When is Wilton’s Annual Town Meeting and Budget Vote?
Wilton’s Annual Town Meeting is on Tuesday, May 7, at 7:30 p.m. at the Wilton High School Clune Center auditorium. Machine voting on the town budget and proposed bonding questions will take place as soon as the meeting is adjourned. For those unable to attend the meeting, voting will continue on Saturday, May 11, at the Clune Center from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
What’s on the Annual Town Meeting ballot?
This year the ballot includes one question about the annual budget and four bonding questions. The registrars of voters page on wiltonct.org will display a sample ballot. Budget information is also on the town website. The Wilton Board of Education budget can be viewed online at wiltonps.org . This year’s Annual Town Meeting will be available for viewing on the town website on May 8.
Will the Annual Town Meeting represent the wishes of town residents?
That depends on voter turnout. If voters choose not to attend the Annual Town Meeting, they are allowing others to speak for them. Voters at the meeting are allowed to make motions to decrease a budget line item but not to increase it. In 2018, a low turnout 13.4 percent of eligible voters participated in the two-day budget voting. According to Wilton’s Charter, the proposed budget automatically passes if voter turnout is less than 15 percent. Additional questions are passed by a majority of those voting.
Who is eligible to vote at the Annual Town Meeting?
The following people may vote:
"All registered voters, regardless of whether they own property in town.
"All U.S. citizens — resident and nonresident — at least 18 years old, liable to the Town of Wilton for taxes on real estate property or a motor vehicle with an assessment of at least $1,000 on the Oct. 1, 2018, Grand List.
If you have purchased property in Wilton after Oct. 1, 2018, your name will not appear on this Grand List. In that case, you must be a registered voter in order to cast a ballot at the Annual Town Meeting. In all cases, you must be a U.S. citizen to vote and at least 18 years old.
You may register to vote online, if you have a valid Connecticut driver’s license. Go to the secretary of state’s website at: https://voterregistration.ct.gov to register online. You may also register to vote at the Wilton Town Hall, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., download a voter registration application from wiltonct.org or call the registrars for information 203-563-0111. Absentee ballots will be available in person from the town clerk at town hall beginning on Wednesday, May 8, through Friday, May 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All absentee ballots must be returned to the town clerk’s office by 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 10.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. For more information, visit wiltonlwv.org or write P.O. Box 71, Wilton, CT 06897.