Connecticut House Bill HB06100

Connecticut 2013 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/25/13
• Refer: 1/25/13
• Refer: 4/3/13

Caption

An Act Concerning The Regional Consolidation Of Certain Functions Of Election Administration.

Impact

If enacted, the bill would lead to significant changes in how election functions are administered across the state. By consolidating these functions regionally, municipalities could potentially realize economies of scale, thus lowering costs associated with election administration. The Secretary of the State would be tasked with evaluating the feasibility of such consolidations and reporting findings to the legislative committee responsible for elections, which would guide future legislative changes required to implement these recommendations.

Summary

House Bill 06100 aims to improve the efficiency of election administration by encouraging the regional consolidation of certain functions that are currently performed by individual municipalities. The key focus of this bill is to allow the Secretary of the State to review various election-related tasks, such as the maintenance of voter registration lists and poll worker training, to assess whether they can be transitioned to a regional basis. This approach is intended to enhance coordination and potentially reduce operational costs for municipalities, while also protecting the integrity of elections.

Sentiment

The sentiment surrounding HB 06100 appears to be cautiously optimistic, especially among municipalities that are facing budget constraints. Supporters argue that the potential cost savings and increased efficiency are paramount in today's fiscal environment. However, there may be concerns regarding local control and the potential loss of personalized services that smaller municipalities currently provide to their constituents. The balance between cost-effectiveness and maintaining local governance is likely to be a central theme in the discussion of this bill.

Contention

Notable points of contention may arise around the implications of consolidating election administration functions. Critics might argue that such a shift could undermine the ability of local governments to tailor election services to the needs of their communities. Furthermore, there could be apprehensions about the adequacy of oversight and management of a larger, regional election system, which might hinder the prompt response to local electoral issues. Monitoring how this bill navigates these challenges will be critical as it progresses through the legislative process.