Registrars of Voters

REGISTRAR OF VOTERS

Mission Statement

The Registrars follow the statutes and laws of the Secretary of The State which are monitored by the State’s Election Enforcement Commission. The registrar’s budget is established and supported by the town.

Registrars:

Term Expires:

David P. McCaffrey, Registrar [Elected: November 2012]

Lucille L. Furey, Deputy Registrar

Hours: Monday’s 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
[email protected]

860.763.8211

January 2025

Gloriajean Scheiber, Registrar [Elected: November 2022]

Jeanne J. Reed, Deputy Registrar

Hours: Wednesday’s 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 Noon

860.763.8211

January 2025

Voter Requirements

The Secretary of the State and the Registrar of Voters, as election officials, know that running a smooth election depends on being well-prepared. We want to help voters be prepared. Register to vote in advance or update your information with a new address, for example, can minimize confusion on Election Day. Online Voter Registration is a convenient service, especially during times of peak interest.

Register to Vote

How to Register to Vote or change your Voter Registration information:

(If you want to change your Voter Registration information, you will need to fill out a new voter registration card)

Register anytime online at voterregistration.ct.gov
Click here to print a Voter Registration card. Fill it out completely and mail it to our office.
Stop in the Town Clerk’s office during regular business hours (M-W 8 am-4 pm; Thurs 8 am-6:30 pm; Closed: Friday’s)
Call or email our office with your name and mailing address and we will mail a registration card to you.
- Somers.Registrar@gmail,com
- (860) 763-8211

Once you submit your completed registration card, you should receive a confirmation letter from our office within 1-2 weeks.

Online Voter Registration

Online Voter Registration Link

Not sure if you are Registered?/Voter Registration Check

Voters are also encouraged to use the Secretary of the State’s ‘Voter Lookup Tool’. This tool allows a voter to look up their own information. They can confirm that their address on file is current as well as their party affiliation. It will be especially helpful in the Presidential and State Primaries because Connecticut only allows enrolled members of the major parties to vote in those elections.

Voter LookUp Tool

Did you know?

There is a difference between Independent and Unaffiliated. The Independent Party is a recognized minor party in the state of Connecticut. Whereas, Unaffiliated means you are not registered in any Party. Not sure if you’re registered as Independent or Unaffiliated?? Click here to check your voter registration information or contact our office.

Don’t Stop Voting Because You Have a Disability!!

If you have a permanent disability and are unable to vote at the polling place in person, you are eligible to receive automatically by mail an absentee ballot for each election, primary, or referendum. Simply apply for Permanent Absentee Voter Status by contacting the Registrar at Somers.Registrar@gmail,com

Canvass of Voters

CT State Statutes require Registrars of Voters to conduct a canvass of voters beginning in January of each year. The annual Canvass helps us to keep voter registration records as up-to-date as possible. Our office uses the National Change of Address Service to obtain lists of residents who have moved within the town or out of town. If you have any questions about the Canvass or a letter you may have received, please contact our office.

+Somers, as of February 1, 2024, there are 6267 active, registered voters, of which 2029 are registered Republicans and 1303 are registered, Democrats. 108 are registered Independent, and 11 are registered Libertarians. The remaining 2816 are Unaffiliated.

2024 Canvass Information – Somers Registrar Annual Canvass.

Per CT state statute, Canvass mailings to Somers voters will begin on April 3, 2024. Voters are asked to verify the information and return the form within thirty days.

If the addressee no longer resides at the address do not open the envelope. Please write “Return to Sender” on the unopened envelope and return it to the postal carrier. Voters not returning the Canvass Letter within the thirty-day deadline may result in their ‘active’ voter registration status changing to ‘inactive’.

Absentee Ballots

Connecticut’s Absentee Ballot Process

Connecticut law allows you to receive an absentee ballot if you cannot appear at your assigned polling place on election day for any of the following reasons:

active service in the Military,
absence from the town during all of the hours of voting
illness which prevents you from voting in person on Election Day
religious tenets forbid secular activity on the day of the election
duties as an election official at a polling place other than your own during all of the hours of voting
physical disability that prevents you from voting in person

Absentee Ballot Applications

In order to vote by absentee ballot, a voter must be an active, registered voter, and have filled out an absentee ballot application.

Click here to download an application for an absentee ballot, or contact the Town Clerk’s office to obtain an application

Fill out the application completely and be sure to sign and date it. Completed Absentee Ballot applications should be returned to the Town Clerk’s office via mail, in person, or in the dropbox outside Town Hall. Once the Town Clerk processes the application, the absentee ballot will be mailed to you beginning:

31 days before a general election
21 days before a primary
19 days before a referendum
Or if your application is received after the above dates, your ballot will be mailed to you as soon as your application is processed.

Returning the Absentee Ballot

Once the absentee ballot is received, complete it carefully following the instructions that are included (** first-time voters may be required to include a copy of their ID – read instructions carefully). Return the completed Absentee Ballot to the Town Clerk’s office via mail, in person, or in the secure, labeled ballot drop box outside Town Hall. All ballots must be received by the close of polls, at 8:00 PM on Election Day.

Questions about Absentee Ballots

If you have any further questions about Absentee Ballots, you can contact the Town Clerk at (860) 763-8207. You can also click here for an explanation of the Absentee Ballot process on the Secretary of the State webpage

What is the Registrar of Voters, and what do they do?

The office of the Registrars of Voters, in the State of Connecticut, is an elected position, governed by the Connecticut General Statutes. The hours include evenings and weekends at the time of mandatory sessions required by state law.

As department heads in their respective towns, Registrars develop various methods and procedures to ensure the voting rights of citizens and administer all elections: national, state, municipal, and primaries. Registrars are responsible for voter education and organizing the annual canvass of electors. Registrars maintain and update files, prepare department budgets, and train election officials. Registrars also ensure the proper maintenance of all the voting machines.

The Registrars of Voters are elected for two-year terms at each biennial election. Each represents a major political party (one Democrat, one Republican).

The primary tasks of the registrars of voters are to encourage every eligible voter to register, every registered voter to vote, and to make sure that every vote is counted accurately. The registrars of voters also conduct elections and tally the votes.

If you have a question for the Somers Registrar, or you are interested in learning how to work at the elections and become a poll worker, please send us an email to: [email protected]

Inquiries may also be made to the Town Clerk’s Office during normal business hours at the following: 860.763.8207 or 860.763.8206.