1. Primaries
A meeting of the enrolled members of a political party held during consecutive hours at which such members or electors may, without assembling at the same hour, vote by a secret ballot for candidates for nomination to office or for town committee members.

2. Reference guides for primaries
Connecticut State statutes
Instructions from SOTS office prior to a primary
State of Connecticut calendar for registrars
ROVAC handbook
Other registrars

3. Possible primaries
Presidential Preference Primary-every 4 years…last Tuesday in April in Connecticut
Gubernatorial & Presidential even years-State, District & Municipal Primary
Gubernatorial & Presidential even years-Town Committee Primary-1st Tuesday in March
Municipal Primary-odd numbered years-56th day preceding the day of the election

4. Possible # of primaries in a year
Presidential Year:
1. Town Committee
2. Presidential
3. State, District, and Municipal Offices
Gubernatorial Year:
2. State, District, and Municipal Offices
Municipal Year:
1. Municipal Offices

5. Offices
Municipal Offices: town/city council, board of finance, board of education, board of assessment appeals and alternate, board of zoning appeals and alternate State Offices: governor, US senate, US congress, state senate, state representative, secretary of state, treasurer, comptroller, attorney general, judge of probate, registrar of voters Federal Offices: president, US senate, US congress, state senate, state representative, registrar of voters

6. Petitions A
Petition forms for candidacies for nomination to municipal office or for election as members of town committees shall be available from the registrar beginning on the day following the making of the party’s endorsement of candidates for such office or position, or beginning on the day following the final day for the making of such endorsement
After certification of the petition is presented to the registrar, they forthwith file with the clerk the registrar’s certificate as to the whole number of names on the last complete enrollment list of such party in the municipality not later than 7 days after receipt of the petition

7. Petitions B
If the petition concerns a municipal office to be voted upon at a state election, the registrar shall file and send a form prescribed by the Secretary of the State including the name and full address of each candidate, the title and district of such office before 7 days lapse

8. Notification to town clerk
If a notice of primary is filed with the registrar within the time frame for a candidacy for nomination by a political party to any municipal office or for election as a town committee member by or on behalf of any person other than party-endorsed candidates, the registrar shall forthwith after the deadline for certification of party-endorsed candidates notify the clerk that a primary is to be held by such party
Town/City Clerk publishes in a newspaper a legal notice that should include party, date, hours, and location of primary

9. Receiving petitions A
Candidacies of persons other than party endorsed candidates for nomination by a political party to a municipal office to be voted on at a municipal election, or for election as a town committee member shall be filed with the registrar not later than 4pm on the 34 day preceding the day of the primary
Candidacies of persons, other than party endorsed candidates for nomination by apolitical party to a municipal office to be voted on upon at a state election shall be filed with the registrars not later than 4pm on the 63 day preceding the day of the primary

10. Receiving petitions B
On the last day for filing primary petition candidacies the office of the registrars shall open not later than one o’clock pm and remain open until at least four o’clock pm with registrars or their deputy or assistant registrar present

11. Before the deadlines
Notify candidates & contestants of their right to submit a list of polling place officials including ones that may accompany supervised absentee voting. All the designees must be electors of the town.
Check for the last day for candidates & contestants to submit a list of desired official poll workers in writing
Notification to the Town Clerk of the location of central absentee ballot counting. The clerk shall include that information in the legal notice for the primary
Absentee ballots are available on the 21st day before the primary

12. Eligibility to vote at a primary
5 days before the primary the registrar, MVD post office or a registration agency must receive a new voters or unaffiliated voters registration form town clerk
A new voter or an unaffiliated voter may apply in person until noon on the day before the primary
Seventeen year olds who are able to vote in November may vote in the primary if they are registered in the party holding the primary
PARTY TRANSFER DEADLINE----3 months before ALL primaries
Date is noted in the registrar’s calendar and on the letters of acceptance mailed to the voter
Important information for voters to know

13. Exceptions to 90 day deadline
Letter of acceptance has an acceptance date into the party of choice
Minor party
Municipal parties

14. Elections workers at a primary
One moderator
One assistant registrar
One but no more than two official checkers for each linenless there
One but no more than two ballot clerks
One but no more than two tabulator tenders for each tabulator in use
Two absentee ballot counters (unless there is central counting)
The statutes prefer that party members be used. However, the statues do allow non-party members and unaffiliated voters to work.
If both parties are engaging in a primary one moderator is allowed.
Each registrar is responsible for their party

15. Notices & forms for primaries
Designate in writing to the town clerk a polling place in an adjacent district before 90 days
If applicable file with the local building official a request for a waiver to provide an accessible polling place for physically disabled
Application for a waiver of accessibility of polling place to be filed before 60 th day
Designate in writing to the town clerk the central location for the counting of absentee ballots
Form to town clerk the number of enrollment after petitions are certified (CVRS)
Notification of candidates to SOTS if there is a state office during a municipal election
Notice to town clerk that a valid petition for municipal office has been filed. Notice should include candidates (endorsed and petitioning),their addresses and desired offices, voting dates, sites, times and location of central counting.
Certification of the number of ballots ordered to SOTS before the 21st day before the primary
Notices of registration and enrollment sessions

16. Notices & forms for primaries
Notification to candidates of their right to submit a list of moderators and election officials before 21 days before the primary
Certificate of polling place & moderator information 31 days before the primary. It should include name, address, moderator contact information and corresponding districts associated with each polling place to SOTS
Notice to chairperson of the town committee of the date, time and location of tabulator testing
Certification of the tabulators to the SOTS before the 10th day before the primary
34 days before primary prepare ballots with Clerk

17. Notices and forms for primary
Notice to candidates and party chairperson before 7 days before primary of their right to submit a list of unofficial checkers to the registrars no later than 48 hours before the primary

18. Contesting or complaining
Any elector or candidate aggrieved by a ruling may bring his complaint to any judge of the Superior Court for appropriate action

19. End of the night results
Send results to SOTS, Town Clerk, and any other entity that has requested the information
EMS may be used for primaries