Mayoral candidates square off today in early, late debates

NORWALK, Conn. — Today will be a long one for Norwalk’s mayoral candidates and those who are hanging on their every word.

Republican Mayor Richard Moccia and his Democratic challenger, former Norwalk Police Chief Harry Rilling, will begin and end the day with debates, the final face-to-face meetings planned before the Nov. 5 election.

The first, sponsored by the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce and The Hour newspaper, takes place at 8 a.m. at the Norwalk Inn, 99 East Ave. The breakfast event begins at 7:30 a.m., with the debate itself running from 8 to 9:30 a.m. and live-streaming on The Hour website.

The evening event is sponsored by the Norwalk League of Women’s Voters from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Community Room at Norwalk City Hall, 125 East Ave.

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.