Connecticut 2019 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB06048 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
	3	+	LCO No. 2113 1 of 2
3	4
4		-	LCO No. 6399 1 of 8
5		-
6		-	General Assembly Committee Bill No. 6048
	5	+	General Assembly Proposed Bill No. 6048
7	6		January Session, 2019
8		-	LCO No. ~~6399~~
	7	+	LCO No. 2113
9	8
10	9
11	10		Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
12	11		AND ELECTIONS
13	12
14	13
15	14		Introduced by:
16		-	(GAE)
	15	+	REP. KLARIDES, 114th Dist.
	16	+	REP. CANDELORA, 86th Dist.
	17	+	REP. O'DEA, 125th Dist.
	18	+	REP. O'NEILL, 69th Dist.
	19	+	REP. KOKORUDA, 101st Dist.
	20	+	REP. ZUPKUS, 89th Dist.
17	21
18	22
19	23
20	24		AN ACT CONCERNING INTEGRITY OF ELECTION DAY
21	25		REGISTRATION.
22	26		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
23	27		Assembly convened:
24	28
25		-	Section 1. Section 9-19j of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
26		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019): 2
27		-	(a) As used in this subsection and subsections (b) to (i), inclusive, of 3
28		-	this section, "election day" means the day on which a regular election, 4
29		-	as defined in section 9-1, is held. 5
30		-	(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, a person who (1) 6
31		-	is (A) not an elector, or (B) an elector registered in a municipality who 7
32		-	wishes to change his or her registration to another municipality 8
33		-	pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of this 9
34		-	section, and (2) meets the eligibility requirements under subsection (a) 10
35		-	of section 9-12, may apply for admission as an elector on election day 11
36		-	pursuant to the provisions of subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this 12
37		-	section. 13
38		-	(c) (1) The registrars of voters shall designate a location for the 14
39		-	completion and processing of election day registration applications on 15
40		-	Committee Bill No. 6048
	29	+	That title 9 of the general statutes be amended to provide that (1) the 1
	30	+	registrars of voters in each town shall, not later than ninety days after 2
	31	+	the day of a regular election, compile a report of (A) the number of 3
	32	+	election day registration applicants, (B) the number of such applicants 4
	33	+	that were not admitted as electors, (C) the number of registration 5
	34	+	confirmation notices sent to admitted applicants that were returned 6
	35	+	undeliverable, and (D) the number of admitted applicants 7
	36	+	subsequently placed on the inactive registry list as a result of such 8
	37	+	notices being returned undeliverable, (2) each such report shall be 9
	38	+	transmitted to the Secretary of the State who shall aggregate all such 10
	39	+	reports into one single report for submission, not later than one 11
	40	+	hundred twenty days after the day of such regular election, to the State 12
	41	+	Elections Enforcement Commission and the joint standing committee 13
	42	+	of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 14 Proposed Bill No. 6048
41	43
42	44
43		-	LCO No. ~~6399~~ 2 of 8
	45	+	LCO No. 2113 2 of 2
44	46
45		-	election day, provided the registrars of voters have access to the state-16
46		-	wide centralized voter registration system from such location. 17
47		-	(2) The registrars of voters [may] shall appoint one or more election 18
48		-	officials, including official checkers, to serve at such location and may 19
49		-	delegate to such election officials any of the responsibilities assigned to 20
50		-	the registrars of voters. The registrars of voters shall supervise such 21
51		-	election officials and train such election officials to be election day 22
52		-	registration election officials. Nothing in this subdivision shall be 23
53		-	construed to prohibit any unofficial checker or challenger from being 24
54		-	present at such location. 25
55		-	(d) Any person applying to register on election day under the 26
56		-	provisions of subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this section shall make 27
57		-	application in accordance with the provisions of section 9-20, provided 28
58		-	(1) on election day, the applicant shall appear in person at the location 29
59		-	designated by the registrars of voters for election day registration, (2) 30
60		-	an applicant who is a student enrolled at an institution of higher 31
61		-	education may submit a current photo identification card issued by 32
62		-	[said] such institution in lieu of the identification required by section 9-33
63		-	20, [and] (3) the applicant shall declare under oath that the applicant 34
64		-	has not previously voted in the election, and (4) the applicant shall be 35
65		-	administered the elector's oath individually. If the information that the 36
66		-	applicant is required to provide under section 9-20 and subsections (a) 37
67		-	to (i), inclusive, of this section does not include proof of the applicant's 38
68		-	residential address, the applicant shall also submit identification that 39
69		-	shows the applicant's bona fide residence address, including, but not 40
70		-	limited to, a learner's permit issued under section 14-36 or a utility bill 41
71		-	that has the applicant's name and current address and that has a due 42
72		-	date that is not later than thirty days after the election or, in the case of 43
73		-	a student enrolled at an institution of higher education, a registration 44
74		-	or fee statement from such institution that has the applicant's name 45
75		-	and current address. 46
76		-	(e) If the registrars of voters determine that an applicant satisfies the 47
77		-	Committee Bill No. 6048
78		-
79		-
80		-	LCO No. 6399 3 of 8
81		-
82		-	application requirements set forth in subsection (d) of this section, the 48
83		-	registrars of voters shall check the state-wide centralized voter 49
84		-	registration system before admitting such applicant as an elector. 50
85		-	(1) If the registrars of voters determine that the applicant is not 51
86		-	already an elector, the registrars of voters shall admit the applicant as 52
87		-	an elector and proceed in accordance with subdivision (1) of 53
88		-	subsection (f) of this section, and the privileges of an elector shall 54
89		-	attach immediately. 55
90		-	(2) If the registrars of voters determine that such applicant is an 56
91		-	elector in another municipality and such applicant states that he or she 57
92		-	wants to change the municipality in which the applicant is an elector, 58
93		-	notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-21, the registrars of voters 59
94		-	of the municipality in which such elector now seeks to register shall 60
95		-	immediately notify the registrars of voters in such other municipality 61
96		-	that such elector is changing the municipality in which the applicant is 62
97		-	an elector. The registrars of voters in such other municipality shall 63
98		-	notify the election officials in such municipality to remove such elector 64
99		-	from the official voter list of such municipality. Such election officials 65
100		-	shall cross through the elector's name on such official voter list and 66
101		-	mark "off" next to such elector's name on such official voter list. 67
102		-	(A) If it is reported that such applicant already voted in such other 68
103		-	municipality, the registrars of voters of such other municipality shall 69
104		-	immediately notify the registrars of voters of the municipality in which 70
105		-	such elector now seeks to register. In such event, such elector shall not 71
106		-	receive an election day registration ballot from the registrars of voters 72
107		-	of the municipality in which such elector now seeks to register. For any 73
108		-	such elector, the election day registration process shall cease in the 74
109		-	municipality in which such elector now seeks to register and such 75
110		-	matter shall be reviewed by the registrars of voters in the municipality 76
111		-	in which such elector now seeks to register. After completion of such 77
112		-	review, if a resolution of the matter [can not] cannot be made, such 78
113		-	matter shall be reported to the State Elections Enforcement 79
114		-	Committee Bill No. 6048
115		-
116		-
117		-	LCO No. 6399 4 of 8
118		-
119		-	Commission which shall conduct an investigation of the matter. 80
120		-	[(B) If there is no such report that such applicant already voted in 81
121		-	the other municipality, the registrars of voters of the municipality in 82
122		-	which the applicant seeks to register shall admit the applicant as an 83
123		-	elector and the privileges of an elector shall attach immediately] (B) If 84
124		-	it is reported that such applicant did not already vote in such other 85
125		-	municipality, the registrars of voters of the municipality in which the 86
126		-	applicant seeks to register shall admit the applicant as an elector and 87
127		-	proceed in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (f) of this 88
128		-	section, and the privileges of an elector shall attach immediately. 89
129		-	(C) If, at the time the applicant is appearing in person at the location 90
130		-	designated for election day registration, there is no report under 91
131		-	subparagraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision, the registrars of voters of 92
132		-	the municipality in which such applicant seeks to register shall note 93
133		-	the absence of any such report and proceed in accordance with 94
134		-	subdivision (2) of subsection (f) of this section without admitting such 95
135		-	applicant at such time. 96
136		-	(f) [If the applicant is admitted] (1) Upon admission of the applicant 97
137		-	as an elector pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of this 98
138		-	section or subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of said subsection, the 99
139		-	registrars of voters shall provide the elector with an election day 100
140		-	registration ballot and election day registration envelope and [shall] 101
141		-	make a record of such issuance. 102
142		-	(2) For any applicant described in subparagraph (C) of subdivision 103
143		-	(2) of subsection (e) of this section, the registrar of voters shall provide 104
144		-	such applicant with an election day registration ballot and election day 105
145		-	registration envelope and make a record of such issuance, provided, if 106
146		-	before the time at which counting of election day registration ballots 107
147		-	begins, there is (A) a report under subparagraph (B) of said 108
148		-	subdivision for such applicant, the registrars of voters shall admit the 109
149		-	applicant as an elector, the privileges of an elector shall attach 110
150		-	immediately and such elector's election day registration ballot shall be 111
151		-	Committee Bill No. 6048
152		-
153		-
154		-	LCO No. 6399 5 of 8
155		-
156		-	counted, and (B) no report under subparagraph (B) of said subdivision 112
157		-	for such applicant, such applicant shall not be admitted as an elector 113
158		-	and such applicant's election day registration ballot shall not be 114
159		-	counted. 115
160		-	(3) The elector or applicant, as applicable, shall complete an 116
161		-	affirmation imprinted upon the back of the envelope for an election 117
162		-	day registration ballot and shall declare under oath that [the applicant] 118
163		-	he or she has not previously voted in the election. The affirmation shall 119
164		-	be in the form substantially as follows and signed by the voter: 120
165		-	AFFIRMATION: I, the undersigned, do hereby state, under penalty 121
166		-	of false statement, (perjury) that: 122
167		-	1. I am the person admitted here as an elector in the town indicated. 123
168		-	2. I am eligible to vote in the election indicated for today in the town 124
169		-	indicated. 125
170		-	3. The information on my voter registration card is correct and 126
171		-	complete. 127
172		-	4. I reside at the address that I have given to the registrars of voters. 128
173		-	5. If previously registered at another location, I have provided such 129
174		-	address to the registrars of voters and hereby request cancellation of 130
175		-	such prior registration. 131
176		-	6. I have not voted in person or by absentee ballot and I will not 132
177		-	vote otherwise than by this ballot at this election. 133
178		-	7. I completed an application for an election day registration ballot 134
179		-	and received an election day registration ballot. 135
180		-	.... (Signature of voter) 136
181		-	(g) The elector or applicant, as applicable, shall forthwith mark the 137
182		-	election day registration ballot in the presence of the registrars of 138
183		-	Committee Bill No. 6048
184		-
185		-
186		-	LCO No. 6399 6 of 8
187		-
188		-	voters in such a manner that the registrars of voters shall not know 139
189		-	how the election day registration ballot is marked. The elector or 140
190		-	applicant shall place the election day registration ballot in the election 141
191		-	day registration ballot envelope provided, and deposit such envelope 142
192		-	in a secured election day registration ballot depository receptacle. At 143
193		-	the time designated by the registrars of voters and noticed to election 144
194		-	officials, the registrars of voters shall transport such receptacle 145
195		-	containing the election day registration ballots to the central location or 146
196		-	polling place, pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, where 147
197		-	absentee ballots are counted and, except as provided in subparagraph 148
198		-	(B) of subdivision (2) of subsection (f) of this section, such election day 149
199		-	registration ballots shall be counted by the election officials present at 150
200		-	such central location or polling place. A section of the head 151
201		-	moderator's return shall show the number of election day registration 152
202		-	ballots received from electors. The registrars of voters shall seal a copy 153
203		-	of the vote tally for election day registration ballots in a depository 154
204		-	envelope with the election day registration ballots and store such 155
205		-	election day registration depository envelope with the other election 156
206		-	results materials. The election day registration depository envelope 157
207		-	shall be preserved by the registrars of voters for the period of time 158
208		-	required to preserve counted ballots for elections. 159
209		-	(h) The provisions of the general statutes and regulations 160
210		-	concerning procedures relating to the custody, control and counting of 161
211		-	absentee ballots shall apply as nearly as possible, to the custody, 162
212		-	control and counting of election day registration ballots under 163
213		-	subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this section. 164
214		-	(i) (1) After the acceptance of an election day registration, the 165
215		-	registrars of voters shall forthwith send a registration confirmation 166
216		-	notice to the residential address of each applicant who is admitted as 167
217		-	an elector on election day under subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this 168
218		-	section. Such confirmation shall be sent by first class mail with 169
219		-	instructions on the envelope that it be returned if not deliverable at the 170
220		-	address shown on the envelope. If a confirmation notice is returned 171
221		-	Committee Bill No. 6048
222		-
223		-
224		-	LCO No. 6399 7 of 8
225		-
226		-	undelivered, the registrars shall forthwith take the necessary action in 172
227		-	accordance with section 9-35 or 9-43, as applicable, notwithstanding 173
228		-	the May first deadline in section 9-35. 174
229		-	(2) (A) Not later than ninety days after election day, the registrars of 175
230		-	voters of each town shall (i) compile a report of (I) the number of 176
231		-	persons applying for election day registration as described in 177
232		-	subsection (d) of this section, (II) the number of such persons not 178
233		-	permitted to register in accordance with subparagraph (A) of 179
234		-	subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of this section, (III) the number of 180
235		-	registration confirmation notices sent to admitted applicants, pursuant 181
236		-	to subdivision (1) of this subsection, that were returned undelivered, 182
237		-	and (IV) the number of such admitted applicants that were 183
238		-	subsequently placed on the inactive registry list as a result of such 184
239		-	notices being returned undelivered, in accordance with subdivision (1) 185
240		-	of this subsection and section 9-35, and (ii) submit such report to the 186
241		-	Secretary of the State. 187
242		-	(B) Not later than one hundred twenty days after election day, the 188
243		-	Secretary of the State shall (i) aggregate all reports submitted to the 189
244		-	Secretary under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision into one single 190
245		-	report, and (ii) submit such single report to the joint standing 191
246		-	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 192
247		-	relating to elections, in accordance with section 11-4a, and to the State 193
248		-	Elections Enforcement Commission. 194
249		-	(3) Not later than five days after a determination of the registrars of 195
250		-	voters of any town that the residency of an admitted applicant cannot 196
251		-	be verified because a registration confirmation notice for such 197
252		-	applicant was returned undelivered to such registrars, as provided in 198
253		-	subdivision (1) of this subsection, such registrars shall report all 199
254		-	information resulting in such determination to the State Elections 200
255		-	Enforcement Commission which shall conduct an investigation of the 201
256		-	matter. 202
257		-	(j) No person shall solicit in behalf of or in opposition to the 203
258		-	Committee Bill No. 6048
259		-
260		-
261		-	LCO No. 6399 8 of 8
262		-
263		-	candidacy of another or himself or herself or in behalf of or in 204
264		-	opposition to any question being submitted at the election, or loiter or 205
265		-	peddle or offer any advertising matter, ballot or circular to another 206
266		-	person within a radius of seventy-five feet of any outside entrance in 207
267		-	use as an entry to the registrars' of voters designated location for 208
268		-	election day registration balloting or in any corridor, passageway or 209
269		-	other approach leading from any such outside entrance to such 210
270		-	registrars' of voters designated location or in any room opening upon 211
271		-	any such corridor, passageway or approach. 212
272		-	(k) The Secretary of the State shall develop a process by which 213
273		-	registrars of voters and other elections officials serving at designated 214
274		-	election day registration locations shall confirm that persons applying 215
275		-	to register on election day under this section, which persons are 216
276		-	registered to vote in any other state, have not already voted in such 217
277		-	other state on such election day. For any such person, such registrars 218
278		-	or election officials shall provide to such person a provisional ballot 219
279		-	until such process has been developed. 220
280		-	This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
281		-	sections:
282		-
283		-	Section 1 October 1, 2019 9-19j
284		-
	47	+	elections, (3) a registrar of voters shall refer information on any such 15
	48	+	admitted applicant for whom residency cannot be verified to said 16
	49	+	commission not later than five days after such determination, (4) 17
	50	+	official checkers, unofficial checkers and challengers may be present at 18
	51	+	the location in each town designated for election day registration, (5) 19
	52	+	for any applicant listed in the state-wide centralized voter registration 20
	53	+	system as an elector in another town, such application shall be rejected 21
	54	+	unless the registrars of voters of such other town confirm that such 22
	55	+	applicant has not already voted in such other town, (6) the Secretary of 23
	56	+	the State shall develop a process for confirming that applicants 24
	57	+	registered to vote out of state have not already voted out of state at 25
	58	+	such election, which applicants shall receive provisional ballots until 26
	59	+	such process has been so developed, and (7) applicants shall be 27
	60	+	administered the oath for admission as an elector individually. 28
285	61		Statement of Purpose:
286	62		To implement several reforms concerning the integrity of election day
287	63		registration procedures.
288		-	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline,
289		-	except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is
290		-	not underlined.]
291		-
292		-	Co-Sponsors: REP. KLARIDES, 114th Dist.; REP. CANDELORA, 86th Dist.
293		-	REP. O'DEA, 125th Dist.; REP. O'NEILL, 69th Dist.
294		-	REP. KOKORUDA, 101st Dist.; REP. ZUPKUS, 89th Dist.
295		-
296		-	H.B. 6048