Connecticut Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas is urging voters to take advantage of early voting as the state prepares for the upcoming presidential election. The state adopted early voting through House Bill 5004 in 2023, but many voters still don’t know about this option. In the Republican and Democratic presidential primaries, only a small percentage of votes were cast through early ballots.
Thomas highlighted the lack of public knowledge about early voting as a major challenge her office faces. Despite efforts to spread the word through outreach initiatives, there is a funding shortage for advertising. She emphasized the importance of civic engagement and increasing public awareness about voting options.
The upcoming election will also include a question on the ballot regarding absentee voting. Thomas proposed expanding access to absentee ballots to allow anyone to vote by mail, not just those meeting certain criteria currently in place. She believes this change would increase voter participation and accessibility.
While concerns about election fraud exist, Thomas emphasized that it is not as significant of an issue as some might believe. She warned about the dangers of disinformation spread through social media and foreign interference in elections. With the increasing prevalence of false information, she urged voters to be vigilant and seek out reliable sources of information.
Overall, Thomas is advocating for increased funding for voter outreach and education initiatives to ensure that all eligible voters are informed and engaged in the democratic process. She believes that addressing these issues will lead to a more inclusive and secure election process.
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Photo credit ctmirror.org