Election notes: Forums, debates and absentee ballots

Norwalk groups to sponsor candidate forums

NORWALK, Conn. — The League of Women Voters of Norwalk, the Norwalk Chapter of the NAACP and the Norwalk Education Foundation are co-sponsoring candidate forums this month.

All events will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Community Room at Norwalk City Hall, 125 East Ave. All forums are free and open to the public. There will be time for audience questions.

The events are:

• Thursday, Oct. 17: Common Council by District

• Monday, Oct. 21: Board of Education

• Thursday, Oct. 24: Common Council At-Large

• Tuesday, Oct. 29: Mayoral Forum

Three mayoral debates planned

Three debates will be held between Republican incumbent Mayor Richard Moccia and his Democratic challenger, former Norwalk Police Chief Harry Rilling.

Two of the debates will be held on the same day – Oct. 29 – about 12 hours apart because of scheduling problems.

The debates are scheduled for:

• Wednesday, Oct. 16, 6 p.m.: South Norwalk Community Center, 98 South Main St. Debate will address Latino-based issues.

• Tuesday, Oct. 29, 7:30 a.m.: Norwalk Inn, 99 East Ave. Sponsored by the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce and The Hour newspaper.

• Tuesday, Oct. 29, 7 to 9 p.m.: Community Room at Norwalk City Hall, 125 East Ave. Sponsored by the Norwalk League of Women’s Voters.

Absentee ballots available Nov. 2

The Norwalk Town Clerk’s office will be open from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday Nov. 2, to issue absentee ballots for the upcoming Municipal Election to be held Tuesday, Nov. 5. Absentee ballots may be used by individuals who will be unable to appear at the polling place on the day of the election for one of the following reasons:

• your active service in the U.S. armed forces

• your absence from town during all the hours of voting

• your illness

• your physical disability

• your religion forbids secular (non-religious) activity on that day

• your required performance of duties as an election official at a polling place other than your own during all the hours of that day.

Warning: Voting by absentee ballot if you are not eligible to do so for one of the six reasons listed above can subject you to civil and criminal penalties.

Applications for absentee ballots may be obtained by mail or phone request, in person or downloaded from the web.

An elector may apply for an Emergency Absentee Ballot, which is available the day of the election only. The criteria to obtain an Emergency Ballot are as follows:

The elector must have incurred an illness or physical disability occurring within six days immediately preceding the close of polls of the election. This person may designate a qualified designee to deliver the ballot to him and return such ballot to the town clerk.

The Town Clerk Office is located in room 102, City Hall, 125 East Ave.