All election officials take an oath to uphold election laws and to administer the election in a non-partisan manner. Equipment, ballots and supplies are transported to the polls in a locked, sealed transport carrier. At the close of polls, the equipment, ballots and supplies are transported back to the registrars’ office in the locked, sealed transport carrier. All seal numbers are recorded by the Moderator and reported to the Registrars of Voters for security.
List of Election Officials
Moderators serve as the chief polling place official. It is the moderator’s job to make the process of voting as smooth as possible for the elector. (§ 9-439)
Assistant Registrars deal with all voters who are not able to go through the normal voting process. They assist the moderator with opening and closing the polls and assist voters with special needs.
Checkers look at each voter’s identification pursuant to state law. (§ 9-20) They locate a voter’s name in the official voter registry list and mark that they have voted.
Ballot Clerks give each voter a ballot and offer a privacy folder. If the voter has spoiled a ballot or wishes to change it, the ballot clerk issues a replacement ballot in exchange for the old ballot.
Tabulator Tenders are in charge of the voting tabulator and for assisting voters while preserving the voters’ right to ballot secrecy.
Demonstrators and Challengers. Demonstrators are available to educate voters on the correct manner in which to cast their ballots and show voters a sample educational video. They also assist the Moderator in crowd control.
Voting Hours
Voting Hours: Polls to be open 6:00 am to 8:00 pm. Electors in line at 8:00 pm will be permitted to vote. (CGS 9-174)
75 Foot Sign
State law prohibits electioneering inside a polling place and within 75 feet of the door to the building where the election is held. A sign is placed at each polling place marking the edge of the 75-foot zone. No one coming to vote or otherwise coming within this zone is allowed to exhibit campaign buttons, stickers, political signs, clothing, or literature. Election officials have the legal power to enforce this rule and to summon the police, if necessary. Disrupting the smooth and orderly conduct of an election is a serious offense. (§ 9-19j)
Offering Assistance to Voters
If a voter asks for assistance in filling out their ballot, two election officials of opposite political parties will help.