Connecticut 2019 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB00268 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
	3	+	LCO No. 3091 1 of 1
3	4
4		-
5		-	LCO No. 6247 1 of 8
6		-
7		-	General Assembly Committee Bill No. 268
	5	+	General Assembly Proposed Bill No. 268
8	6		January Session, 2019
9		-	LCO No. ~~6247~~
	7	+	LCO No. 3091
10	8
11	9
12	10		Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
13	11		AND ELECTIONS
14	12
15	13
16	14		Introduced by:
17		-	(GAE)
	15	+	SEN. SAMPSON, 16
	16	+	th Dist.
	17	+
	18	+
18	19
19	20
20	21
21	22		AN ACT CONCERNING AUDITING OF ELECTION DAY
22	23		REGISTRATION.
23	24		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
24	25		Assembly convened:
25	26
26		-	Section 1. Section 9-19j of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
27		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2019): 2
28		-	(a) As used in this subsection and subsections (b) to (i), inclusive, of 3
29		-	this section, "election day" means the day on which a regular election, 4
30		-	as defined in section 9-1, is held. 5
31		-	(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, a person who (1) 6
32		-	is (A) not an elector, or (B) an elector registered in a municipality who 7
33		-	wishes to change his or her registration to another municipality 8
34		-	pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of this 9
35		-	section, and (2) meets the eligibility requirements under subsection (a) 10
36		-	of section 9-12, may apply for admission as an elector on election day 11
37		-	pursuant to the provisions of subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this 12
38		-	section. 13
39		-	(c) (1) The registrars of voters shall designate a location for the 14
40		-	completion and processing of election day registration applications on 15
41		-	Committee Bill No. 268
42		-
43		-
44		-	LCO No. 6247 2 of 8
45		-
46		-	election day, provided the registrars of voters have access to the state-16
47		-	wide centralized voter registration system from such location. 17
48		-	(2) The registrars of voters [may] shall appoint one or more election 18
49		-	officials, including official checkers, to serve at such location and may 19
50		-	delegate to such election officials any of the responsibilities assigned to 20
51		-	the registrars of voters. The registrars of voters shall supervise such 21
52		-	election officials and train such election officials to be election day 22
53		-	registration election officials. Nothing in this subdivision shall be 23
54		-	construed to prohibit any unofficial checker or challenger from being 24
55		-	present at such location. 25
56		-	(d) Any person applying to register on election day under the 26
57		-	provisions of subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this section shall make 27
58		-	application in accordance with the provisions of section 9-20, provided 28
59		-	(1) on election day, the applicant shall appear in person at the location 29
60		-	designated by the registrars of voters for election day registration, (2) 30
61		-	an applicant who is a student enrolled at an institution of higher 31
62		-	education may submit a current photo identification card issued by 32
63		-	[said] such institution in lieu of the identification required by section 9-33
64		-	20, [and] (3) the applicant shall declare under oath that the applicant 34
65		-	has not previously voted in the election, and (4) the applicant shall be 35
66		-	administered the elector's oath individually. If the information that the 36
67		-	applicant is required to provide under section 9-20 and subsections (a) 37
68		-	to (i), inclusive, of this section does not include proof of the applicant's 38
69		-	residential address, the applicant shall also submit identification that 39
70		-	shows the applicant's bona fide residence address, including, but not 40
71		-	limited to, a learner's permit issued under section 14-36 or a utility bill 41
72		-	that has the applicant's name and current address and that has a due 42
73		-	date that is not later than thirty days after the election or, in the case of 43
74		-	a student enrolled at an institution of higher education, a registration 44
75		-	or fee statement from such institution that has the applicant's name 45
76		-	and current address. 46
77		-	(e) If the registrars of voters determine that an applicant satisfies the 47
78		-	Committee Bill No. 268
79		-
80		-
81		-	LCO No. 6247 3 of 8
82		-
83		-	application requirements set forth in subsection (d) of this section, the 48
84		-	registrars of voters shall check the state-wide centralized voter 49
85		-	registration system before admitting such applicant as an elector. 50
86		-	(1) If the registrars of voters determine that the applicant is not 51
87		-	already an elector, the registrars of voters shall admit the applicant as 52
88		-	an elector and the privileges of an elector shall attach immediately. 53
89		-	(2) If the registrars of voters determine that such applicant is an 54
90		-	elector in another municipality and such applicant states that he or she 55
91		-	wants to change the municipality in which the applicant is an elector, 56
92		-	notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-21, the registrars of voters 57
93		-	of the municipality in which such elector now seeks to register shall 58
94		-	immediately notify the registrars of voters in such other municipality 59
95		-	that such elector is changing the municipality in which the applicant is 60
96		-	an elector. The registrars of voters in such other municipality shall 61
97		-	notify the election officials in such municipality to remove such elector 62
98		-	from the official voter list of such municipality. Such election officials 63
99		-	shall cross through the elector's name on such official voter list and 64
100		-	mark "off" next to such elector's name on such official voter list. 65
101		-	(A) If it is reported that such applicant already voted in such other 66
102		-	municipality, the registrars of voters of such other municipality shall 67
103		-	immediately notify the registrars of voters of the municipality in which 68
104		-	such elector now seeks to register. In such event, such elector shall not 69
105		-	receive an election day registration ballot from the registrars of voters 70
106		-	of the municipality in which such elector now seeks to register. For any 71
107		-	such elector, the election day registration process shall cease in the 72
108		-	municipality in which such elector now seeks to register and such 73
109		-	matter shall be reviewed by the registrars of voters in the municipality 74
110		-	in which such elector now seeks to register. After completion of such 75
111		-	review, if a resolution of the matter [can not] cannot be made, such 76
112		-	matter shall be reported to the State Elections Enforcement 77
113		-	Commission which shall conduct an investigation of the matter. 78
114		-	(B) [If there is no such] Unless there is a report that such applicant 79
115		-	Committee Bill No. 268
116		-
117		-
118		-	LCO No. 6247 4 of 8
119		-
120		-	has not already voted in the other municipality, such applicant shall 80
121		-	not receive an election day registration ballot from the registrars of 81
122		-	voters of the municipality in which the applicant seeks to register. 82
123		-	[shall admit the applicant as an elector and the privileges of an elector 83
124		-	shall attach immediately] For any such applicant, the election day 84
125		-	registration process shall cease in the municipality in which such 85
126		-	applicant now seeks to register until such time as such report is made. 86
127		-	(f) If the applicant is admitted as an elector, the registrars of voters 87
128		-	shall provide the elector with an election day registration ballot and 88
129		-	election day registration envelope and shall make a record of such 89
130		-	issuance. The elector shall complete an affirmation imprinted upon the 90
131		-	back of the envelope for an election day registration ballot and shall 91
132		-	declare under oath that the applicant has not previously voted in the 92
133		-	election. The affirmation shall be in the form substantially as follows 93
134		-	and signed by the voter: 94
135		-	AFFIRMATION: I, the undersigned, do hereby state, under penalty 95
136		-	of false statement, (perjury) that: 96
137		-	1. I am the person admitted here as an elector in the town indicated. 97
138		-	2. I am eligible to vote in the election indicated for today in the town 98
139		-	indicated. 99
140		-	3. The information on my voter registration card is correct and 100
141		-	complete. 101
142		-	4. I reside at the address that I have given to the registrars of voters. 102
143		-	5. If previously registered at another location, I have provided such 103
144		-	address to the registrars of voters and hereby request cancellation of 104
145		-	such prior registration. 105
146		-	6. I have not voted in person or by absentee ballot and I will not 106
147		-	vote otherwise than by this ballot at this election. 107
148		-	Committee Bill No. 268
149		-
150		-
151		-	LCO No. 6247 5 of 8
152		-
153		-	7. I completed an application for an election day registration ballot 108
154		-	and received an election day registration ballot. 109
155		-	.... (Signature of voter) 110
156		-	(g) The elector shall forthwith mark the election day registration 111
157		-	ballot in the presence of the registrars of voters in such a manner that 112
158		-	the registrars of voters shall not know how the election day 113
159		-	registration ballot is marked. The elector shall place the election day 114
160		-	registration ballot in the election day registration ballot envelope 115
161		-	provided, and deposit such envelope in a secured election day 116
162		-	registration ballot depository receptacle. At the time designated by the 117
163		-	registrars of voters and noticed to election officials, the registrars of 118
164		-	voters shall transport such receptacle containing the election day 119
165		-	registration ballots to the central location or polling place, pursuant to 120
166		-	subsection (b) of section 9-147a, where absentee ballots are counted 121
167		-	and such election day registration ballots shall be counted by the 122
168		-	election officials present at such central location or polling place. A 123
169		-	section of the head moderator's return shall show the number of 124
170		-	election day registration ballots received from electors. The registrars 125
171		-	of voters shall seal a copy of the vote tally for election day registration 126
172		-	ballots in a depository envelope with the election day registration 127
173		-	ballots and store such election day registration depository envelope 128
174		-	with the other election results materials. The election day registration 129
175		-	depository envelope shall be preserved by the registrars of voters for 130
176		-	the period of time required to preserve counted ballots for elections. 131
177		-	(h) The provisions of the general statutes and regulations 132
178		-	concerning procedures relating to the custody, control and counting of 133
179		-	absentee ballots shall apply as nearly as possible, to the custody, 134
180		-	control and counting of election day registration ballots under 135
181		-	subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this section. 136
182		-	(i) (1) After the acceptance of an election day registration, the 137
183		-	registrars of voters shall forthwith send a registration confirmation 138
184		-	notice to the residential address of each applicant who is admitted as 139
185		-	Committee Bill No. 268
186		-
187		-
188		-	LCO No. 6247 6 of 8
189		-
190		-	an elector on election day under subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this 140
191		-	section. Such confirmation shall be sent by first class mail with 141
192		-	instructions on the envelope that it be returned if not deliverable at the 142
193		-	address shown on the envelope. If a confirmation notice is returned 143
194		-	undelivered, the registrars shall forthwith take the necessary action in 144
195		-	accordance with section 9-35 or 9-43, as applicable, notwithstanding 145
196		-	the May first deadline in section 9-35. 146
197		-	(2) (A) Not later than ninety days after election day, the registrars of 147
198		-	voters of each town shall (i) compile a report of (I) the number of 148
199		-	persons applying for election day registration as described in 149
200		-	subsection (d) of this section, (II) the number of such persons not 150
201		-	permitted to register in accordance with subparagraph (A) of 151
202		-	subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of this section, (III) the number of 152
203		-	registration confirmation notices sent to admitted applicants, pursuant 153
204		-	to subdivision (1) of this subsection, that were returned undelivered, 154
205		-	and (IV) the number of such admitted applicants that were 155
206		-	subsequently placed on the inactive registry list as a result of such 156
207		-	notices being returned undelivered, in accordance with subdivision (1) 157
208		-	of this subsection and section 9-35, and (ii) submit such report to the 158
209		-	Secretary of the State. 159
210		-	(B) Not later than one hundred twenty days after election day, the 160
211		-	Secretary of the State shall (i) aggregate all reports submitted to the 161
212		-	Secretary under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision into one single 162
213		-	report, and (ii) submit such single report to the joint standing 163
214		-	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 164
215		-	relating to elections, in accordance with section 11-4a, and to the State 165
216		-	Elections Enforcement Commission. 166
217		-	(3) Not later than five days after a determination of the registrars of 167
218		-	voters of any town that the residency of an admitted applicant cannot 168
219		-	be verified because a registration confirmation notice for such 169
220		-	applicant was returned undelivered to such registrars, as provided in 170
221		-	subdivision (1) of this subsection, such registrars shall report all 171
222		-	Committee Bill No. 268
223		-
224		-
225		-	LCO No. 6247 7 of 8
226		-
227		-	information resulting in such determination to the State Elections 172
228		-	Enforcement Commission which shall conduct an investigation of the 173
229		-	matter. 174
230		-	(j) No person shall solicit in behalf of or in opposition to the 175
231		-	candidacy of another or himself or herself or in behalf of or in 176
232		-	opposition to any question being submitted at the election, or loiter or 177
233		-	peddle or offer any advertising matter, ballot or circular to another 178
234		-	person within a radius of seventy-five feet of any outside entrance in 179
235		-	use as an entry to the registrars' of voters designated location for 180
236		-	election day registration balloting or in any corridor, passageway or 181
237		-	other approach leading from any such outside entrance to such 182
238		-	registrars' of voters designated location or in any room opening upon 183
239		-	any such corridor, passageway or approach. 184
240		-	(k) The Secretary of the State shall develop a process by which 185
241		-	registrars of voters and other elections officials serving at designated 186
242		-	election day registration locations shall confirm that persons applying 187
243		-	to register on election day under this section, which persons are 188
244		-	registered to vote in any other state, have not already voted in such 189
245		-	other state on such election day. For any such person, such registrars 190
246		-	or election officials shall provide to such person a provisional ballot 191
247		-	until such process has been developed. 192
248		-	This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
249		-	sections:
250		-
251		-	Section 1 October 1, 2019 9-19j
252		-
	27	+	That section 9-19j of the general statutes be amended to require the 1
	28	+	Secretary of the State to establish and implement procedures to audit 2
	29	+	(1) election day registration applications accepted, and (2) confirmation 3
	30	+	notices of such accepted applications sent by and returned to registrars 4
	31	+	of voters. 5
253	32		Statement of Purpose:
254		-	To implement several reforms concerning the integrity of election day
255		-	registration procedures.
256		-	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline,
257		-	except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is
258		-	not underlined.]
259		-
260		-	Co-Sponsors: SEN. SAMPSON, 16th Dist.; REP. DAUPHINAIS, 44th Dist.
261		-
262		-	Committee Bill No. 268
263		-
264		-
265		-	LCO No. 6247 8 of 8
266		-
267		-	S.B. 268
	33	+	To require the audit of election day registrations and subsequent
	34	+	confirmation notices of such registrations.