Shelton City accepts $18,321.52 state grant to implement early voting

Shelton City council members voted to accept a 2025 grant from the Connecticut Secretary of the State totaling $18,321.52 to implement and administer early voting and authorized Mark A. Loretti to sign the agreement.

The award is intended to support the city’s startup costs for early voting. Council members, the registrar of voters and residents discussed the size of the award and how it compares with local cost estimates.

A motion to “accept a grant from the Connecticut secretary of the state's office for the city of Shelton to implement and administer early voting in the amount of $18,321.52. Further, authorize Mark a Loretti to sign all documents and effectuate said agreement” was moved and seconded and then discussed by the council and attendees. The registrar of voters, identified in the meeting as Pete, said the office had “just got worded this last week” and described the award as based on prior grants.

Resident Rich Stern questioned whether the amount would cover implementation costs, asking, “Will this be enough to cover? … you said 35 to 40,000?” The registrar confirmed the local estimate cited at the meeting was roughly $35,000 to $40,000.

Council members approved the grant by voice vote. The authorization names Mark A. Loretti to sign documents necessary to effectuate the agreement.

The meeting record does not specify a final budget breakdown for the early voting program, nor does it identify additional local funding sources to cover the gap between the grant amount and the estimated total implementation cost.