Blaise Berglund is withdrawing from the special election for Ward 9 alder and endorsing Maria-Threese Serana for the role. She is the second candidate to drop out of the race and endorse Serana this week. Berglund, the agricultural programs manager at CitySeed and a Food Policy Council member , was among four candidates who initially filed to run for the vacant alder seat representing parts of Fair Haven and East Rock. One day after fellow candidate Conor Gilligan announced that he is dropping out, Berglund said that she too is withdrawing her candidacy. Now, the race has narrowed to two candidates: Serana and Gavin Arnold. While Berglund and Gilligan are no longer seeking the position, their names will still be listed on the ballot. The special election will take place on Sept. 15, following the departure of former alder Caroline Tanbee Smith, who moved out of the ward. Whoever wins the election will fill out the rest of Smith’s two-year term, which runs through the end of 2027. Berglund said that she had initially planned to run out of a desire to support and improve “such a kind and nurturing community that I’ve had the pleasure of being a part of.” Berglund, who works two jobs, said she decided to withdraw after assessing her capacity for the responsibility of being an alder. “Affordability is an issue that all working people are in the face of right now,” she said. “I just realized that the amount that I’m already working would keep me from being totally present in the alder role.” “I did get the chance to sit down with Maria-Threese,” Berglund said. “I reached out and we sat down for a tea and künefe [a Turkish pastry]. We were able to have a really positive conversation about how we can work collaboratively, as neighbors, to follow through on a Ward 9 that we’d like to see come to fruition.” “So,” Berlgund said, “I’m really excited to endorse Maria and to give folks that were interested in supporting me that opportunity to support her.” She said she plans to continue participating in local civic life through other means, including by advocating for food security, community gardens, and local food providers on the Food Policy Council. 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, located on the second floor of 200 Orange St. 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, some first-time voters who registered by mail 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. 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