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Health & Fitness

You're never too busy to vote. Cast your ballot today!

Everyone's busy, but nobody's too busy to vote. Learn how you can cast your absentee ballot for this year's presidential campaign.

By Kristin Silvia

Undoubtedly, if you're not planning on voting this year, you've already got your excuse prepared for when people ask why. You don't like any of the candidates, you don't know anything about the candidates, or—the most common excuse in our modern, fast-paced world—you're just too busy to make it down to the polls on Election Day.

Except that's no excuse, either. Forty-eight states and the District of Columbia allow voters to cast absentee ballots. The specifications for absentee voting vary from state to state; in Connecticut, you are only eligible to vote by absentee ballot if you will be absent from town during voting hours, are ill, have a physical disability which hinders your ability to get to the polls, or are performing as a primary, referendum, or election official at a polling place other than your own on election day.

Find out what's happening in Danburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

To apply for your absentee ballot, go to the state website (or click here) and mail or hand in the completed application to your Town Clerk. While there is no specific deadline, it is recommended that you place your request for an absentee ballot at least one month before the election. It's only a suggestion, though; you still have time if you haven't already and cannot make it to your polling location in November. If you are mailing in your ballot, it must be received by 8:00PM on November 6, 2012; if you are submitting in person, it must be received on or before November 5.

Working all day? Visiting relatives? No excuses! Prepare your absentee ballot today.

Find out what's happening in Danburywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Your vote does matter! Make sure to register; your deadline to register is October 30th by person, and October 23rd postmarked by mail. Be there November 6th at you local voting station to cast your vote! To help promote the 2012 election, WCSU students in the Writing, Linguistics and Creative Process Department's Advertising, Copywriting and Promotions class created a Twitter page. Also check out their blogs at www.danbury.patch.com. Get educated on whom to vote for by visiting our Facebook page.

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