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Registrar of Voters Secretary Ivelise Torres carts envelopes of early voting ballots with a security guard past voters in line waiting for same-day registration voting at Bridgeport’s Government Center on Nov. 5, 2024. Poll workers said turnout for early voting in the city had been high since they opened it two weeks prior to the election. Credit: Ryan Caron King / Connecticut Public

On Tuesday, Nov. 4, Bridgeport residents will decide who represents them on the City Council and the Board of Education, and who will serve as city sheriffs. Residents will also vote on two Charter Revision questions that could shape how Bridgeport’s government operates in the coming years.

Municipal elections like this one play an important role in shaping local government, which handles everything from education and public safety to neighborhood development and ethics reform.

Who is running in Bridgeport?

This year, Bridgeport’s ballot includes a wide range of candidates representing the Democratic, Republican, Independent, Working Families and New Movement parties.

Voters will be electing representatives to the City Council, with two seats available per district. There are 10 council districts covering neighborhoods across the city, from the East Side and East End to the West End, North End and Black Rock.

Bridgeport residents will also vote for three members of the Board of Education, which oversees the city’s public schools, manages the education budget and helps set long-term academic goals.

Residents will also choose three city sheriffs, who assist in carrying out legal orders such as serving court papers and supporting city departments.

Here’s a summary of who’s on the ballot:

  • Board of Education (Vote for up to 3)
    Candidates: Jennifer Perez, Jowanne Burks-Jennings, Lamond Daniels (Democrats); Akisha Cassermere, David Gelin (Republicans); Robert Traber, Joseph Sokolovic (Working Families/Independent); Orlanda Austin-Strong (New Movement Party)
  • City Sheriff (Vote for up to 3)
    Candidates: Stephen M. Nelson, Ricardo Guzman, Richard Paoletto Jr. (Democrats); Michael Garrett, Michael Moretti, James Carbone (Republicans); Wilfredo Martinez, Willie J. Smith, Jacquelynn A. Perry (Independents); Tony Jerone Barr (New Movement Party)
  • City Council (Vote for up to 2 per district)
    Each of the 10 districts features its own set of candidates and its own ballot, which can be found here. For example:
    • District 130 (West End, Black Rock) – Galen Murray, Nicole Nelson (Democrats); Steven Sikora, Francis Kalangala (Republicans)
    • District 137 (East Side) – Aidee Nieves, Maria Ines Valle (Democrats); Joseph Christiansen, Ramona Marquez (Republicans); Ismael Sanchez Jr., Wilfredo Martinez (Independents); Ismael Sanchez Jr., Isaac D. Dickerson (New Movement Party)

To learn more about candidates’ priorities, residents can visit Vote411.org or search for local campaign pages and social media profiles.

What are the Charter Revision questions about?

There are two important yes-or-no Charter Revision questions on the ballot this year.

  • Question #1: Proposes updates to the city’s charter to modernize it, including reforms to ethics, civil service hiring and creating uniform standards for city departments, boards and commissions.
  • Question #2: Asks voters whether the positions of Town Clerk and City Clerk should no longer be elected after 2027, instead being filled through “a nonpartisan civil service process” beginning in 2031.

Voters can select “Yes” to approve each change or “No” to keep the current system.

Where and when can I vote?

Early voting in Bridgeport began Oct. 20 and runs through Nov. 2. The early voting location is the Margaret Morton Government Center, 999 Broad St., Conference Room C.

Early voting hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, with extended hours on Oct. 30 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The General Election will be held on Tuesday. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters who are in line by 8 p.m. will still be allowed to vote.

Polling places vary depending on your address. You can find your district on the Bridgeport district map

What if I’m not registered to vote?

The deadline to register to vote in Bridgeport was Friday, Oct. 17, but Connecticut offers same-day voter registration both during early voting and on Election Day. During early voting, residents can register at their polling place. On Election Day, residents must register by 8 p.m. at Margaret Morton Government Center at 999 Broad St. to cast a ballot.

Can I vote absentee?

In Connecticut, absentee voting is available for specific reasons, including:

  • Active military service
  • Being out of town on Election Day
  • Illness or disability
  • Religious beliefs preventing in-person voting
  • Serving as an election official at another location

Residents can apply for an absentee ballot online or by completing an application and submitting it to the Bridgeport Town Clerk’s office at 45 Lyon Terrace, Room 122.

Once you receive your ballot, you can:

  • Mail it back to the Town Clerk
  • Drop it off in one of the secure drop boxes located at the Margaret Morton Government Center, City Hall, and several firehouses around the city
  • Or deliver it in person by 8 p.m. on Nov. 4.

To check the status of an absentee ballot or to find the nearest drop box, visit here.

Key Contacts and Resources

  • Bridgeport Registrar of Voters: (203) 576-7281
    Margaret Morton Gov. Center, 999 Broad St., 1st Floor
  • Town Clerk / Absentee Ballots: (203) 576-7208
    City Hall, 45 Lyon Terrace, Room 122
  • Official Voter Info: MyVote.CT.gov

Reginald David is the Community Engagement Reporter for CT Mirror. He builds relationships across Connecticut to elevate community voices and deepen public dialogue around local issues. Previously, he was a producer at KCUR 89.3, Kansas City’s NPR station, where he created community-centered programming, led live event coverage for major events like the NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Parade, and Royals Opening Day, and launched KC Soundcheck, a music series spotlighting local and national artists. Reginald has also hosted special segments, including an in-depth interview with civil rights leader Alvin Brooks and live community coverage on issues like racial segregation and neighborhood development. He began his public media career as an ‘Integrity in News’ intern at WNPR in Hartford.