What is the abbreviation for Connecticut, and what region is it in?

Connecticut's two-letter postal abbreviation is CT. The U.S. Census Bureau places it in the Northeast region, in the New England division, and about 3.61 million people lived there in the 2020 census.

When did Connecticut become a state, and what number state was it?

Connecticut became the 5th state on January 9, 1788, when its convention ratified the U.S. Constitution. It was one of the original 13 colonies, founded by English Puritans who settled Windsor, Wethersfield, and Hartford in the 1630s.

What does the name Connecticut mean?

The name comes from the Connecticut River and a Mohegan-Pequot (Algonquian) word, often written "quinnehtukqut," meaning "beside the long tidal river."

Why is Connecticut called the Constitution State?

The nickname honors the Fundamental Orders of 1639, adopted by the towns of Hartford, Windsor, and Wethersfield to set up a government by the consent of the people. Many historians describe it as one of the first written constitutions in the Western tradition, and the legislature made "The Constitution State" the official nickname in 1959.

What is the capital of Connecticut, and has it always been the capital?

Hartford is the capital, but from 1701 to 1875 Connecticut had two capitals, Hartford and New Haven, and the legislature met in each city in turn. Voters made Hartford the sole capital in 1875, and the current State Capitol opened there in 1879.

What states border Connecticut?

Connecticut borders New York to the west, Massachusetts to the north, and Rhode Island to the east. Its southern shore lies on Long Island Sound, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean.

What was the Connecticut Compromise?

At the Constitutional Convention of 1787, Connecticut delegates Roger Sherman and Oliver Ellsworth proposed the plan that broke the deadlock between large and small states: seats in the House of Representatives based on population, and two senators for every state. It is also called the Great Compromise.

What are Connecticut's state motto and symbols?

Connecticut's motto is "Qui Transtulit Sustinet," Latin for "He Who Transplanted Still Sustains." Its state bird is the American robin, its flower is the mountain laurel, and its tree is the white oak, honoring the Charter Oak, where colonists are said to have hidden the colony's charter from a royal governor in 1687.

How many representatives and electoral votes does Connecticut have?

Based on the 2020 census, Connecticut has 5 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, the same as before, which gives it 7 votes in the Electoral College.

State Guide5th StateEst. 1788

Connecticut CT

"The Constitution State"

One of America's original thirteen colonies and the state whose 1639 Fundamental Orders inspired the U.S. Constitution itself. Small in size but outsized in history, Connecticut built the Navy's submarines, powered the industrial revolution, and produced the compromise that made the United States possible.

State Debt - FY2024

$33.3 billion

Total state government debt outstanding at the close of fiscal 2024, including long-term bonds and short-term borrowing across state agencies and public universities.

Tax Revenue - FY2024

$23.2 billion

Total Connecticut state tax collections in fiscal 2024, led by the individual income tax ($10B) and the general sales tax ($6.2B).

Borrowing

Connecticut is one of the most heavily indebted states per resident, borrowing through general obligation bonds backed by its full faith and credit and special tax obligation bonds for transportation. All are sold to investors in the municipal bond market. The state reported about $1.7 billion in interest on its debt in fiscal 2024.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Annual Survey of State Government Finances.

5th

State admitted to the Union

3.6M

Population (2025 est.)

5,543

Square miles, 3rd smallest

1639

Year of America's first constitution

Connecticut's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Here we go, Connecticut. On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, you're choosing a governor and lieutenant governor, the other statewide officers, your state legislators, and your member of the U.S. House. There's no U.S. Senate race and no statewide ballot question this year.

This is a midterm election, halfway through the president's term, and nationally it decides who controls Congress for the next two years. In Connecticut, Gov. Ned Lamont is running for a third term against Republican State Sen. Ryan Fazio.

Voting is easier than it used to be here, too: early voting runs for two weeks, and as of May, any voter can vote by absentee ballot without needing an excuse.

The key dates and how voting works are right below. Use the buttons above to open each race. Every candidate on the ballot is listed. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026

Key Dates

Key Dates
Last day to register by mail (you can still register in person during early voting or on Election Day)	Saturday, October 17
Early voting begins: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day	Monday, October 19
Extended early voting hours, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.	Tuesday, October 27, and Thursday, October 29
Early voting ends	Sunday, November 1
Election Day: polls open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.; absentee ballots due when polls close	Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Connecticut

Three ways to vote. Early, in person: every day from October 19 through November 1 at your town's early voting location, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on October 27 and 29). On Election Day at your polling place, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.; if you're in line by 8, you vote.

Or by absentee ballot. A 2026 law signed in May lets any voter use one, no excuse needed. Apply through your town clerk, then mail it back or use your town's secure drop box. It has to reach the town clerk by the time polls close on Election Day, so don't cut it close.

Not registered? You can register by mail through October 17, and you can register and vote the same day during early voting or on Election Day (bring proof of identity and of where you live).

Bring ID to the polls. If you don't have it, you can usually sign a statement swearing to who you are instead; voters registering for the first time by mail may need to show ID. Your town's registrars of voters can answer questions.

Sources & Further Reading

…

Connecticut's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Voting is easier than it used to be here, too: early voting runs for two weeks, and as of May, any voter can vote by absentee ballot without needing an excuse.

The key dates and how voting works are right below. Use the buttons above to open each race. Every candidate on the ballot is listed. Facts first; the decision is yours.

Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026

Key Dates

Last day to register by mail (you can still register in person during early voting or on Election Day)

Saturday, October 17

Early voting begins: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day

Monday, October 19

Extended early voting hours, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Tuesday, October 27, and Thursday, October 29

Early voting ends

Sunday, November 1

Election Day: polls open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.; absentee ballots due when polls close

Tuesday, November 3

How Voting Works in Connecticut

Not registered? You can register by mail through October 17, and you can register and vote the same day during early voting or on Election Day (bring proof of identity and of where you live).

Connecticut's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Connecticut

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Connecticut's 2026 Midterm Election: Who and What Is on Your Ballot

Key Dates

How Voting Works in Connecticut

📚 Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading

Sources & Further Reading