Connecticut voting deadlines for the November 3, 2026 election

Connecticut voter registration closes Oct 16 for the November 3, 2026 election. Every deadline — registration, mail ballot and early voting — with the official source for each.

Look up your own ballot and polling place →

Every date

Friday, October 16, 2026
Voter registration deadline (online and by mail)

Online registration must be submitted by October 16, 18 days before Election Day. After that, use Same Day Registration in person. Mailed registration applications must be postmarked by October 16 (18th day before the election).

Monday, October 19, 2026 – Sunday, November 1, 2026
Early voting

Early in-person voting begins 15 days before the election, 10 AM-6 PM daily, with extended hours 8 AM-8 PM on Tue Oct 27 and Thu Oct 29. Each town sets its early voting location(s). Early voting ends Sunday Nov 1 (second day before the election). There is no early voting on Monday Nov 2. No-excuse early in-person voting Oct 19-Nov 1, statewide hours 10 AM-6 PM daily (8 AM-8 PM on Oct 27 and Oct 29). Locations are set by each town. Same Day Registration is available at early voting sites.

Monday, November 2, 2026
Last day to request a mail ballot

Last day to request an absentee ballot (no excuse needed as of Public Act 26-42). Online request portal opens Sept 19; ballots issued starting Oct 2. Emergency applications within 6 days of the election use a separate form.

Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Voter registration deadline (in person)

Regular in-person registration closes Oct 16 (mandatory registrars' session 9 AM-8 PM). After that, Same Day Registration is available in person at early voting locations Oct 19-Nov 1 and at your town's designated Same Day Registration location on Election Day. Same Day Registration is offered at early voting locations (Oct 19-Nov 1) and on Election Day at each town's designated SDR location (not at regular polling places).

Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Mail ballot return deadline

Absentee ballots sent by mail or left in your town's official drop box must be received by the Town Clerk by 8:00 PM on Election Day; postmarks do not count. If you return your ballot to the Town Clerk in person yourself, you must do so by Monday, November 2. A family member or designated caregiver returning it in person has until 8:00 PM on Election Day.

How voting works in Connecticut

Connecticut runs elections by town, not county. Election Day polls are open 6 AM-8 PM. The 18-day registration cutoff (Oct 16) is current law: C.G.S. 9-17, 9-19k(f) and 9-23g(d)(2) as amended by P.A. 23-5, confirmed by the SOTS 2026 calendar (rev. 05.28.26) and voter registration page; the older '7th day' rule on an outdated SOTS page predates P.A. 23-5. Absentee voting is no-excuse (Public Act 26-42). Under C.G.S. 9-140b, mailed and drop-box ballots are due 8 PM Nov 3, but a ballot hand-delivered by the voter personally is due Nov 2.

What we could not confirm

We publish a gap rather than a guess. These points were not settled by an official source:

Where these came from

Every date above was read from the Connecticut election office's own published material, last checked Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Confirm anything you are relying on with your local election authority.

https://portal.ct.gov/sots/election-services/voter-information/voter-registration-information

The pre-election voter registration cutoff deadline is eighteen (18) days before Election Day.

https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_143.htm

if a mailed application is postmarked, or if a delivered application is received in the office of the registrars of voters, after the eighteenth day before an election or after the eighteenth day before a primary, the privileges of an elector shall not attach until the day after such election or primary

https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/sots/electionservices/calendars/2026-elections/2026-election-calendar-122325.pdf?rev=db830eb4fb3d4480b702b89d28624a47&hash=582E11FA0973B22BF1B03EC57E2F6F77

Registration and Enrollment (By-Mail) Cut-Off – Election. Deadline for registering and/or enrolling for voting in the election, unless the individual registers in person during the early voting period or in person, on election day, utilizing Same Day Registration.

https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Election-Services/Voter-Information/Absentee-Voting

November 3, 2026, State Election Online Absentee Ballot Portal opens: September 19, 2026 First day absentee ballots are issued: October 2, 2026 Deadline to request an absentee ballot: November 2, 2026

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