Section 1 of our Charter, Voting Rights, states “Any natural person who is an elector of the Town of East Haddam and resides within said limits of the Association or who has attained the age of eighteen years and owns any legal lot within said limits which has an assessed value equal to or in excess of one thousand dollars and has registered with the secretary-clerk of the Association shall, while he or she continues to be such elector and resident or an owner of such lot, be a member of the Property Owners’ Association of Lake Hayward, shall be entitled to vote at any meeting or referendum of said association and shall be eligible to hold any office in said association. No member shall be entitled to more than one vote.”
Why do we need to register to vote?
The charter requires voter registration. As a political subdivision of the State of Connecticut, we are subject to state laws that govern taxing districts, including voter registration.
Who is eligible to register to vote?
To be eligible to register, you must either:
- Be a person eligible to vote in East Haddam, and live within lake boundaries, OR
- Be eighteen years old or older, and own a lot within the boundaries of the lake with a value in excess of $1,000.
What does our Charter mean by “any natural person”?
“Any natural person” immediately eliminates companies such as the Connecticut Water Company, which owns land, from having a vote. Likewise, a corporation or LLC (limited liability corporation) which owns a cottage cannot vote because they are not a natural person. If an individual from the corporation is a resident of the cottage and an elector of East Haddam, they satisfy the Charter and can register to vote.
Can I vote more than once if I own multiple properties?
If you own multiple properties and are listed on multiple deeds, you only have one vote. The number of properties doesn’t matter.
Can renters vote?
Renters may register with the secretary-clerk to vote if and only if they live within the lake boundaries and are registered as electors with the Town of East Haddam.
Can I vote if I’m listed on the deed of a deeded property?
Anyone listed on the deed may register to vote with the secretary-clerk. If a spouse is not on the deed, or the property has other owners not listed, they cannot vote unless they are residents and are registered as an elector of the Town of East Haddam. Children of the owner may register to vote with the secretary-clerk if they are residents and are registered as an elector of the Town.
What if my property is owned by trust or estate?
We do not allow guests to bring their own wine, beer, or spirits to our restaurant. We have an extensive beverage menu, including a wide selection of wines, beers, and cocktails for you to enjoy.
How do I register to vote?
You can register to vote by filling out the voter registration form and emailing it to [email protected] or mailing it to POALH, Box 230, Colchester, CT 06415.