Press Release
New Poll: 77% of Connecticut Voters Want Safe Voting Options in Response to COVID-19
HARTFORD, Conn.— Secure Democracy today released the results of a statewide survey of Connecticut voters conducted by SurveyUSA. An overwhelming 77% of voters support legislation that would add the coronavirus outbreak, or other public health emergency, as a valid legal excuse to vote by absentee ballot. The survey found that 78% of voters say it is important for state and local governments to provide additional alternatives to in-person voting for the 2020 election in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
The poll also found that, while voters in the Constitution State want more options to cast their ballot safely, they do not want them to come at the expense of existing in-person voting opportunities. 76% of voters expressed support for keeping polling locations open while also giving all voters the option to vote absentee. Support for this measure in Connecticut is broad and bipartisan, with 64% of Republicans, 68% of Independent voters, and 91% of Democrats reporting approval.
“Connecticut voters clearly want safe options to cast their ballots, including allowing all voters the choice to vote absentee,” said Sarah Walker, associate director of state affairs for Secure Democracy. “The governor and secretary of state expanded absentee voting to all voters during the primary to protect the health of everyone, but the move was only temporary. An overwhelming, bi-partisan majority of voters support legislation that ensures every eligible voter can request and cast an absentee ballot in November.”
Veterans make up nearly 20% of Connecticut’s civilian population aged 65 or older. This group is especially vulnerable to voting in-person during the coronavirus outbreak and may need safer options to reduce their risk. Overall, more than 35% of Connecticut’s population over 18 is considered at-risk of serious illness from COVID-19.
“These poll results show that Connecticut residents want to be able to vote while protecting their health,” said Kelly McConney Morre, policy counsel for the ACLU of Connecticut. “Given the broad popularity of adding alternatives for safe voting, the legislature should reconvene to pass a law enacting the kind of expanded absentee voting that Connecticut voters want to see.”
Voters expressed similarly strong support for other election policies:
77% of those surveyed support allowing all absentee ballots that are postmarked by Election Day to be counted;
73% support providing prepaid postage on ballot envelopes for anyone who chooses to vote using an absentee ballot;
73% support having the county supervisor of elections immediately notify voters for up to a week after Election Day to correct mistakes on their ballot envelope, such as a missing signature; and
72% think it’s important for the federal government to provide additional funding to states and counties to cover the increased costs of conducting elections due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Read other key findings of the survey of 800 Connecticut voters here.
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About Secure Democracy
Secure Democracy is a nonpartisan organization that works to educate policymakers and the public about secure and fair elections. By collaborating with state leaders, election administrators, election security experts the organization helps to ensure that all eligible citizens have the freedom to vote and the confidence to know that their vote is counted.