For the first time ever in a presidential election in Connecticut, voters will be able to register to vote on the day votes are cast.
That adds a wrinkle to poll workers since they have to be ready for both existing voters and new registrations.
“We are anticipating a high volume of turnout. That’s why it’s important to get the word out now if you don’t want to wait in line please do it in advance," said Melissa Russel who wears multiple hats when it comes to elections in Connecticut.
She's the Republican Registrar of Voters for the Town of Bethlehem, but she's also the President of the Registrars of Voters Association of Connecticut, the group that represents more than 300 local election officials statewide.
Russell wants to remind new voters that if they want to register to vote on the same day they vote, then they need to make sure they do it early to avoid any conflicts with the 8 p.m. deadline of when the polls close.
“Those who are in line waiting to register are not electors , therefore they have a slightly different threshold than electors who are waiting in line at 8 o’clock who are allowed to vote in the polling places."
Local election officials will also report results online for the first time ever directly to the Secretary of the State's office through a special-designed web-portal.
Local
Russell said of that system, “We’re a little on edge but we’re cautiously optimistic that we’re ready to do that.”
