Voting 101: What You Need To Know Before Hitting The Polls In Bridgeport

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. — It's finally here: The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, Nov. 8, across Connecticut as the contest between presidential candidates Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump is put in the hands of voters.

Are you ready to vote? Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Tuesday in Connecticut.
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Daily Voice

11/08/2016 5:45 a.m.

And expect to see a crowd as a record number of voters —2.1 million — are signed up to cast ballots, more than during the 2008 presidential election which brought Barack Obama to the White House.

Need to know your polling place? The state's online voter lookup tool, gives your polling place by clicking here or visiting myvote.ct.gov.

When you arrive to vote, a poll worker will ask for identification. But a driver's license or photo ID is not required. You can use a credit card, any ID with a name and photograph (such as a passport, or work or student ID) or any document with your name and address such as a checkbook or bill.

If you do not have any ID, you may sign an affidavit instead of presenting ID.

And if you're not registered to vote, you can still cast a ballot. Same day registration is now offered in Connecticut, but in only one location per town and city. Click here to find the location in your town.

And despite the huge amount of attention focused on the presidential race, Connecticut voters will be making choices in a number of other races.

At the state level, every seat in the House and Senate is up for election. Democrats are in control of both. The GOP needs to get four more seats to take control of the state Senate and 12 to gain a majority in the state House.

In the Congressional races, Republicans are looking to end a drought that dates to 2006. These are the races in Fairfield County:

U.S. Senate: Democrat incumbent Richard Blumenthal of Greenwich is facing challenges from Republican challenger Dan Carter of Bethel, Richard Lion of the Libertarian Party and Jeffery Russell of the Green Party
U.S. House: 3rd District Republican challenger Angel Cadena vs. Democrat incumbent Rosa DeLauro
4th District U.S. House: Republican challenger John Shaban of Redding vs. Democrat incumbent Jim Himes of Greenwich
5th District U.S. House: Republican challenger Clay Cope vs. Democrat incumbent Elizabeth Esty

There are also a number of local races offered at the town/city level. To see your sample ballot, click here.

If you have any issues or problems voting, call the Connecticut Election Day Hotline at 866-733-2463 or email elections@ct.gov.

And remember that presidential race? The winner in Connecticut will get seven electoral votes — 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House.

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