Elections Update From Hamden Town Clerk's Office - October 30, 2020

Press release from the Town of Hamden:

October 30, 2020

Town Clerk’s offices state-wide are handling record amounts of Absentee Ballots for this Presidential Election. The Hamden Town Clerk’s office reports that close to 12,000 voters have filed Absentee Ballots applications, and to date 9,881 voters have returned completed cast ballots by mail or secure drop boxes on a daily basis. Hamden is committed to ensuring that each vote counts and that voting by absentee ballot is a secure and efficient process.

How we are doing it:

The skilled Town Clerk staff are entering all completed applications and recording all received cast ballots into the State Voter Registry system. They were joined by 20 part-time hired outside personnel helping in different shifts, funded by the state CARES grant monies. The additional staff were specially trained, and consisted of the former Registrar of Voters, Assistant Registrars of Voters of both parties, and other non-partisan individuals. They did daily and weekly verifications, reconciled ballot counts, and helped with outgoing mailed ballots, and are filing over 12,000 application daily. The staff retrieves all mail from USPS, and empties the ballot boxes several times daily. The grant monies also provided additional funds for elections equipment such as envelope opening machines, scanners, supplemental label makers, and other necessary equipment.

Where are the ballots stored:

Hamden is storing all received and recorded ballots in a double vault, secure and locked until the day of the election. Our large vault is fully occupied by box towers of supplies sent by the Secretary of State, COVID-spaced tables throughout to maintain safety of workers, the AB vault squad, and the securely processed ballots. This vault also holds all Hamden’s vital records, land records and other essential documents as well.

When is the last time to return an Absentee Ballot:

All absentee ballots received by 8 pm, Tuesday, November 3rd by USPS, courier mail or by secure drop box will be counted. All drop boxes will be locked at 8 pm.

When will the ballots be counted:

Central counting will occur on Election Day, as prescribed by state law. Hamden, Waterbury, Bristol, Manchester and other towns of similar size will NOT be pre-opening of the outer envelopes BEFORE election days as it might affect the integrity and accounting of the final ballots. As the Custodian, the Town Clerk turns over Absentee Ballots to the Registrar of Voters and Absentee Ballot Moderator on Election Day for counting.

How is Central Counting accomplished:

Teams of 2 counters (one of each political party) are given ballots for each voting district. Envelopes (outer and inner) are opened either by machine or by hand, put in separate piles, and the ballots put face down. Counts are made of each pile, and the envelopes are bundled into manila envelopes and sealed. The ballots are handed over for counting by scan tabulators. Tapes are run at end of process, and votes are recorded by Moderator.

When will Election Day-submitted ballots be counted:

State law dictates that Election Day ballots be counted the next, after checking against the poll books from Election Day. This is to ensure that no voter could vote in person and by absentee.

New state law allows for counting of absentee ballots up to 96-hours after this unprecedented election. The absentee ballot counting will continue until completed, and final tallies submitted to the Secretary of State..

Voting in Person:

All polling locations are open 6 a.m. – 8:00 pm, and all locations are COVID-safe following CDC guidelines.

Thank you for participating in the election, and know that your vote is safe, secure and will be counted.

Vera Morrison, Hamden Town Clerk, her stellar staff and the AB Vault Squad

This press release was produced by the Town of Hamden. The views expressed here are the author's own.