Researcher: KS Page 1 5/25/21
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6205 (as amended by House "A")*
AN ACT REVISING CERTAIN ABSENTEE VOTING STATUTES.
SUMMARY
This bill expands two of the six statutory reasons for which
qualified voters (i.e., electors and people eligible to vote) may vote by
absentee ballot (see BACKGROUND). Under the bill, qualified voters
may vote by absentee ballot if, during the specified time, they are
unable to appear at their polling place because of (1) sickness
generally, rather than because of their illness, or (2) physical disability
generally, rather than because of their physical disability.
Additionally, the bill generally authorizes qualified voters to vote
by absentee ballot if they are unable to appear at their polling place on
the day of the primary, election, or referendum, rather than during the
hours of voting as under current law. It also specifies that qualified
voters may vote by absentee ballot if they are absent from the
municipality where they are an inhabitant, rather than the
municipality of their voting residence.
The bill requires that absentee ballots be updated to reflect the
above changes. Specifically, the statement printed on the face of
absentee ballots’ inner envelope must show the revised reasons for
which electors may vote absentee. By law, absentee voters must sign
the statement under penalties of false statement in absentee balloting,
which is a class D felony punishable by up to five years in prison, a
fine of up to $5,000, or both (CGS § 9-359a).
Lastly, the bill makes technical changes.
*House Amendment “A” makes the bill effective upon passage,
rather than October 1, 2021, and preserves provisions on absentee
voting in the 2020 state election. 2021HB-06205-R01-BA.DOCX
Researcher: KS Page 2 5/25/21
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
BACKGROUND
Related Constitutional Amendment
sHJ 58 (File 96), which the House passed by a majority of the
membership but less than three-fourths, proposes a constitutional
amendment to remove the state constitution’s current restrictions on
absentee voting.
Related Bill
sSB 5 (File 570), reported favorably by the Government
Administration and Elections Committee, contains similar provisions.
Permitted Reasons Under the Constitution for Voting by Absentee
Ballot
The state constitution authorizes the General Assembly to pass a
law allowing eligible voters to cast their votes by absentee ballot if they
are unable to appear at a polling place on election day because of (1)
absence from their city or town, (2) sickness or physical disability, or
(3) the tenets of their religion prohibiting secular activity (Conn. Const.
Art. VI, § 7). The General Assembly exercised this authority and
passed laws codified at CGS § 9-135.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 13 Nay 6 (04/05/2021)