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Justin Elicker, with Natalie Elicker, submits paperwork to Assistant City Clerk May Gardner-Reed in 2022. Credit: Paul Bass / New Haven Independent

On Tuesday, Nov. 4, New Haven residents will cast their ballots to decide who will serve as mayor and city clerk and who will represent them on the Board of Education. Seven wards, among the city’s thirty, are also holding contested races for the city’s Board of Alders. 

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 New Haven?

On this year’s ballot for mayor, Democrat Justin Elicker is running for reelection against Republican Steve Orosco. 

Elicker, who is currently serving his third 2-year term as mayor, is seeking a fourth term. But beginning next year, mayoral terms in New Haven will be extended to four years. The Democrat is also endorsed by the Working Families party. 

Orosco, who is hoping to become the first Republican mayor of New Haven since 1953, is also endorsed by the Independent Party. 

On the ballot for city clerk are Democrat Michael B. Smart, the incumbent, and Republican Deborah Reyes-Quinones. The Working Families Party has endorsed Smart. 

Running to represent the city on the Board of Education for District 1 are Democrat Edward T. Joyner and Republican John A. Carlson. Joyner is currently serving as the District 1 Representative and is running for reelection. 

Across the city’s 30 wards, wards 3, 8, 12, 13, 16 and 18 are running contested races for election to the Board of Alders, with one alderperson representing each ward. 

In Ward 3, the race is between Democrat Angel M. Hubbard and Republican Miguel Wright Pittman. Pittman also represents the Independent Party. 

In Ward 8, Democrat Amanda Martinelli is running against Republican Andrea Lynn Zola. 

In Ward 12, Democrat Theresa L. Morant is running against Republican and Independent Party candidate Robert J. Vitello, Sr.

In Ward 13, three candidates are running. Mildred Melendez represents the Democratic party, Luis A. Jimenez Sr. represents the Independent party and Paul A. Garlinghouse represents the Green Party.

In Ward 16, Democrat Magda A. Natal is running against Independent Party candidate Rafael Fuentes Jr.. 

In Ward 18, there are also three candidates running for alder. Leland John Moore is the Democratic candidate, Anthony D. Acri is the Republican and Independent party candidate, and Zelema V. Harris is a petitioning candidate. A petitioning candidate is not nominated by a major or minor party. 

In Ward 30, Democrat Honda Smith is running against Republican Perry J. Flowers.

Where and when can I vote?

For the General Election on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 30 polling sites will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can find your polling site here. 

Voters who prefer to vote early can cast ballots in two locations: 

  • The City Hall meeting room, located on the second floor at 165 Church Street
  • The basement conference room in Schwartz Hall at Southern Connecticut State University, located on 320 Fitch Street

Early voting sites will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The early voting period runs through Sunday, Nov. 2.

What if I’m not registered to vote?

If you missed the voter registration deadline, you can still vote. Connecticut offers same-day voter registration during the early voting period and on Election Day. 

During early voting, residents can register to vote at the two polling sites, City Hall and Schwartz Hall. On Election Day, same-day registration voters must be registered by 8 p.m. at their polling site in order to cast a ballot.

Can I vote absentee?

The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot is Monday, Nov. 3 at 6 p.m. 

To apply for an absentee ballot, you must fit the following criteria:

  • Active military service
  • Being absent from town during all voting hours
  • Illness or disability
  • Religious beliefs that conflict with in-person voting
  • Serving as an election official at another polling place during all voting hours

Eligible residents can apply for an absentee ballot online or by completing and returning an application to the city clerk’s office at 200 Orange Street, room 202. The application can be found here.

Absentee ballots can be dropped off at the Hall of Records at 200 Orange Street, or at the rear entrance of City Hall at 165 Church Street. They can also be dropped off at the city clerk’s office.