Madison college students who are registered voters and home for the holiday break should be aware that they can apply for absentee ballots for the upcoming Griswold Airport referendum. The entire process can be accomplished online and by mail. Applications to obtain a ballot are available online and can be mailed to or dropped off with the town clerk on Campus Drive. Please note that the town clerk will not be able to distribute the actual absentee ballots until Jan. 7, 2010. Absentee ballots must be received by the town clerk between the 7th and the close of business on the 25th to be counted for the Jan. 26, 2010 referendum.

Additional information is available on the town website, www.madisonct.org, or can be obtained by calling the town clerk at 203-245-5672. The Town Clerk's Office on Campus Drive will be open on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010 from 9 a.m. to noon for absentee ballot voting. Details are also available on the Town of Madison website, www.madisonct.org, or on the town clerk's page.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to preserve coastal resources, a globally important bird migration stopover and feeding habitat, and create badly needed athletic fields. I hope the college students will get out and vote and that they are able to get their friends and family to do the same!

Laurie E. Ruderfer

Madison