Absentee ballots not for everyone

Hartford, Conn. (WTNH) - In the 2008 election, 1,644,845 people voted in Connecticut, but more than 10 percent of them never went to the polls because they voted by absentee ballot.

Absentee ballots have arrived at city and town clerks around the state and will be mailed out starting on Friday.

"So do you think you'll be mailing an absentee ballot then? Okay, wonderful," said Joe Mikolowski, an aid for the Blumenthal campaign, as he assisted a caller. "Would you like any assistance with requesting that absentee ballot."

Campaign workers for most of the candidates have already started calling people who might be inclined to do it again.

The ballots are just like the ones used on election day but they are mailed to your home. You also may pick one up at your city clerk's office and fill it out there, but legally you have to have a reason, like being out of town on election day.

"Service in the military, working at the polls on election day, religious beliefs, illness, disability ... and many people are not aware that one of those specific reasons is required," said Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz (D) said.

Manchester clerk Joe Camposeo is president of the Connecticut Town Clerks Association and says the law is almost impossible to enforce.

"How do we know?" Camposeo said. "We're not, certainly, in a position, nor do we want to be, as clerks, to be adjudicating that sort of thing."

But 171,551 people voted by absentee ballot in the last major election.

And with high-profile races for the U.S. Senate and for Governor, chances are good requests will be high.

"We have reason to believe that we may see more in Manchester this year and I suspect you may see that trend somewhat throughout the state," Camposeo said.

To download an absentee ballot please visit www.sots.ct.gov/