Election 2020: Cheshire Voter Guide

CHESHIRE, CT — Voters in Cheshire will head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3, for the 2020 general election.

In addition to the presidential and congressional races, all state House of Representative and Senate seats are up for grabs. Voting will be different this year thanks to a law that allows absentee ballot voting for all voters in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

You can check your voting status on the Secretary of State's website, where you can also find your polling place.

There are several ways residents can vote:

Absentee Voting

The Secretary of the State office has mailed absentee ballot applications to all active registered voters in the state. Voters can also download the application online.

Those who want an absentee ballot will have to fill out the application and select a reason for requesting one. All voters are eligible to check the top box that lists "COVID-19" as a reason for requesting an absentee ballot.

Applications then need to be sent to the voter's local town clerk office. They can be dropped in the secure drop-off box in front of town hall, hand-delivered in person to the office or mailed in.

The applications will then be processed locally and will begin to be sent out Oct. 2.

Ballots must be completely filled out according to the accompanied instructions, including signing the inner envelope. Ballots can be hand-delivered to the town clerk office, placed in the drop-off box or mailed in. Ballots must be received by the close of polls in order to count.

Voting on Election Day

Polls in Connecticut are open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. You can use the Secretary of State’s website to find your polling place.

Regular voter registration must be received or postmarked by the 7th day before Election Day. Registration can be done in person with the local registrar of voters office by the 7th day before an election.

Connecticut also allows for Election Day registration at designated centers in each town. People must be registered by 8 p.m. in order to vote using Election Day registration.

For questions about voting in Cheshire, contact the Cheshire Registrar of Voters at 203 271-6680 or visit their website here.

The following are the key contested races that will be on the ballot for Cheshire voters:

President/Vice President

Joe Biden/Kamala Harris (Democrat)

Donald Trump/Mike Pence (Republican) – Incumbent

Jo Jorgensen and Chip Cohen (Libertarian)

Howie Hawkins and Angela Walker (Green Party)

U.S. Congress

U.S. House District 5

Jahana Hayes (Democrat) – Incumbent

David X. Sullivan (Republican)

Bruce W. Walczak (Independent)

Local State Senate Race

13th Senatorial District

Mary Daugherty Abrams (Democrat) – Incumbent

Len Suzio (Republican)

16th Senatorial District

Jack Perry (Democrat)

Rob Sampson (Republican) – Incumbent

Local State Representative Races

89th House District

E.J. Maher (Democrat)

Lezlye Zupkus (Republican) – Incumbent

90th House District

Jim Jinks (Democrat)

Craig Fishbein (Republican) – Incumbent

103rd House District

Liz Linehan (Democrat) – Incumbent

Pam Salamone (Republican)

Registrar of Voters

Tom Smith (Democrat)

Susan Pappas (Republican)

There will also be the following referendum questions on the ballot:

1. Shall the $1,400,000 appropriation and bond authorization for HVAC and locker room improvements at the police station be approved?

2. Shall the $1,600,000 appropriation and bond authorization for the Road Improvement Program be approved?

3. Shall the $620,000 appropriation and bond authorization for road reconstruction of Industrial Avenue be approved?

For explanatory text on the questions, click here.