More than 56,000 Connecticut voters cast ballots on Monday, the first day of early voting for the general election.
That’s about 2.5% of eligible voters, election officials said.
Towns across the state reported long lines of voters on Monday – and some left without voting, hoping to return when lines were shorter.
Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas said she’s glad to see voters take advantage of in-person early voting.
“It provides voters more opportunities to cast their ballot, which is helpful for those with challenging schedules or when any last-minute issues make getting to the polls on Election Day impossible,” Thomas said in a statement.
This is the first presidential election in which Connecticut voters can participate in early voting. Connecticut is among the last states in the U.S. to implement early voting. In 2022, voters approved a constitutional amendment to allow for in-person early voting.
Residents across Connecticut were eager to get to the polls on Monday.
Marvin Franks, 79, cast his ballot in Waterbury. Franks, who is African American, said voting is important to him because some of his ancestors were not allowed to vote in the United States.
Franks said he was arrested as a college student in South Carolina during a demonstration for voting rights in the 1960s.
“It was just a protest [for] the rights of people to vote, that's all. We wanted to vote,” Franks said.
Daniel DeJesus also cast his ballot in Waterbury. This marked a special moment for DeJesus, who says it was his first time casting a ballot.
He says he's voting for former President Donald Trump, who he thinks can restore order to the country.
"I feel like I have a reason to vote right now, with the way this country has been going in the last three years," DeJesus said. "It made me get up out of my seat and come and vote."
DeJesus said his work schedule would have made it difficult for him to make it to the polls on Election Day. Without early voting, he said he probably would not have cast a ballot this year.
Early voting continues until Nov. 3, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. most days. Early voting is extended from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. on Oct. 29 and Oct. 31.
Election Day is Nov. 5.
Learn more
Find early voting locations here. Explore Connecticut Public's voter guide here.
