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 POALH 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 in POALH?
You must either:
- Be a person registered to vote in the town of East Haddam, and live within POALH boundaries, OR
- Be at least eighteen years of age, own property valued in excess of $1,000 within the POALH boundaries, and your name MUST appear on the deed to this property.
Can I vote more than once if I own multiple properties?
No – The number of properties does not affect your voting eligibility. If you own multiple properties or are listed on more than one deed, you are only entitled to one vote.
Can renters vote?
Yes – following state law, renters may register with the secretary-clerk to vote if they reside within the POALH boundaries and are registered as electors of the Town of East Haddam.
Can I vote if I’m listed on the deed property?
Anyone listed on the deed may register to vote with the secretary-clerk. If a spouse, adult child, or any other person is NOT listed on the deed, they cannot register to vote unless they are POALH residents AND are registered as an elector of the Town of East Haddam.
What if my property is owned by trust?
If your property is held in a trust, the trustee(s) named on the deed may register to vote.
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.