By Sentinel Staff
New Canaan voters will choose party nominees for governor and the Fourth Congressional District on Tuesday, Aug. 11, with early voting underway at Town Hall.
The Democratic ballot contains one contest: Gov. Ned Lamont and state Rep. Josh Elliott are seeking the party’s nomination for governor. The Republican ballot also contains one contest: Michael Ted Goldstein and Daniel Miressi are seeking the party’s nomination for representative in Congress from Connecticut’s Fourth District. The winners will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.
Lamont and Goldstein are the party-endorsed candidates in their respective contests, according to legal notices issued by the Office of the Secretary of the State and filed by New Canaan Town Clerk Claudia A. Weber. An asterisk beside a candidate’s name on the official ballot denotes the party endorsement. The official New Canaan sample ballot is available through the secretary of the state’s website.
Connecticut uses closed primaries. A voter must be registered with the Democratic Party to receive a Democratic ballot or with the Republican Party to receive a Republican ballot, according to the Office of the Secretary of the State. Unaffiliated voters cannot cast a primary ballot unless they enroll in one of the parties.
The deadline for an unaffiliated voter to enroll in a party and participate in early voting was noon July 31. An unaffiliated voter may still enroll in person by noon Monday, Aug. 10, and vote at the assigned polling place on Primary Day. The May 11 deadline for voters changing enrollment from one political party to another has passed because state law imposes a three-month waiting period after such a change.
New voters who want to participate must register and enroll in one of the parties. The deadline for registration by mail was July 24, 18 days before the primary. Eligible residents may register in person until noon Aug. 10, according to the Office of the Secretary of the State. Connecticut does not offer same-day registration for a primary election.
Early voting continues at New Canaan Town Hall, 77 Main St., through Sunday, Aug. 9. Voting is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5; 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 7 through 9. Town Hall is the only early-voting location in New Canaan, regardless of a voter’s regular district.
Primary Day polling places will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 11. A voter who is in line by 8 p.m. may cast a ballot, according to the secretary of the state. Primary Day voters must report to the polling place assigned to their home address rather than Town Hall.
District 1 voters will cast ballots at New Canaan High School on Farm Road. Voters in Districts 2 and 3 will use Saxe Middle School on South Avenue. Voters in Districts 4, 5 and 6 will use East School on Little Brook Road. Residents who are uncertain of their district can use the state voter-registration and polling-place lookup before leaving to vote.
Voters may also cast absentee ballots. A 2026 state law expanded access, allowing any active registered voter to obtain an absentee ballot without providing a reason. The state absentee-ballot portal is open, and applications are also available on paper. The deadline to request a regular absentee ballot is Aug. 10.
Completed absentee ballots must reach the New Canaan town clerk by 8 p.m. Aug. 11; a postmark by that date is not sufficient. Ballots may be returned by mail, delivered to the Town Clerk’s Office or placed in the town’s secure ballot drop box. Voters using mail close to Primary Day should account for delivery time. Absentee ballots will be counted at Town Hall, according to the legal notices.
Connecticut does not require most voters to present photo identification. Poll workers will request identification, but acceptable documents may show a voter’s name and address, name and signature, or name and photograph. In most cases, a voter without identification may sign a statement attesting to the voter’s identity. Different federal requirements may apply to certain first-time voters who registered by mail without supplying identification, according to the Office of the Secretary of the State.
Voters should verify their registration, party affiliation, district and polling place before voting. Registration and party-enrollment questions may be directed to the New Canaan registrars of voters. Absentee-ballot questions should be directed to the Town Clerk’s Office.
