A first for Fairfield University, early voting for the November 2024 election started on the North Benson campus this week. Beginning on Oct. 21 and running through Nov. 3, registered Fairfield voters can cast their ballots in the university’s Media Center.
In addition to the Media Center, Fairfield is also holding early voting at Town Hall located on Old Post Road. Both locations are open to all voters who are registered as Fairfield residents, including students who now have the ability to vote without leaving campus.
According to Cathy Politi, the town’s Republican voter registrar, the 2024 election is the first time Connecticut has offered in-person early voting for a general election. It’s one of the last states in the nation to offer early voting.
“Early voting is an important initiative that allows all voters the flexibility to cast their ballots in person on a day that works best for them before Election Day, including two weekends, which adds significant convenience,” Politi said.
Located on the south side of campus, the Media Center was once home to the Dolan School of Business. Today it houses classrooms, production studios and offices in addition to the open lobby area where voting is taking place. Signs are up around campus pointing voters to the building and the adjacent parking lot.
Upon walking in the Media Center doors, voters are greeted with Fairfield Department of Public Safety officers standing near the entrance. Tables manned by poll workers are set up for both same-day registration and check-in. From there, voters descend to the lower level of the room to privately cast their ballots.
The decision to hold early voting here on campus was made, in part, to encourage students to participate in the election. Now, voting is now just a short walk away from student dorms and townhouses.
“I’ve always felt that the student populations are the largest under-engaged part of the Fairfield community, and it’s been a priority to address voting services to the students with an understanding that many lack transportation and are unfamiliar with the voting process,” said Matthew Waggner, Fairfield democratic voter registrar. “We have considered the university as a permanent regular voting location, and hosted election day registration at the Barone Center in 2016.”
Despite the easy access to voting on campus, many Stags are choosing to vote via other methods. Students that we reached out to said they had plans to vote by mail using their home addresses rather than registering as Fairfield residents or to vote in Fairfield on Election Day. A recent article in The Mirror reported that students have begun sending in their absentee ballots. Among them is Kaitlyn Conroy ‘25, who recently sent her ballot back to her home state.
“I think early voting is great, especially for people who cannot vote on Election Day,” Conroy said. “It’s also a great way to increase voter turnout in my opinion. I chose to vote in New Jersey because there are Senate and Congress Representatives that I want to win against their opponents, so for me my vote mattered more [there].”
According to Waggner, they are anticipating the turnout among Fairfield and Sacred Heart University students to possibly exceed 3,000. While some students may feel more connected to the candidates running to represent their hometowns, both registrars expressed their hope that the on-campus polling location will help increase voter turnout among students.
“Fairfield University has generously stepped forward to serve as an early voting location, offering their facilities at no cost,” Politi said. “This will make it easier for university students, faculty and local residents to participate in the election process in a safe and efficient manner.”
Through Nov. 3, poll workers at the Media Center will have a roster of students to confirm the residence of those living on campus. Stag Cards can be shown as identification for on-campus students. Voters can also register day of and at either early voting location. Off-campus students who want to register to vote will need to bring documentation of their residence to the polling place.
On Oct. 21, the first day of early voting, the Media Center saw a sizable turnout of total voters with about five to six students voting at the location as of 3:00 p.m. Poll worker Jeff Hendrickson described the number of voters as “steady all day long, but manageable.” Evan Snapper, also working the polls on Monday, emphasized the importance of the early voting and same-day registration option for students.
“The important thing for students is if they didn’t ask for a mail-in ballot at home, the only way they can vote is to come here,” Snapper said. “They can come in here and register same day.”
Early voting will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Town Hall and the Media Center seven days a week from now until Sunday, Nov. 3, with extended hours on Oct. 29 and 31. On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, voters can cast their ballots at their assigned polling location, which can be found on the town’s website.The Mirror is currently looking for a Fairfield student who plans to participate in early voting on campus for our upcoming election coverage. If you might be interested, please contact us at info@fairfieldmirror.com.
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