Voter turnout for local elections sadly lags behind voting in presidential, gubernatorial or congressional races. Voters just don't muster the same level of enthusiasm for casting ballots for town council, board of education or board of selectmen as they do for voting for those running for state and national offices.

Even as turnout shrinks during odd-year elections, so too does the number of registered voters. There are more than 53,500 fewer voters registered in the state this year in comparison to those registered one year ago, at the time of the 2020 presidential contest, Secretary of State Denise Merrill said this week.

This year, however, the state's voters have one less reason not to cast their ballots in the municipal elections. Those who are disabled, ill, out-of-town on Election Day, or who remain fearful of the risk of contracting COVID-19 via in-person voting, can cast their ballots absentee. Despite the state's restrictive absentee voting law, lawmakers for a second year have eased these limitations to ensure every Connecticut voter is once again able to take advantage of absentee voting.

We wholeheartedly support the Democrat-controlled state legislature's decision in May to pass a temporary law that allows universal access to absentee ballot voting due to COVID-19. In 2020, some 650,000 Connecticut residents voted in this manner. We hope the decision to extend this voting provision increases the number of ballots cast in the upcoming municipal elections.

While time and again voters show less interest in municipal elections, decisions made by local elective officeholders directly impact residents in many important ways. These are the folks who decide which local roads and bridges are rebuilt, who hire the superintendent to oversee operations of the school district, who can increase or decrease the size of the local police department and who can decide to spend more or less money on local parks, libraries and social service agencies. These officials make decisions that determine how much property tax residents will pay and what shape future development in a neighborhood will take.

In short, municipal officeholders make decisions that have an impact that is both immediate and close to home. It can be argued that many of these decisions have more direct, or at least more readily apparent, impact on the average resident than do decisions made in Washington, D.C.

It's noteworthy that in local elections, voters often check the box for people whom they know rather than selecting by party affiliation. Although registered Democrats statewide outnumber registered Republicans nearly 2 to 1, the largest voting bloc is 928,981 unaffiliated voters, according to the Connecticut Mirror.

The legislative decision to allow for no-excuse absentee ballot voting this year makes it easier than ever for all residents to ensure their voice is heard in determining the future of their own community. We urge all who are eligible to register to vote, learn about their local candidates and cast their ballots either in person on Nov. 2 or by absentee ballot. Those who choose to vote by absentee ballot, should be sure to allow enough time to apply for a ballot, receive it and return it. Detailed information about absentee voting is available on the Secretary of the State's website.

Municipal elections are important. This year it's easier than ever to vote in them.

The Day editorial board meets with political, business and community leaders to formulate editorial viewpoints. It is composed of President and Publisher Timothy Dwyer, Executive Editor Izaskun E. Larraneta, Owen Poole, copy editor, and Lisa McGinley, retired deputy managing editor. The board operates independently from The Day newsroom.