Registrars of Voters

ELECTIONS DEPARTMENT

Mission Statement

The Elections Department complies with the statutes and laws of the State of Connecticut and the Connecticut Secretary of The State which are monitored by the State’s Election Enforcement Commission (SEEC). The Registrar of Voter’s budget is managed by the Elections Department and is submitted to and supported by the Town of Somers.

 

David McCaffrey, Director, Elections Department 860-763-8211 [email protected]

 

REGISTRAR OF VOTERS

Mission Statement

The Office of the Registrar of Voters in the State of Connecticut is a position governed by Connecticut General Statutes and financially supported by the municipality in which the registrar of voters serves. Registrars of Voters work closely with the Office of the Secretary of the State developing methods and procedures to ensure the voting rights of citizens and administer all elections based on current election laws (i.e. Federal, State, Municipal, Primaries, and Referenda). Registrars of Voters are elected officials. Politics does not have any place in the office. The Registrar of Voters ensures fair and equitable implementation of all laws.

 

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

Lucille L. Furey, Deputy Registrar    [Appointed: January 2019]

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

860.763.8211

 January 2027
Gloriajean Scheiber, Registrar      [Elected: November 2022]

Vacant, Deputy Registrar    [Appointed: January 2025]

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

860.763.8211

 January 2027

 

Voter Requirements

  • 18 years of age
  • 17-year-olds may register if they will be 18 by the date of the November election
  • Must be a United States citizen
  • Reside in town you wish to register in
  • Have completed confinement and parole if previously convicted of a disfranchising felony

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

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)

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

Online Voter Registration

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.

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 November 5, 2024, there are 6750 active, registered voters, of which 2219 are registered Republicans and 1359 are registered Democrats. 127 are registered Independent, and 12 are registered Libertarians, 1 is registered Green. The remaining 3032 are Unaffiliated.

2025 Canvass Information – Somers Registrar Annual Canvass.
Per CT state statute, Canvass mailings to Somers voters will begin on February 1, 2025.  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.

 

Poll Worker Information

Connecticut election officials depend on reliable, dedicated poll workers to assist voters in making their voice heard at the polls. It takes thousands of poll workers at over 750 locations across the state to make every election run smoothly from the first day of Early Voting through Election Day. This is a great role for individuals who are civic-minded, detail-oriented, patient, and take pride in their work. Thank you for serving your community!

You can be a poll worker in Connecticut if you:

• Are a U.S. citizen age 18 and up who is registered to vote in Connecticut or a U.S. citizen age 16 or 17 with residency in the town you are working in and permission to work from a parent or guardian (certain poll worker role restrictions apply);
• Are not a candidate for office (except a registrar of voters or municipal clerk, who is a candidate for the same office, performing their official duties);
• Are not an immediate family member of a candidate if transporting, preparing, repairing, or maintaining a voting machine;
• Are willing to attend mandatory training before each election;
• Have reliable transportation to and from training and polling place;
• Are comfortable working with a personal computer system.

What does a poll worker do?

• Sets up and closes a polling place;
• Helps voters understand their rights and the voting process;
• Protects ballots and voting equipment.

 

Why be a poll worker?

• Help ensure voting is safe and all eligible votes are counted;
• Play a fundamental role in the democratic process;
• Get paid to serve your community (amount varies).

 

When does Somers need poll workers in 2025?

• Annual Budget Referendum:
Referendum: May 20, 2025

• Municipal Primary Election:
In-Person Early Voting: September 1-7, 2025
Election Day: September 9, 2025

• General Municipal Election:
In-Person Early Voting: October 20 – November 2, 2025
Election Day: November 4, 2025

 

Poll Worker Training Standards

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-192a (2019) requires the Secretary of the State, in consultation with an advisory committee created to establish programs and procedures for training, examining, and certifying registrars of voters, deputy registrars of voters, and assistant registrars of voters, to develop a training program in election procedures for poll workers. All poll workers must complete the appropriate level of training before serving at the polls.

FAQs

 Is there training required?

Yes. The length of the training depends on the position, but training for most positions lasts one to two hours. Training for more advanced positions like Assistant Registrar and Moderator typically lasts 3 hours. Training is paid.

 

How long do I work on an Early Voting day or Election Day?

Election Day shifts range from 7.5 to 16 hours. Early Voting shifts vary depending on the day of the week but will likely range from 4.5 to 9 hours.

How much will I be paid?

Pay varies, but typically ranges from $15 – $20 per hour.

For more information, or to sign-up to be a poll worker, please contact us via email at [email protected] or call us at 860-763-8211.

 

 

Somers
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