The Machine Tenders remain by the machine to push the lever that allows each individual voter to vote. They also monitor the voting area to make certain that voters have been properly checked off and leave the area after voting. They also make certain that no campaign literature or debris is left around the machine and nothing has defaced the machine.
  • In addition to the above persons actually working in the polling places there are the following elections officials.
  • Registrars of Voters: Overall responsibility for the conduct of the election, including the proper training (and certification where needed) of all election officials and workers; proper setup and operation of all voting machines; all elections supplies needed at the polling places; making proper determinations of the eligibility of residents to vote; preparing all official voting lists and the distribution of all official voting lists and the distribution of all official literature; overseeing absentee voting and the hiring and supervising of all election officials and workers.
  • Head Moderator: Responsible for the Election Day conduct of the election, including the oversight of all polling places to make certain statutes are adhered to both in the physical makeup of the polls and the voting procedures. Also supervises the voting count at the end of the election, monitors all tally sheets and transports results to office of the Secretary of the State.
  • Town Clerk: Responsible for originating and reproducing absentee ballots, responding to requests for absentee ballot applications and issuing ballots upon their proper completion, providing candidate strips for voting machines as well as sample ballots for polls.
  • Machine Mechanics: Responsible for the making up of the machines before the election, making sure they are returned after the election, all machine maintenance on Election Day.
  • Absentee Ballot Moderator: Responsible for the proper conduct of the absentee ballot counting operation.
  • Deputy Registrars of Voters: Responsible for assisting in the election administration including class training for poll workers, and determining eligibility to vote on Election Day. Assumes duties of Registrar of Voters in their absence. It is important to note that procedures, number of poll workers, number of voting machines, hours of operation are all carefully specified by State statutes.
  
  
  
  The above positions are paid. If you feel you would like to work at the polls on Election Day, contact the election department. 860-276-6268 or e-mail us.
  


• Who are Southington's Registrars of Voters?
  Edward M. Malczyk (D)
  Robert L. Sherman (R)


• What do the Registrars do?
  -As Chief Election Officials, they are responsible for the proper conduct of all Federal, State and local elections and all Referenda.
  -Conducting mandated voter making activities and encouraging this activity among the citizens of Southington.
  -Supervision and maintenance of all voter information and lists.