For the first time in Connecticut, citizens 18 and older can register and vote on Election Day Tuesday.

But registration won't happen at regular polling places. Instead, those wanting to register to vote must go to a designated location and go through a specific process in order to cast a ballot.

Most local registrars of voters have designated their offices as the places to register and vote.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday for municipal elections in most cities and towns.

"The right to vote and access to elections is a paramount right and responsibility of our democracy," Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said in a press release Friday. "Same-day voting helps to ensure that all citizens have a voice in their government."

Connecticut was the 11th state to enact Election Day voter registration when it did so in 2012.

"We are very excited to implement this long overdue reform in 2013 that will make it easier for our busy voters in Connecticut to cast a ballot," Secretary of the State Denise Merrill said in a press release.

Some states have allowed Election Day registration for more than 40 years. Some evidence suggests that states with same-day registration have voter turnouts up to 10 percent higher than states without it, Merrill said.

The law permits anyone to register and vote on Election Day if he or she meets the eligibility requirements - minimum age of 18 years and state residency - and is either not already registered to vote or is registered in one municipality but wants to change registration because he or she lives in another municipality.

Once the new voter is registered, registrars must provide an Election Day registration ballot and envelope to the voter. The voter then will secretly mark the ballot in the presence of the registrars and deposit the envelope and ballot in a secured Election Day Registration box.

For more information about Election Day registration, visit www.sots.ct.gov.

j.somers@theday.com

Election Day registration locations

East Lyme: Registrars' office, 35 Society Road

Groton: Registrars' office in the Human Services Building, 2 Fort Hill Road

Ledyard: Registrars' office in the annex behind Town Hall, 741 Colonel Ledyard Highway

Lyme: Registrars' office at Town Hall, 480 Hamburg Road

Montville: Registrars' office at Town Hall, 310 Norwich-New London Turnpike

New London: Registrars' office at City Hall, 181 State St.

North Stonington: Town clerk's office at Town Hall, 40 Main St.

Norwich: Information booth on the first floor of City Hall, across the hall from registrars' office, 100 Broadway.

Old Lyme: Registrars' office at Town Hall at 52 Lyme St.

Preston: Town Hall, 389 Route 2

Salem: Town Hall, 270 Hartford Road

Stonington: Registrars' office at Town Hall, 152 Elm St.

Waterford: Louise T. Appleby Meeting Room at Town Hall, 15 Rope Ferry Road