Everything To Know About The Connecticut 2018 Midterm Elections

Election Day 2018 is coming up fast. Here's what you need to know about candidates, key races, polling places, and more ahead of Nov. 6.

Voter Information
Polls in Connecticut are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters who are in line before 8 p.m. will be able to vote even after the deadline passes. You can find your poll location at the Secretary of the State website by inputting your information.

The normal voter registration deadline passed Tuesday, but Connecticut does offer Election Day registration.

Those not registered before 8 p.m. won’t be allowed to vote.

Sample Ballots
Curious about what your ballot will look like on Nov. 6? Check here and click on your town to find sample ballots.

Voting Rights
The right to vote is one of the most vital tenets of American democracy. When you get to your polling place, it's important to know the law.

Voters don’t need a driver’s license or photo ID to vote, but it does make the process easier. The Office of the Secretary of the State advises that in most cases those without identification can sign an affidavit in lieu of providing ID.

For most voters except some first-time voters acceptable forms of identification are a social security card or any pre-printed form of identification that shows:

• name and address, or
• name and signature, or
• name and photograph

Otherwise voters can sign a statement under penalty of false statement when they vote.
See here for the full rules.

Race for Governor
The race for governor is in the final stretch as two major party and three minor party candidates seek to replace Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who decided not to run for a third term. The next governor of Connecticut will face the unenviable task of sorting out the state's long-term fiscal mess starting with a projected $1.9 billion budget deficit in the next fiscal year and a $2.5 billion deficit in the following fiscal year.

Democrat Ned Lamont and Republican Bob Stefanowski both have a background in business. Stefanowski is a political newcomer while Lamont has some elected experience as a Greenwich selectman and previously beat Senator Joe Lieberman in a Democratic primary.

Independent Oz Griebel led the MetroHartford Alliance for 17 years. The latest Quinnipiac University Poll put his support at seven percent, which could have an impact on the election.

The race also features Libertarian Rodney Hanscomb and other independent Mark Stewart.

See our full profiles of governor candidates here. (To sign up for free, local breaking news alerts from more than 100 Connecticut communities, click here We will also send out real-time election results for all the key races.)

Ballot Questions

Voters will get to say yes or no to two constitutional changes. One question asks voters whether the state should establish a constitutional "lock box" that would keep transportation revenue such as the gas tax solely for the use of transportation projects. The other question deals with whether the sale of state land should require a hearing before getting a vote.

U.S. House of Representatives Races
The four Democrat incumbents running for congressional seats are seen as safe bets for re-election. The fifth district is a contest between Democrat and former Teacher of the Year Jahana Hayes and Republican and former Meriden mayor Manny Santos. Incumbent Elizabeth Esty, D-5, decided not to run for re-election after a sexual harassment scandal in her office.

Race for Senate
Republican businessman Matthew Corey is challenging Sen. Chris Murphy. Murphy is leading by a comfortable 15 points in the latest Quinnipiac University Poll.

Statewide Races
Voters will also get to choose on four statewide races for state treasurer, attorney general, comptroller and secretary of the state.

The state's attorney general is the chief civil legal officer of Connecticut and represents the citizens of Connecticut in civil matters, including large consumer complaints. The office also gives legal opinions and represents the state's agencies.

The secretary of the state oversees elections, voter registration and business registration among other duties.

Comptroller acts as the state's accountant and administers state employee and retiree benefits. The office also provides opinions and analyses on the state's finances.

Connecticut's state treasurer is the chief fiscal officer and oversees the management of state funds, including the state pension fund. The office also oversees the Connecticut Higher Education Trust, which is the state's 529 College Savings Plan.

Check out our profiles of all the candidates here.

State Legislature
All 151 state House of Representative seats and 36 state Senate seats are up for re-election. The senate is currently evenly split between Democrats and Republicans with the tie-breaking vote going to Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman.

A net new seat for either party would give them a greater degree of control over the body. The state House of Representatives is currently split between 80 Democrats and 71 Republicans.

Patch file photo