Connecticut 2019 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB00024 Compare Versions

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7		-	General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 24
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	6	+	General Assembly Committee Bill No. 24
8	7		January Session, 2019
	8	+	LCO No. 6148
9	9
10	10
	11	+	Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
	12	+	AND ELECTIONS
	13	+
	14	+
	15	+	Introduced by:
	16	+	(GAE)
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12	18
13	19
14	20		AN ACT CONCERNING AU TOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION A T
15	21		CERTAIN STATE AGENCI ES.
16	22		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
17	23		Assembly convened:
18	24
19	25		Section 1. Subsection (b) of section 9-19h of the general statutes is 1
20		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 2
21		-	~~October~~ 1, 2019): 3
	26	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 2
	27	+	1, 2019): 3
22	28		(b) (1) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of this 4
23	29		section, and except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, 5
24	30		the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, not later than January 1, 1994, 6
25	31		shall include an application for the admission of an elector with each 7
26	32		application form provided for a motor vehicle operator's license and a 8
27	33		motor vehicle operator's license renewal, which are issued under 9
28	34		subpart (B) of part III of chapter 246, and with each application form 10
29	35		provided for an identity card issued under section 1-1h. Such 11
30	36		application form for the admission of an elector [(1)] (A) shall be 12
31	37		subject to the approval of the Secretary of the State, [(2)] (B) shall not 13
32	38		include any provisions for the witnessing of the application, and [(3)] 14
33	39		(C) shall contain a statement that [(A)] (i) specifies each eligibility 15
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34	45		requirement, [(B)] (ii) contains an attestation that the applicant meets 16
35	46		each such requirement, and [(C)] (iii) requires the signature of the 17
36	47		applicant under penalty of perjury. The Commissioner of Motor 18
37		-	Vehicles shall accept any such completed application for admission 19 Substitute Bill No. 24
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	48	+	Vehicles shall accept any such completed application for admission 19
44	49		which is submitted in person, [or by mail. The] by mail or through an 20
45	50		electronic system pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection. Except 21
46	51		as provided in said subdivision, the applicant shall state on such form, 22
47	52		under penalty of perjury, the applicant's name, bona fide residence 23
48	53		address, date of birth, whether the applicant is a United States citizen, 24
49	54		party enrollment, if any, prior voting address, if registered previously, 25
50	55		and that the applicant's privileges as an elector are not forfeited by 26
51	56		reason of conviction of a felony. No Social Security number on any 27
52	57		such application form for the admission of an elector filed prior to 28
53	58		January 1, 2000, may be disclosed to the public or to any governmental 29
54	59		agency. The commissioner shall indicate on each such form the date of 30
55	60		receipt of such application to ensure that any eligible applicant is 31
56	61		registered to vote in an election if it is received by the Commissioner of 32
57	62		Motor Vehicles by the last day for registration to vote in an election. 33
58	63		The commissioner shall provide the applicant with an application 34
59	64		receipt, on a form approved by the Secretary of the State and on which 35
60	65		the commissioner shall record the date that the commissioner received 36
61	66		the application, using an official date stamp bearing the words 37
62	67		"Department of Motor Vehicles". The commissioner shall provide such 38
63	68		receipt whether the application was submitted in person, [or] by mail 39
64	69		or through an electronic system pursuant to subdivision (2) of this 40
65	70		subsection. The commissioner shall forthwith transmit the application 41
66	71		to the registrars of voters of the applicant's town of residence. If a 42
67	72		registration application is accepted within five days before the last day 43
68	73		for registration to vote in a regular election, the application shall be 44
69	74		transmitted to the registrars of voters of the town of voting residence 45
70	75		of the applicant not later than five days after the date of acceptance. 46
71	76		The procedures in subsections (c), (d), (f) and (g) of section 9-23g 47
72	77		which are not inconsistent with the National Voter Registration Act of 48
73	78		1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time, shall apply to 49
	79	+	Committee Bill No. 24
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74	84		applications made under this section. The commissioner is not an 50
75	85		admitting official and may not restore, under the provisions of section 51
76	86		9-46a, electoral privileges of persons convicted of a felony. 52
77		-	(2) On and after October 1, 2019, the Commissioner of Motor 53 Substitute Bill No. 24
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84		-	Vehicles shall use an electronic system, approved by the Secretary of 54
85		-	the State, to effectuate the purposes of subdivision (1) of this 55
86		-	subsection regarding admission of applicants to be electors, except that 56
87		-	(A) any applicant that qualifies for such admission in accordance with 57
88		-	said subdivision shall be automatically admitted as an elector unless 58
89		-	such applicant declines such admission, and (B) the condition that an 59
	87	+	(2) On and after July 1, 2019, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles 53
	88	+	shall use an electronic system, approved by the Secretary of the State, 54
	89	+	to effectuate the purposes of subdivision (1) of this subsection 55
	90	+	regarding admission of applicants to be electors, except that (A) any 56
	91	+	applicant that qualifies for such admission in accordance with said 57
	92	+	subdivision shall be automatically admitted as an elector unless such 58
	93	+	applicant declines such admission, and (B) the condition that an 59
90	94		applicant state and attest to meeting each eligibility requirement may 60
91	95		be waived for any such eligibility requirement verified independently 61
92	96		by said commissioner. The use of such electronic system shall comply 62
93	97		with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as 63
94	98		amended from time to time. In the case of an individual already 64
95	99		admitted as an elector and who is also enrolled in a party, if use of 65
96	100		such electronic system results in such elector being removed from the 66
97	101		enrollment list of such party because such elector did not affirmatively 67
98	102		confirm an intent to continue enrollment in such party, such removal 68
99	103		shall be presumed unintentional and such elector shall be restored to 69
100	104		such list upon such elector's notification of such removal to the 70
101	105		registrar of voters of the town in which such elector resides. 71
102	106		Sec. 2. Subsection (b) of section 9-23n of the general statutes is 72
103		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 73
104		-	~~October~~ 1, 2019): 74
	107	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 73
	108	+	1, 2019): 74
105	109		(b) [Voter registration agencies shall] (1) Except as provided in 75
106		-	subdivision (2) of this subsection, each voter ~~registration~~ agency shall 76
107		-	~~(A)~~ distribute mail voter registration application forms, [(2)] (B) assist 77
	110	+	subdivision (2) of this subsection, each voter agency shall (A) 76
	111	+	distribute mail voter registration application forms, [(2)] (B) assist 77
108	112		applicants for [such assistance or services] service or assistance 78
109	113		provided by the agency in completing voter registration application 79
110	114		forms, except for applicants who refuse [such] assistance in completing 80
111	115		such forms, [(3)] (C) accept completed voter registration application 81
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112	121		forms and provide each applicant with an application receipt, on 82
113	122		which the agency shall record the date that the agency received the 83
114	123		application, using an official date stamp bearing the name of the 84
115	124		agency, and [(4)] (D) immediately transmit all such applications to the 85
116		-	registrars of voters of the town of voting residence of the applicants. 86 Substitute Bill No. 24
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	125	+	registrars of voters of the town of voting residence of the applicants. 86
123	126		The agency shall provide such receipt whether the application was 87
124	127		submitted in person, [or] by mail or through an electronic system 88
125	128		pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection. If a registration 89
126	129		application is accepted within five days before the last day for 90
127	130		registration to vote in a regular election, the application shall be 91
128	131		transmitted to the registrars of voters of the town of voting residence 92
129	132		of the applicant not later than five days after the date of acceptance. 93
130	133		[The] Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the voter 94
131	134		registration agency shall indicate on the completed mail voter 95
132	135		registration application form, without indicating the identity of the 96
133	136		voter registration agency, the date of its acceptance by such agency, to 97
134	137		ensure that any eligible applicant is registered to vote in an election if 98
135	138		it is received by the registration agency by the last day for registration 99
136	139		to vote in an election. If a state-funded program primarily engaged in 100
137	140		providing services to persons with disabilities provides services to a 101
138	141		person with a disability at the person's home, the agency shall provide 102
139	142		such voter registration services at the person's home. The procedures 103
140	143		in subsections (c), (d), (f) and (g) of section 9-23g that are not 104
141	144		inconsistent with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 105
142	145		103-31, as amended from time to time, shall apply to applications 106
143	146		made under this section. Officials and employees of such voter 107
144	147		registration agencies are not admitting officials, as defined in section 108
145	148		9-17a, and may not restore, under the provisions of section 9-46a, 109
146	149		electoral privileges of persons convicted of a felony. 110
147		-	(2) On and after ~~October~~ 1, 2019, each voter registration agency shall 111
148		-	~~use~~ an electronic system, approved by the Secretary of the State, to 112
	150	+	(2) On and after July 1, 2019, each voter registration agency shall use 111
	151	+	an electronic system, approved by the Secretary of the State, to 112
149	152		effectuate the purposes of subdivision (1) of this subsection regarding 113
150	153		admission of applicants to be electors, except that any applicant that 114
151	154		qualifies for such admission in accordance with said subdivision shall 115
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152	160		be automatically admitted as an elector unless such applicant declines 116
153	161		such admission. The use of such electronic system shall comply with 117
154	162		the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended 118
155	163		from time to time. In the case of an individual already admitted as an 119
156		-	elector and who is also enrolled in a party, if use of such electronic 120 Substitute Bill No. 24
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	164	+	elector and who is also enrolled in a party, if use of such electronic 120
163	165		system results in such elector being removed from the enrollment list 121
164	166		of such party because such elector did not affirmatively confirm an 122
165	167		intent to continue enrollment in such party, such removal shall be 123
166	168		presumed unintentional and such elector shall be restored to such list 124
167	169		upon such elector's notification of such removal to the registrar of 125
168	170		voters of the town in which such elector resides. 126
169	171		Sec. 3. Section 9-23o of the general statutes is repealed and the 127
170		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective ~~October~~ 1, 2019): 128
	172	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2019): 128
171	173		A voter registration agency, as defined in section 9-23n, as amended 129
172	174		by this act, shall comply with the National Voter Registration Act of 130
173	175		1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time, and (1) shall 131
174	176		distribute with each application for service or assistance provided by 132
175	177		the agency, and with each recertification, renewal or change of address 133
176	178		form relating to such service or assistance, a mail voter registration 134
177	179		application form approved by the Secretary of the State, and (2) on and 135
178		-	after October 1, 2019, during each application for such service or 136
179		-	assistance and each recertification, renewal or change of address 137
180		-	relating to such service, shall automatically admit as an elector any 138
181		-	applicant that qualifies for such admission through an electronic 139
182		-	system pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of said section, 140
183		-	unless the applicant declines to register to vote pursuant to the 141
184		-	provisions of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, 142
185		-	as amended from time to time. Such declination shall be in writing, 143
186		-	except in the case of an application for service or assistance provided 144
187		-	by a library, or a recertification, renewal or change of address form 145
188		-	relating to such library service or assistance. Such voter registration 146
189		-	agency shall provide each applicant to register to vote the same degree 147
190		-	of assistance with regard to the completion of the registration 148
191		-	application form as is provided by the agency with regard to the 149
192		-	completion of its own forms, unless the applicant refuses such 150
193		-	assistance. 151
194		-	Sec. 4. Section 9-23p of the general statutes is repealed and the 152
195		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019): 153 Substitute Bill No. 24
	180	+	after July 1, 2019, during each application for such service or assistance 136
	181	+	and each recertification, renewal or change of address relating thereto, 137
	182	+	shall automatically admit as an elector any applicant that qualifies for 138
	183	+	such admission through an electronic system pursuant to subdivision 139
	184	+	(2) of subsection (b) of said section, unless the applicant declines to 140
	185	+	register to vote pursuant to the provisions of the National Voter 141
	186	+	Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time. 142
	187	+	Such declination shall be in writing, except in the case of an 143
	188	+	application for service or assistance provided by a library, or a 144
	189	+	recertification, renewal or change of address form relating to such 145
	190	+	library service or assistance. Such voter registration agency shall 146
	191	+	provide each applicant to register to vote the same degree of assistance 147
	192	+	with regard to the completion of the registration application form as is 148
	193	+	Committee Bill No. 24
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202		-	Each public institution of higher education shall (1) distribute mail 154
203		-	voter registration application forms, (2) on and after October 1, 2019, 155
204		-	automatically admit as an elector any applicant that qualifies for such 156
205		-	admission through an electronic system pursuant to subdivision (2) of 157
206		-	subsection (b) of section 9-23n, as amended by this act, and [(2)] (3) 158
207		-	assist applicants who request assistance in completing such voter 159
208		-	registration application forms or registering through such electronic 160
209		-	system. 161
	198	+	provided by the agency with regard to the completion of its own 149
	199	+	forms, unless the applicant refuses such assistance. 150
	200	+	Sec. 4. Section 9-23p of the general statutes is repealed and the 151
	201	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2019): 152
	202	+	Each public institution of higher education shall (1) distribute mail 153
	203	+	voter registration application forms, (2) on and after July 1, 2019, 154
	204	+	automatically admit as an elector any applicant that qualifies for such 155
	205	+	admission through an electronic system pursuant to subdivision (2) of 156
	206	+	subsection (b) of section 9-23n, as amended by this act, and [(2)] (3) 157
	207	+	assist applicants who request assistance in completing such voter 158
	208	+	registration application forms or registering through such electronic 159
	209	+	system. 160
210	210		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
211	211		sections:
212	212
213		-	Section 1 ~~October~~ 1, 2019 9-19h(b)
214		-	Sec. 2 ~~October~~ 1, 2019 9-23n(b)
215		-	Sec. 3 ~~October~~ 1, 2019 9-23o
216		-	Sec. 4 ~~October~~ 1, 2019 9-23p
	213	+	Section 1 July 1, 2019 9-19h(b)
	214	+	Sec. 2 July 1, 2019 9-23n(b)
	215	+	Sec. 3 July 1, 2019 9-23o
	216	+	Sec. 4 July 1, 2019 9-23p
217	217
218		-	Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
219		-	In Section 2 (b)(1), "voter agency" was changed to "voter registration
220		-	agency" for accuracy and consistency; and in Section 3 (2), "thereto"
221		-	was changed to "to such service" for consistency.
	218	+	Statement of Purpose:
	219	+	To establish automatic voter registration at certain state agencies and
	220	+	create a presumption that any removal from a party enrollment list
	221	+	through such automatic voter registration was unintentional.
	222	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline,
	223	+	except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is
	224	+	not underlined.]
222	225
223		-	GAE Joint Favorable Subst.
	226	+	Co-Sponsors: SEN. LESSER, 9th Dist.
	227	+
	228	+	S.B. 24
	229	+
224	230