East Lyme — Between the pandemic and scheduling with less than three weeks' notice, some aspects of the referendum being held next Thursday in East Lyme, which is about additional funding for the Public Safety Building, will look a little different.

Depending on one's situation, people can vote in the East Lyme Community Center, outside the community center or by absentee ballot.

Who is qualified to vote?

To vote, you must be a registered voter in East Lyme or own property with a minimum assessment of $1,000 on the town's last grand list. The registrars are holding voter registration in their office in the community center Tuesday from 9 a.m. to noon.

What's on the ballot?

The referendum has two questions. The first is, "Shall the resolution amending the resolution to increase the appropriation and bond authorization by $985,000 (the original resolution was for $5,000,000) for the planning, design, acquisition, construction, equipping and furnishing of the public safety building, be approved? YES/NO"

The second is, "Shall the resolution for a special appropriation in the amount of $1,200,000 for the planning, design, acquisition, construction, equipping and furnishing of the Public Safety Building, the source of funds being FEMA reimbursements from Storm Sandy and Storm Irene, be approved? YES/NO"

The full text of the proposed bond resolution is available to view in the town clerk's office in Town Hall, 108 Pennsylvania Ave.

How do I vote in person?

The polls will be open on Oct. 1 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. at the East Lyme Community Center, 41 Society Road.

Wendi Sims, Democratic registrar of voters, said there will be Plexiglas shields up, poll workers are required to wear masks and pens will be sanitized between uses. The registrars are asking voters to please wear masks, and they will have extra masks available.

Curbside voting also will be available. State statute allows those who are present at the polling place but "unable to gain access to the polling place due to a temporary incapacity" to request a ballot to be brought to them. The statute doesn't define "temporary incapacity."

"It's normally interpreted to mean you are physically incapacitated, but with this pandemic, we are taking a more generous view of what that statute says," Sims said, citing people with pre-existing conditions as an example.

A voter who wants to do curbside voting can press a button under the portico in front of the senior center, and two assistant registrars of opposing parties will come out and ask for identification. They then will check the voter's name off the list inside and bring out a ballot, with a privacy sleeve.

Sims said there will be one extra assistant registrar compared to normal staffing for a referendum, so that if two assistant registrars are outside helping a voter, there still will be one inside.

Can I vote by absentee ballot because of COVID-19 concerns?

No. Town Clerk Karen Miller Galbo said the town attorney confirmed with the state Secretary of the State's office that Gov. Ned Lamont's executive order allowing COVID-19 as a reason for voting by absentee ballot doesn't apply to the referendum.

The only acceptable reasons for getting an absentee ballot are active military service, absence from the town during all voting hours, illness, physical disability, or religious tenets that forbid secular activity on the day of the referendum.

How do I vote absentee if I'm eligible?

The town clerk is not mailing out absentee ballot applications or absentee ballots; a voter must apply and get a ballot in person, or send a designee in person.

Those wishing to vote absentee can either print out the application available online or fill one out in the town clerk's office. Those who can't go to the town clerk's office can designate a licensed physician, nurse or other caregiver; family member; police officer or registrar of voters to do so. Upon turning in the application, the voter will get a ballot right away.

Galbo is strongly encouraging people to turn in the ballot in person rather than mail it, since there's such a short window and her office already is getting so much other election mail.

The latest someone can turn in their own absentee ballot is Wednesday, but if a designee returns it on Thursday or if the town clerk's office gets it by mail Thursday, that's fine.

The regular hours for the town clerk's office are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The office also will have special hours to issue absentee ballots Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, and Galbo expects to be open later on Wednesday.

e.moser@theday.com