The State of Connecticut encourages you to participate in elections, both local and national, and makes it fairly easy to do so. This ability to vote includes all persons, despite any prior convictions of misdemeanors or felonies at any time in your past.
There is no question raised on your voter registration form, nor at any polling place in CT as to whether you have a criminal conviction. The only persons not able to vote are those currently incarcerated. The disqualification disappears as soon as one is released from incarceration.
We have the official mail-in registration form from the State of Connecticut available for download here. It may be used in any district, town or city in the state. It includes a telephone number you may call if you have any questions. Simply fill out the bottom portion of the form (below the fold line) to register or re-register to vote.
If you move to a new town, or have been released from incarceration, you need to re-register with this simple form and mail it or bring it to the Registrar of Voters office in the town where you have moved. That office is found in every town and city hall. You can also register to vote online at: https://portal.ct.gov/sots/election-services/register-to-vote/voter-registration-application-english-and-spanish where the form can be downloaded in English and Spanish. Remember, if you move to a different town or city, you must re-register to vote in the new town.
YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HAVE A DRIVER LICENSE OR STATE ID CARD IN ORDER TO REGISTER OR TO VOTE. Please see instruction #5 under "registration instructions" on the attached mail-in voter registration form. When you go in or mail in the form to register to vote, provide copies of your state ID or driver license OR copies of any other current (not expired) photo ID, or a current utility bill, bank statement, government (federal, state, or city) check, a paycheck, or any other government document (such as a letter from the Department of Social Services) to establish who you are. These are all acceptable forms to get you registered to vote in your town or city.
Each time you go to vote at a location set by your town or city, you will be asked to show some ID. A CT DRIVER LICENSE IS NOT REQUIRED. You may simply show the election worker your social security card, OR any pre-printed (not hand written) ID which shows your name and address, or your name and photo, or your name and signature. So, for example, you may show a work ID card if it has your name and photo. A signed credit card or library card even meets these requirements. Election workers are trained to ask only for identification, and will not ask you anything about convictions or your voting intentions. Your privacy is respected when you vote.
Participating in the outcome of elections is a means of restoring your value as a citizen and in returning some control over events to your life. It is a pro-social act and leaves you with the dignity that you deserve after meeting your obligations under the criminal legal system. Please register to vote and participate in elections.