Voting in Darien

Who can be a voter?

Any person who is a U.S. citizen, has reached the age of 18 years, and is a bona fide resident of Darien may register to vote in Darien. A bona fide resident of Darien is someone whose home is in this town and, if temporarily absent, to which he/she intends to return.

A 17 year old who fulfills the other requirements may apply to register to vote. The registration becomes effective on his/her 18th birthday.

When can a person register to vote?

A person can register to vote in Darien on the same day they establish residence in town. There is no waiting period.

How does a person register to vote?

Mail-in voter applications are now available from the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Public Library, and from the Registrars’ Office.

The registration form may also be downloaded , printed out, and mailed or delivered to the Registrars of Voters Office, Town Hall, 2 Renshaw Road, Darien, CT, 06820.

A person temporarily living in another state may register to vote in Darien by filling out a CT voter registration application and mailing it to the Darien Registrars of Voters office.

Many prefer to register to vote in person. The Registrars of Voters’ Office in the Town Hall is open every weekday from 8:30 a.m. until 12 noon. If the Registrars’ Office is closed, people may go to the Town Clerk’s Office until 4:00 PM.

A registration session is held yearly at the Darien High School in the spring prior to graduation.

When registering to vote in person, bring a driver’s license or some other form of identification (passport, birth certificate, etc.).

The general election registration deadline is 7 days before an election. A mail-in application must be postmarked by 14 days before the election. A special registration session is often held on a Saturday two weeks prior to an election.

Those maturing (turning 18) or moving into town within the 7 day restriction may register up until 12 noon the day prior to an election.

Primary election registration deadline and referendum enrollment deadline are 12 noon the day preceding the event.

How do people vote when they’re away from Darien on Election Day?

Voters can vote in an election even if they can’t make it to the polls on Election Day by absentee ballot. There are several reasons for which a person may use an absentee ballot to vote and are granted only for these reasons:

1. Absent from town during voting hours
2. Illness
3. Disability
4. Active service in the armed forces
5. Religious beliefs that conflict with the election, primary, or referendum
6. Living in a foreign country temporarily.

Absentee ballot applications are available from the Town Clerk’s office or the Registrars’ Office. Ballots will be forwarded after applications are received.

Note: Students--don’t forget to get an absentee ballot application before going off to college!!

How does a person join a political party?

A person may join a political party at the time he/she registers to vote or remain unaffiliated. Unaffiliated voters may choose to enroll in a political party at any time. A person who is a member of one political party may leave that party and join another political party at anytime.

Membership in the new party becomes effective 3 months from the date they apply to join it. In the interim, they are categorized as unaffiliated voters.

Why join a political party?

According to Connecticut law, only enrolled members of a political party may participate in the caucuses, conventions, and primaries of that political party. With rare exceptions, elective and appointed office holders are members of political parties. A member of a party is free to vote for whomever he/she chooses in a general election.

What is a "Voter Canvass"?

As required by the Secretary of the State and the laws of Connecticut, a canvass of all voters, to ensure the accuracy of the Voter Registry List, is conducted every year.

Traditionally, each voter is mailed a form which must be signed and returned to the Registrars’ Office. Noncompliance after proper notification by the Registrars, will place a voter on the Inactive List and require a Restoration Form to be filed before voting privilege is extended.

Remaining on the Inactive List for a period of 4 years without filing a Restoration Form causes removal from the voting list. It then becomes necessary to re-register if you wish to continue to vote in Darien and have not registered elsewhere in the interim.

How can a person lose the right to vote?

A person can lose the right to become a voter upon conviction of a felony (a serious crime). A person may be reinstated as a voter after serving a sentence, completing parole, and/or paying a fine.