Connecticut 2019 2019 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB01049 Comm Sub / Bill

Filed 04/18/2019

                     
 
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General Assembly  Raised Bill No. 1049  
January Session, 2019  
LCO No. 5386 
 
 
Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT 
ADMINISTRATION AND ELECTIONS 
 
 
Introduced by:  
(GAE)  
 
 
 
AN ACT CONCERNING MO DERN ELECTIONS.  
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General 
Assembly convened: 
 
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The Secretary of the State 1 
shall develop and implement a system through which the Secretary 2 
may permit any person to submit an electronic signature for the 3 
purpose of signing any form or application pursuant to chapters 141 to 4 
154, inclusive, of the general statutes. The Secretary may include in, or 5 
exclude from, such system any such form or application. 6 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any such form or 7 
application on which any such electronic signature appears shall be 8 
deemed to have been signed in the original. 9 
Sec. 2. Subsection (k) of section 9-140 of the general statutes is 10 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 11 
passage): 12 
(k) (1) (A) [A] Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this 13 
subsection, a person shall register with the [town] municipal clerk 14 
before distributing five or more absentee ballot applications for an 15  Raised Bill No. 1049 
 
 
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election, primary or referendum, not including applications 16 
distributed to such person's immediate family. Such requirement shall 17 
not apply to a person who is the designee of an applicant. 18 
[(2)] (B) Any person who distributes absentee ballot applications 19 
pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision shall maintain a list 20 
of the names and addresses of prospective absentee ballot applicants 21 
who receive such applications, and shall file such list with the [town] 22 
municipal clerk prior to the date of the primary, election or 23 
referendum for which the applications were so distributed. 24 
(2) The Secretary of the State shall develop an online system 25 
through which a person may register to distribute absentee ballot 26 
applications for an election, primary or referendum. Such system shall 27 
provide a unique identifier for each such person, which unique 28 
identifier shall appear on each such application that may be 29 
distributed. The information of any person registering through such 30 
system shall be transmitted to the appropriate municipal clerk, who 31 
shall provide such applications to such person. Any such person 32 
registering through such system shall be deemed to have fully 33 
complied with the provisions of this subsection. 34 
(3) Any person who distributes absentee ballot applications and 35 
receives an executed application shall forthwith file the application 36 
with the [town] municipal clerk. 37 
Sec. 3. Section 9-324 of the general statutes is repealed and the 38 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 39 
(a) Any elector or candidate who claims that such elector or 40 
candidate is aggrieved by any ruling of any election official in 41 
connection with any election for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, 42 
Secretary of the State, State Treasurer, Attorney General, State 43 
Comptroller or judge of probate, held in such elector's or candidate's 44 
town, or that there has been a mistake in the count of the votes cast at 45 
such election for candidates for said offices or any of them, at any 46  Raised Bill No. 1049 
 
 
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voting district in such elector's or candidate's town, or any candidate 47 
for such an office who claims that such candidate is aggrieved by a 48 
violation of any provision of section 9-355, 9-357 to 9-361, inclusive, 9-49 
364, 9-364a or 9-365 in the casting of absentee ballots at such election or 50 
any candidate for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, 51 
Secretary of the State, State Treasurer, Attorney General or State 52 
Comptroller, who claims that such candidate is aggrieved by a 53 
violation of any provision of sections 9-700 to 9-716, inclusive, may 54 
bring such elector's or candidate's complaint to any judge of the 55 
[Superior Court, in which such] superior court for the judicial district 56 
of Hartford. Such elector or candidate shall set out in the complaint the 57 
claimed errors of such election official, the claimed errors in the count 58 
or the claimed violations of said sections. In any action brought 59 
pursuant to the provisions of this section, the complainant shall send a 60 
copy of the complaint by first-class mail, or deliver a copy of the 61 
complaint by hand, to the State Elections Enforcement Commission. If 62 
such complaint is made prior to such election, such judge shall proceed 63 
expeditiously to render judgment on the complaint and shall cause 64 
notice of the hearing to be given to the Secretary of the State and the 65 
State Elections Enforcement Commission. If such complaint is made 66 
subsequent to the election, it shall be brought not later than fourteen 67 
days after the election or, if such complaint is brought in response to 68 
the manual tabulation of paper ballots authorized pursuant to section 69 
9-320f, such complaint shall be brought not later than seven days after 70 
the close of any such manual tabulation. [and, in either such 71 
circumstance, such]  72 
(b) Such judge shall forthwith order a hearing to be had upon such 73 
complaint, upon a day not more than five nor less than three days 74 
from the making of such order, and shall cause notice of not less than 75 
three nor more than five days to be given to any candidate or 76 
candidates whose election may be affected by the decision upon such 77 
hearing, to such election official, the Secretary of the State, the State 78 
Elections Enforcement Commission and to any other party or parties 79 
whom such judge deems proper parties thereto, of the time and place 80  Raised Bill No. 1049 
 
 
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for the hearing upon such complaint. Such judge shall, on the day 81 
fixed for such hearing and without unnecessary delay, proceed to hear 82 
the parties. If sufficient reason is shown, such judge may order any 83 
voting tabulators to be unlocked or any ballot boxes to be opened and 84 
a recount of the votes cast, including absentee ballots, to be made. Such 85 
judge shall thereupon, in case such judge finds any error in the rulings 86 
of the election official, any mistake in the count of the votes or any 87 
violation of said sections, certify the result of such judge's finding or 88 
decision to the Secretary of the State before the fifteenth day of the next 89 
succeeding December. Such judge may order a new election or a 90 
change in the existing election schedule. 91 
(c) Such certificate of such judge of such judge's finding or decision 92 
shall be final and conclusive upon all questions relating to errors in the 93 
rulings of such election officials, to the correctness of such count, and, 94 
for the purposes of this section only, such claimed violations, and shall 95 
operate to correct the returns of the moderators or presiding officers, 96 
so as to conform to such finding or decision, unless the same is 97 
appealed from as provided in section 9-325, as amended by this act.  98 
Sec. 4. Section 9-325 of the general statutes is repealed and the 99 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 100 
If, upon any such hearing by a judge of the [Superior Court] 101 
superior court for the judicial district of Hartford, any question of law 102 
is raised which any party to the complaint claims should be reviewed 103 
by the Supreme Court, such judge, instead of filing the certificate of his 104 
finding or decision with the Secretary of the State, shall transmit the 105 
same, including therein such questions of law, together with a proper 106 
finding of facts, to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, who shall 107 
thereupon call a special session of [said court] the Supreme Court for 108 
the purpose of an immediate hearing upon the questions of law so 109 
certified. A copy of the finding and decision so certified by the judge of 110 
the [Superior Court] superior court for the judicial district of Hartford, 111 
together with the decision of the Supreme Court, on the questions of 112 
law therein certified, shall be attested by the clerk of the Supreme 113  Raised Bill No. 1049 
 
 
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Court, and by him transmitted to the Secretary of the State forthwith. 114 
The finding and decision of the judge of the [Superior Court] superior 115 
court for the judicial district of Hartford, together with the decision of 116 
the Supreme Court on the questions of law thus certified, shall be final 117 
and conclusive upon all questions relating to errors in the rulings of 118 
the election officials and to the correctness of such count and shall 119 
operate to correct the returns of the moderators or presiding officers so 120 
as to conform to such [decision of said court] decisions. Nothing in this 121 
section shall be considered as prohibiting an appeal to the Supreme 122 
Court from a final judgment of the [Superior Court] superior court for 123 
the judicial district of Hartford. The judges of the Supreme Court may 124 
establish rules of procedure for the speedy and inexpensive hearing of 125 
such appeals within fifteen days of such judgment of a judge of the 126 
[Superior Court] superior court for the judicial district of Hartford.  127 
Sec. 5. Section 9-328 of the general statutes is repealed and the 128 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 129 
(a) Any elector or candidate claiming to have been aggrieved by any 130 
ruling of any election official in connection with an election for any 131 
municipal office or a primary for justice of the peace, or any elector or 132 
candidate claiming that there has been a mistake in the count of votes 133 
cast for any such office at such election or primary, or any candidate in 134 
such an election or primary claiming that he is aggrieved by a violation 135 
of any provision of sections 9-355, 9-357 to 9-361, inclusive, 9-364, 9-136 
364a or 9-365 in the casting of absentee ballots at such election or 137 
primary, may bring a complaint to any judge of the [Superior Court] 138 
superior court for the judicial district of Hartford for relief therefrom. 139 
In any action brought pursuant to the provisions of this section, the 140 
complainant shall send a copy of the complaint by first-class mail, or 141 
deliver a copy of the complaint by hand, to the State Elections 142 
Enforcement Commission. If such complaint is made prior to such 143 
election or primary, such judge shall proceed expeditiously to render 144 
judgment on the complaint and shall cause notice of the hearing to be 145 
given to the Secretary of the State and the State Elections Enforcement 146  Raised Bill No. 1049 
 
 
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Commission. If such complaint is made subsequent to such election or 147 
primary, it shall be brought not later than fourteen days after such 148 
election or primary, except that if such complaint is brought in 149 
response to the manual tabulation of paper ballots, authorized 150 
pursuant to section 9-320f, such complaint shall be brought not later 151 
than seven days after the close of any such manual tabulation, to any 152 
judge of the [Superior Court] superior court for the judicial district of 153 
Hartford, in which he shall set out the claimed errors of the election 154 
official, the claimed errors in the count or the claimed violations of said 155 
sections. 156 
(b) Such judge shall forthwith order a hearing to be had upon such 157 
complaint, upon a day not more than five nor less than three days 158 
from the making of such order, and shall cause notice of not less than 159 
three nor more than five days to be given to any candidate or 160 
candidates whose election or nomination may be affected by the 161 
decision upon such hearing, to such election official, the Secretary of 162 
the State, the State Elections Enforcement Commission and to any 163 
other party or parties whom such judge deems proper parties thereto, 164 
of the time and place for the hearing upon such complaint. Such judge 165 
shall, on the day fixed for such hearing and without unnecessary 166 
delay, proceed to hear the parties. If sufficient reason is shown, he may 167 
order any voting tabulators to be unlocked or any ballot boxes to be 168 
opened and a recount of the votes cast, including absentee ballots, to 169 
be made. Such judge shall thereupon, if he finds any error in the 170 
rulings of the election official or any mistake in the count of the votes, 171 
certify the result of his finding or decision to the Secretary of the State 172 
before the tenth day succeeding the conclusion of the hearing. Such 173 
judge may order a new election or primary or a change in the existing 174 
election schedule. 175 
(c) Such certificate of such judge of his finding or decision shall be 176 
final and conclusive upon all questions relating to errors in the ruling 177 
of such election officials, to the correctness of such count, and, for the 178 
purposes of this section only, such claimed violations, and shall 179  Raised Bill No. 1049 
 
 
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operate to correct the returns of the moderators or presiding officers, 180 
so as to conform to such finding or decision, except that this section 181 
shall not affect the right of appeal to the Supreme Court and it shall 182 
not prevent such judge from reserving such questions of law for the 183 
advice of the Supreme Court as provided in section 9-325, as amended 184 
by this act. Such judge may, if necessary, issue [his] a writ of 185 
mandamus, requiring the adverse party and those under him to 186 
deliver to the complainant the appurtenances of such office, and shall 187 
cause his finding and [decree] decision to be entered on the records of 188 
the Superior Court in the proper judicial district.  189 
Sec. 6. Section 9-329a of the general statutes is repealed and the 190 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 191 
(a) Any (1) elector or candidate aggrieved by a ruling of an election 192 
official in connection with any primary held pursuant to (A) section 9-193 
423, 9-425 or 9-464, or (B) a special act, (2) elector or candidate who 194 
alleges that there has been a mistake in the count of the votes cast at 195 
such primary, or (3) candidate in such a primary who alleges that he is 196 
aggrieved by a violation of any provision of sections 9-355, 9-357 to 9-197 
361, inclusive, 9-364, 9-364a or 9-365 in the casting of absentee ballots 198 
at such primary, may bring his complaint to any judge of the [Superior 199 
Court] superior court for the judicial district of Hartford for 200 
appropriate action. In any action brought pursuant to the provisions of 201 
this section, the complainant shall file a certification attached to the 202 
complaint indicating that a copy of the complaint has been sent by 203 
first-class mail or delivered to the State Elections Enforcement 204 
Commission. If such complaint is made prior to such primary such 205 
judge shall proceed expeditiously to render judgment on the complaint 206 
and shall cause notice of the hearing to be given to the Secretary of the 207 
State and the State Elections Enforcement Commission. If such 208 
complaint is made subsequent to such primary it shall be brought, not 209 
later than fourteen days after such primary, or if such complaint is 210 
brought in response to the manual tabulation of paper ballots, 211 
described in section 9-320f, such complaint shall be brought, not later 212  Raised Bill No. 1049 
 
 
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than seven days after the close of any such manual tabulation, to any 213 
judge of the [Superior Court] superior court for the judicial district of 214 
Hartford.  215 
(b) Such judge shall forthwith order a hearing to be held upon such 216 
complaint upon a day not more than five nor less than three days after 217 
the making of such order, and shall cause notice of not less than three 218 
days to be given to any candidate or candidates in any way directly 219 
affected by the decision upon such hearing, to such election official, to 220 
the Secretary of the State, the State Elections Enforcement Commission 221 
and to any other person or persons, whom such judge deems proper 222 
parties thereto, of the time and place of the hearing upon such 223 
complaint. Such judge shall, on the day fixed for such hearing, and 224 
without delay, proceed to hear the parties and determine the result. If, 225 
after hearing, sufficient reason is shown, such judge may order any 226 
voting tabulators to be unlocked or any ballot boxes to be opened and 227 
a recount of the votes cast, including absentee ballots, to be made. Such 228 
judge shall thereupon, if he finds any error in the ruling of the election 229 
official, any mistake in the count of the votes or any violation of said 230 
sections, certify the result of his finding or decision to the Secretary of 231 
the State before the tenth day following the conclusion of the hearing. 232 
Such judge may (1) determine the result of such primary; (2) order a 233 
change in the existing primary schedule; or (3) order a new primary if 234 
he finds that but for the error in the ruling of the election official, any 235 
mistake in the count of the votes or any violation of said sections, the 236 
result of such primary might have been different and he is unable to 237 
determine the result of such primary. 238 
(c) The certification by the judge of his finding or decision shall be 239 
final and conclusive upon all questions relating to errors in the ruling 240 
of such election official, to the correctness of such count, and, for the 241 
purposes of this section only, such alleged violations, and shall operate 242 
to correct any returns or certificates filed by the election officials, 243 
unless the same is appealed from as provided in section 9-325, as 244 
amended by this act. In the event a new primary is held pursuant to 245  Raised Bill No. 1049 
 
 
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such [Superior Court] order of the superior court for the judicial 246 
district of Hartford, the result of such new primary shall be final and 247 
conclusive unless a complaint is brought pursuant to this section. The 248 
clerk of the court shall forthwith transmit a copy of such findings and 249 
order to the Secretary of the State.  250 
Sec. 7. Section 9-329b of the general statutes is repealed and the 251 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 252 
At any time prior to a primary held pursuant to sections 9-423, 9-425 253 
and 9-464, or a special act or prior to any election, the [Superior Court] 254 
superior court for the judicial district of Hartford may issue an order 255 
removing a candidate from a ballot where it is shown that [said] such 256 
candidate is improperly on the ballot.  257 
Sec. 8. Section 9-388 of the general statutes is repealed and the 258 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 259 
(a) Whenever a convention of a political party is held for the 260 
endorsement of candidates for nomination to state or district office, 261 
each candidate endorsed at such convention shall file with the 262 
Secretary of the State a certificate, signed by him, stating that he was 263 
endorsed by such convention, his name as he authorizes it to appear 264 
on the ballot, his full residence address and the title and district, if 265 
applicable, of the office for which he was endorsed. Such certificate 266 
shall be attested by either (1) the chairman or presiding officer, or (2) 267 
the secretary of such convention and shall be received by the Secretary 268 
of the State not later than four o'clock p.m. on the fourteenth day after 269 
the close of such convention. Such certificate shall either be mailed to 270 
the Secretary of the State by certified mail, return receipt requested, or 271 
delivered in person, in which case a receipt indicating the date and 272 
time of delivery shall be provided by the Secretary of the State to the 273 
person making delivery. If a certificate of a party's endorsement for a 274 
particular state or district office is not received by the Secretary of the 275 
State by such time, such certificate shall be invalid and such party, for 276 
the purposes of [section 9-416 and section 9-416a] sections 9-416 and 9-277  Raised Bill No. 1049 
 
 
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416a, shall be deemed to have made no endorsement of any candidate 278 
for such office. If applicable, the chairman of a party's state convention 279 
shall, forthwith upon the close of such convention, file with the 280 
Secretary of the State the names and full residence addresses of 281 
persons selected by such convention as the nominees of such party for 282 
electors of President and Vice-President of the United States in 283 
accordance with the provisions of section 9-175. 284 
(b) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, in the 285 
case of an error or omission in any such certificate of a party's 286 
endorsement, which error or omission would operate to invalidate 287 
such endorsement and which certificate is timely filed pursuant to 288 
subsection (a) of this section, the candidate so certified or an individual 289 
authorized to act on behalf of such candidate may correct such error or 290 
omission by appearing in person at the office of the Secretary of the 291 
State not later than four o'clock p.m. on the nineteenth day after the 292 
close of the state or district convention, as applicable, and amending 293 
such certificate to make such correction, provided neither failure of 294 
such candidate to timely file such certificate pursuant to subsection (a) 295 
of this section nor failure of the chairman, presiding officer or secretary 296 
of the convention, as applicable, to attest such certificate shall be an 297 
error or omission that may be corrected pursuant to this subsection. If 298 
such candidate or individual does not appear to so amend such 299 
certificate by such time, such certificate shall be invalid and such party, 300 
for the purposes of sections 9-416 and 9-416a, shall be deemed to have 301 
made no such endorsement. 302 
(2) The Secretary of the State may amend a certificate of a party's 303 
endorsement to correct any error or omission deemed by the Secretary 304 
to be harmless, and shall keep a record of any such amendment made 305 
pursuant to this subdivision. Nothing in this subdivision shall be 306 
construed to require the Secretary to affirmatively attempt to identify 307 
any error or omission in any such certificate.  308 
Sec. 9. Subsection (c) of section 9-391 of the general statutes is 309 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 310  Raised Bill No. 1049 
 
 
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passage): 311 
(c) (1) Each endorsement of a candidate to run in a primary for the 312 
nomination of candidates for a municipal office to be voted upon at a 313 
state election shall be made under the provisions of section 9-390 not 314 
earlier than the eighty-fourth day or later than the seventy-seventh day 315 
preceding the day of such primary. Each certification to be filed under 316 
this subsection shall be received by the Secretary of the State not later 317 
than four o'clock p.m. on the fourteenth day after the close of the town 318 
committee meeting, caucus or convention, as the case may be. If such a 319 
certificate of a party's endorsement is not received by the Secretary of 320 
the State by such time, such certificate shall be invalid and such party, 321 
for the purposes of sections 9-417 and 9-418, shall be deemed to have 322 
neither made nor certified any endorsement of any candidate for such 323 
office. The candidate so endorsed for a municipal office to be voted 324 
upon at a state election, other than the office of justice of the peace, 325 
shall file with the Secretary of the State a certificate, signed by that 326 
candidate, stating that such candidate was so endorsed, the candidate's 327 
name as the candidate authorizes it to appear on the ballot, the 328 
candidate's full street address and the title and district of the office for 329 
which the candidate was endorsed. Such certificate may be filed by a 330 
candidate whose name appears upon the last-completed enrollment 331 
list of such party within the senatorial district within which the 332 
candidate is endorsed to run for nomination in the case of the 333 
municipal office of state senator, or the assembly district within which 334 
the candidate is endorsed to run for nomination in the case of the 335 
municipal office of state representative, or the municipality or political 336 
subdivision within which the candidate is to run for nomination for 337 
other municipal offices to be voted on at a state election. Such 338 
certificate shall be attested by either the chairperson or presiding 339 
officer or the secretary of the town committee, caucus or convention 340 
which made such endorsement. The endorsement of any candidate for 341 
the office of justice of the peace shall be certified to the clerk of the 342 
municipality by either the chairperson or presiding officer or the 343 
secretary of the town committee, caucus or convention, and shall 344  Raised Bill No. 1049 
 
 
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contain the name and street address of each candidate so endorsed and 345 
the title of the office for which each such candidate is endorsed. Such 346 
certification shall be made on a form prescribed by the Secretary of the 347 
State or on such other form as may comply with the provisions of this 348 
subsection. 349 
(2) (A) In the case of an error or omission in any such certificate of a 350 
party's endorsement, which error or omission would operate to 351 
invalidate such endorsement and which certificate is timely filed 352 
pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, the candidate so 353 
certified or an individual authorized to act on behalf of such candidate 354 
may correct such error or omission by appearing in person at the office 355 
of the Secretary of the State not later than four o'clock p.m. on the 356 
nineteenth day after the close of the town committee meeting, caucus 357 
or convention, as the case may be, and amending such certificate to 358 
make such correction, provided neither failure of such candidate to 359 
timely file such certificate pursuant to subdivision (1) of this 360 
subsection nor failure of the chairperson, presiding officer or secretary 361 
of the town committee, caucus or convention to attest such certificate 362 
shall be an error or omission that may be corrected pursuant to this 363 
subdivision. If such candidate or individual does not appear to so 364 
amend such certificate by such time, such certificate shall be invalid 365 
and such party, for the purposes of sections 9-417 and 9-418, shall be 366 
deemed to have neither made nor certified such endorsement. 367 
(B) The Secretary of the State may amend a certificate of a party's 368 
endorsement to correct any error or omission deemed by the Secretary 369 
to be harmless, and shall keep a record of any such amendment made 370 
pursuant to this subparagraph. Nothing in this subparagraph shall be 371 
construed to require the Secretary to affirmatively attempt to identify 372 
any error or omission in any such certificate. 373 
Sec. 10. Section 9-400 of the general statutes is repealed and the 374 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 375 
(a) A candidacy for nomination by a political party to a state office 376  Raised Bill No. 1049 
 
 
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may be filed by or on behalf of any person whose name appears upon 377 
the last-completed enrollment list of such party in any municipality 378 
within the state and who has either (1) received at least fifteen per cent 379 
of the votes of the convention delegates present and voting on any roll-380 
call vote taken on the endorsement or proposed endorsement of a 381 
candidate for such state office, whether or not the party-endorsed 382 
candidate for such office received a unanimous vote on the last ballot, 383 
or (2) circulated a petition and obtained the signatures of at least two 384 
per cent of the enrolled members of such party in the state, in 385 
accordance with the provisions of sections 9-404a to 9-404c, inclusive. 386 
Candidacies described in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be 387 
filed by submitting to the Secretary of the State not later than four 388 
o'clock p.m. on the fourteenth day following the close of the state 389 
convention, a certificate, signed by such candidate and attested by 390 
either (A) the chairman or presiding officer, or (B) the secretary of the 391 
convention, that such candidate received at least fifteen per cent of 392 
such votes, and that such candidate consents to be a candidate in a 393 
primary of such party for such state office. Such certificate shall specify 394 
the candidate's name as the candidate authorizes it to appear on the 395 
ballot, the candidate's full residence address and the title of the office 396 
for which the candidacy is being filed. If such certificate for a state 397 
office is not received by the Secretary of the State by such time, such 398 
certificate shall be invalid and such person, for the purposes of sections 399 
9-416 and 9-416a, shall be deemed to have made no valid certification 400 
of candidacy for nomination by a political party [for] to such state 401 
office. A single such certificate or petition for state office may be filed 402 
on behalf of two or more candidates for different state offices who 403 
consent to have their names appear on a single row of the primary 404 
ballot under subsection (b) of section 9-437. Candidacies described in 405 
subdivision (2) of this subsection shall be filed by submitting said 406 
petition not later than four o'clock p.m. on the sixty-third day 407 
preceding the day of the primary for such office to the registrar of 408 
voters of the towns in which the respective petition pages were 409 
circulated. Each registrar shall file each page of such petition with the 410 
Secretary of the State in accordance with the provisions of section 9-411  Raised Bill No. 1049 
 
 
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404c. A petition filed by or on behalf of a candidate for state office shall 412 
be invalid for such candidate if such candidate is certified as the party-413 
endorsed candidate pursuant to section 9-388, as amended by this act, 414 
or as receiving at least fifteen per cent of the convention vote for such 415 
office pursuant to this subsection. Except as provided in section 9-416a, 416 
upon the expiration of the time period for party endorsement and 417 
circulation and tabulation of petitions and signatures, if any, if one or 418 
more candidacies for such state office have been filed pursuant to the 419 
provisions of this section, the Secretary of the State shall notify all 420 
town clerks and registrars of voters in accordance with the provisions 421 
of section 9-433, that a primary for such state office shall be held in 422 
each municipality in accordance with the provisions of section 9-415. 423 
(b) A candidacy for nomination by a political party to a district 424 
office may be filed by or on behalf of any person whose name appears 425 
upon the last-completed enrollment list of such party within the 426 
district the person seeks to represent that is in the office of the 427 
Secretary of the State at the end of the last day prior to the convention 428 
for the party from which the person seeks nomination and who has 429 
either (1) received at least fifteen per cent of the votes of the 430 
convention delegates present and voting on any roll-call vote taken on 431 
the endorsement or proposed endorsement of a candidate for such 432 
district office, whether or not the party-endorsed candidate for such 433 
office received a unanimous vote on the last ballot, or (2) circulated a 434 
petition and obtained the signatures of at least two per cent of the 435 
enrolled members of such party in the district for the district office of 436 
representative in Congress, and at least five per cent of the enrolled 437 
members of such party in the district for the district offices of state 438 
senator, state representative and judge of probate, in accordance with 439 
the provisions of sections 9-404a to 9-404c, inclusive. Candidacies 440 
described in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be filed by 441 
submitting to the Secretary of the State not later than four o'clock p.m. 442 
on the fourteenth day following the close of the district convention, a 443 
certificate, signed by such candidate and attested by either (A) the 444 
chairman or presiding officer, or (B) the secretary of the convention, 445  Raised Bill No. 1049 
 
 
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that such candidate received at least fifteen per cent of such votes, and 446 
that the candidate consents to be a candidate in a primary of such 447 
party for such district office. Such certificate shall specify the 448 
candidate's name as the candidate authorizes it to appear on the ballot, 449 
the candidate's full residence address and the title and district of the 450 
office for which the candidacy is being filed. If such certificate for a 451 
district office is not received by the Secretary of the State by such time, 452 
such certificate shall be invalid and such person, for the purposes of 453 
sections 9-416 and 9-416a, shall be deemed to have made no valid 454 
certification of candidacy for nomination by a political party [for] to 455 
such district office. Candidacies described in subdivision (2) of this 456 
subsection shall be filed by submitting said petition not later than four 457 
o'clock p.m. on the sixty-third day preceding the day of the primary 458 
for such office to the registrar of voters of the towns in which the 459 
respective petition pages were circulated. Each registrar shall file each 460 
page of such petition with the Secretary in accordance with the 461 
provisions of section 9-404c. A petition may only be filed by or on 462 
behalf of a candidate for the district office of state senator, state 463 
representative or judge of probate who is not certified as the party-464 
endorsed candidate pursuant to section 9-388, as amended by this act, 465 
or as receiving at least fifteen per cent of the convention vote for such 466 
office pursuant to this subsection. A petition filed by or on behalf of a 467 
candidate for the district office of representative in Congress shall be 468 
invalid if said candidate is certified as the party-endorsed candidate 469 
pursuant to section 9-388, as amended by this act, or as receiving at 470 
least fifteen per cent of the convention vote for such office pursuant to 471 
this subsection. Except as provided in section 9-416a, upon the 472 
expiration of the time period for party endorsement and circulation 473 
and tabulation of petitions and signatures, if any, if one or more 474 
candidacies for such district office have been filed pursuant to the 475 
provisions of this section, the Secretary of the State shall notify all 476 
town clerks within the district, in accordance with the provisions of 477 
section 9-433, that a primary for such district office shall be held in 478 
each municipality and each part of a municipality within the district in 479 
accordance with the provisions of section 9-415. 480  Raised Bill No. 1049 
 
 
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(c) (1) In the case of an error or omission in any such certificate of 481 
candidacy for nomination by a political party, which error or omission 482 
would operate to invalidate such candidacy and which certificate is 483 
timely filed pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section, as 484 
applicable, the person so certified or an agent of such person may 485 
correct such error or omission by appearing in person at the office of 486 
the Secretary of the State not later than four o'clock p.m. on the 487 
nineteenth day after the close of the state or district convention, as 488 
applicable, and amending such certificate to make such correction, 489 
provided neither failure of such person to timely file such certificate 490 
pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section nor failure of the 491 
chairperson, presiding officer or secretary of the convention to attest 492 
such certificate shall be an error or omission that may be corrected 493 
pursuant to this subsection. If such person or agent does not appear to 494 
so amend such certificate by such time, such certificate shall be invalid 495 
and such person, for the purposes of sections 9-416 and 9-416a, shall be 496 
deemed to have made no valid certification of candidacy for 497 
nomination by a political party. As used in this subsection, "agent" 498 
means an individual authorized to act on behalf of a person. 499 
(2) The Secretary of the State may amend a certificate of candidacy 500 
for nomination to correct any error or omission deemed by the 501 
Secretary to be harmless, and shall keep a record of any such 502 
amendment made pursuant to this subdivision. Nothing in this 503 
subdivision shall be construed to require the Secretary to affirmatively 504 
attempt to identify any error or omission in any such certificate. 505 
[(c)] (d) For the purposes of this section, the number of enrolled 506 
members of a party shall be determined by the latest enrollment 507 
records in the office of the Secretary of the State prior to the earliest 508 
date that primary petitions were available. The names of electors on 509 
the inactive registry list compiled under section 9-35 shall not be 510 
counted for purposes of computing the number of petition signatures 511 
required under this section, as provided in section 9-35c. 512 
[(d)] (e) On the last day for filing primary petition candidacies in 513  Raised Bill No. 1049 
 
 
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accordance with the provisions of this section, the office or office 514 
facilities of the registrars of voters shall open not later than one o'clock 515 
p.m., and remain open until at least four o'clock p.m., and such 516 
registrars or the deputy or assistant registrars shall be present.  517 
Sec. 11. Section 9-452 of the general statutes is repealed and the 518 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 519 
(a) All minor parties nominating candidates for any elective office 520 
shall make such nominations and certify and file a list of such 521 
nominations, as required by this section, not later than the sixty-second 522 
day prior to the day of the election at which such candidates are to be 523 
voted for. A list of nominees in printed or typewritten form that 524 
includes each candidate's name as authorized by each candidate to 525 
appear on the ballot, the signature of each candidate, the full street 526 
address of each candidate and the title and district of the office for 527 
which each candidate is nominated shall be certified by the presiding 528 
officer of the committee, meeting or other authority making such 529 
nomination and shall be filed by such presiding officer with the 530 
Secretary of the State, in the case of any state, district or municipal 531 
office to be voted upon at a state election, or with the clerk of the 532 
municipality, in the case of any municipal office to be voted upon at a 533 
municipal election, not later than the sixty-second day prior to the day 534 
of the election. The registrars of voters of such municipality shall 535 
promptly verify and correct the names on any such list filed with him, 536 
or the names of nominees forwarded to the clerk of the municipality 537 
by the Secretary of the State, in accordance with the registry list of such 538 
municipality and endorse the same as having been so verified and 539 
corrected. For purposes of this section, a list of nominations shall be 540 
deemed to be filed when it is received by the Secretary of the State or 541 
clerk of the municipality, as appropriate. If such certificate of a party's 542 
nomination is not received by the Secretary of the State or clerk of the 543 
municipality, as appropriate, by such time, such certificate shall be 544 
invalid and such party, for the purposes of sections 9-460, 9-461 and 9-545 
462, shall be deemed to have neither made nor certified any 546  Raised Bill No. 1049 
 
 
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nomination of any candidate for such office. A candidacy for 547 
nomination by a minor party to a district or municipal office may be 548 
filed on behalf of any person whose name appears on the last-549 
completed registry list of the district or municipality represented by 550 
such office, as the case may be. A candidacy for nomination by a minor 551 
party to a state office may be filed on behalf of any person whose name 552 
appears on the last-completed registry list of the state. 553 
(b) (1) In the case of an error or omission in any such certificate of 554 
nomination for any state, district or municipal office to be voted upon 555 
at a state election, which error or omission would operate to invalidate 556 
such nomination and which certificate is timely filed pursuant to 557 
subsection (a) of this section, the candidate so certified or an individual 558 
authorized to act on behalf of such candidate may correct such error or 559 
omission by appearing in person at the office of the Secretary of the 560 
State not later than four o'clock p.m. on the fifty-seventh day prior to 561 
the day of the election and amending such certificate to make such 562 
correction, provided neither failure of the presiding officer of the 563 
committee, meeting or other authority to timely file such certificate 564 
pursuant to subsection (a) of this section nor failure of the candidate to 565 
sign such certificate shall be an error or omission that may be corrected 566 
pursuant to this subsection. If such candidate or individual does not 567 
appear to so amend such certificate by such time, such certificate shall 568 
be invalid and such party, for the purposes of sections 9-460, 9-461 and 569 
9-462, shall be deemed to have neither made nor certified any such 570 
nomination. 571 
(2) The Secretary of the State may amend a certificate of nomination 572 
to correct any error or omission deemed by the Secretary to be 573 
harmless, and shall keep a record of any such amendment made 574 
pursuant to this subdivision. Nothing in this subdivision shall be 575 
construed to require the Secretary to affirmatively attempt to identify 576 
any error or omission in any such certificate.  577 
Sec. 12. Section 9-19j of the general statutes is repealed and the 578 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 579  Raised Bill No. 1049 
 
 
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(a) As used in this subsection and subsections (b) to (i), inclusive, of 580 
this section, "election day" means the day on which a regular election, 581 
as defined in section 9-1, is held. 582 
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, a person who (1) 583 
is (A) not an elector, or (B) an elector registered in a municipality who 584 
wishes to change his or her registration to another municipality 585 
pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of this 586 
section, and (2) meets the eligibility requirements under subsection (a) 587 
of section 9-12, may apply for admission as an elector on election day 588 
pursuant to the provisions of subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this 589 
section. 590 
(c) (1) The registrars of voters shall designate a location for the 591 
completion and processing of election day registration applications on 592 
election day, provided (A) the registrars of voters shall have access to 593 
the state-wide centralized voter registration system from such location, 594 
and (B) such location shall be certified in writing to the Secretary of the 595 
State not later than thirty-one days before election day. The written 596 
certification required pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this subdivision 597 
shall (i) include the name, street address and relevant contact 598 
information associated with such location, (ii) list the name and 599 
address of each election official appointed to serve at such location, if 600 
any, and (iii) provide a description of the design of such location and a 601 
plan for effective completion and processing of such applications. 602 
Upon review of such written certification, the Secretary may require 603 
the registrars of voters to appoint one or more additional election 604 
officials or to alter such design or plan. 605 
(2) The registrars of voters may [appoint one or more election 606 
officials to serve at such location and may delegate to such election 607 
officials] delegate to each election official appointed pursuant to 608 
subdivision (1) of this subsection, if any, any of the responsibilities 609 
assigned to the registrars of voters. The registrars of voters shall 610 
supervise each such election [officials] official and train each such 611 
election [officials] official to be an election day registration election 612  Raised Bill No. 1049 
 
 
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[officials] official. 613 
(d) Any person applying to register on election day under the 614 
provisions of subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this section shall make 615 
application in accordance with the provisions of section 9-20, provided 616 
(1) on election day, the applicant shall appear in person at the location 617 
designated by the registrars of voters for election day registration, (2) 618 
an applicant who is a student enrolled at an institution of higher 619 
education may submit a current photo identification card issued by 620 
[said] such institution in lieu of the identification required by section 9-621 
20, and (3) the applicant shall declare under oath that the applicant has 622 
not previously voted in the election. If the information that the 623 
applicant is required to provide under section 9-20 and subsections (a) 624 
to (i), inclusive, of this section does not include proof of the applicant's 625 
residential address, the applicant shall also submit identification that 626 
shows the applicant's bona fide residence address, including, but not 627 
limited to, a learner's permit issued under section 14-36 or a utility bill 628 
that has the applicant's name and current address and that has a due 629 
date that is not later than thirty days after the election or, in the case of 630 
a student enrolled at an institution of higher education, a registration 631 
or fee statement from such institution that has the applicant's name 632 
and current address. 633 
(e) If the registrars of voters determine that an applicant satisfies the 634 
application requirements set forth in subsection (d) of this section, the 635 
registrars of voters shall [check the state-wide centralized voter 636 
registration system before admitting] admit such applicant as an 637 
elector and the privileges of an elector shall attach immediately.  638 
[(1) If the registrars of voters determine that the applicant is not 639 
already an elector, the registrars of voters shall admit the applicant as 640 
an elector and the privileges of an elector shall attach immediately. 641 
(2) If the registrars of voters determine that such applicant is an 642 
elector in another municipality and such applicant states that he or she 643 
wants to change the municipality in which the applicant is an elector, 644  Raised Bill No. 1049 
 
 
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notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-21, the registrars of voters 645 
of the municipality in which such elector now seeks to register shall 646 
immediately notify the registrars of voters in such other municipality 647 
that such elector is changing the municipality in which the applicant is 648 
an elector. The registrars of voters in such other municipality shall 649 
notify the election officials in such municipality to remove such elector 650 
from the official voter list of such municipality. Such election officials 651 
shall cross through the elector's name on such official voter list and 652 
mark "off" next to such elector's name on such official voter list.  653 
(A) If it is reported that such applicant already voted in such other 654 
municipality, the registrars of voters of such other municipality shall 655 
immediately notify the registrars of voters of the municipality in which 656 
such elector now seeks to register. In such event, such elector shall not 657 
receive an election day registration ballot from the registrars of voters 658 
of the municipality in which such elector now seeks to register. For any 659 
such elector, the election day registration process shall cease in the 660 
municipality in which such elector now seeks to register and such 661 
matter shall be reviewed by the registrars of voters in the municipality 662 
in which such elector now seeks to register. After completion of such 663 
review, if a resolution of the matter can not be made, such matter shall 664 
be reported to the State Elections Enforcement Commission which 665 
shall conduct an investigation of the matter. 666 
(B) If there is no such report that such applicant already voted in the 667 
other municipality, the registrars of voters of the municipality in which 668 
the applicant seeks to register shall admit the applicant as an elector 669 
and the privileges of an elector shall attach immediately.] 670 
(f) [If the applicant is admitted] Upon admission of the applicant as 671 
an elector, the registrars of voters shall provide the elector with an 672 
election day registration ballot and election day registration envelope 673 
and shall make a record of such issuance. The elector shall complete an 674 
affirmation imprinted upon the back of the envelope for an election 675 
day registration ballot and shall declare under oath that the applicant 676 
has not previously voted in the election. The affirmation shall be in the 677  Raised Bill No. 1049 
 
 
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form substantially as follows and signed by the voter: 678 
AFFIRMATION: I, the undersigned, do hereby state, under penalty 679 
of false statement, (perjury) that: 680 
1. I am the person admitted here as an elector in the town indicated. 681 
2. I am eligible to vote in the election indicated for today in the town 682 
indicated. 683 
3. The information on my voter registration card is correct and 684 
complete. 685 
4. I reside at the address that I have given to the registrars of voters. 686 
5. If previously registered at another location, I have provided such 687 
address to the registrars of voters and hereby request cancellation of 688 
such prior registration. 689 
6. I have not voted in person or by absentee ballot and I will not 690 
vote otherwise than by this ballot at this election. 691 
7. I completed an application for an election day registration ballot 692 
and received an election day registration ballot. 693 
   .... (Signature of voter) 694 
(g) The elector shall forthwith mark the election day registration 695 
ballot in the presence of the registrars of voters in such a manner that 696 
the registrars of voters shall not know how the election day 697 
registration ballot is marked. The elector shall place the election day 698 
registration ballot in the election day registration ballot envelope 699 
provided, and deposit such envelope in a secured election day 700 
registration ballot depository receptacle. At the time designated by the 701 
registrars of voters and noticed to election officials, the registrars of 702 
voters shall transport such receptacle containing the election day 703 
registration ballots to the central location or polling place, pursuant to 704 
subsection (b) of section 9-147a, where absentee ballots are counted 705  Raised Bill No. 1049 
 
 
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and such election day registration ballots shall be counted by the 706 
election officials present at such central location or polling place. A 707 
section of the head moderator's return shall show the number of 708 
election day registration ballots received from electors. The registrars 709 
of voters shall seal a copy of the vote tally for election day registration 710 
ballots in a depository envelope with the election day registration 711 
ballots and store such election day registration depository envelope 712 
with the other election results materials. The election day registration 713 
depository envelope shall be preserved by the registrars of voters for 714 
the period of time required to preserve counted ballots for elections. 715 
(h) The provisions of the general statutes and regulations 716 
concerning procedures relating to the custody, control and counting of 717 
absentee ballots shall apply as nearly as possible, to the custody, 718 
control and counting of election day registration ballots under 719 
subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this section. 720 
(i) After the acceptance of an election day registration, the registrars 721 
of voters shall forthwith send a registration confirmation notice to the 722 
residential address of each applicant who is admitted as an elector on 723 
election day under subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this section. Such 724 
confirmation shall be sent by first class mail with instructions on the 725 
envelope that it be returned if not deliverable at the address shown on 726 
the envelope. If a confirmation notice is returned undelivered, the 727 
registrars shall forthwith take the necessary action in accordance with 728 
section 9-35 or 9-43, as applicable, notwithstanding the May first 729 
deadline in section 9-35. 730 
(j) No person shall solicit in behalf of or in opposition to the 731 
candidacy of another or himself or herself or in behalf of or in 732 
opposition to any question being submitted at the election, or loiter or 733 
peddle or offer any advertising matter, ballot or circular to another 734 
person within a radius of seventy-five feet of any outside entrance in 735 
use as an entry to the [registrars' of voters designated location] location 736 
designated by the registrars of voters for election day registration 737 
balloting or in any corridor, passageway or other approach leading 738  Raised Bill No. 1049 
 
 
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from any such outside entrance to such [registrars' of voters 739 
designated] location or in any room opening upon any such corridor, 740 
passageway or approach.  741 
Sec. 13. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Upon the adoption or 742 
determination of a plan of districting pursuant to Article XVI or Article 743 
XXXI of the Amendments to the Con stitution of Connecticut, as 744 
applicable, the Secretary of the State shall request of the authority that 745 
so adopted or determined such plan any statistical and voting district 746 
information as the Secretary may deem necessary to ensure effective 747 
implementation of such plan. In the case of any error in the 748 
implementation of such plan in a municipality, the Secretary shall 749 
notify the registrars of voters of such municipality of such error and 750 
require that such registrars of voters undertake measures to correct 751 
such error. Such registrars of voters shall immediately correct such 752 
error and certify in writing to the Secretary when such error has been 753 
corrected. 754 
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following 
sections: 
 
Section 1 from passage New section 
Sec. 2 from passage 9-140(k) 
Sec. 3 from passage 9-324 
Sec. 4 from passage 9-325 
Sec. 5 from passage 9-328 
Sec. 6 from passage 9-329a 
Sec. 7 from passage 9-329b 
Sec. 8 from passage 9-388 
Sec. 9 from passage 9-391(c) 
Sec. 10 from passage 9-400 
Sec. 11 from passage 9-452 
Sec. 12 from passage 9-19j 
Sec. 13 from passage New section 
 
GAE Joint Favorable