Jorge Cabrera

Sen. Cabrera Applauds Gov. Lamont’s Executive Order Allowing for No-Excuse Absentee Ballot Voting in Special Elections in Bethany & Woodbridge

HARTFORD, CT – Today, state Senator Jorge Cabrera (D-Hamden) applauded Governor Ned Lamont for issuing an executive order allowing for the usage of no-excuse absentee ballot voting for the upcoming special elections for all municipal offices, including first selectman, slated for Monday, May 3 in Bethany and Woodbridge.

“No-excuse absentee ballot voting has been proven to be a safe way for people to vote and I am elated that voters in Bethany and Woodbridge will be able to let their voices be heard in this manner,” said Sen. Cabrera. “Allowing for people to vote absentee with no excuse needed in these upcoming elections is very important to me and I applaud Governor Lamont for issuing this executive order. We know the pandemic has caused many an insurmountable amount of heartache and pain, making it understandable why some may not feel comfortable congregating in lines with groups of people they may not know. No-excuse absentee ballot voting is a secure alternative to voting in person and I am glad we are making the common-sense decision to use it in these special elections.”

The executive order will enable all registered voters in both Bethany and Woodbridge to vote absentee in the upcoming special elections. While COVID-19 cases, deaths and hospitalizations have dipped precipitously since the general election in November of 2020, the pandemic is still impacting many across the state, making no-excuse absentee ballot voting a smart and secure choice for any voter apprehensive about standing in lines with groups.

During the 2020 general election, no-excuse absentee ballot voting was a resounding success as less than 1 percent of ballots were rejected, the lowest in recent history according to the state’s Secretary of State office. In Connecticut, over 650,000 people voted absentee. No-excuse absentee ballot voting is popular among voters across political parties, too. According to Survey USA, a January study conducted for Secure Democracy discovered 73% of Connecticut voters support no-excuse absentee ballot voting. Additionally, 48 percent of Republicans and 44% of Trump supporters back no-excuse absentee ballot voting, while 89% of Democrats support this method of casting a ballot as well. Secure Democracy is a nonpartisan organization that works to inform policymakers and the public on secure and fair elections.