Connecticut 2020 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB00233 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	LCO No. 1465 1 of 18
4	4
5	5	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 233
6	6	February Session, 2020
7	7	LCO No. 1465
8	8
9	9
10	10	Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
11	11	AND ELECTIONS
12	12
13	13
14	14	Introduced by:
15	15	(GAE)
16	16
17	17
18	18
19	19
20	20	AN ACT CONCERNING EL ECTIONS.
21	21	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
22	22	Assembly convened:
23	23
24	24	Section 1. Section 9-19j of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
25	25	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 2
26	26	(a) As used in this subsection and subsections (b) to (i), inclusive, of 3
27	27	this section, "election day" means the day on which a regular election, 4
28	28	as defined in section 9-1, is held. 5
29	29	(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, a person who (1) 6
30	30	is (A) not an elector, or (B) an elector registered in a municipality who 7
31	31	wishes to change his or her registration to another municipality 8
32	32	pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of this 9
33	33	section, and (2) meets the eligibility requirements under subsection (a) 10
34	34	of section 9-12, may apply for admission as an elector on election day 11
35	35	pursuant to the provisions of subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this 12
36	36	section. 13
37	37	(c) (1) The registrars of voters shall designate a location for the 14 Raised Bill No. 233
38	38
39	39
40	40
41	41	LCO No. 1465 2 of 18
42	42
43	43	completion and processing of election day registration applications on 15
44	44	election day, provided (A) the registrars of voters shall have access to 16
45	45	the state-wide centralized voter registration system from such location, 17
46	46	and (B) such location shall be certified in writing to the Secretary of the 18
47	47	State not later than thirty-one days before such election day. The written 19
48	48	certification required pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this subdivision 20
49	49	shall (i) include the name, street address and relevant contact 21
50	50	information associated with such location, (ii) list the name and address 22
51	51	of each election official appointed to serve at such location, if any, and 23
52	52	(iii) provide a description of the design of such location and a plan for 24
53	53	effective completion and processing of such applications. Upon review 25
54	54	of such written certification, the Secretary may require the registrars of 26
55	55	voters to appoint one or more additional election officials or to alter such 27
56	56	design or plan. 28
57	57	(2) The registrars of voters may apply to the Secretary of the State, in 29
58	58	a form and manner prescribed by the Secretary, to designate any 30
59	59	additional location for the completion and processing of election day 31
60	60	registration applications on election day, provided the registrars of 32
61	61	voters shall so apply not later than ninety days before election day. 33
62	62	Upon approval of any such application by the Secretary, the registrars 34
63	63	of voters may so designate any such additional location. 35
64	64	[(2)] (3) The registrars of voters may [appoint one or more election 36
65	65	officials to serve at such location and may delegate to such election 37
66	66	officials] delegate to each election official appointed pursuant to 38
67	67	subdivision (1) of this subsection, if any, any of the responsibilities 39
68	68	assigned to the registrars of voters. The registrars of voters shall 40
69	69	supervise each such election [officials] official and train each such 41
70	70	election [officials] official to be an election day registration election 42
71	71	[officials] official. 43
72	72	(d) Any person applying to register on election day under the 44
73	73	provisions of subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this section shall make 45
74	74	application in accordance with the provisions of section 9-20, provided 46
75	75	(1) on election day, the applicant shall appear in person not later than 47 Raised Bill No. 233
76	76
77	77
78	78
79	79	LCO No. 1465 3 of 18
80	80
81	81	eight o'clock p.m., in accordance with subsection (b) of section 9-174, as 48
82	82	amended by this act, at the location designated by the registrars of 49
83	83	voters for election day registration, (2) an applicant who is a student 50
84	84	enrolled at an institution of higher education may submit a current 51
85	85	photo identification card issued by [said] such institution in lieu of the 52
86	86	identification required by section 9-20, and (3) the applicant shall 53
87	87	declare under oath that the applicant has not previously voted in the 54
88	88	election. If the information that the applicant is required to provide 55
89	89	under section 9-20 and subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this section 56
90	90	does not include proof of the applicant's residential address, the 57
91	91	applicant shall also submit identification that shows the applicant's 58
92	92	bona fide residence address, including, but not limited to, a learner's 59
93	93	permit issued under section 14-36 or a utility bill that has the applicant's 60
94	94	name and current address and that has a due date that is not later than 61
95	95	thirty days after the election or, in the case of a student enrolled at an 62
96	96	institution of higher education, a registration or fee statement from such 63
97	97	institution that has the applicant's name and current address. 64
98	98	(e) If the registrars of voters determine that an applicant satisfies the 65
99	99	application requirements set forth in subsection (d) of this section, the 66
100	100	registrars of voters shall [check the state-wide centralized voter 67
101	101	registration system before admitting] admit such applicant as an elector 68
102	102	and the privileges of an elector shall attach immediately. 69
103	103	[(1) If the registrars of voters determine that the applicant is not 70
104	104	already an elector, the registrars of voters shall admit the applicant as 71
105	105	an elector and the privileges of an elector shall attach immediately. 72
106	106	(2) If the registrars of voters determine that such applicant is an 73
107	107	elector in another municipality and such applicant states that he or she 74
108	108	wants to change the municipality in which the applicant is an elector, 75
109	109	notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-21, the registrars of voters 76
110	110	of the municipality in which such elector now seeks to register shall 77
111	111	immediately notify the registrars of voters in such other municipality 78
112	112	that such elector is changing the municipality in which the applicant is 79
113	113	an elector. The registrars of voters in such other municipality shall notify 80 Raised Bill No. 233
114	114
115	115
116	116
117	117	LCO No. 1465 4 of 18
118	118
119	119	the election officials in such municipality to remove such elector from 81
120	120	the official voter list of such municipality. Such election officials shall 82
121	121	cross through the elector's name on such official voter list and mark "off" 83
122	122	next to such elector's name on such official voter list. 84
123	123	(A) If it is reported that such applicant already voted in such other 85
124	124	municipality, the registrars of voters of such other municipality shall 86
125	125	immediately notify the registrars of voters of the municipality in which 87
126	126	such elector now seeks to register. In such event, such elector shall not 88
127	127	receive an election day registration ballot from the registrars of voters 89
128	128	of the municipality in which such elector now seeks to register. For any 90
129	129	such elector, the election day registration process shall cease in the 91
130	130	municipality in which such elector now seeks to register and such 92
131	131	matter shall be reviewed by the registrars of voters in the municipality 93
132	132	in which such elector now seeks to register. After completion of such 94
133	133	review, if a resolution of the matter can not be made, such matter shall 95
134	134	be reported to the State Elections Enforcement Commission which shall 96
135	135	conduct an investigation of the matter. 97
136	136	(B) If there is no such report that such applicant already voted in the 98
137	137	other municipality, the registrars of voters of the municipality in which 99
138	138	the applicant seeks to register shall admit the applicant as an elector and 100
139	139	the privileges of an elector shall attach immediately.] 101
140	140	(f) [If the applicant is admitted] Upon admission of the applicant as 102
141	141	an elector, the registrars of voters shall provide the elector with an 103
142	142	election day registration ballot and election day registration envelope 104
143	143	and shall make a record of such issuance. The elector shall complete an 105
144	144	affirmation imprinted upon the back of the envelope for an election day 106
145	145	registration ballot and shall declare under oath that the applicant has 107
146	146	not previously voted in the election. The affirmation shall be in the form 108
147	147	substantially as follows and signed by the voter: 109
148	148	AFFIRMATION: I, the undersigned, do hereby state, under penalty 110
149	149	of false statement, (perjury) that: 111
150	150	1. I am the person admitted here as an elector in the town indicated. 112 Raised Bill No. 233
151	151
152	152
153	153
154	154	LCO No. 1465 5 of 18
155	155
156	156	2. I am eligible to vote in the election indicated for today in the town 113
157	157	indicated. 114
158	158	3. The information on my voter registration card is correct and 115
159	159	complete. 116
160	160	4. I reside at the address that I have given to the registrars of voters. 117
161	161	5. If previously registered at another location, I have provided such 118
162	162	address to the registrars of voters and hereby request cancellation of 119
163	163	such prior registration. 120
164	164	6. I have not voted in person or by absentee ballot and I will not vote 121
165	165	otherwise than by this ballot at this election. 122
166	166	7. I completed an application for an election day registration ballot 123
167	167	and received an election day registration ballot. 124
168	168	.... (Signature of voter) 125
169	169	(g) The elector shall forthwith mark the election day registration 126
170	170	ballot in the presence of the registrars of voters in such a manner that 127
171	171	the registrars of voters shall not know how the election day registration 128
172	172	ballot is marked. The elector shall place the election day registration 129
173	173	ballot in the election day registration ballot envelope provided, and 130
174	174	deposit such envelope in a secured election day registration ballot 131
175	175	depository receptacle. At the time designated by the registrars of voters 132
176	176	and noticed to election officials, the registrars of voters shall transport 133
177	177	such receptacle containing the election day registration ballots to the 134
178	178	central location or polling place, pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-135
179	179	147a, where absentee ballots are counted and such election day 136
180	180	registration ballots shall be counted by the election officials present at 137
181	181	such central location or polling place. A section of the head moderator's 138
182	182	return shall show the number of election day registration ballots 139
183	183	received from electors. The registrars of voters shall seal a copy of the 140
184	184	vote tally for election day registration ballots in a depository envelope 141
185	185	with the election day registration ballots and store such election day 142 Raised Bill No. 233
186	186
187	187
188	188
189	189	LCO No. 1465 6 of 18
190	190
191	191	registration depository envelope with the other election results 143
192	192	materials. The election day registration depository envelope shall be 144
193	193	preserved by the registrars of voters for the period of time required to 145
194	194	preserve counted ballots for elections. 146
195	195	(h) The provisions of the general statutes and regulations concerning 147
196	196	procedures relating to the custody, control and counting of absentee 148
197	197	ballots shall apply as nearly as possible, to the custody, control and 149
198	198	counting of election day registration ballots under subsections (a) to (i), 150
199	199	inclusive, of this section. 151
200	200	(i) After the acceptance of an election day registration, the registrars 152
201	201	of voters shall forthwith send a registration confirmation notice to the 153
202	202	residential address of each applicant who is admitted as an elector on 154
203	203	election day under subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this section. Such 155
204	204	confirmation shall be sent by first class mail with instructions on the 156
205	205	envelope that it be returned if not deliverable at the address shown on 157
206	206	the envelope. If a confirmation notice is returned undelivered, the 158
207	207	registrars shall forthwith take the necessary action in accordance with 159
208	208	section 9-35 or 9-43, as applicable, notwithstanding the May first 160
209	209	deadline in section 9-35. 161
210	210	(j) No person shall solicit in behalf of or in opposition to the candidacy 162
211	211	of another or himself or herself or in behalf of or in opposition to any 163
212	212	question being submitted at the election, or loiter or peddle or offer any 164
213	213	advertising matter, ballot or circular to another person within a radius 165
214	214	of seventy-five feet of any outside entrance in use as an entry to any 166
215	215	location designated by the [registrars' of voters designated location] 167
216	216	registrars of voters for election day registration balloting or in any 168
217	217	corridor, passageway or other approach leading from any such outside 169
218	218	entrance to any such [registrars' of voters designated] location or in any 170
219	219	room opening upon any such corridor, passageway or approach. 171
220	220	Sec. 2. Section 9-174 of the general statutes is repealed and the 172
221	221	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 173
222	222	(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of any general statute, special act 174 Raised Bill No. 233
223	223
224	224
225	225
226	226	LCO No. 1465 7 of 18
227	227
228	228	or municipal charter to the contrary, at any regular election, or at any 175
229	229	special election held to fill a vacancy in a state, district or municipal 176
230	230	office, the polls shall remain open for voting from six o'clock a.m. until 177
231	231	eight o'clock p.m. No elector shall be permitted to cast his vote after the 178
232	232	hour prescribed for the closing of the polls in any election unless such 179
233	233	elector is in line at eight o'clock p.m. An election official or a police 180
234	234	official of the municipality, who is designated by the moderator, shall 181
235	235	be placed at the end of the line at eight o'clock p.m. Such official shall 182
236	236	not allow any electors who were not in such line at eight o'clock p.m. to 183
237	237	enter such line. 184
238	238	(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any general statute, special act 185
239	239	or municipal charter to the contrary, at any regular election, each 186
240	240	location designated for election day registration pursuant to subsection 187
241	241	(c) of section 9-19j, as amended by this act, shall remain open for election 188
242	242	day registration and voting from six o'clock a.m. until eight o'clock p.m. 189
243	243	No applicant for election day registration shall be admitted as an elector 190
244	244	or permitted to cast such applicant's vote after the hour prescribed for 191
245	245	the closing of the location designated for such purposes in any regular 192
246	246	election unless such applicant is in line at eight o'clock p.m. An election 193
247	247	official or a police official of the municipality, who is appointed by the 194
248	248	registrars of voters, shall be placed at the end of the line at eight o'clock 195
249	249	p.m. Such official shall not allow any applicants who were not in such 196
250	250	line at eight o'clock p.m. to enter such line. 197
251	251	Sec. 3. Section 9-46a of the general statutes is repealed and the 198
252	252	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 199
253	253	(a) A person who has been convicted of a felony and committed to 200
254	254	confinement in a federal or other state correctional institution or facility 201
255	255	or community residence shall have such person's electoral privileges 202
256	256	restored [upon the payment of all fines in conjunction with the 203
257	257	conviction and] once such person has been [discharged] released from 204
258	258	confinement. [, and, if applicable, parole.] 205
259	259	(b) Upon the release from confinement in a correctional institution or 206 Raised Bill No. 233
260	260
261	261
262	262
263	263	LCO No. 1465 8 of 18
264	264
265	265	facility or [a] community residence of a person who has been convicted 207
266	266	of a felony and committed to the custody of the Commissioner of 208
267	267	Correction, [and, if applicable, the discharge of such person from 209
268	268	parole,] (1) the person shall have the right to become an elector, (2) the 210
269	269	Commissioner of Correction shall give the person a document certifying 211
270	270	that the person has been released from such confinement, [and, if 212
271	271	applicable, has been discharged from parole,] (3) if the person was an 213
272	272	elector at the time of such felony conviction and, after such release, [and 214
273	273	any such discharge,] is residing in the same municipality in which the 215
274	274	person resided at the time of such felony conviction, the person's 216
275	275	electoral privileges shall be restored, and (4) if the person was an elector 217
276	276	at the time of such felony conviction and, after such release, [and any 218
277	277	such discharge,] is residing in a different municipality or if the person 219
278	278	was not an elector at the time of such felony conviction, the person's 220
279	279	electoral privileges shall be restored or granted upon submitting to an 221
280	280	admitting official satisfactory proof of the person's qualifications to be 222
281	281	admitted as an elector. The provisions of subdivisions (1) to (4), 223
282	282	inclusive, of this subsection shall not apply to any person convicted of a 224
283	283	felony for a violation of any provision of this title until such person has 225
284	284	been discharged from any parole or probation for such felony. 226
285	285	(c) The registrars of voters of the municipality in which a person is 227
286	286	admitted as an elector pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section, 228
287	287	within thirty days after the date on which such person is admitted, shall 229
288	288	notify the registrars of voters of the municipality wherein such person 230
289	289	resided at the time of such person's conviction that such person's 231
290	290	electoral rights have been so restored. 232
291	291	(d) The Commissioner of Correction shall establish procedures to 233
292	292	inform those persons who have been convicted of a felony and 234
293	293	committed to the custody of said commissioner for confinement in a 235
294	294	correctional institution or facility or a community residence, and are 236
295	295	eligible to have their electoral privileges restored or granted pursuant to 237
296	296	subsection (b) of this section, of the right and procedures to have such 238
297	297	privileges restored. The Office of Adult Probation shall, within available 239
298	298	appropriations, inform such persons who are on probation on January 240 Raised Bill No. 233
299	299
300	300
301	301
302	302	LCO No. 1465 9 of 18
303	303
304	304	1, 2002, of their right to become electors and procedures to have their 241
305	305	electoral privileges restored, which shall be in accordance with 242
306	306	subsections (b) and (c) of this section. 243
307	307	(e) The Commissioner of Correction shall, on or before the fifteenth 244
308	308	day of each month, transmit to the Secretary of the State a list of all 245
309	309	persons convicted of a felony and committed to the custody of said 246
310	310	commissioner who, during the preceding calendar month, have been 247
311	311	released from confinement in a correctional institution or facility or a 248
312	312	community residence. [and, if applicable, discharged from parole.] Such 249
313	313	lists shall include the names, birth dates and addresses of such persons, 250
314	314	with the dates of their convictions and the crimes of which such persons 251
315	315	have been convicted. The Secretary of the State shall transmit such lists 252
316	316	to the registrars of the municipalities in which such convicted persons 253
317	317	resided at the time of their convictions and to the registrars of any 254
318	318	municipalities where the secretary believes such persons may be 255
319	319	electors. 256
320	320	Sec. 4. Section 9-19h of the general statutes is repealed and the 257
321	321	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 258
322	322	(a) The Department of Social Services, the Labor Department and the 259
323	323	Department of Motor Vehicles shall make voter registration information 260
324	324	and materials available to the public. Such information and materials 261
325	325	shall be placed in public areas of the offices of such departments. The 262
326	326	State Library and the libraries of the state's public institutions of higher 263
327	327	education shall also make such information and materials available to 264
328	328	users of the libraries. The Secretary of the State shall provide such 265
329	329	departments, such libraries and any libraries open to the public with 266
330	330	suitable nonpartisan literature, materials and voter registration 267
331	331	application forms authorized under sections 9-23g and 9-23h. [The 268
332	332	secretary shall also provide to the Department of Social Services, the 269
333	333	Labor Department and the Department of Motor Vehicles any furniture 270
334	334	needed to display such literature, materials and forms.] 271
335	335	(b) (1) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, 272 Raised Bill No. 233
336	336
337	337
338	338
339	339	LCO No. 1465 10 of 18
340	340
341	341	and except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the 273
342	342	Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, not later than January 1, 1994, shall 274
343	343	include an application for the admission of an elector with each 275
344	344	application form provided for a motor vehicle operator's license and a 276
345	345	motor vehicle operator's license renewal, which are issued under 277
346	346	subpart (B) of part III of chapter 246, and with each application form 278
347	347	provided for an identity card issued under section 1-1h. Such 279
348	348	application form for the admission of an elector [(1)] (A) shall be subject 280
349	349	to the approval of the Secretary of the State, [(2)] (B) shall not include 281
350	350	any provisions for the witnessing of the application, and [(3)] (C) shall 282
351	351	contain a statement that [(A)] (i) specifies each eligibility requirement, 283
352	352	[(B)] (ii) contains an attestation that the applicant meets each such 284
353	353	requirement, and [(C)] (iii) requires the signature of the applicant under 285
354	354	penalty of perjury. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall accept 286
355	355	any such completed application for admission which is submitted in 287
356	356	person, [or by mail. The] by mail or through an electronic system 288
357	357	pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection. Except as provided in said 289
358	358	subdivision, applicant shall state on such form, under penalty of 290
359	359	perjury, the applicant's name, bona fide residence address, date of birth, 291
360	360	whether the applicant is a United States citizen, party enrollment, if any, 292
361	361	prior voting address, if registered previously, and that the applicant's 293
362	362	privileges as an elector are not forfeited by reason of conviction of a 294
363	363	felony. No Social Security number on any such application form for the 295
364	364	admission of an elector filed prior to January 1, 2000, may be disclosed 296
365	365	to the public or to any governmental agency. The commissioner shall 297
366	366	indicate on each such form the date of receipt of such application to 298
367	367	ensure that any eligible applicant is registered to vote in an election if it 299
368	368	is received by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles by the last day for 300
369	369	registration to vote in an election. The commissioner shall provide the 301
370	370	applicant with an application receipt, on a form approved by the 302
371	371	Secretary of the State and on which the commissioner shall record the 303
372	372	date that the commissioner received the application, using an official 304
373	373	date stamp bearing the words "Department of Motor Vehicles". The 305
374	374	commissioner shall provide such receipt whether the application was 306
375	375	submitted in person, [or] by mail or through an electronic system 307 Raised Bill No. 233
376	376
377	377
378	378
379	379	LCO No. 1465 11 of 18
380	380
381	381	pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection. The commissioner shall 308
382	382	forthwith transmit the application to the registrars of voters of the 309
383	383	applicant's town of residence. If a registration application is accepted 310
384	384	within five days before the last day for registration to vote in a regular 311
385	385	election, the application shall be transmitted to the registrars of voters 312
386	386	of the town of voting residence of the applicant not later than five days 313
387	387	after the date of acceptance. The procedures in subsections (c), (d), (f) 314
388	388	and (g) of section 9-23g which are not inconsistent with the National 315
389	389	Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to 316
390	390	time, shall apply to applications made under this section. The 317
391	391	commissioner is not an admitting official and may not restore, under the 318
392	392	provisions of section 9-46a, as amended by this act, electoral privileges 319
393	393	of persons convicted of a felony. 320
394	394	(2) (A) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall provide an 321
395	395	electronic system, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the State, to 322
396	396	effectuate the purposes of subdivision (1) of this subsection regarding 323
397	397	application for admission of an elector, except that the condition that an 324
398	398	applicant state and attest to meeting each eligibility requirement may be 325
399	399	waived for any such eligibility requirement verified independently by 326
400	400	said commissioner through a federally approved identity verification 327
401	401	program or other evidence acceptable to said commissioner. Such 328
402	402	electronic system may provide for the transmittal to the Secretary of an 329
403	403	applicant's signature on file with said commissioner. The use of any 330
404	404	such electronic system shall comply with the National Voter 331
405	405	Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time. 332
406	406	(B) (i) Unless otherwise provided in this subparagraph, if the 333
407	407	Commissioner of Motor Vehicles determines that a person applying for 334
408	408	a motor vehicle operator's license, a motor vehicle operator's license 335
409	409	renewal or an identity card meets each eligibility requirement for 336
410	410	admission as an elector, said commissioner shall forthwith transmit an 337
411	411	application for such person's admission as an elector to the registrars of 338
412	412	voters of such person's residence through an electronic system pursuant 339
413	413	to this subdivision, in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (1) 340
414	414	of this subsection, except that no such application shall be transmitted if 341 Raised Bill No. 233
415	415
416	416
417	417
418	418	LCO No. 1465 12 of 18
419	419
420	420	such person declines to apply for such admission. 342
421	421	(ii) If said commissioner determines that a person applying for a 343
422	422	motor vehicle operator's license, a motor vehicle operator's license 344
423	423	renewal or an identity card is not a United States citizen, said 345
424	424	commissioner shall not provide such person an opportunity to apply for 346
425	425	admission as an elector through an electronic system pursuant to this 347
426	426	subdivision and shall not transmit any application for such admission 348
427	427	on behalf of such person. 349
428	428	(iii) If said commissioner cannot determine whether a person 350
429	429	applying for a motor vehicle operator's license, a motor vehicle 351
430	430	operator's license renewal or an identity card is a United States citizen, 352
431	431	such person shall attest to his or her United States citizenship as a 353
432	432	precondition of said commissioner processing such person's application 354
433	433	for admission as an elector through an electronic system pursuant to this 355
434	434	subdivision. 356
435	435	Sec. 5. Section 9-19i of the general statutes is repealed and the 357
436	436	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 358
437	437	(a) Any change of address form submitted by a person in accordance 359
438	438	with law for purposes of a motor vehicle operator's license shall serve 360
439	439	as notification of change of address for voter registration for the person 361
440	440	unless the person states on the form that the change of address is not for 362
441	441	voter registration purposes. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall 363
442	442	forthwith transmit such change of address information to the registrars 364
443	443	of voters of the town of the former address of the person. If the name of 365
444	444	the person appears on the registry list of the town, and if the new 366
445	445	address is also within such town, the registrars shall enter the name of 367
446	446	such elector on the registry list at the place where he then resides. If the 368
447	447	name of the person appears on the registry list of the town and if the 369
448	448	new address is outside such town, the registrars shall remove the name 370
449	449	of such elector from the registry list and send the elector the notice, 371
450	450	information and application required by subsection (c) of section 9-35, 372
451	451	except that if said commissioner is using an electronic system pursuant 373 Raised Bill No. 233
452	452
453	453
454	454
455	455	LCO No. 1465 13 of 18
456	456
457	457	to subsection (b) of this section, the Secretary of the State may prescribe 374
458	458	alternative procedures for sending such notice and information and 375
459	459	may waive the requirement to send such application. 376
460	460	(b) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall provide an electronic 377
461	461	system, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the State, to effectuate 378
462	462	the purposes of subsection (a) of this section regarding notifications of 379
463	463	change of address for voter registration. Such electronic system may 380
464	464	provide for the transmittal to the Secretary of an applicant's signature 381
465	465	on file with said commissioner. The use of any such electronic system 382
466	466	shall comply with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-383
467	467	31, as amended from time to time. 384
468	468	Sec. 6. Section 9-19k of the general statutes is repealed and the 385
469	469	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 386
470	470	(a) The Secretary of the State shall establish and maintain a system for 387
471	471	online voter registration. Such system shall also permit a registered 388
472	472	elector to apply for changes to such elector's registration. An applicant 389
473	473	may register to vote through this system, provided the applicant's (1) 390
474	474	registration information is verifiable in the manner described in 391
475	475	subsection (b) of this section, and (2) (A) signature is in a database 392
476	476	described in said subsection (b) and such signature may be imported 393
477	477	into such system for online voter registration, or (B) signature has been 394
478	478	electronically submitted by the applicant directly to the Secretary in a 395
479	479	form and manner prescribed by the Secretary and such signature may 396
480	480	be used with such system. 397
481	481	(b) A state agency, upon the request of the Secretary of the State, shall 398
482	482	provide any information to the Secretary that the Secretary deems 399
483	483	necessary to maintain the system for online voter registration. The 400
484	484	Secretary may cross reference the information input into the system by 401
485	485	applicants with data or information contained in any state agency's 402
486	486	database or a database administered by the federal government, or any 403
487	487	voter registration database of another state, in order to verify the 404
488	488	information submitted by applicants. The Secretary shall not use the 405 Raised Bill No. 233
489	489
490	490
491	491
492	492	LCO No. 1465 14 of 18
493	493
494	494	information obtained from any such database except to verify 406
495	495	information submitted by the applicant, provided the applicant's 407
496	496	signature, if part of data contained in the state agency's database, shall 408
497	497	be included as part of the applicant's information contained in the 409
498	498	system for online voter registration. 410
499	499	(c) The submission of an online application shall contain all of the 411
500	500	information that is required for an application under section 9-23h, 412
501	501	except that a signature shall be obtained (1) from another state agency's 413
502	502	database pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, or (2) electronically 414
503	503	from the applicant directly in a form and manner prescribed by the 415
504	504	Secretary of the State. 416
505	505	(d) In order for an applicant's registration or change in registration to 417
506	506	be approved, the applicant shall mark the box associated with the 418
507	507	following statement included as part of the online application: 419
508	508	"By clicking on the box below, I swear or affirm all of the following 420
509	509	under penalty of perjury: 421
510	510	(1) I am the person whose name and identifying information is 422
511	511	provided on this form, and I desire to register to vote in the State of 423
512	512	Connecticut. 424
513	513	(2) All of the information I have provided on this form is true and 425
514	514	correct as of the date I am submitting this form. 426
515	515	(3) If I have not already submitted my signature electronically to the 427
516	516	Connecticut Secretary of the State, I authorize the Department of Motor 428
517	517	Vehicles or any other Connecticut state agency to transmit to the 429
518	518	[Connecticut] Secretary of the State or my town's registrars of voters my 430
519	519	signature that is on file with such agency, and I understand that such 431
520	520	signature will be used by the Secretary of the State or my town's 432
521	521	registrars of voters on this online application for admission as an elector 433
522	522	as if I had signed this form personally." 434
523	523	(e) Upon approval of such application, the registrars of voters shall 435 Raised Bill No. 233
524	524
525	525
526	526
527	527	LCO No. 1465 15 of 18
528	528
529	529	send a notice of approval pursuant to section 9-19b to the applicant. 436
530	530	(f) If an applicant registers to vote pursuant to the provisions of this 437
531	531	section after the seventh day before an election or after the fifth day 438
532	532	before a primary, the privileges of an elector shall not attach until the 439
533	533	day after such election or primary, as the case may be. In such event, the 440
534	534	registrars of voters may contact such applicant, either by telephone or 441
535	535	mail, in order to inform such applicant of the effect of such late received 442
536	536	application and any applicable deadline for applying for admission in 443
537	537	person. 444
538	538	(g) Nothing in this section shall prevent the registrars of voters or any 445
539	539	election official appointed by such registrars of voters to admit any 446
540	540	applicant as an elector from utilizing the online voter registration 447
541	541	system established pursuant to this section for the purpose of admitting 448
542	542	such applicant on election day pursuant to section 9-19j, as amended by 449
543	543	this act. 450
544	544	(h) The Secretary of the State shall develop and implement a system 451
545	545	through which the Secretary may permit any person to submit an 452
546	546	electronic signature for the purpose of signing any form or application 453
547	547	to be filed pursuant to chapters 141 to 154, inclusive. The Secretary may 454
548	548	include in, or exclude from, such system any such form or application. 455
549	549	Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any such form or 456
550	550	application on which any such electronic signature appears shall be 457
551	551	deemed to have been signed in the original. 458
552	552	Sec. 7. Subsection (b) of section 9-23n of the general statutes is 459
553	553	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 460
554	554	passage): 461
555	555	(b) [Voter registration agencies shall] (1) Except as provided in 462
556	556	subdivision (2) of this subsection, each voter agency shall (A) distribute 463
557	557	mail voter registration application forms, [(2)] (B) assist applicants for 464
558	558	[such] service or assistance [or services] provided by the agency in 465
559	559	completing voter registration application forms, except for applicants 466
560	560	who refuse [such] assistance in completing such forms, [(3)] (C) accept 467 Raised Bill No. 233
561	561
562	562
563	563
564	564	LCO No. 1465 16 of 18
565	565
566	566	completed voter registration application forms and provide each 468
567	567	applicant with an application receipt, on which the agency shall record 469
568	568	the date that the agency received the application, using an official date 470
569	569	stamp bearing the name of the agency, and [(4)] (D) immediately 471
570	570	transmit all such applications to the registrars of voters of the town of 472
571	571	voting residence of the applicants. The agency shall provide such receipt 473
572	572	whether the application was submitted in person, [or] by mail or 474
573	573	through an electronic system pursuant to subdivision (2) of this 475
574	574	subsection. If a registration application is accepted within five days 476
575	575	before the last day for registration to vote in a regular election, the 477
576	576	application shall be transmitted to the registrars of voters of the town of 478
577	577	voting residence of the applicant not later than five days after the date 479
578	578	of acceptance. [The] Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this 480
579	579	subsection, the voter registration agency shall indicate on the completed 481
580	580	mail voter registration application form, without indicating the identity 482
581	581	of the voter registration agency, the date of its acceptance by such 483
582	582	agency, to ensure that any eligible applicant is registered to vote in an 484
583	583	election if it is received by the registration agency by the last day for 485
584	584	registration to vote in an election. If a state-funded program primarily 486
585	585	engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities provides 487
586	586	services to a person with a disability at the person's home, the agency 488
587	587	shall provide such voter registration services at the person's home. The 489
588	588	procedures in subsections (c), (d), (f) and (g) of section 9-23g that are not 490
589	589	inconsistent with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 491
590	590	103-31, as amended from time to time, shall apply to applications made 492
591	591	under this section. Officials and employees of such voter registration 493
592	592	agencies are not admitting officials, as defined in section 9-17a, and may 494
593	593	not restore, under the provisions of section 9-46a, as amended by this 495
594	594	act, electoral privileges of persons convicted of a felony. 496
595	595	(2) Each voter registration agency may use an electronic system, 497
596	596	subject to the approval of the Secretary of the State, to effectuate the 498
597	597	purposes of subdivision (1) of this subsection regarding applications for 499
598	598	voter registration. Such electronic system may provide for the 500
599	599	transmittal to the Secretary of an applicant's signature on file with such 501 Raised Bill No. 233
600	600
601	601
602	602
603	603	LCO No. 1465 17 of 18
604	604
605	605	agency or the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles. The use of any such 502
606	606	electronic system shall comply with the National Voter Registration Act 503
607	607	of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time. 504
608	608	Sec. 8. Section 9-23o of the general statutes is repealed and the 505
609	609	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 506
610	610	A voter registration agency, as defined in section 9-23n, as amended 507
611	611	by this act, shall comply with the National Voter Registration Act of 508
612	612	1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time, and shall (1) distribute 509
613	613	with each application for service or assistance provided by the agency, 510
614	614	and with each recertification, renewal or change of address form 511
615	615	relating to such service or assistance a mail voter registration application 512
616	616	form approved by the Secretary of the State, or (2) provide, during each 513
617	617	application for such service or assistance and each recertification, 514
618	618	renewal or change of address relating thereto, an opportunity to apply 515
619	619	for voter registration through an electronic system pursuant to 516
620	620	subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of said section, unless the applicant 517
621	621	declines to register to vote pursuant to the provisions of the National 518
622	622	Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to 519
623	623	time. Such declination shall be in writing, except in the case of an 520
624	624	application for service or assistance provided by a library, or a 521
625	625	recertification, renewal or change of address form relating to such 522
626	626	library service or assistance. Such voter registration agency shall 523
627	627	provide each applicant to register to vote the same degree of assistance 524
628	628	with regard to the completion of the registration application form as is 525
629	629	provided by the agency with regard to the completion of its own forms, 526
630	630	unless the applicant refuses such assistance. 527
631	631	Sec. 9. Section 9-23p of the general statutes is repealed and the 528
632	632	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 529
633	633	Each public institution of higher education shall (1) distribute mail 530
634	634	voter registration application forms, (2) provide opportunities to apply 531
635	635	for voter registration through an electronic system, and [(2)] (3) assist 532
636	636	applicants who request assistance in completing such voter registration 533 Raised Bill No. 233
637	637
638	638
639	639
640	640	LCO No. 1465 18 of 18
641	641
642	642	application forms or applying for voter registration through such 534
643	643	electronic system. 535
644	644	This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
645	645	sections:
646	646
647	647	Section 1 from passage 9-19j
648	648	Sec. 2 from passage 9-174
649	649	Sec. 3 July 1, 2021 9-46a
650	650	Sec. 4 from passage 9-19h
651	651	Sec. 5 from passage 9-19i
652	652	Sec. 6 from passage 9-19k
653	653	Sec. 7 from passage 9-23n(b)
654	654	Sec. 8 from passage 9-23o
655	655	Sec. 9 from passage 9-23p
656	656
657	657	Statement of Purpose:
658	658	To (1) require registrars of voters to certify certain information
659	659	regarding designated locations for election day registration, permit the
660	660	Secretary to order any changes deemed necessary for the effective
661	661	conduct of election day registration and eliminate the requirement to
662	662	perform a cross-check before admitting an applicant for election day
663	663	registration, (2) permit applicants in line for election day registration
664	664	prior to eight o'clock p.m. to be admitted as electors and cast a vote in a
665	665	regular election, (3) restore, without the payment of certain fines, the
666	666	electoral privileges of convicted felons who are on parole, (4) establish
667	667	processes at certain state agencies for eligible individuals to
668	668	automatically apply for voter registration, and (5) require the Secretary
669	669	of the State to develop a system through which election-related forms
670	670	can be signed electronically.
671	671	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
672	672	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
673	673	underlined.]
674	674