Locksmith Dan Saves The Day

All four of New Haven’s absentee ballot drop boxes are now up and running and open to accepting paper drop-offs thanks to the handiwork of a city clerk-hired locksmith.

That locksmith was Dan, of the Stratford-based company CT Mobile Locksmiths. 

On Wednesday afternoon, Dan (who declined to share his last name for this story) swung by the sidewalk in front of the municipal office building at 200 Orange St. to repair two of the city’s four absentee ballot drop boxes.

Those are metal ​“kiosks” that have been stationed outside of 200 Orange St. and behind City Hall for the past two years. 

Eligible voters who have requested, received, and filled out absentee ballots can drop off their ballots in those kiosks, or at the city clerk’s office on the second floor of 200 Orange St., between now and election day on Nov. 8.

The only problem was that, as of yesterday, two of the city’s four ballot boxes were broken and not accepting ballots. One was closed because it had been hit by a truck, the other was closed because of a problem with its lock.

On Wednesday, the city clerk’s office called in Dan the locksmith. Who, after a little over an hour, was able to install new locks on both of the previously busted boxes.

“Just changing the locks,” he said as he tinkered with the drop box facing the street near the front entrance to 200 Orange St. He said he’d be installing the same lock as the one that was on this box before the truck crash broke it.

After an hour’s work, he had finished up — and the city clerk’s office confirmed that all four boxes are now working and open to accepting ballots.

Click here and here for absentee ballot application forms that, when filled out, can be sent by mail or dropped off at the city clerk’s office on the second floor of 200 Orange St. Click here to apply online.