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 Section 9-19j of the general statutes is repealed and the 1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