CT Primaries, Early Voting Set To Impact 2024 Presidential Race

CONNECTICUT — The nation is now in the thick of presidential primary fever, and Connecticut residents will get their chance to play sooner than usual.

The state's presidential primary will be earlier this year, moved up by four weeks from the last Tuesday in April to the first. It will occur on April 2, 2024, from 6 a.m. to when the polls close at 8 p.m.

The move came following a bipartisan initiative during last year's legislative session in Hartford. The purpose is "to increase our influence in the national political landscape and encourage more candidate to visit us during the 2024 campaign season," according to Democratic State Rep. Susan Johnson, who serves Windham.

Connecticut's presidential primary will be held the same day as the contests in Delaware, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.

Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas announced the ballot details on Jan. 19.

Republicans can vote for former president Donald Trump, former South Carolina Governor and United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, or pastor and businessman Ryan Lee Binkley. Florida Gov. Ron Desantis will also be on the ballot, although he withdrew from the race on Jan. 21.

In addition to President Joe Biden, seeking re-election, the Connecticut Democrat's primary ballot will include U.S. Representative Dean Phillips, who serves the 3rd District of Minnesota; Cenk Uygur, progressive political commentator and co-founder of "The Young Turks," an online news show; and self-help author Marianne Williamson, who withdrew from contention on Feb. 7.

Connecticut will be sending 28 delegates to the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, July 15-18, and 74 delegates to the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Aug. 19-23.

The state's presidential primary will also be the first time Connecticut residents can cast their votes early, a concession that became law Jan. 1. Early Voting will be held Tuesday, March 26 through Thursday, March 28, and Saturday, March 30. The dates for this election were modified to reflect the Good Friday holiday and Easter Sunday.

Each municipality will have at least one Early Voting location. If the population is 20,000 or more, local officials will decide whether to have additional locations. Check your town's website in March for its Early Voting location.

Not sure where to cast your vote? Plug in your address online here to get your coordinates.