Canterbury, Connecticut Public Records

Individuals seeking to start or expand a business can consult with the Zoning and Permitting Department to navigate the application process and understand local requirements for establishing a successful enterprise.

Residents can register to vote online through the Connecticut Online Voter Registration system at https://voterregistration.ct.gov, which requires a valid Connecticut driver's license or DMV-issued ID. The registration deadline is 7 days before an election for online or mail registration, though Election Day registration is available in person at the polls with proof of identity and residency. The state accepts various forms of ID including driver's licenses, utility bills, bank statements, or government documents showing name and current address. Municipal elections occur in odd-numbered years on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November for town offices including selectmen, Board of Finance, Board of Education, and other local positions. The next municipal election will be November 4, 2025. Canterbury residents vote at Canterbury Town Hall, 1 Municipal Drive, which is the town's single polling place for all voters. Polling location verification is available through the Secretary of State's website at https://portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx by entering your name and date of birth. In the November 2024 presidential election, Windham County reported approximately 58-62% voter turnout with roughly 55,000 ballots cast countywide out of approximately 90,000 registered voters. Local turnout typically exceeds county averages, with approximately 70-75% participation in presidential elections. For the November 3, 2026 general election, voters will decide several significant races: Connecticut does not have a U.S. Senate seat up in 2026 (next Senate election is 2028), but all of Connecticut's five U.S. House seats will be on the ballot, with the town located in Connecticut's 2nd Congressional District. All 151 Connecticut House of Representatives seats and 36 state Senate seats will be contested; the community is represented in State Senate District 35 and State House District 49. No statewide offices (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Comptroller, Attorney General) are on the ballot in 2026 as Connecticut elects these in presidential years. County-level offices are minimal as county governments were abolished in 1960, though probate judge positions are elected. Absentee ballots in Connecticut are available for voters who will be absent from town on Election Day, have illness or physical disability, are prevented by religious tenets, or are serving as an election official in a different district. Applications are available from the Town Clerk beginning 6 months before an election and must be received by the day before the election (or Election Day if applying in person due to sudden illness). Completed absentee ballots must be received by the Town Clerk by 8:00 PM on Election Day. Early voting was implemented in Connecticut starting in 2023, with early voting periods available for 14 days before federal elections and shorter periods for state and local elections; check with the Town Clerk for specific early voting dates and locations. Public election records accessible to Connecticut residents include voter registration lists (available for purchase for political purposes under § 9-35), campaign finance reports filed with the State Elections Enforcement Commission at https://seec.ct.gov, candidate registration forms, and certified election results by municipality and voting district. Precinct-level results are published on the Secretary of State's election results page at https://electionresults.ct.gov shortly after polls close. Voter history (whether an individual voted in specific elections, but not how they voted) is public record and included in voter list purchases.