From Senator Cathy Osten: 
"I'm happy to announce that the State Bond Commission has approved a combined $2.7 million in state grants for three public projects in the region. I'm always advocating up in Hartford for eastern Connecticut to get its fair share of state bonding, and I believe these are three very worthwhile projects that deserve state support. 

This grant includes funding of $500,000 for a new roof and fire equipment for the Gales Ferry Volunteer Fire Department in Ledyard, which was founded in 1942. The department moved into its station on Route 12 in 1986 and has since refinished the firehouse exterior and replaced the front apron with a concrete pad."

PREVENTING GUN VIOLENCE
The CT House approved a comprehensive bill to reduce gun violence, stop mass shootings, and prevent firearm accidents and suicides. Among the provisions are:

• a limit on the bulk purchase of guns,
• a requirement to register existing ghost guns,  
• expansion of the state’s safe storage laws,
• closing loopholes in the state assault weapons ban,
• better enforcement of the ban on high capacity magazines,
• and disqualifying convicted domestic abusers from  obtaining a pistol permit.

“I strongly encourage the Senate to vote on this bill and get it to my desk so that I can sign it into law,” said Governor Lamont.
​
EXPANDING REPRODUCTIVE CARE AND PROTECTIONS
This week the House voted to allow specially trained pharmacists to prescribe hormonal birth control and also to legalize vending machines that dispense an over-the-counter emergency contraceptive commonly known as Plan B. The pill is already available over the counter and without age restrictions.  Last year, we became the first state in the nation to pass a safe harbor law. It protects abortion seekers and providers here from prosecution by other states for procedures performed in Connecticut. Last week, the state House of Representatives strengthened that law with a bill extending protections for medical providers who offer abortions or other reproductive care.

QUICKER ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE
Senate Democrats passed a bill to reduce the burdens of “prior authorization,” a cumbersome process that delays patients’ care while medical professionals seek approval from insurance companies to treat them. The bill would also limit step therapy, where insurance companies require patients to exhaust less costly medications before approving medications they require. The bill also protects newborns from denial of coverage by giving parents additional time to enroll them for health insurance.

PROTECTIONS FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
After the murder of a woman last year by her ex-boyfriend, despite having both a restraining order and a protective order against him, Senate Democrats made strengthening protections a priority. They passed a bill that would expand the use of GPS monitors which track movements of domestic violence offenders. That increases the chances that first responders can reach them quickly if restraining orders are violated. The bill would also prevent assailants from collecting alimony from the victims of their abuse.

IMPROVED ELDER CARE
Too often, abuse or neglect of seniors goes underreported. A bill passed the House last week which would expand the professional classes legally required to report suspected elder abuse. Another bill seeks to increase the number of state residents eligible for adult day care services, offering a lifeline to family caregivers.  

CONSUMER PROTECTION
Tired of seeing credit card charges for subscriptions you forgot you had? A bill passed by the CT House would put a check on automatic renewals by requiring businesses to get your approval before charging you. Less hassle for you and more money in your pocket.

REDUCING TRAFFIC FATALITIES
Wrong-way driving crashes here tripled in 2022. These are the deadliest kind of automobile collisions. The House passed a bill requiring the Department of Transportation to implement wrong-way driving countermeasures and include instruction on reducing wrong-way driving in driver ed programs.

TAX CUT, ANYONE?
And with a fiscal year once again expected to end in the black, state lawmakers have the luxury of arguing over the size of a historic cut in income tax rates. Business reporter Dan Haar predicts savings for most households of $300-$600 in addition to child tax deductions. 

The legislative session draws to a close on June 7, and our state reps are working furiously to get these and other bills improving our quality of life, expanding our freedoms, and growing our economy over the finish line. That beats culture wars anytime.

Source: Greenwich Democrats

Voting Information

The 2022 Midterm Elections will be held on Tuesday, November 8th.
Polls are open from 6am – 8 pm.

Find where to vote: 
Where and how do I vote?
portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Election-Services/Voter-Information/Where-and-how-do-I-vote

Ledyard Voting Information/Town Clerk: 
https://www.ledyardct.org/459/Voting-Information-Absentee-Ballots​

Registering to Vote
To check your voter registration, voting location, and whether your absentee ballot has been received: https://portaldir.ct.gov/sots/LookUp.aspx

Voter Registration Deadline:
In-person: Nov. 1, 2022
By mail: Postmarked by Nov. 1, 2022
Online: Nov. 1, 2022

Register to vote online here: https://voterregistration.ct.gov/OLVR/welcome.do

Election Day Registration is available for those who meet the eligibility requirements.
For more info: https://portal.ct.gov/sots/election-services/election-day-registration/election-day-registration

On the Ballot

Early Voting Ballot Question
There will be a proposed constitutional amendment on Early Voting.
The question will read:
“Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the General Assembly to provide for early voting?”
We recommend voting YES on the Early Voting question.
Here is a detailed explanation of the Early Voting Ballot Question: 
https://www.cga.ct.gov/2022/rpt/pdf/2022-R-0157.pdf


Ledyard will also see this question:
'Shall the sale of recreational marijuana be allowed in the Town of Ledyard?'

After careful deliberation, the Ledyard Democratic Town Committee (DTC) has decided to support this referendum and encourage voters to vote 'Yes'. 

Our support is driven by the following considerations:
1. Other towns around Ledyard will certainly allow the sale of cannabis. If we do not allow its sale in Ledyard, neighboring towns will benefit from the extra revenue while we miss out.
Although the town's available uses of the 3% sales tax are limited in scope,
it is a badly-needed diversification of the town's tax base.
2. Even for those of us who won't be shopping there ourselves, many feel that it's wrong to deny others the choice to do so. 

Read more about the referendum question in the recent 
Ledyard Events Magazine


Democratic Candidates

Ned Lamont for Governor & Susan Bysiewicz for Lt. Governor: https://nedlamont.com/

Richard Blumenthal for U.S. Senate: https://richardblumenthal.com/

Joe Courtney for Congress: https://joecourtney.com/

Stephanie Thomas for CT Secretary of the State: https://votestephaniethomas.com/

Erick Russell for State Treasurer: https://www.erickforct.com/

Sean Scanlon for Comptroller: https://www.seanforct.com/

William Tong for CT Attorney General: https://www.williamtong.com/

Cathy Osten for State Senate (19th District): www.cathyosten.com 

Kevin Ryan for State Representative (139th District): www.facebook.com/RepRyanCT

Ashley Gillece for State Representative (43rd District): www.AshleyGillece.com

Beth Leamon for Probate Judge (Groton, Ledyard, North Stonington and Stonington): leamonforprobate.com

For information on our new voting districts, read:  
Do you know which candidates are running to represent you?

​SAMPLE BALLOTS:

Absentee VotingAbsentee Voting EligibilityA new law passed this year further expands eligibility for absentee voting. If you are out of town part of the day (commuters, vacation), caretaking for someone worried about an illness like COVID-19 or you yourself are worried about illness, and that reason prevents you from voting in-person, you are eligible to vote via Absentee Ballot. 
Other reasons you are entitled to vote via Absentee Ballot include: 

• If you are an active member of the armed forces
• You will be out of town for the entirety of Election Day
• A physical disability prevents you from voting in person on Election Day
• Sickness prevents you from voting in person on Election Day
• Your religious beliefs prevent you from participating in activities like voting on Election Day
• You be working as an election official at a polling place other than your own on Election Day

To learn more, visit the Secretary of the State’s website here. 
The Absentee Voting ProcessVoting via Absentee Ballot requires a TWO-STEP process:
1. You must first submit an application to receive a ballot.
2. Then you may vote using the ballot.
How to Get an Absentee BallotAs of October 2022, you may also request your absentee ballot online. Request online here.
You can also contact your Town Clerk for an absentee ballot application OR you may download the application now from the Secretary of State’s website. Follow the instructions CAREFULLY. 
*English: 
https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/AB-Application/AB_Application_20220728/ED-3-Rev-2022-Final.pdf
*Spanish: 
https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SOTS/ElectionServices/AB-Application/AB_Application_20220728/ED-3-Spanish-FINAL.pdf
Absentee Ballot InformationAbsentee ballots have already been mailed to anyone who returned an early application. 
When completing your ballot, FOLLOW ALL INSTRUCTIONS VERY CAREFULLY.
You can return your completed ballot via mail or via drop off to the safe and secure ballot drop box in your town. 
Delivery deadline for absentee ballots is 8 pm, either by mail or in the ballot drop boxes, on Election Day Tuesday, November, 8th 2022. Note: this is the DELIVERY deadline, not the postmark date if mailing your ballot.

𝘼𝙗𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙚 𝙫𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙫𝙤𝙩𝙚. 𝙑𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙪𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙍𝘼𝙍𝙀, 𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙚𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙨𝙝 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙨.

Even after this bill’s passage, Connecticut remains one of only 6 states with restrictions on absentee voting in their state’s constitution. It is long overdue for those outmoded and unfair restrictions to be removed so that anyone in CT may vote using this secure and convenient method of voting!

More information: 
CT NEWS JUNKIE: “Commuters may qualify if they spend most of Election Day out of town at work, rather than out of town for all hours polls are open. A caretaker may decide to vote by absentee ballot rather than risk exposing their vulnerable client to an infectious disease.”

FOX 61 (VIDEO): “This slight change better aligns our state laws with that allowed under the constitution,” Lamont said in a statement. “We should be doing everything we can to encourage qualified voters to cast a ballot, and this is a responsible step forward in that direction.”
…
“No voter should ever have to choose between protecting their health and exercising their right to vote,” Merrill said in a statement Friday. “The COVID-19 crisis is still with us, and this legislation will ensure that voters will be able to cast their ballots and make their voices heard.”

THE DAY: “By a 126-16 vote that included significant bipartisan support from Republicans, the House passed the bill, which Democrats say is meant to allow the state to extend its statutes to match the constitution until the constitution can be amended for no-excuse absentee voting. All 16 "no" votes belonged to Republicans, and included state Reps. Mike France, R-Ledyard, and Doug Dubitsky, R-Chaplin.”