Elections in Andover: Who Votes for What and When

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This document explains Andover's election system — which offices are elected, when, for how long, and under what rules. It covers the significant changes made by the 2024 charter revision (most of which take effect beginning in 2027), the minority representation rules that apply to different boards, and how ties are broken. References to Charter sections link to the online version at charter2024.andoverct.info. State statutes link to the Connecticut General Assembly's published text.

The 2024 Revision: What Changed

The Town of Andover adopted a revised charter on November 5, 2024. Among other changes, it updated the election framework: most boards are elected at the biennial November municipal election beginning with November 2025; the Board of Selectmen and Town Clerk are on a four-year cycle beginning with November 2027. Until then, transitional rules govern.

Federal and State Elections

Nominations and elections of federal and state officers, Justices of the Peace, and Registrars of Voters are conducted as prescribed by Connecticut General Statutes (Section 202). The Town has no separate authority to vary those procedures. Town officers participate on the same Election Day ballot as state and federal candidates at the biennial November elections.

The Two Election Cycles

Andover's local elections happen on two different schedules:

1. The biennial municipal election — held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November every two years (in odd-numbered years, starting with 2025). This is when most town boards are elected.

2. The Board of Selectmen election — beginning in November 2027 and every four years thereafter. The BOS will be on a separate four-year cycle.

Until the BOS transitions to its new structure in 2027, some positions are being filled under transitional arrangements from the 2024 revision.

The Board of Selectmen and First Selectman

Starting November 2027 (Section 203A), Andover will elect a five-member Board of Selectmen every four years (terms begin after the election). The election is held at the biennial municipal election in November.

Key rules:

• A political party may nominate no more than three members, one of whom must be designated as the party's nominee for First Selectman.
• No more than three members of the Board may be members of the same political party (Section 401).
• The First Selectman is the candidate designated as such by the winning party's nomination (the top vote-getter among the slate of nominees may not simply declare themselves First Selectman — the party designates that role in its nomination).

The four-year term means the Board of Selectmen is elected in a different year than the biennial boards listed below. After 2027, BOS elections will occur in 2027, 2031, 2035, and so on.

The Vice First Selectman is not elected — the Board selects one of its members as Vice First Selectman by majority vote at its first meeting after each election.

Boards Elected at the Biennial Municipal Election

Beginning with the November 2025 election and every two years thereafter, voters elect members to the following boards and commissions (Section 203C). Candidates serve four-year overlapping terms, meaning not all seats on a board are up in any single election — a deliberate design to provide continuity.

Board of Finance (Section 203C(1)) Seven voting members serving four-year overlapping terms. In addition, the Capital Improvement Plan Committee may designate one non-voting ex-officio member. The Board of Finance is the central body in the annual budget process and has authority over supplemental appropriations, purchasing policies, and bond authorization.

Board of Assessment Appeals (Section 203C(2)) Three members serving four-year terms.

Planning and Zoning Commission (Section 203C(3)) Five members and three alternates, serving four-year overlapping terms. The Zoning Enforcement Officer is appointed by the BOS but may only be appointed and removed with the advice and consent of a majority of the PZC.

Zoning Board of Appeals (Section 203C(4)) Five members and three alternates, serving four-year overlapping terms.

Local Board of Education (Section 203C(5)) Seven members serving four-year overlapping terms. No more than four members may be from the same political party (Section 1013J). The BOE's distinctive role in the budget process is covered in the Andover Budget Process overview.

Fire Commission (Section 203C(6)) Five members serving four-year overlapping terms.

In general, voters may vote for (and a political party may nominate) as many candidates as there are available seats to be filled on each board in a given election — except that the minority representation requirements of C.G.S. 9-204b apply (see below).

The Town Clerk

Beginning at the November 2027 election and every four years thereafter, a Town Clerk is elected (Section 203B). The Town Clerk's term commences on the first day of January following the election. The Town Clerk's office has permanent status under Section 702O. Note that the Town Clerk is the only elected officer who also appears among the Charter's enumerated administrative positions — reflecting both the political accountability and the permanent institutional nature of the office.

Registrars of Voters

Two Registrars of Voters are elected — one for the Republican party and one for the Democratic party — at the regular state election held every four years (Section 202A). Their terms commence on the Wednesday after the first Monday in January following their election. Additional Registrars shall be elected by any other political party that qualifies as a major party under Connecticut General Statutes.

The Regional Board of Education (Region 8)

Members of the Regional District 8 Board of Education are elected in the same manner as other town officers, serving four-year terms (Section 204). The election of regional board members is governed by C.G.S. 10-46(a) and (c), as amended from time to time.

Minority representation on the Regional Board of Education is determined pursuant to C.G.S. 10-46(c) (Section 206).

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for election to any Town office, a candidate must be an elector of the Town at the time of election (Section 205). Any person who ceases to be an elector of the Town also ceases to hold elective office — the resulting vacancy is filled under Section 208. The eligibility requirement does not apply to the Town's Wetlands Agent.

Minority Representation Rules

Andover's Charter applies three different minority representation frameworks, depending on which board is involved:

1. Elected boards (other than the Boards of Education): C.G.S. 9-204b applies to the Board of Finance, Board of Assessment Appeals, Planning and Zoning Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, and Fire Commission (Section 203C). This statute sets limits on how many members of the same political party may be nominated for and elected to multi-member boards. Voters may vote for as many candidates as seats are being filled, but party nominations are capped.

2. Appointed boards: C.G.S. 9-167a governs minority representation on all appointed boards, agencies, commissions, committees, and authorities, with the exception of the Local and Regional Boards of Education (Section 206, Section 604). This generally limits the number of members from a single party on any multi-member board.

3. The Local Board of Education: The Charter sets its own rule: no more than four of the seven members of the Local Board of Education may be from any one party (Section 1013J).

4. The Board of Selectmen: No more than three of the five members may be members of the same political party (Section 401).

These rules mean that a single dominant party cannot sweep all seats on most multi-member boards, even in a landslide election.

Breaking a Tie

Section 207 provides two mechanisms for breaking ties:

By consent: If the tied candidates agree, a tie may be broken by a single coin toss conducted by a neutral third party agreeable to both candidates.

By adjourned election: If the candidates do not consent to a coin toss (or if the tie is in a referendum, primary, or special election rather than a regular municipal election), an adjourned election is conducted pursuant to C.G.S. 9-332.

The coin-toss option does not apply to referendum questions that require a minimum number of affirmative votes for approval (such as the 15%-turnout bond referendum under Section 810D).

Voting Districts and Hours

There is currently one voting district (Section 209A). The Board of Selectmen may create additional voting districts as the Town's needs require, subject to Town Meeting approval. Voting hours for all referenda are 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM (Section 209B).

Summary: What Is Elected, When, and for How Long

Key Charter Sections Referenced

• Section 201 — General elections framework
• Section 202 — State and federal officers; Registrars of Voters
• Section 203 — Town officers: general election
• Section 204 — Regional Board of Education
• Section 205 — Eligibility for elected office
• Section 206 — Minority representation for elected boards
• Section 207 — Breaking a tie
• Section 208 — Vacancies in elective office
• Section 209 — Voting districts and referendum hours
• Section 401 — BOS party composition limit
• Section 501 — First Selectman's role
• Section 1013J — Local Board of Education party composition limit

Key State Statutes Referenced

• C.G.S. 9-204b — Minority representation requirements for elected boards (other than Boards of Education)
• C.G.S. 9-167a — Minority representation for appointed boards
• C.G.S. 9-332 — Adjourned elections for tied contests
• C.G.S. 10-46 — Regional Board of Education elections

This document is intended as an informational overview for residents and officials. It was written by Scott Sauyet. I am not a lawyer; this is not legal advice. The authoritative sources are the Andover Town Charter and the Connecticut General Statutes.