Connecticut 2020 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB07005 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
	1	+
	2	+
	3	+	LCO No. 4366 1 of 15
	4	+
	5	+	General Assembly Bill No. 7005
	6	+	September Special Session, 2020
	7	+	LCO No. 4366
	8	+
	9	+
	10	+	Referred to Committee on No Committee
	11	+
	12	+
	13	+	Introduced by:
	14	+	REP. ARESIMOWICZ, 30
	15	+	th
	16	+	Dist.
	17	+	SEN. LOONEY, 11
	18	+	th
	19	+	Dist.
	20	+	SEN. DUFF, 25
	21	+	th
	22	+	Dist.
	23	+	REP. RITTER M., 1
	24	+	st
	25	+	Dist.
1	26
2	27
3	28
4		-	House Bill No. 7005
5	29
6		-	September Special Session, Public Act No. 20-4
7	30
8	31
9	32		AN ACT CONCERNING A MUNICIPAL ELECTION MONITOR AT THE
10		-	2020 STATE ELECTION AND PROCESSING OF AB SENTEE
11		-	~~BALLOTS~~ FOR THE 2020 STATE ELECTION.
	33	+	2020 STATE ELECTION AND PROCESSING OF AB SENTEE BALLOTS
	34	+	FOR THE 2020 STATE ELECTION.
12	35		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
13	36		Assembly convened:
14	37
15		-	Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) There shall be, in any
16		-	municipality with a population of at least one hundred forty thousand,
17		-	an election monitor for the state election in 2020 to detect and prevent
18		-	irregularity and impropriety in the management of election
19		-	administration procedures and the conduct of said election in such
20		-	municipality. The office of the Secretary of the State shall contract with
21		-	an individual to serve in such capacity as election monitor until
22		-	December 31, 2020, unless such contract is terminated for any reason by
23		-	the Secretary of the State prior to said date. Such election monitor shall:
24		-	(1) Not be considered a state employee; (2) be compensated in
25		-	accordance with such contract; and (3) be reimbursed for necessary
26		-	expenses incurred in the performance of his or her duties. Costs related
27		-	to the service of such election monitor shall be paid from federal funds
28		-	allocated to the Secretary to address the effects of COVID-19 on the
29		-	conduct of elections. Such municipality shall provide for such election
30		-	monitor any office space, supplies, equipment and services necessary to
31		-	properly carry out the duties and responsibilities of the position. For
32		-	purposes of this subsection, (A) "population" means the estimated House Bill No. 7005
	38	+	Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) There shall be, in any 1
	39	+	municipality with a population of at least one hundred forty thousand, 2
	40	+	an election monitor for the state election in 2020 to detect and prevent 3
	41	+	irregularity and impropriety in the management of election 4
	42	+	administration procedures and the conduct of said election in such 5
	43	+	municipality. The office of the Secretary of the State shall contract with 6
	44	+	an individual to serve in such capacity as election monitor until 7
	45	+	December 31, 2020, unless such contract is terminated for any reason by 8
	46	+	the Secretary of the State prior to said date. Such election monitor shall: 9
	47	+	(1) Not be considered a state employee; (2) be compensated in 10
	48	+	accordance with such contract; and (3) be reimbursed for necessary 11
	49	+	expenses incurred in the performance of his or her duties. Costs related 12
	50	+	Bill No.
33	51
34		-	Sept. Sp. Sess., Public Act No. 20-4 2 of 15
35	52
36		-	number of people according to the most recent version of the State
37		-	Register and Manual prepared pursuant to section 3-90 of the general
38		-	statutes, and (B) "COVID-19" means the respiratory disease designated
39		-	by the World Health Organization on February 11, 2020, as coronavirus
40		-	2019, and any related mutation thereof recognized by said organization
41		-	as a communicable respiratory disease.
42		-	(b) An election monitor appointed under subsection (a) of this section
43		-	shall: (1) Conduct inspections, inquiries and investigations relating to
44		-	any duty or responsibility under title 9 of the general statutes to be
45		-	carried out by any official of the municipality or appointee of such
46		-	official; (2) have access to all records, data and material maintained by
47		-	or available to any such official or appointee; and (3) immediately report
48		-	to the Secretary of the State any irregularity or impropriety in the
49		-	performance of any duty or responsibility described in subdivision (1)
50		-	of this subsection. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit
51		-	the State Elections Enforcement Commission from taking any action
52		-	authorized under section 9-7b of the general statutes.
53		-	Sec. 2. Section 9-140c of the general statutes, as amended by section 6
54		-	of public act 20-3 of the July special session, is repealed and the
55		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
56		-	(a) The municipal clerk shall retain the envelopes containing absentee
57		-	ballots received by him under section 9-140b and shall not open such
58		-	envelopes. The municipal clerk shall endorse over his signature, upon
59		-	each outer envelope as he receives it, the date and precise time of its
60		-	receipt. The clerk shall make an affidavit attesting to the accuracy of all
61		-	such endorsements, and at the close of the polls shall deliver such
62		-	affidavit to the head moderator, who shall endorse the time of its receipt
63		-	and return it to the clerk after all counting is complete. The clerk shall
64		-	preserve the affidavit for one hundred eighty days in accordance with
65		-	the requirements of section 9-150b. The clerk shall keep a list of the
66		-	names of the applicants who return absentee ballots to the clerk under House Bill No. 7005
67	53
68		-	~~Sept. Sp. Sess., Public Act~~ No. ~~20-4~~ 3 of 15
	54	+	LCO No. 4366 2 of 15
69	55
70		-	section 9-140b. The list shall be preserved as a public record as required
71		-	by section 9-150b.
72		-	(b) (1) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision,
73		-	[(2) of this subsection,] beginning not earlier than the seventh day before
74		-	the election, primary or referendum and on any weekday thereafter, all
75		-	absentee ballots received by the municipal clerk [not later than] at or
76		-	prior to eleven o'clock a.m. of such day may be sorted into voting
77		-	districts by the municipal clerk and checked as provided in this
78		-	[subsection] subparagraph. On any such day, beginning as soon as the
79		-	ballots have been sorted, the registrars of voters, without opening the
80		-	outer envelopes, may check the names of the applicants returning
81		-	ballots on the official checklist to be used at the election, primary or
82		-	referendum by indicating "absentee" or "A" preceding each such name
83		-	and, if unaffiliated electors are authorized under section 9-431 to vote in
84		-	the primary of either of two parties, the designation of the party in
85		-	which the applicants are voting preceding each such name. Unless
86		-	absentee ballots are to be counted in the respective polling places,
87		-	pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, the registrars shall also
88		-	place such indication on a duplicate [of the] checklist to be retained by
89		-	the municipal clerk until [he] the municipal clerk delivers [it] such
90		-	duplicate checklist to the registrars, [at twelve o'clock noon, except as
91		-	provided in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of this
92		-	section, on election, primary or referendum day] in accordance with
93		-	subsection (e) of this section, for the use of the absentee ballot counters
94		-	pursuant to subsection (i) of this section.
95		-	(B) For the state election in 2020, beginning on the fourteenth day
96		-	before the election and on any weekday thereafter, all absentee ballots
97		-	received by the municipal clerk at or prior to eleven o'clock a.m. of such
98		-	day may be sorted into voting districts by the municipal clerk and
99		-	checked as provided in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision.
100		-	(2) All absentee ballots received [not later than] at or prior to eleven House Bill No. 7005
	56	+	to the service of such election monitor shall be paid from federal funds 13
	57	+	allocated to the Secretary to address the effects of COVID-19 on the 14
	58	+	conduct of elections. Such municipality shall provide for such election 15
	59	+	monitor any office space, supplies, equipment and services necessary to 16
	60	+	properly carry out the duties and responsibilities of the position. For 17
	61	+	purposes of this subsection, (A) "population" means the estimated 18
	62	+	number of people according to the most recent version of the State 19
	63	+	Register and Manual prepared pursuant to section 3-90 of the general 20
	64	+	statutes, and (B) "COVID-19" means the respiratory disease designated 21
	65	+	by the World Health Organization on February 11, 2020, as coronavirus 22
	66	+	2019, and any related mutation thereof recognized by said organization 23
	67	+	as a communicable respiratory disease. 24
	68	+	(b) An election monitor appointed under subsection (a) of this section 25
	69	+	shall: (1) Conduct inspections, inquiries and investigations relating to 26
	70	+	any duty or responsibility under title 9 of the general statutes to be 27
	71	+	carried out by any official of the municipality or appointee of such 28
	72	+	official; (2) have access to all records, data and material maintained by 29
	73	+	or available to any such official or appointee; and (3) immediately report 30
	74	+	to the Secretary of the State any irregularity or impropriety in the 31
	75	+	performance of any duty or responsibility described in subdivision (1) 32
	76	+	of this subsection. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit 33
	77	+	the State Elections Enforcement Commission from taking any action 34
	78	+	authorized under section 9-7b of the general statutes. 35
	79	+	Sec. 2. Section 9-140c of the general statutes, as amended by section 6 36
	80	+	of public act 20-3 of the July special session, is repealed and the 37
	81	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 38
	82	+	(a) The municipal clerk shall retain the envelopes containing absentee 39
	83	+	ballots received by him under section 9-140b and shall not open such 40
	84	+	envelopes. The municipal clerk shall endorse over his signature, upon 41
	85	+	each outer envelope as he receives it, the date and precise time of its 42
	86	+	receipt. The clerk shall make an affidavit attesting to the accuracy of all 43
	87	+	such endorsements, and at the close of the polls shall deliver such 44
	88	+	Bill No.
101	89
102		-	Sept. Sp. Sess., Public Act No. 20-4 4 of 15
103	90
104		-	o'clock a.m. of the last day before the election, primary or referendum
105		-	which is not a Sunday or legal holiday, shall be [so] sorted into voting
106		-	districts by the municipal clerk and checked as provided in
107		-	subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of this subsection not later than
108		-	such last day.
109		-	[(2) For the state election in 2020, beginning the fourteenth day before
110		-	the election and on any weekday thereafter, all absentee ballots received
111		-	by the municipal clerk not later than eleven o'clock a.m. of such day may
112		-	be sorted into voting districts by the municipal clerk and checked as
113		-	provided in subdivision (1) of this subsection.]
114		-	(c) If the name of the applicant returning the ballot is not on the
115		-	official checklist for any polling place in such municipality, the
116		-	registrars shall endorse on the face of such outer envelope the word
117		-	"rejected", followed by a statement of the reasons for rejection, and the
118		-	outer envelope shall not be opened or the ballot counted.
119		-	(d) After such checking has been completed on any such day, the
120		-	municipal clerk shall seal the unopened ballots in a package and retain
121		-	them in a safe place.
122		-	(e) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, ballots
123		-	received [not later than] at or prior to eleven o'clock a.m. on [such] the
124		-	last day before the election, primary or referendum shall be delivered
125		-	by the municipal clerk to the registrars [not earlier than] between ten
126		-	o'clock a.m. and [not later than] twelve o'clock noon on the day of the
127		-	election or primary and at twelve o'clock noon on the day of a
128		-	referendum. Unless absentee ballots are to be counted in the respective
129		-	polling places, pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, the
130		-	municipal clerk shall also deliver to the registrars at this time the
131		-	duplicate checklist provided for in subsection (b) of this section, for the
132		-	use of the absentee ballot counters pursuant to subsection (i) of this
133		-	section. House Bill No. 7005
134	91
135		-	~~Sept. Sp. Sess., Public Act~~ No. ~~20-4~~ 5 of 15
	92	+	LCO No. 4366 3 of 15
136	93
137		-	(2) (A) For the state election in 2020: [, ballots]
138		-	(i) Ballots received, sorted and checked prior to five o'clock p.m. on
139		-	the (I) fourth day before the election may be delivered by the municipal
140		-	clerk to the registrars at five o'clock p.m. on such fourth day, (II) third
141		-	day before the election may be so delivered at five o'clock p.m. on such
142		-	third day, and (III) second day before the election may be so delivered
143		-	at five o'clock p.m. on such second day;
144		-	(ii) Ballots received not later than eleven o'clock a.m. on [such] the
145		-	last day before the election shall be delivered by the municipal clerk to
146		-	the registrars at six o'clock a.m. on the day of the election; [.] and
147		-	(iii) Each time ballots are delivered pursuant to this subparagraph,
148		-	the municipal clerk shall also deliver to the registrars at such time a copy
149		-	of the duplicate checklist provided for in subsection (b) of this section,
150		-	current as of the time of such delivery, for the use of the absentee ballot
151		-	counters pursuant to subsection (i) of this section.
152		-	(B) The municipal clerk may deliver the ballots at [a time that is] times
153		-	later than [the time] those provided in subdivision (1) of this subsection
154		-	or subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, as applicable, provided any
155		-	such time is mutually agreed upon by the municipal clerk and registrars
156		-	and is not later than eight o'clock p.m. on the day of the election, primary
157		-	or referendum.
158		-	(f) Absentee ballots timely received by the clerk after eleven o'clock
159		-	a.m. of such last day before an election, primary or referendum shall be
160		-	sorted into voting districts by the clerk and retained by the clerk
161		-	separately until delivered to the registrars of voters for checking.
162		-	(g) Any or all of such ballots received after eleven o'clock a.m. of such
163		-	last day before an election, primary or referendum and before six o'clock
164		-	p.m. on the day of the election, primary or referendum shall, upon
165		-	request of the registrars, be delivered to the registrars by the municipal House Bill No. 7005
	94	+	affidavit to the head moderator, who shall endorse the time of its receipt 45
	95	+	and return it to the clerk after all counting is complete. The clerk shall 46
	96	+	preserve the affidavit for one hundred eighty days in accordance with 47
	97	+	the requirements of section 9-150b. The clerk shall keep a list of the 48
	98	+	names of the applicants who return absentee ballots to the clerk under 49
	99	+	section 9-140b. The list shall be preserved as a public record as required 50
	100	+	by section 9-150b. 51
	101	+	(b) (1) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, 52
	102	+	[(2) of this subsection,] beginning not earlier than the seventh day before 53
	103	+	the election, primary or referendum and on any weekday thereafter, all 54
	104	+	absentee ballots received by the municipal clerk [not later than] at or 55
	105	+	prior to eleven o'clock a.m. of such day may be sorted into voting 56
	106	+	districts by the municipal clerk and checked as provided in this 57
	107	+	[subsection] subparagraph. On any such day, beginning as soon as the 58
	108	+	ballots have been sorted, the registrars of voters, without opening the 59
	109	+	outer envelopes, may check the names of the applicants returning 60
	110	+	ballots on the official checklist to be used at the election, primary or 61
	111	+	referendum by indicating "absentee" or "A" preceding each such name 62
	112	+	and, if unaffiliated electors are authorized under section 9-431 to vote in 63
	113	+	the primary of either of two parties, the designation of the party in 64
	114	+	which the applicants are voting preceding each such name. Unless 65
	115	+	absentee ballots are to be counted in the respective polling places, 66
	116	+	pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, the registrars shall also 67
	117	+	place such indication on a duplicate [of the] checklist to be retained by 68
	118	+	the municipal clerk until [he] the municipal clerk delivers [it] such 69
	119	+	duplicate checklist to the registrars, [at twelve o'clock noon, except as 70
	120	+	provided in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of this 71
	121	+	section, on election, primary or referendum day] in accordance with 72
	122	+	subsection (e) of this section, for the use of the absentee ballot counters 73
	123	+	pursuant to subsection (i) of this section. 74
	124	+	(B) For the state election in 2020, beginning on the fourteenth day 75
	125	+	before the election and on any weekday thereafter, all absentee ballots 76
	126	+	received by the municipal clerk at or prior to eleven o'clock a.m. of such 77
	127	+	Bill No.
166	128
167		-	Sept. Sp. Sess., Public Act No. 20-4 6 of 15
168	129
169		-	clerk at six o'clock p.m. on the day of the election, primary or
170		-	referendum for checking, or at a later time mutually agreed upon by the
171		-	clerk and registrars, provided such time is not later than eight o'clock
172		-	p.m. on the day of the election, primary or referendum.
173		-	(h) Absentee ballots received after six o'clock p.m. on the day of the
174		-	election, primary or referendum and any ballots received prior to six
175		-	o'clock p.m. of such day which were not delivered earlier shall be
176		-	delivered to the registrars at the close of the polls for checking. Although
177		-	absentee ballots shall be checked by the registrars of voters at various
178		-	times throughout the election, primary or referendum day, absentee
179		-	ballots may be counted at one single time during such day.
180		-	(i) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the absentee
181		-	ballot counters, upon receipt of the ballots delivered by the municipal
182		-	clerk to the registrars at six o'clock p.m. on the day of the election,
183		-	primary or referendum and at the close of the polls pursuant to
184		-	subsections (g) and (h) of this section, shall check the names of the
185		-	applicants returning ballots on the duplicate checklist in the same
186		-	manner as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section.
187		-	(2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision,
188		-	the names of applicants whose ballots were delivered at six o'clock p.m.
189		-	on the day of the election, primary or referendum shall be called in to
190		-	the appropriate polling places where they shall be checked by the
191		-	checkers on the official checklists, and they shall also be checked by the
192		-	absentee ballot counters on the duplicate checklist required under
193		-	subsection (b) of this section.
194		-	(B) Whenever absentee ballots are counted in any polling place
195		-	pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, the names of applicants
196		-	whose ballots were delivered at six o'clock p.m. on the day of the
197		-	election, primary or referendum shall be checked by the absentee ballot
198		-	counters and checkers at such polling place on the official checklist used House Bill No. 7005
199	130
200		-	~~Sept. Sp. Sess., Public Act~~ No. ~~20-4~~ 7 of 15
	131	+	LCO No. 4366 4 of 15
201	132
202		-	at such polling place.
203		-	(3) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision,
204		-	the names of applicants whose ballots were delivered at the close of the
205		-	polls shall be checked by the absentee ballot counters on the official
206		-	checklists used at the polling places and such official checklists, bearing
207		-	the certifications required by section 9-307, shall be delivered by the
208		-	registrars or assistant registrars to the central counting moderator for
209		-	that purpose.
210		-	(B) Whenever absentee ballots are counted in any polling place
211		-	pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, the official checklist used at
212		-	such polling place shall remain in such polling place for checking by the
213		-	absentee ballot counters at such polling place.
214		-	(4) If the name of an applicant returning a ballot has been checked on
215		-	the official checklist as having voted in person the absentee ballot
216		-	counters shall, in checking the ballots, endorse on the face of the outer
217		-	envelope the word "rejected" followed by a statement of the reason for
218		-	rejection, and the outer envelope shall not be opened or the ballot
219		-	counted.
220		-	(5) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision,
221		-	when central counting is completed and the result is announced, the
222		-	central counting moderator shall deliver the duplicate checklist, the
223		-	official checklists and the returns required by section 9-150b to the head
224		-	moderator.
225		-	(B) Whenever absentee ballots are counted in any polling place
226		-	pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, and such counting is
227		-	completed and the result for such polling place is announced, the
228		-	moderator for such polling place shall deliver the official checklist used
229		-	at such polling place and the return required by section 9-150b to the
230		-	head moderator. House Bill No. 7005
	133	+	day may be sorted into voting districts by the municipal clerk and 78
	134	+	checked as provided in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision. 79
	135	+	(2) All absentee ballots received [not later than] at or prior to eleven 80
	136	+	o'clock a.m. of the last day before the election, primary or referendum 81
	137	+	which is not a Sunday or legal holiday, shall be [so] sorted into voting 82
	138	+	districts by the municipal clerk and checked as provided in 83
	139	+	subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of this subsection not later than 84
	140	+	such last day. 85
	141	+	[(2) For the state election in 2020, beginning the fourteenth day before 86
	142	+	the election and on any weekday thereafter, all absentee ballots received 87
	143	+	by the municipal clerk not later than eleven o'clock a.m. of such day may 88
	144	+	be sorted into voting districts by the municipal clerk and checked as 89
	145	+	provided in subdivision (1) of this subsection.] 90
	146	+	(c) If the name of the applicant returning the ballot is not on the 91
	147	+	official checklist for any polling place in such municipality, the 92
	148	+	registrars shall endorse on the face of such outer envelope the word 93
	149	+	"rejected", followed by a statement of the reasons for rejection, and the 94
	150	+	outer envelope shall not be opened or the ballot counted. 95
	151	+	(d) After such checking has been completed on any such day, the 96
	152	+	municipal clerk shall seal the unopened ballots in a package and retain 97
	153	+	them in a safe place. 98
	154	+	(e) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, ballots 99
	155	+	received [not later than] at or prior to eleven o'clock a.m. on [such] the 100
	156	+	last day before the election, primary or referendum shall be delivered 101
	157	+	by the municipal clerk to the registrars [not earlier than] between ten 102
	158	+	o'clock a.m. and [not later than] twelve o'clock noon on the day of the 103
	159	+	election or primary and at twelve o'clock noon on the day of a 104
	160	+	referendum. Unless absentee ballots are to be counted in the respective 105
	161	+	polling places, pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, the 106
	162	+	municipal clerk shall also deliver to the registrars at this time the 107
	163	+	duplicate checklist provided for in subsection (b) of this section, for the 108
	164	+	Bill No.
231	165
232		-	Sept. Sp. Sess., Public Act No. 20-4 8 of 15
233	166
234		-	(j) Each time absentee ballots are delivered by the clerk to the
235		-	registrars [on election, primary or referendum day] pursuant to this
236		-	section, the clerk and registrars shall execute an affidavit of delivery and
237		-	receipt stating the number of ballots delivered. The clerk shall preserve
238		-	the affidavit for [six months in accordance with] the period prescribed
239		-	in section 9-150b.
240		-	(k) (1) [Each group of absentee ballots shall be counted by the
241		-	absentee ballot counters when received from the registrars on election,
242		-	primary or referendum day, in the manner provided in section 9-150a.]
243		-	Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the absentee
244		-	ballot counters shall count, in the manner provided in section 9-150a,
245		-	each group of absentee ballots upon receipt from the registrars.
246		-	(2) For the state election in 2020, whenever absentee ballots are to be
247		-	processed before the day of the election, pursuant to subdivision (1) of
248		-	subsection (c) of section 9-147a, the absentee ballot counters shall
249		-	process, in the manner provided in section 5 of this act, each group of
250		-	absentee ballots upon receipt from the registrars.
251		-	(l) The municipal clerk shall retain all outer envelopes containing
252		-	absentee ballots received by him after the close of the polls, unopened,
253		-	for the period prescribed in section 9-150b.
254		-	Sec. 3. Section 9-147a of the general statutes is repealed and the
255		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
256		-	(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) or (c) of this section, at any
257		-	election, primary or referendum, all absentee ballots shall, within
258		-	existing resources, be counted in the manner provided in section 9-150a
259		-	at a central location designated by the registrars of voters in writing to
260		-	the municipal clerk at least twenty days before the election, primary or
261		-	referendum, which location shall be published in the warning for the
262		-	election, primary or referendum. Except as provided in subsection (b) of House Bill No. 7005
263	167
264		-	~~Sept. Sp. Sess., Public Act~~ No. ~~20-4~~ 9 of 15
	168	+	LCO No. 4366 5 of 15
265	169
266		-	~~this section,~~ ~~if unaffiliated electors are authorized under section 9-431~~ to
267		-	~~vote in the primary of either of two parties, all absentee ballots shall be~~
268		-	~~separated, counted,~~ ~~tallied and placed~~ in ~~depository envelopes by~~
269		-	~~voting district~~. ~~Any member of the public may observe the counting of~~
270		-	~~absentee ballots at such central location.~~
271		-	~~(b)~~ At ~~any election~~, ~~primary or referendum,~~ ~~all absentee ballots may~~
272		-	~~be counted in~~ the ~~manner provided in section 9-150a~~ ~~in the respective~~
273		-	~~polling places if~~ the ~~registrars of voters agree that such absentee ballots~~
274		-	~~should be so counted~~. ~~If unaffiliated electors are authorized under~~
275		-	~~section 9-431~~ ~~to vote in~~ the ~~primary of either of two parties, absentee~~
276		-	~~ballots may~~ be ~~counted in~~ the ~~respective polling places if the parties~~
277		-	~~agree that such absentee ballots should be so counted~~. ~~Any~~ election
278		-	~~official serving in a polling place may observe the counting of absentee~~
279		-	~~ballots~~ at such ~~polling place.~~
280		-	~~(c) (1)~~ For ~~the state election~~ in ~~2020~~, ~~absentee ballots may be processed~~
281		-	~~before the day~~ of the ~~election in~~ the ~~manner provided in section 5~~ of ~~this~~
282		-	~~act~~. ~~Any such processing shall take place at a central location designated~~
283		-	~~by the registrars of voters in writing to~~ the municipal clerk at ~~least ten~~
284		-	~~days before~~ the ~~election, which location shall be published~~ in ~~the~~
285		-	~~warning for the election.~~
286		-	~~(2) If absentee ballots are to be processed pursuant to subdivision (1)~~
287		-	~~of this subsection,~~ the ~~registrars~~ of ~~voters and municipal clerk shall~~
288		-	~~jointly certify such fact in writing to the Secretary of the State at least ten~~
289		-	~~days before~~ the ~~election. Such written certification shall (A) include the~~
290		-	~~name~~, ~~street address and relevant contact information associated with~~
291		-	the ~~designated central location,~~ and ~~(B) list~~ the ~~name and address of each~~
292		-	~~absentee ballot counter appointed pursuant~~ to ~~section 9-147c~~. ~~The~~
293		-	~~Secretary shall approve~~ or ~~disapprove~~ such ~~written certification not later~~
294		-	~~than two days after receipt of such certification~~ and ~~may require the~~
295		-	~~appointment of one or more additional absentee ballot counters. House~~ Bill No. ~~7005~~
	170	+	use of the absentee ballot counters pursuant to subsection (i) of this 109
	171	+	section. 110
	172	+	(2) (A) For the state election in 2020: [, ballots] 111
	173	+	(i) Ballots received, sorted and checked prior to five o'clock p.m. on 112
	174	+	the (I) fourth day before the election may be delivered by the municipal 113
	175	+	clerk to the registrars at five o'clock p.m. on such fourth day, (II) third 114
	176	+	day before the election may be so delivered at five o'clock p.m. on such 115
	177	+	third day, and (III) second day before the election may be so delivered 116
	178	+	at five o'clock p.m. on such second day; 117
	179	+	(ii) Ballots received not later than eleven o'clock a.m. on [such] the 118
	180	+	last day before the election shall be delivered by the municipal clerk to 119
	181	+	the registrars at six o'clock a.m. on the day of the election; [.] and 120
	182	+	(iii) Each time ballots are delivered pursuant to this subparagraph, 121
	183	+	the municipal clerk shall also deliver to the registrars at such time a copy 122
	184	+	of the duplicate checklist provided for in subsection (b) of this section, 123
	185	+	current as of the time of such delivery, for the use of the absentee ballot 124
	186	+	counters pursuant to subsection (i) of this section. 125
	187	+	(B) The municipal clerk may deliver the ballots at [a time that is] times 126
	188	+	later than [the time] those provided in subdivision (1) of this subsection 127
	189	+	or subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, as applicable, provided any 128
	190	+	such time is mutually agreed upon by the municipal clerk and registrars 129
	191	+	and is not later than eight o'clock p.m. on the day of the election, primary 130
	192	+	or referendum. 131
	193	+	(f) Absentee ballots timely received by the clerk after eleven o'clock 132
	194	+	a.m. of such last day before an election, primary or referendum shall be 133
	195	+	sorted into voting districts by the clerk and retained by the clerk 134
	196	+	separately until delivered to the registrars of voters for checking. 135
	197	+	(g) Any or all of such ballots received after eleven o'clock a.m. of such 136
	198	+	last day before an election, primary or referendum and before six o'clock 137
	199	+	Bill No.
296	200
297		-	Sept. Sp. Sess., Public Act No. 20-4 10 of 15
298	201
299		-	(3) In the case of absentee ballots delivered to the registrars on the
300		-	day of the election, nothing in this subsection shall preclude the
301		-	counting of such absentee ballots in the respective polling places
302		-	pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.
303		-	Sec. 4. Section 9-225 of the general statutes is repealed and the
304		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
305		-	(a) [The] (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection,
306		-	the town clerk or assistant town clerk of each town shall warn the
307		-	electors therein to meet on the Tuesday following the first Monday in
308		-	November in the even-numbered years, at six o'clock a.m., which
309		-	warning shall be given by publication in a newspaper having a general
310		-	circulation in such town, or towns in the case of a joint publication under
311		-	subsection (b) of this section, not more than fifteen nor less than five
312		-	days previous to holding such election. The clerk in each town shall, in
313		-	the warning for such election, give notice of the time and the location of
314		-	the polling place in the town, and in towns divided into voting districts,
315		-	of the time and the location of the polling place in each district, at which
316		-	such election will be held. The town clerk shall record each such
317		-	warning.
318		-	(2) For the state election in 2020, the warning under subsection (a) of
319		-	this section shall be given not more than seven nor less than four days
320		-	previous to holding such election.
321		-	(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any charter or home rule
322		-	ordinance, the warning under subsection (a) of this section may be
323		-	published jointly by two or more towns in a newspaper, provided all
324		-	other requirements of this section with respect to such warning are met.
325		-	Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions
326		-	of section 9-150a of the general statutes, for the state election in 2020, in
327		-	any municipality in which absentee ballots are processed pursuant to House Bill No. 7005
328	202
329		-	~~Sept. Sp. Sess., Public Act~~ No. ~~20-4~~ 11 of 15
	203	+	LCO No. 4366 6 of 15
330	204
331		-	subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 9-147a of the general statutes:
332		-	(a) (1) Not earlier than five o'clock p.m. on the fourth day before the
333		-	election, the absentee ballot counters shall proceed to the central
334		-	counting location at the times designated by the registrars of voters;
335		-	(2) At the time each group of ballots is delivered pursuant to
336		-	subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of section 9-140c of the general statutes,
337		-	the counters shall proceed as hereinafter provided;
338		-	(3) Except with respect to ballots marked "Rejected" pursuant to
339		-	section 9-140c of the general statutes or other applicable law, the
340		-	counters shall then remove the inner envelopes from the outer
341		-	envelopes, shall note the total number of absentee ballots received and
342		-	shall report such total to the moderator. The counters shall similarly
343		-	note and separately so report the total numbers of presidential ballots
344		-	and overseas ballots received pursuant to sections 9-158a to 9-158m,
345		-	inclusive, of the general statutes;
346		-	(4) If the statement on the inner envelope has not been signed as
347		-	required by section 9-140a of the general statutes, such inner envelope
348		-	shall not be opened or the ballot removed therefrom, and such inner
349		-	envelope shall be replaced in the opened outer envelope which shall be
350		-	marked "Rejected" and the reason therefor endorsed thereon by the
351		-	counters; and
352		-	(5) Not earlier than the day of the election, and after the duties under
353		-	subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of this subsection have been
354		-	performed, absentee ballots shall be counted in the manner provided in
355		-	subsections (e) to (m), inclusive, of section 9-150a of the general statutes.
356		-	(b) In accordance with instructions which shall be prescribed by the
357		-	Secretary of the State not later than ten days before the election, each
358		-	group of ballots delivered pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (e)
359		-	of section 9-140c of the general statutes shall be kept secure (1) House Bill No. 7005
	205	+	p.m. on the day of the election, primary or referendum shall, upon 138
	206	+	request of the registrars, be delivered to the registrars by the municipal 139
	207	+	clerk at six o'clock p.m. on the day of the election, primary or 140
	208	+	referendum for checking, or at a later time mutually agreed upon by the 141
	209	+	clerk and registrars, provided such time is not later than eight o'clock 142
	210	+	p.m. on the day of the election, primary or referendum. 143
	211	+	(h) Absentee ballots received after six o'clock p.m. on the day of the 144
	212	+	election, primary or referendum and any ballots received prior to six 145
	213	+	o'clock p.m. of such day which were not delivered earlier shall be 146
	214	+	delivered to the registrars at the close of the polls for checking. Although 147
	215	+	absentee ballots shall be checked by the registrars of voters at various 148
	216	+	times throughout the election, primary or referendum day, absentee 149
	217	+	ballots may be counted at one single time during such day. 150
	218	+	(i) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the absentee 151
	219	+	ballot counters, upon receipt of the ballots delivered by the municipal 152
	220	+	clerk to the registrars at six o'clock p.m. on the day of the election, 153
	221	+	primary or referendum and at the close of the polls pursuant to 154
	222	+	subsections (g) and (h) of this section, shall check the names of the 155
	223	+	applicants returning ballots on the duplicate checklist in the same 156
	224	+	manner as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section. 157
	225	+	(2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, 158
	226	+	the names of applicants whose ballots were delivered at six o'clock p.m. 159
	227	+	on the day of the election, primary or referendum shall be called in to 160
	228	+	the appropriate polling places where they shall be checked by the 161
	229	+	checkers on the official checklists, and they shall also be checked by the 162
	230	+	absentee ballot counters on the duplicate checklist required under 163
	231	+	subsection (b) of this section. 164
	232	+	(B) Whenever absentee ballots are counted in any polling place 165
	233	+	pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, the names of applicants 166
	234	+	whose ballots were delivered at six o'clock p.m. on the day of the 167
	235	+	election, primary or referendum shall be checked by the absentee ballot 168
	236	+	Bill No.
360	237
361		-	Sept. Sp. Sess., Public Act No. 20-4 12 of 15
362	238
363		-	throughout the performance of the duties under subdivisions (1) to (4),
364		-	inclusive, of subsection (a) of this section, and (2) after such performance
365		-	until such time on the day of the election that absentee ballots are
366		-	counted in the manner provided in subsections (e) to (m), inclusive, of
367		-	section 9-150a of the general statutes. The requirements of this
368		-	subsection shall be in addition to all other applicable requirements
369		-	under title 9 of the general statutes regarding the security of absentee
370		-	ballots and any related materials.
371		-	Sec. 6. Section 9-150b of the general statutes is repealed and the
372		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
373		-	(a) The moderator shall record the result of each count of absentee
374		-	ballots at any election, primary or referendum, separately by time of
375		-	count, on (1) a separate moderator's return for each voting district, and
376		-	(2) a separate record of the number of absentee votes cast for each
377		-	candidate for each voting district.
378		-	(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, when all
379		-	counting is complete, the moderator shall publicly declare the result of
380		-	such count. [He] The moderator shall then deliver to the head moderator
381		-	the central counting moderator's returns, together with all other
382		-	information required by law or by the Secretary of the State's
383		-	instructions. The head moderator shall add the results from the voting
384		-	tabulators, recorded on the moderator's return for each polling place, to
385		-	the absentee count recorded on the central counting moderator's return
386		-	for the corresponding voting district, in the manner prescribed by the
387		-	Secretary of the State. The returns so completed shall show separately
388		-	the tabulator vote and the absentee vote and the totals thereof.
389		-	(c) If the absentee ballots were counted in the respective polling
390		-	places, pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, when all counting is
391		-	complete the moderator shall publicly declare the result of such count
392		-	as provided in section 9-309 and add such count to the results from the House Bill No. 7005
393	239
394		-	~~Sept. Sp. Sess., Public Act~~ No. ~~20-4~~ 13 of 15
	240	+	LCO No. 4366 7 of 15
395	241
396		-	voting tabulators recorded on the moderator's return. Such return shall
397		-	show separately the tabulator vote and the absentee vote and the totals
398		-	thereof.
399		-	(d) The Secretary of the State may prescribe the forms and
400		-	instructions for the tabulation, counting and return of the absentee
401		-	ballot vote.
402		-	(e) The sealed depository envelopes required by subsections (f) and
403		-	(m) of section 9-150a shall be returned by the moderator to the
404		-	municipal clerk as soon as practicable on or before the day following the
405		-	election, primary or referendum.
406		-	(f) The municipal clerk shall preserve for sixty days after the election,
407		-	primary or referendum the depository envelopes containing opened
408		-	envelopes and rejected ballots required by subsection (f) of section 9-
409		-	150a, and shall so preserve for one hundred eighty days the depository
410		-	envelopes containing counted ballots and related materials required by
411		-	subsection (m) of section 9-150a.
412		-	(g) (1) No such depository envelope shall be opened except by order
413		-	of a court of competent jurisdiction, by the State Elections Enforcement
414		-	Commission pursuant to a subpoena issued under subdivision (1) of
415		-	subsection (a) of section 9-7b or within five business days [of] after an
416		-	election, primary or referendum for the purpose of a recanvass
417		-	conducted pursuant to law. After such a recanvass the depository
418		-	envelopes and their contents shall be returned to the municipal clerk
419		-	and preserved for the stated period.
420		-	(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this
421		-	subsection, for the state election in 2020, no such depository envelope
422		-	shall be opened for the purpose of a recanvass conducted pursuant to
423		-	law except within seven business days after the election as provided in
424		-	section 9-311. House Bill No. 7005
	242	+	counters and checkers at such polling place on the official checklist used 169
	243	+	at such polling place. 170
	244	+	(3) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, 171
	245	+	the names of applicants whose ballots were delivered at the close of the 172
	246	+	polls shall be checked by the absentee ballot counters on the official 173
	247	+	checklists used at the polling places and such official checklists, bearing 174
	248	+	the certifications required by section 9-307, shall be delivered by the 175
	249	+	registrars or assistant registrars to the central counting moderator for 176
	250	+	that purpose. 177
	251	+	(B) Whenever absentee ballots are counted in any polling place 178
	252	+	pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, the official checklist used at 179
	253	+	such polling place shall remain in such polling place for checking by the 180
	254	+	absentee ballot counters at such polling place. 181
	255	+	(4) If the name of an applicant returning a ballot has been checked on 182
	256	+	the official checklist as having voted in person the absentee ballot 183
	257	+	counters shall, in checking the ballots, endorse on the face of the outer 184
	258	+	envelope the word "rejected" followed by a statement of the reason for 185
	259	+	rejection, and the outer envelope shall not be opened or the ballot 186
	260	+	counted. 187
	261	+	(5) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, 188
	262	+	when central counting is completed and the result is announced, the 189
	263	+	central counting moderator shall deliver the duplicate checklist, the 190
	264	+	official checklists and the returns required by section 9-150b to the head 191
	265	+	moderator. 192
	266	+	(B) Whenever absentee ballots are counted in any polling place 193
	267	+	pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, and such counting is 194
	268	+	completed and the result for such polling place is announced, the 195
	269	+	moderator for such polling place shall deliver the official checklist used 196
	270	+	at such polling place and the return required by section 9-150b to the 197
	271	+	head moderator. 198
	272	+	Bill No.
425	273
426		-	Sept. Sp. Sess., Public Act No. 20-4 14 of 15
427	274
428		-	(h) For sixty days after the election, primary or referendum the
429		-	following shall be preserved by the municipal clerk as a public record
430		-	open to public inspection: (1) All executed absentee ballot application
431		-	forms and direction by registrar forms, as required by subdivision (i) of
432		-	section 9-140; (2) the list and index of applicants for presidential or
433		-	overseas ballots as required by section 9-158h; (3) the numerical list of
434		-	absentee voting sets issued as required by subsection (e) of section 9-
435		-	140; (4) the list of the names of persons whose absentee ballots are
436		-	received by the municipal clerk, as required by subsection (a) of section
437		-	9-140c; (5) all unused absentee ballots; and (6) all envelopes containing
438		-	ballots received by the municipal clerk after the close of the polls, which
439		-	shall remain unopened.
440		-	(i) For one hundred eighty days after the election, primary or
441		-	referendum the following shall be preserved by the municipal clerk as a
442		-	public record open to public inspection: (1) The affidavit regarding the
443		-	municipal clerk's endorsement of inner envelopes, as required by
444		-	subsection (a) of section 9-140c; and (2) the affidavit regarding delivery
445		-	and receipt of ballots, as required by subsection (j) of said section.
446		-	(j) At the expiration of the applicable retention period, if no contest is
447		-	pending and no subpoena has been issued by the State Elections
448		-	Enforcement Commission pursuant to subsection (1) of section 9-7b, the
449		-	municipal clerk shall destroy the materials preserved under this section.
450		-	Sec. 7. Section 9-159o of the general statutes, as amended by section 7
451		-	of public act 20-3 of the July special session, is repealed and the
452		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
453		-	(a) Any elector who has returned an absentee ballot to the municipal
454		-	clerk and who finds such elector is able to vote in person shall proceed
455		-	before ten o'clock a.m. on election, primary or referendum day to the
456		-	municipal clerk's office and request that such elector's ballot be
457		-	withdrawn. The municipal clerk shall remove the ballot from the sealed House Bill No. 7005
458	275
459		-	~~Sept. Sp. Sess., Public Act~~ No. ~~20-4~~ 15 of 15
	276	+	LCO No. 4366 8 of 15
460	277
461		-	package and shall mark the serially-numbered outer envelope, which
462		-	shall remain unopened, "rejected" and note the reasons for rejection. The
463		-	elector shall also endorse the envelope. The rejected ballot shall then be
464		-	returned to the sealed package until delivered on election, primary or
465		-	referendum day to the registrars of voters in accordance with section 9-
466		-	140c. The municipal clerk shall then give the elector a signed statement
467		-	directed to the moderator of the voting district in which the elector
468		-	resides stating that the elector has withdrawn [his] such elector's
469		-	absentee ballot and may vote in person. Upon delivery of the statement
470		-	by the elector to the moderator, the moderator shall cause the absentee
471		-	indication next to the name of the elector to be stricken from the official
472		-	checklist and the elector may then have such elector's name checked and
473		-	vote in person. Unless absentee ballots are to be counted in the
474		-	respective polling places pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a,
475		-	the municipal clerk shall also cause the absentee indication next to the
476		-	name of the elector to be stricken from the duplicate checklist to be used
477		-	by the absentee ballot counters.
478		-	(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section,
479		-	for the state election in 2020, any elector who has returned an absentee
480		-	ballot to the municipal clerk and who finds such elector is able to vote
481		-	in person shall proceed before five o'clock p.m. on the [last] fourth day
482		-	before the election to the municipal clerk's office and request that such
483		-	elector's ballot be withdrawn.
484		-	Approved October 2, 2020
	278	+	(j) Each time absentee ballots are delivered by the clerk to the 199
	279	+	registrars [on election, primary or referendum day] pursuant to this 200
	280	+	section, the clerk and registrars shall execute an affidavit of delivery and 201
	281	+	receipt stating the number of ballots delivered. The clerk shall preserve 202
	282	+	the affidavit for [six months in accordance with] the period prescribed 203
	283	+	in section 9-150b. 204
	284	+	(k) (1) [Each group of absentee ballots shall be counted by the 205
	285	+	absentee ballot counters when received from the registrars on election, 206
	286	+	primary or referendum day, in the manner provided in section 9-150a] 207
	287	+	Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the absentee 208
	288	+	ballot counters shall count, in the manner provided in section 9-150a, 209
	289	+	each group of absentee ballots upon receipt from the registrars. 210
	290	+	(2) For the state election in 2020, whenever absentee ballots are to be 211
	291	+	processed before the day of the election, pursuant to subdivision (1) of 212
	292	+	subsection (c) of section 9-147a, the absentee ballot counters shall 213
	293	+	process, in the manner provided in section 5 of this act, each group of 214
	294	+	absentee ballots upon receipt from the registrars. 215
	295	+	(l) The municipal clerk shall retain all outer envelopes containing 216
	296	+	absentee ballots received by him after the close of the polls, unopened, 217
	297	+	for the period prescribed in section 9-150b. 218
	298	+	Sec. 3. Section 9-147a of the general statutes is repealed and the 219
	299	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 220
	300	+	(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) or (c) of this section, at any 221
	301	+	election, primary or referendum, all absentee ballots shall, within 222
	302	+	existing resources, be counted in the manner provided in section 9-150a 223
	303	+	at a central location designated by the registrars of voters in writing to 224
	304	+	the municipal clerk at least twenty days before the election, primary or 225
	305	+	referendum, which location shall be published in the warning for the 226
	306	+	election, primary or referendum. Except as provided in subsection (b) of 227
	307	+	this section, if unaffiliated electors are authorized under section 9-431 to 228
	308	+	vote in the primary of either of two parties, all absentee ballots shall be 229
	309	+	Bill No.
	310	+
	311	+
	312	+
	313	+	LCO No. 4366 9 of 15
	314	+
	315	+	separated, counted, tallied and placed in depository envelopes by 230
	316	+	voting district. Any member of the public may observe the counting of 231
	317	+	absentee ballots at such central location. 232
	318	+	(b) At any election, primary or referendum, all absentee ballots may 233
	319	+	be counted in the manner provided in section 9-150a in the respective 234
	320	+	polling places if the registrars of voters agree that such absentee ballots 235
	321	+	should be so counted. If unaffiliated electors are authorized under 236
	322	+	section 9-431 to vote in the primary of either of two parties, absentee 237
	323	+	ballots may be counted in the respective polling places if the parties 238
	324	+	agree that such absentee ballots should be so counted. Any election 239
	325	+	official serving in a polling place may observe the counting of absentee 240
	326	+	ballots at such polling place. 241
	327	+	(c) (1) For the state election in 2020, absentee ballots may be processed 242
	328	+	before the day of the election in the manner provided in section 5 of this 243
	329	+	act. Any such processing shall take place at a central location designated 244
	330	+	by the registrars of voters in writing to the municipal clerk at least ten 245
	331	+	days before the election, which location shall be published in the 246
	332	+	warning for the election. 247
	333	+	(2) If absentee ballots are to be processed pursuant to subdivision (1) 248
	334	+	of this subsection, the registrars of voters and municipal clerk shall 249
	335	+	jointly certify such fact in writing to the Secretary of the State at least ten 250
	336	+	days before the election. Such written certification shall (A) include the 251
	337	+	name, street address and relevant contact information associated with 252
	338	+	the designated central location, and (B) list the name and address of each 253
	339	+	absentee ballot counter appointed pursuant to section 9-147c. The 254
	340	+	Secretary shall approve or disapprove such written certification not later 255
	341	+	than two days after receipt of such certification and may require the 256
	342	+	appointment of one or more additional absentee ballot counters. 257
	343	+	(3) In the case of absentee ballots delivered to the registrars on the 258
	344	+	day of the election, nothing in this subsection shall preclude the 259
	345	+	counting of such absentee ballots in the respective polling places 260
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	352	+	pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. 261
	353	+	Sec. 4. Section 9-225 of the general statutes is repealed and the 262
	354	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 263
	355	+	(a) (1) [The] Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, 264
	356	+	the town clerk or assistant town clerk of each town shall warn the 265
	357	+	electors therein to meet on the Tuesday following the first Monday in 266
	358	+	November in the even-numbered years, at six o'clock a.m., which 267
	359	+	warning shall be given by publication in a newspaper having a general 268
	360	+	circulation in such town, or towns in the case of a joint publication under 269
	361	+	subsection (b) of this section, not more than fifteen nor less than five 270
	362	+	days previous to holding such election. The clerk in each town shall, in 271
	363	+	the warning for such election, give notice of the time and the location of 272
	364	+	the polling place in the town, and in towns divided into voting districts, 273
	365	+	of the time and the location of the polling place in each district, at which 274
	366	+	such election will be held. The town clerk shall record each such 275
	367	+	warning. 276
	368	+	(2) For the state election in 2020, the warning under subsection (a) of 277
	369	+	this section shall be given not more than seven nor less than four days 278
	370	+	previous to holding such election. 279
	371	+	(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any charter or home rule 280
	372	+	ordinance, the warning under subsection (a) of this section may be 281
	373	+	published jointly by two or more towns in a newspaper, provided all 282
	374	+	other requirements of this section with respect to such warning are met. 283
	375	+	Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions 284
	376	+	of section 9-150a of the general statutes, for the state election in 2020, in 285
	377	+	any municipality in which absentee ballots are processed pursuant to 286
	378	+	subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 9-147a of the general statutes: 287
	379	+	(a) (1) Not earlier than five o'clock p.m. on the fourth day before the 288
	380	+	election, the absentee ballot counters shall proceed to the central 289
	381	+	counting location at the times designated by the registrars of voters; 290
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	388	+	(2) At the time each group of ballots is delivered pursuant to 291
	389	+	subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of section 9-140c of the general statutes, 292
	390	+	the counters shall proceed as hereinafter provided; 293
	391	+	(3) Except with respect to ballots marked "Rejected" pursuant to 294
	392	+	section 9-140c of the general statutes or other applicable law, the 295
	393	+	counters shall then remove the inner envelopes from the outer 296
	394	+	envelopes, shall note the total number of absentee ballots received and 297
	395	+	shall report such total to the moderator. The counters shall similarly 298
	396	+	note and separately so report the total numbers of presidential ballots 299
	397	+	and overseas ballots received pursuant to sections 9-158a to 9-158m, 300
	398	+	inclusive, of the general statutes; 301
	399	+	(4) If the statement on the inner envelope has not been signed as 302
	400	+	required by section 9-140a of the general statutes, such inner envelope 303
	401	+	shall not be opened or the ballot removed therefrom, and such inner 304
	402	+	envelope shall be replaced in the opened outer envelope which shall be 305
	403	+	marked "Rejected" and the reason therefor endorsed thereon by the 306
	404	+	counters; and 307
	405	+	(5) Not earlier than the day of the election, and after the duties under 308
	406	+	subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of this subsection have been 309
	407	+	performed, absentee ballots shall be counted in the manner provided in 310
	408	+	subsections (e) to (m), inclusive, of section 9-150a of the general statutes. 311
	409	+	(b) In accordance with instructions which shall be prescribed by the 312
	410	+	Secretary of the State not later than ten days before the election, each 313
	411	+	group of ballots delivered pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (e) 314
	412	+	of section 9-140c of the general statutes shall be kept secure (1) 315
	413	+	throughout the performance of the duties under subdivisions (1) to (4), 316
	414	+	inclusive, of subsection (a) of this section, and (2) after such performance 317
	415	+	until such time on the day of the election that absentee ballots are 318
	416	+	counted in the manner provided in subsections (e) to (m), inclusive, of 319
	417	+	section 9-150a of the general statutes. The requirements of this 320
	418	+	subsection shall be in addition to all other applicable requirements 321
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	425	+	under title 9 of the general statutes regarding the security of absentee 322
	426	+	ballots and any related materials. 323
	427	+	Sec. 6. Section 9-150b of the general statutes is repealed and the 324
	428	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 325
	429	+	(a) The moderator shall record the result of each count of absentee 326
	430	+	ballots at any election, primary or referendum, separately by time of 327
	431	+	count, on (1) a separate moderator's return for each voting district, and 328
	432	+	(2) a separate record of the number of absentee votes cast for each 329
	433	+	candidate for each voting district. 330
	434	+	(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, when all 331
	435	+	counting is complete, the moderator shall publicly declare the result of 332
	436	+	such count. [He] The moderator shall then deliver to the head moderator 333
	437	+	the central counting moderator's returns, together with all other 334
	438	+	information required by law or by the Secretary of the State's 335
	439	+	instructions. The head moderator shall add the results from the voting 336
	440	+	tabulators, recorded on the moderator's return for each polling place, to 337
	441	+	the absentee count recorded on the central counting moderator's return 338
	442	+	for the corresponding voting district, in the manner prescribed by the 339
	443	+	Secretary of the State. The returns so completed shall show separately 340
	444	+	the tabulator vote and the absentee vote and the totals thereof. 341
	445	+	(c) If the absentee ballots were counted in the respective polling 342
	446	+	places, pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, when all counting is 343
	447	+	complete the moderator shall publicly declare the result of such count 344
	448	+	as provided in section 9-309 and add such count to the results from the 345
	449	+	voting tabulators recorded on the moderator's return. Such return shall 346
	450	+	show separately the tabulator vote and the absentee vote and the totals 347
	451	+	thereof. 348
	452	+	(d) The Secretary of the State may prescribe the forms and 349
	453	+	instructions for the tabulation, counting and return of the absentee 350
	454	+	ballot vote. 351
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	461	+	(e) The sealed depository envelopes required by subsections (f) and 352
	462	+	(m) of section 9-150a shall be returned by the moderator to the 353
	463	+	municipal clerk as soon as practicable on or before the day following the 354
	464	+	election, primary or referendum. 355
	465	+	(f) The municipal clerk shall preserve for sixty days after the election, 356
	466	+	primary or referendum the depository envelopes containing opened 357
	467	+	envelopes and rejected ballots required by subsection (f) of section 9-358
	468	+	150a, and shall so preserve for one hundred eighty days the depository 359
	469	+	envelopes containing counted ballots and related materials required by 360
	470	+	subsection (m) of section 9-150a. 361
	471	+	(g) (1) No such depository envelope shall be opened except by order 362
	472	+	of a court of competent jurisdiction, by the State Elections Enforcement 363
	473	+	Commission pursuant to a subpoena issued under subdivision (1) of 364
	474	+	subsection (a) of section 9-7b or within five business days [of] after an 365
	475	+	election, primary or referendum for the purpose of a recanvass 366
	476	+	conducted pursuant to law. After such a recanvass the depository 367
	477	+	envelopes and their contents shall be returned to the municipal clerk 368
	478	+	and preserved for the stated period. 369
	479	+	(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this 370
	480	+	subsection, for the state election in 2020, no such depository envelope 371
	481	+	shall be opened for the purpose of a recanvass conducted pursuant to 372
	482	+	law except within seven business days after the election as provided in 373
	483	+	section 9-311. 374
	484	+	(h) For sixty days after the election, primary or referendum the 375
	485	+	following shall be preserved by the municipal clerk as a public record 376
	486	+	open to public inspection: (1) All executed absentee ballot application 377
	487	+	forms and direction by registrar forms, as required by subdivision (i) of 378
	488	+	section 9-140; (2) the list and index of applicants for presidential or 379
	489	+	overseas ballots as required by section 9-158h; (3) the numerical list of 380
	490	+	absentee voting sets issued as required by subsection (e) of section 9-381
	491	+	140; (4) the list of the names of persons whose absentee ballots are 382
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	498	+	received by the municipal clerk, as required by subsection (a) of section 383
	499	+	9-140c; (5) all unused absentee ballots; and (6) all envelopes containing 384
	500	+	ballots received by the municipal clerk after the close of the polls, which 385
	501	+	shall remain unopened. 386
	502	+	(i) For one hundred eighty days after the election, primary or 387
	503	+	referendum the following shall be preserved by the municipal clerk as a 388
	504	+	public record open to public inspection: (1) The affidavit regarding the 389
	505	+	municipal clerk's endorsement of inner envelopes, as required by 390
	506	+	subsection (a) of section 9-140c; and (2) the affidavit regarding delivery 391
	507	+	and receipt of ballots, as required by subsection (j) of said section. 392
	508	+	(j) At the expiration of the applicable retention period, if no contest is 393
	509	+	pending and no subpoena has been issued by the State Elections 394
	510	+	Enforcement Commission pursuant to subsection (1) of section 9-7b, the 395
	511	+	municipal clerk shall destroy the materials preserved under this section. 396
	512	+	Sec. 7. Section 9-159o of the general statutes, as amended by section 7 397
	513	+	of public act 20-3 of the July special session, is repealed and the 398
	514	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 399
	515	+	(a) Any elector who has returned an absentee ballot to the municipal 400
	516	+	clerk and who finds such elector is able to vote in person shall proceed 401
	517	+	before ten o'clock a.m. on election, primary or referendum day to the 402
	518	+	municipal clerk's office and request that such elector's ballot be 403
	519	+	withdrawn. The municipal clerk shall remove the ballot from the sealed 404
	520	+	package and shall mark the serially-numbered outer envelope, which 405
	521	+	shall remain unopened, "rejected" and note the reasons for rejection. The 406
	522	+	elector shall also endorse the envelope. The rejected ballot shall then be 407
	523	+	returned to the sealed package until delivered on election, primary or 408
	524	+	referendum day to the registrars of voters in accordance with section 9-409
	525	+	140c. The municipal clerk shall then give the elector a signed statement 410
	526	+	directed to the moderator of the voting district in which the elector 411
	527	+	resides stating that the elector has withdrawn [his] such elector's 412
	528	+	absentee ballot and may vote in person. Upon delivery of the statement 413
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	535	+	by the elector to the moderator, the moderator shall cause the absentee 414
	536	+	indication next to the name of the elector to be stricken from the official 415
	537	+	checklist and the elector may then have such elector's name checked and 416
	538	+	vote in person. Unless absentee ballots are to be counted in the 417
	539	+	respective polling places pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, 418
	540	+	the municipal clerk shall also cause the absentee indication next to the 419
	541	+	name of the elector to be stricken from the duplicate checklist to be used 420
	542	+	by the absentee ballot counters. 421
	543	+	(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, 422
	544	+	for the state election in 2020, any elector who has returned an absentee 423
	545	+	ballot to the municipal clerk and who finds such elector is able to vote 424
	546	+	in person shall proceed before five o'clock p.m. on the [last] fourth day 425
	547	+	before the election to the municipal clerk's office and request that such 426
	548	+	elector's ballot be withdrawn. 427
	549	+	This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
	550	+	sections:
	551	+
	552	+	Section 1 from passage New section
	553	+	Sec. 2 from passage 9-140c
	554	+	Sec. 3 from passage 9-147a
	555	+	Sec. 4 from passage 9-225
	556	+	Sec. 5 from passage New section
	557	+	Sec. 6 from passage 9-150b
	558	+	Sec. 7 from passage 9-159o
	559	+