LCO 5289 \\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-06055-R02-
HB.docx
1 of 9
General Assembly Committee Bill No. 6055
January Session, 2019
LCO No. 5289
Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
AND ELECTIONS
Introduced by:
(GAE)
AN ACT CONCERNING CE RTAIN UPDATES TO ELE CTION
ADMINISTRATION LAWS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 9-16 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 2
The registrars of voters in each town shall give notice of the time 3
and place of each session for the admission of electors held pursuant to 4
section 9-17 by publication in a newspaper published or circulated in 5
such town, or on the town's Internet web site, not more than fifteen nor 6
less than five days before each such session. Nothing [herein] in this 7
section shall require that such publication be in the form of a legal 8
advertisement. 9
Sec. 2. Section 9-17a of the general statutes is repealed and the 10
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 11
As used in sections [9-17, 9-19b,] 9-19c, 9-20, [9-23a, 9-24,] 9-31a [, 9-12
31b] and 9-31l, as amended by this act, unless otherwise provided, the 13 Committee Bill No. 6055
LCO 5289 {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-06055-
R02-HB.docx }
2 of 9
term "admitting official" means a town clerk, assistant town clerk, 14
registrar of voters, deputy registrar of voters or assistant registrar of 15
voters. [or the board for admission of electors.] 16
Sec. 3. Section 9-31l of the general statutes is repealed and the 17
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 18
(a) (1) A person who is denied admission as an elector may appeal a 19
decision of an admitting official of a town concerning the right of such 20
person to be or remain an elector. Any such appeal shall be made to 21
the registrars of voters of such town. [, except that if the admitting 22
official who made such decision is a registrar of voters, the appeal shall 23
be made to the board for admission of electors of such town.] 24
(2) Notice of an appeal shall be in writing and delivered to the 25
registrars. [or to the board for admission of electors. Within] Not later 26
than seven days after receipt of a notice of appeal, the registrars [or the 27
board, as the case may be,] shall give written notice of the time and 28
place where such appeal will be heard to the appellant and to the 29
admitting official whose decision is the subject of the appeal. Such 30
appeal shall be heard [within] not later than twenty-one days after 31
notice of the appeal is delivered to the registrars. [or the board. Neither 32
a registrar whose decision is the subject of the appeal nor a registrar 33
who is an appellant shall be a voting member of the board which hears 34
the appeal.] 35
(3) The registrars [or the board] may receive sworn testimony and 36
any other evidence relating to the qualifications of such person to be or 37
remain an elector. 38
(4) [Within] Not later than seven days after hearing an appeal, the 39
registrars [or the board] shall render a decision and shall send written 40
notice of the decision to the appellant and the admitting official whose 41
decision was the subject of the appeal. 42
(b) (1) The person whose right to be or remain an elector is in 43
dispute may appeal the decision of the registrars [or the board for the 44 Committee Bill No. 6055
LCO 5289 {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-06055-
R02-HB.docx }
3 of 9
admission of electors] under subsection (a) of this section to the State 45
Elections Enforcement Commission. If an appeal is not made to the 46
commission as provided in this subsection, the decision of the 47
registrars [or the board] shall be final. 48
(2) Any such appeal shall be in writing and filed with the State 49
Elections Enforcement Commission at its principal offices not later 50
than fourteen days [following] after the decision of the registrars. [or 51
the board.] A copy of any such notice of appeal shall also be delivered 52
within such time to the registrars [or the board] that rendered the 53
decision under subsection (a) of this section. 54
(3) The registrars [or the board] shall, not later than ten days after 55
receipt of a copy of the notice of appeal, deliver the record of the 56
hearing of the registrars [or board] under subsection (a) of this section 57
to the commission. 58
(4) The commission shall hear such appeal not later than twenty-one 59
days after notice of appeal is filed with the commission. Such hearing 60
shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-176e 61
to 4-180a, inclusive, and section 4-181a. The commission may consider 62
the record of the hearing delivered by the registrars [or the board] and 63
may examine witnesses, documents and any other evidence that it 64
determines may have a bearing on the proper determination of the 65
issues brought on appeal. The commission's hearing shall be recorded. 66
(5) The commission shall render its decision not later than sixty days 67
after the close of its hearing, except that an extension of time may be 68
granted by the commission upon application of any party that sets 69
forth circumstances that the commission determines is appropriate to 70
granting an extension of time. The commission may also initiate an 71
extension of time for rendering its decision, after written notice to the 72
parties, provided all of the parties before the commission give their 73
prior written consent. 74
(6) The decision of the commission shall determine the person's 75 Committee Bill No. 6055
LCO 5289 {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-06055-
R02-HB.docx }
4 of 9
right to be or remain an elector. If any such decision is adverse to such 76
individual's right, the commission shall order both registrars to 77
remove the elector's name from the town's active and inactive registry 78
list and any enrollment list. Any person whose name has been so 79
removed may reapply for admission as an elector with the registrars of 80
voters of the same town at any time. If such application is made within 81
four years after the commission's decision, both registrars may 82
approve such application only after they find that there has been a 83
substantial change in the circumstances that provided the basis for the 84
commission's decision and that the individual is eligible to be an 85
elector. Registrars who approve an individual's application for 86
admission within this time period without a substantial change in 87
circumstances may be subject to a civil penalty imposed by the 88
commission in accordance with subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of 89
section 9-7b if the commission determines, following a written 90
complaint filed with the commission pursuant to said section 9-7b, that 91
the registrars' action was without good cause and constitutes a wilful 92
violation of a prior order of the commission. 93
Sec. 4. Section 9-358 of the general statutes is repealed and the 94
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 95
Any person who, upon oath or affirmation, legally administered, 96
wilfully and corruptly testifies or affirms, before any registrar of 97
voters, any moderator of any election, primary or referendum [, any 98
board for admission of electors] or the State Elections Enforcement 99
Commission, falsely, to any material fact concerning the identity, age, 100
residence or other qualifications of any person whose right to be 101
registered or admitted as an elector or to vote at any election, primary 102
or referendum is being passed upon and decided, shall be guilty of a 103
class D felony and shall be disfranchised. 104
Sec. 5. Section 9-362 of the general statutes is repealed and the 105
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 106
The decision [of the board for admission of electors or] of the 107 Committee Bill No. 6055
LCO 5289 {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-06055-
R02-HB.docx }
5 of 9
registrars or of a moderator, as to a person's right to be admitted to the 108
elector's oath, to registration or to cast his vote, shall, in no case, be a 109
bar to a criminal prosecution for procuring himself to be made an 110
elector or to be registered or for voting, without the qualifications 111
required by law. 112
Sec. 6. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 9-35 of the general statutes 113
are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 114
from passage): 115
(a) The registrars, [on the Tuesday of the fifth week] before each 116
regular election, shall [be in session for the purpose of completing] 117
complete a correct list of all electors who will be entitled to vote at 118
such election. Such registry list shall consist of an active registry list 119
and an inactive registry list. [Such session shall be held during such 120
hours between nine o'clock a.m. and five o'clock p.m. as the registrars 121
find necessary to complete the list. Notice of such session shall be 122
given at least five days before the session by publication in a 123
newspaper having a circulation in such municipality, if any, and by 124
posting on the signpost therein, if any, or at some other exterior place 125
near the office of the town clerk. Such publication shall not be required 126
to be in the form of a legal advertisement.] 127
(b) [At such session and on] On any day except on the day of an 128
election or primary, the registrars shall remove from the list the name 129
of each elector who has died, who has been disfranchised or who has 130
confirmed in writing that the elector has moved out of the 131
municipality, except electors entitled to remain on such list under the 132
provisions of this chapter. An elector shall be deemed to have 133
confirmed in writing that the elector has moved out of the 134
municipality if (1) the elector has submitted a change of address form 135
for purposes of a state motor vehicle operator's license, unless the 136
elector states on the form that the change of address is not for voter 137
registration purposes, (2) the elector has submitted a change of address 138
form to a voter registration agency, as defined in section 9-23n, and 139
such agency has provided such change of address to the registrars of 140 Committee Bill No. 6055
LCO 5289 {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-06055-
R02-HB.docx }
6 of 9
voters, or (3) the registrars of voters have received a cancellation of 141
previous registration from any other election official indicating that 142
such elector has registered as an elector outside such municipality. 143
Sec. 7. Section 9-35a of the general statutes is repealed and the 144
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 145
Immediately [after the close of the session or immediately] after the 146
sending of notice of intended removal provided for in section 9-35, as 147
amended by this act, the registrars of voters shall post at the town hall 148
or municipal building in the municipality in which they serve, in a 149
place readily accessible to the public, a list of the names of the electors 150
whose names were removed from the registry list [at such session] or 151
will be removed on the date specified in section 9-35, as amended by 152
this act, together with the address of each such elector as it appeared 153
on the registry list at the time the name was so removed. Together with 154
such list, and as a part thereof, such registrars shall also cause to be 155
posted a statement that complete information as to such removal and 156
as to the privileges and remedies of those whose names were removed 157
from the registry list is available from such registrars, specifying when 158
and where such registrars are available for such purpose and, in the 159
case of registrars of voters having office hours, specifying such office 160
hours. 161
Sec. 8. Section 9-39 of the general statutes is repealed and the 162
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 163
[The] For the purposes of section 9-234, the registrars of voters of 164
each municipality shall print copies of the final registry list for 165
distribution [in such municipality and] in all the voting districts 166
located [therein] within such municipality. The registrars shall, upon 167
request, produce for any candidate for election the final registry list for 168
each voting district for which such person is a candidate and shall 169
maintain such list, either on paper or in electronic format, for a period 170
of two years. 171 Committee Bill No. 6055
LCO 5289 {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-06055-
R02-HB.docx }
7 of 9
Sec. 9. Section 9-172b of the general statutes is repealed and the 172
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 173
(a) In each municipality or political subdivision in which a special 174
election or referendum is to be held, the registrars of voters shall 175
prepare an updated list of the names and addresses of those persons 176
who acquired voting privileges after the completion of the revised 177
registry list and prior to the day of such special election or referendum. 178
In each such municipality or political subdivision, not later than the 179
day before such special election or referendum, such registrars of 180
voters shall cause to be completed [and printed] such list arranged as 181
provided in section 9-35, as amended by this act, and certified by them 182
to be correct, and shall [retain] print a sufficient number of copies to be 183
used by them at such special election or referendum for the [purpose 184
of checking the names of those who vote] purposes of section 9-234, 185
provided the names of any persons who acquired such voting 186
privileges within thirty days before such special election or 187
referendum may be inserted in writing on such printed list. [in 188
writing.] 189
(b) In the case of a special election or referendum, no person 190
admitted as an elector on the day of [the] such special election or 191
referendum shall be entitled to vote in [that] such special election or 192
referendum. 193
Sec. 10. Subsection (d) of section 9-192a of the general statutes is 194
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 195
passage): 196
(d) The advisory committee shall also [(1)] develop a training 197
program in election procedures for poll workers. [, and (2) develop an 198
election law and procedures training program and guide for registrars, 199
deputy registrars and assistant registrars. The training program 200
developed under subdivision (2) of this subsection shall provide for 201
training to be conducted by trained registrars or former registrars 202
hired for such purpose by the Secretary of the State.] The committee 203 Committee Bill No. 6055
LCO 5289 {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-06055-
R02-HB.docx }
8 of 9
shall submit such training [programs and training guide] program to 204
the Secretary of the State, who shall approve or modify [the programs 205
and guide] such program. 206
Sec. 11. Subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 9-192a of the 207
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 208
thereof (Effective from passage): 209
(3) Once certified, pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, 210
each registrar shall participate each year in not less than eight hours of 211
training [, not including any training described under subdivision (2) 212
of subsection (d) of this section,] in order to maintain such certification. 213
Such training shall be as prescribed by the Secretary of the State and 214
shall be conducted by said Secretary or a third party approved by said 215
Secretary to conduct such training. Any registrar who fails to satisfy 216
such annual training requirement shall be directed by the Secretary of 217
the State to take remedial measures prescribed by said Secretary. 218
Sec. 12. Subsection (b) of section 9-249 of the general statutes is 219
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 220
passage): 221
(b) The election officials of such voting districts shall attend the 222
elections training program developed under [subdivision (1) of] 223
subsection (d) of section 9-192a, as amended by this act, and any other 224
meeting or meetings as are called for the purpose of receiving such 225
instructions concerning their duties as are necessary for the proper 226
conduct of the election. 227
Sec. 13. Section 9-233 of the general statutes is repealed and the 228
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 229
Prior to each election, the registrars of voters of each town shall 230
appoint, for each voting tabulator to be used at such election, at least 231
one and not more than two electors of [such town] the state as a voting 232
tabulator tender, unless the registrars of voters have established two 233
shifts for election officials under the provisions of section 9-258a, in 234 Committee Bill No. 6055
LCO 5289 {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-06055-
R02-HB.docx }
9 of 9
which case the registrars shall appoint at least one and not more than 235
two such electors to be voting tabulator tenders, for each voting 236
tabulator, for each shift. 237
Sec. 14. Subsection (b) of section 9-1, and sections 9-15a and 9-192b 238
of the general statutes are repealed. (Effective from passage) 239
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 from passage 9-16
Sec. 2 from passage 9-17a
Sec. 3 from passage 9-31l
Sec. 4 from passage 9-358
Sec. 5 from passage 9-362
Sec. 6 from passage 9-35(a) and (b)
Sec. 7 from passage 9-35a
Sec. 8 from passage 9-39
Sec. 9 from passage 9-172b
Sec. 10 from passage 9-192a(d)
Sec. 11 from passage 9-192a(a)(3)
Sec. 12 from passage 9-249(b)
Sec. 13 from passage 9-233
Sec. 14 from passage Repealer section
GAE Joint Favorable