Conor Gilligan has dropped out of the special election for Ward 9 alder, throwing his support behind Maria-Threese Serana. Gilligan, an adjunct biology professor at Trinity College and Sacred Heart University, had been one of four candidates seeking to fill a vacant seat on the Board of Alders representing parts of East Rock and Fair Haven. Caroline Tanbee Smith had represented the ward before moving outside the ward lines in early August. Though his name will still be on the ballot, Gilligan wrote in an email to the Independent that he is “no longer campaigning” and is instead supporting Serana. “I wanted to participate to ensure that someone with social-democratic values would be represented on the ballot,” Gilligan wrote. After learning about Serana’s candidacy, he wrote, “I think Maria, a 21-year resident of New Haven, public school teacher, and democratic socialist, is best suited to serve as alder of Ward 9.” Gilligan noted that he had also sought to “rekindle the discussion about establishing a stormwater authority to generate additional revenue from non-tax payers with large footprints that contribute to runoff (e.g., Yale).” A proposal to create such an authority had been a core part of his campaign. In addition to Serana, Gavin Arnold and Blaise Berglund have also petitioned their way onto the ballot. Ward 9 Voter Information Do you live in Ward 9? Are you registered to vote? How To Register — Deadlines are Aug. 28 by mail or online, Sept. 14 in person If you aren’t registered yet, there’s still time! While the deadline to register online or by mail has passed, you can register in person at the Registrar of Voters’ office, or by mailing a registration form the office, located at 200 Orange St #201, New Haven, CT 06510. The deadline to register in person at the Registrars’ office is Monday, Sept. 14. Vote By Absentee Ballot — Deadline to request is Sept. 14, all voters eligible You can request an absentee ballot for this special election between now and Monday, Sept. 14. The City Town Clerk’s office has to receive your ballot by the end of election day: 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15. You can request a ballot online or submit a physical application. Physical applications can be printed out in English or Spanish on the City Town Clerk’s website, or you can visit the clerk’s office in person to receive one. The application can be hand-delivered or mailed to the City Town Clerk’s office at the following address: CITY TOWN CLERKHALL OF RECORDS200 ORANGE ST, ROOM 202NEW HAVEN, CT 06510-2067 Once you receive and fill out your absentee ballot, you can drop it off or mail it to the City Town Clerk’s office. Absentee ballots can also be dropped off in ballot boxes located outside 200 Orange St. and by the rear entrance of City Hall (165 Church St.) Important: Mail your ballot with the envelope provided to you — and remember to sign your name in the voter signature box! Otherwise, your ballot won’t count. Early Voting — Sept. 10-13 Early voting will be available from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sept. 10, 11, 12, and 13 (Thursday through Sunday). You can vote early on the second floor of City Hall at 165 Church St. or Southern Connecticut State University at 1 Wintergreen Ave. Election Day — Sept. 15 Election Day itself is Tuesday, Sept. 15. The polls will be open from 6 a.m. To 8 p.m. On Election Day, the polling place will be located at East Rock Community Magnet School, 133 Nash St. No state ID? Here’s What To Bring. If you have an active driver’s license or photo identification card, it’s a good idea to bring it with you to the polls. Poll workers are trained to ask you for photo identification when you check in at your designated polling place. However, you don’t need to have photo ID in order to vote. If you can, bring a social security card or a pre-printed form of identification with your name and address, name and signature, or name and photograph. Even if you don’t have a document that meets those requirements, you can still vote — so long as you sign a legal document (Form ED-681) attesting to your identity. (It is a class A misdemeanor to lie about your identity on that form.) Note: Since there are no federal candidates on the ballot in this race, those steps apply to all eligible voters. In a federal election, there would have been an exception: first-time voters who registered by mail without supplemental identification would have to either provide official documentation of their name and address or cast a provisional ballot. Read more. Voter Eligibility FAQs What if I’ve been convicted of a felony? If you’ve been convicted of a felony but are not currently incarcerated for that felony, you are eligible to re-register and restore your voting rights. (Exception: If you’ve been convicted of violating election law, contact the Registrar of Voters at (203) 946-8035.) Read more. What if I do not have a permanent address? In Connecticut, even if you do not have a permanent address, you can still register to vote in “a town that you have spent time in, slept in, and intend to go back to, even if you are not presently there.” Read more. What if I am a college student originally from out of state? College students can choose whether to register either in Connecticut or in their home states. Read more. What if I’m not 18 yet, but turning 18 soon? If you will turn 18 either before or on election day, you can register to vote and even participate in early voting prior to your birthday. The post Gilligan Drops Out Of Ward 9 Race, Endorses Serana appeared first on New Haven Independent. ...read more read less