Berlin Absentee Ballots Available Friday, What You Need To Know

BERLIN, CT — Berlin voters will be able to begin receiving absentee ballots Friday for the Nov. 3 state elections, with a major change this year: voters no longer need a specific reason to cast their ballot absentee.

Absentee ballots become available Friday, Oct. 2, according to the Berlin Town Clerk's Office. The date is also the statewide first day for issuing absentee ballots for the Nov. 3 election.

The change follows passage of Public Act 26-42, which implemented the results of Connecticut's November 2024 constitutional referendum expanding absentee voting.

Under the new law, any eligible registered Connecticut voter may request, receive, and cast an absentee ballot without providing an excuse.

Previously, state law limited absentee voting to voters who met specified conditions, such as being away from their town, having an illness or physical disability, observing a religious prohibition or performing certain election duties.

Berlin voters seeking an absentee ballot must first submit an application. Paper applications require a signature and can be mailed or delivered to the Berlin Town Clerk, 240 Kensington Road, Berlin, CT 06037.

Voters can also submit a request through the Connecticut Online Absentee Ballot Request Portal. The Secretary of the State's office says that portal opened Sept. 19 for the November election.

Once the Berlin Town Clerk's Office receives an application and determines the voter is eligible, an absentee ballot can be issued.

The town says ballots requested through the online portal will be mailed after the clerk's office receives notification of the request.

The statewide deadline to request an absentee ballot for the Nov. 3 election is Nov. 2.

Berlin has also posted sample ballots for each of its three voting districts ahead of the election. T

he Secretary of the State similarly lists Berlin among municipalities with sample ballots available for the Nov. 3 state election.

Residents with a disability that prevents them from voting in person may also be eligible for permanent absentee ballot status after providing the required documentation from a physician, according to the town.

For information about permanent absentee ballots or the local absentee voting process, residents can contact the Berlin Town Clerk's Office at 860-828-7036.

For more information on the Berlin absentee ballot process, click on this link.