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Voter Forms | Voter Lookup | Voter Summary | Voter Registration Maps
The State of Connecticut, under the leadership of the
Secretary of the State's office, has a comprehensive,
non-partisan voter registration plan that involves the public and
private sector as key participants and has ambitious goals to
register voters, increase the likelihood of individual voting,
and promote civic participation beyond the act of voting.
This year provides an extraordinary opportunity to reinvigorate
democracy, increase civic participation and add hundreds of
thousands of registered voters. The Secretary of the State's
Office is organizing support and participation in statewide voter
registration; aggressively establishing and expanding working
relationships with many constituencies.
These partnerships are a central component of our program.
Connecticut's young people, and the twenty communities with the
lowest voter registration -- which include both small towns and
some large cities -- are receiving special attention within a
plan that seeks support and active involvement from every segment
of the state and will reach all of Connecticut's 169 cities and
towns.
Our goal is to increase voter registration levels in Connecticut
to a new high, and to promote citizen participation in the wake
of those efforts. Now, the percentage of eligible voters
registered to vote in Connecticut, 71%, places Connecticut in the
middle of the pack -- 23rd in the nation. Secretary of the State
Miles Rapoport's goal for the state of 85% registration by the
November, 1996 election has brought about an all-out effort to
register voters.
Achieving our goal will make Connecticut a national leader in
efforts to expand and increase public participation in the
democratic process.
CONNECTICUT'S VOTER REGISTRATION PLAN
It's never been easier to become a registered voter. But that
fact is meaningless unless real energy is put behind this effort.
That's what we're doing in Connecticut, and we've enlisted many
partners in this endeavor:
We've established a "voter registration week" at the
end of January, and another in October, with the Connecticut Food
Association, which will permit shoppers to register to vote when
they buy their groceries in communities throughout the state.
Connecticut's public colleges and universities will place voter
registration cards in the hands of all incoming freshmen for the
second consecutive year. Independent colleges are now joining the
effort, and there will be special voter registration days on
campuses statewide. We've also created a newsletter specifically
targeting college youth.
We're collaborating with the Connecticut Business and Industry
Association to enlist businesses in voter registration efforts
for their employees, customers and clients. Hundreds of leading
corporations are part of this growing effort.
We've developed a plan to work with real estate agents and
"welcome wagon" agencies to provide people who move
with a chance to register at their new address.
We're working with leading financial institutions to promote
"voter registration weeks" at local credit unions and
bank branches.
One regional newspaper included a voter registration card insert
in their newspaper as part of a special series on voting-- the
first time that's ever been done in Connecticut. And we're
working with other major newspapers to do the same before
November's elections.
We have intensified efforts to attract high school students, as
they turn 18, to the democratic process. A new law permits 17
year olds to pre-register as voters, enhancing efforts to
register high school students. To help, we provide a voting
education curriculum.
We're working with the clergy, the NAACP and others to
register voters at church, with utilities to include a voter
registration card with utility bills, with public libraries
offering voter registration across the state, and with sports
franchises to include voter registration cards in their game
programs.
WORKING WITH AGENCIES ... The implementation of the
National Voter Registration Act, or "motor voter," in
state agencies is another major segment of our overall plan. We
have met with state agencies -- from top administrators to
front-line staff -- to walk through the process, develop the
voter registration materials they need, and emphasize the
importance of compliance with the law. Voter registration is now
offered at agency field offices statewide.
We've also created a new "motor voter" enforcement
unit" dedicated to ensuring that the job is done well.
Non-profit agencies -- in the human services field and others --
have also volunteered to work with us to register voters.
BEYOND VOTING ... We have established a Citizenship
Speakers Bureau that includes community leaders and countless
volunteers to speak with community groups and schools. We're also
reaching out to citizens via the Internet and have a growing
volunteer force aiding the voter registration effort and
providing a foundation for a continuing effort.
The Secretary of the State's Office is also working closely
with local Registrars of Voters and Town Clerks and supporting
efforts to have children participate in mock voting programs. We
led efforts to establish the New England presidential primary--
March 5, 1996 -- and we're playing a central role in efforts to
secure a Presidential Debate in Connecticut.
There will be a special effort to register young voters as we
mark the 25th anniversary of the 18-year-old vote and we'll
participate in major ceremonies around the state, including
rededication of the Old State House, registering voters and
showcasing our Voting Booth of the Future computer prototype to
attract new voters and increase awareness of the potential of new
technology.
Connecticut is also one of only a handful of states that is
putting in place a statewide computerized voter list. And a
special task force is considering the use of new, computerized
voting machines in Connecticut.
Our voter registration efforts are complemented by a media
campaign and computer on-line and telephone dial-up information
about voter registration, voting, and candidates.
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