Connecticut 2021 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB06325 Compare Versions

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7		-	General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 6325
8		-	January Session, 2021
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	6	+	LCO No. 4990 1 of 13
	7	+
	8	+	General Assembly Committee Bill No. 6325
	9	+	January Session, 2021
	10	+	LCO No. 4990
	11	+
	12	+
	13	+	Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
	14	+	AND ELECTIONS
	15	+
	16	+
	17	+	Introduced by:
	18	+	(GAE)
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14	22		AN ACT CONCERNING TH E SECRETARY OF THE S TATE,
15	23		ABSENTEE BALLOTS AND ELECTION AUDITS.
16	24		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
17	25		Assembly convened:
18	26
19		-	Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a task force 1
20		-	to study the feasibility of implementing procedures whereby an 2
21		-	absentee ballot applicant uses a single envelope, instead of two, for the 3
22		-	return of such applicant's absentee ballot. Such study shall include an 4
23		-	examination and identification of each section of the general statutes 5
24		-	that would require amending in order to implement such procedures. 6
25		-	(b) The task force shall consist of the following members: 7
26		-	(1) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; 8
27		-	(2) One appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate; 9
28		-	(3) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of 10
29		-	Representatives; 11
30		-	(4) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; 12
31		-	(5) One appointed by the House of Representatives chairperson of the 13
32		-	joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 14
33		-	matters relating to elections; 15 Substitute Bill No. 6325
	27	+	Section 1. (Effective from passage) Not later than October 1, 2021, the 1
	28	+	Secretary of the State shall submit a report, in accordance with the 2
	29	+	provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing 3
	30	+	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 4
	31	+	relating to elections (1) identifying each statute, regulation, requirement 5
	32	+	or part thereof regarding the conduct of elections that was modified or 6
	33	+	suspended, in whole or in part, by (A) executive order of the Governor 7
	34	+	issued pursuant to section 28-9 of the general statutes, or (B) declaratory 8
	35	+	ruling, instruction, opinion or order of the Secretary issued pursuant to 9
	36	+	section 9-3 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, for any 10
	37	+	election or primary held in 2020 or 2021, and (2) explaining and detailing 11
	38	+	each such modification or suspension. 12
	39	+	Sec. 2. Section 9-3 of the general statutes is repealed and the following 13
	40	+	is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 14
	41	+	(a) The Secretary of the State, by virtue of the office, shall be the 15
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34	43
	44	+	Commissioner of Elections of the state, with such powers and duties 16
	45	+	relating to the conduct of elections as are prescribed by law and, unless 17
	46	+	otherwise provided by state statute, the Secretary's regulations, 18
	47	+	declaratory rulings, instructions and opinions, if in written form, and 19
	48	+	any order issued under subsection (b) of this section, shall be presumed 20
	49	+	as correctly interpreting and effectuating the administration of elections 21
	50	+	and primaries under this title, except for chapters 155 to 158, inclusive, 22
	51	+	and shall be executed, carried out or implemented, as the case may be, 23
	52	+	provided nothing in this section shall be construed to alter the right of 24
	53	+	appeal provided under the provisions of chapter 54. Any such written 25
	54	+	instruction or opinion shall be labeled as an instruction or opinion 26
	55	+	issued pursuant to this section, as applicable, and any such instruction 27
	56	+	or opinion shall cite any authority that is discussed in such instruction 28
	57	+	or opinion. 29
	58	+	(b) During any municipal, state or federal election, primary or 30
	59	+	recanvass, or any audit conducted pursuant to section 9-320f, the 31
	60	+	Secretary of the State may issue an order, whether orally or in writing, 32
	61	+	to any registrar of voters or moderator to correct any irregularity or 33
	62	+	impropriety in the conduct of such election, primary or recanvass or 34
	63	+	audit. Any such order shall be effective upon issuance. As soon as 35
	64	+	practicable after issuance of an oral order pursuant to this subsection, 36
	65	+	the Secretary shall reduce such order to writing, cite within such order 37
	66	+	any applicable provision of law authorizing such order and cause a copy 38
	67	+	of such written order to be delivered to the individual who is the subject 39
	68	+	of such order or, in the case that such order was originally issued in 40
	69	+	writing, issue a subsequent written order that conforms to such 41
	70	+	requirements. The Superior Court, on application of the Secretary or the 42
	71	+	Attorney General, may enforce by appropriate decree or process any 43
	72	+	such order issued pursuant to this subsection. 44
	73	+	(c) Prior to issuing any declaratory ruling pursuant to section 4-176, 45
	74	+	as amended by this act, or any instruction, opinion or order under the 46
	75	+	provisions of this section, the Secretary of the State shall adopt such 47
	76	+	declaratory ruling, instruction, opinion or order as a regulation, in 48
	77	+	accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. The Secretary shall 49
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	80	+	publish on the eRegulations System a notice of intent to adopt (1) such 50
	81	+	declaratory ruling as a regulation not later than sixty days after receipt 51
	82	+	of a petition for a declaratory ruling, and (2) such instruction, opinion 52
	83	+	or order as a regulation immediately upon proposing to so issue any 53
	84	+	such instruction, opinion or order. Such declaratory ruling, instruction, 54
	85	+	opinion or order shall be effective when the regulation is posted on the 55
	86	+	eRegulations System by the Secretary of the State under section 4-172. 56
	87	+	Sec. 3. Subdivision (16) of section 4-166 of the general statutes is 57
	88	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 58
	89	+	1, 2021): 59
	90	+	(16) "Regulation" means each agency statement of general 60
	91	+	applicability, without regard to its designation, that implements, 61
	92	+	interprets, or prescribes law or policy, or describes the organization, 62
	93	+	procedure, or practice requirements of any agency. The term includes 63
	94	+	the amendment or repeal of a prior regulation, but does not include (A) 64
	95	+	statements concerning only the internal management of any agency and 65
	96	+	not affecting private rights or procedures available to the public, (B) 66
	97	+	declaratory rulings issued pursuant to section 4-176, as amended by this 67
	98	+	act, other than declaratory rulings described in section 9-3, as amended 68
	99	+	by this act, or (C) intra-agency or interagency memoranda; 69
	100	+	Sec. 4. Section 4-176 of the general statutes is repealed and the 70
	101	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 71
	102	+	(a) Any person may petition an agency, or an agency may on its own 72
	103	+	motion initiate a proceeding, for a declaratory ruling as to the validity 73
	104	+	of any regulation, or the applicability to specified circumstances of a 74
	105	+	provision of the general statutes, a regulation, or a final decision on a 75
	106	+	matter within the jurisdiction of the agency. 76
	107	+	(b) Each agency shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the 77
	108	+	provisions of this chapter, that provide for (1) the form and content of 78
	109	+	petitions for declaratory rulings, (2) the filing procedure for such 79
	110	+	petitions and (3) the procedural rights of persons with respect to the 80
	111	+	petitions. 81
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40		-	(6) One appointed by the Senate chairperson of the joint standing 16
41		-	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 17
42		-	relating to elections; 18
43		-	(7) One appointed by the House of Representatives ranking member 19
44		-	of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 20
45		-	cognizance of matters relating to elections; 21
46		-	(8) One appointed by the Senate ranking member of the joint standing 22
47		-	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 23
48		-	relating to elections; 24
49		-	(9) The Secretary of the State, or the Secretary's designee; 25
50		-	(10) Two appointed by the president of the Registrars of Voters 26
51		-	Association of Connecticut, each of whom shall be enrolled in a different 27
52		-	political party from the other; and 28
53		-	(11) One appointed by the president of the Connecticut Town Clerks 29
54		-	Association. 30
55		-	(c) Any member of the task force appointed under subdivision (1), 31
56		-	(2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) or (8) of subsection (b) of this section may be a 32
57		-	member of the General Assembly. 33
58		-	(d) All initial appointments to the task force shall be made not later 34
59		-	than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall 35
60		-	be filled by the appointing authority. 36
61		-	(e) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro 37
62		-	tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons of the task force from 38
63		-	among the members of the task force. Such chairpersons shall schedule 39
64		-	the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later than sixty 40
65		-	days after the effective date of this section. 41
66		-	(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 42
67		-	General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to elections 43 Substitute Bill No. 6325
	114	+	(c) Within thirty days after receipt of a petition for a declaratory 82
	115	+	ruling, an agency shall give notice of the petition to all persons to whom 83
	116	+	notice is required by any provision of law and to all persons who have 84
	117	+	requested notice of declaratory ruling petitions on the subject matter of 85
	118	+	the petition. 86
	119	+	(d) If the agency finds that a timely petition to become a party or to 87
	120	+	intervene has been filed according to the regulations adopted under 88
	121	+	subsection (b) of this section, the agency: (1) May grant a person status 89
	122	+	as a party if the agency finds that the petition states facts demonstrating 90
	123	+	that the petitioner's legal rights, duties or privileges shall be specifically 91
	124	+	affected by the agency proceeding; and (2) may grant a person status as 92
	125	+	an intervenor if the agency finds that the petition states facts 93
	126	+	demonstrating that the petitioner's participation is in the interests of 94
	127	+	justice and will not impair the orderly conduct of the proceedings. The 95
	128	+	agency may define an intervenor's participation in the manner set forth 96
	129	+	in subsection (d) of section 4-177a. 97
	130	+	(e) Within sixty days after receipt of a petition for a declaratory 98
	131	+	ruling, an agency in writing shall: (1) Issue a ruling declaring the 99
	132	+	validity of a regulation or the applicability of the provision of the 100
	133	+	general statutes, the regulation, or the final decision in question to the 101
	134	+	specified circumstances, (2) order the matter set for specified 102
	135	+	proceedings, (3) agree to issue a declaratory ruling by a specified date, 103
	136	+	(4) decide not to issue a declaratory ruling and initiate regulation-104
	137	+	making proceedings, under section 4-168, on the subject, [or] (5) decide 105
	138	+	not to issue a declaratory ruling, stating the reasons for its action, or (6) 106
	139	+	in the case of a declaratory ruling described in section 9-3, as amended 107
	140	+	by this act, publish notice of intent to adopt regulations concerning such 108
	141	+	declaratory ruling. 109
	142	+	(f) A copy of all rulings issued and any actions taken under 110
	143	+	subsection (e) of this section shall be promptly delivered to the 111
	144	+	petitioner and other parties personally or by United States mail, certified 112
	145	+	or registered, postage prepaid, return receipt requested. 113
	146	+	(g) If the agency conducts a hearing in a proceeding for a declaratory 114
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	149	+	ruling, the provisions of subsection (b) of section 4-177c, section 4-178 115
	150	+	and section 4-179 shall apply to the hearing. 116
	151	+	(h) [A] Except as provided in subsection (c) of section 9-3, as amended 117
	152	+	by this act, a declaratory ruling shall be effective when personally 118
	153	+	delivered or mailed or on such later date specified by the agency in the 119
	154	+	ruling, shall have the same status and binding effect as an order issued 120
	155	+	in a contested case and shall be a final decision for purposes of appeal 121
	156	+	in accordance with the provisions of section 4-183. A declaratory ruling 122
	157	+	shall contain the names of all parties to the proceeding, the particular 123
	158	+	facts on which it is based and the reasons for its conclusion. 124
	159	+	(i) If an agency does not issue a declaratory ruling, other than a 125
	160	+	declaratory ruling described in section 9-3, as amended by this act, 126
	161	+	within one hundred eighty days after the filing of a petition therefor, or 127
	162	+	within such longer period as may be agreed by the parties, the agency 128
	163	+	shall be deemed to have decided not to issue such ruling. 129
	164	+	(j) The agency shall keep a record of the proceeding as provided in 130
	165	+	section 4-177. 131
	166	+	Sec. 5. Subsection (l) of section 9-140 of the general statutes is repealed 132
	167	+	and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 133
	168	+	(l) (1) No candidate, party or political committee, or agent of such 134
	169	+	candidate or committee shall mail unsolicited applications for absentee 135
	170	+	ballots to any person, unless such mailing includes: [(1)] (A) A written 136
	171	+	explanation of the eligibility requirements for voting by absentee ballot 137
	172	+	as prescribed in subsection (a) of section 9-135, and [(2)] (B) a written 138
	173	+	warning that voting or attempting to vote by absentee ballot without 139
	174	+	meeting one or more of such eligibility requirements subjects the elector 140
	175	+	or applicant to potential civil and criminal penalties. As used in this 141
	176	+	[subsection] subdivision, "agent" means any person authorized to act on 142
	177	+	behalf of another person. 143
	178	+	(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this 144
	179	+	subsection, neither the Secretary of the State nor any registrar of voters, 145
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	182	+	town clerk or any individual appointed thereby shall mail unsolicited 146
	183	+	applications for absentee ballots to any person. 147
	184	+	Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Notwithstanding the provisions 148
	185	+	of subsection (c) of section 9-147a and sections 9-150a and 9-150e of the 149
	186	+	general statutes, whenever at any election the General Assembly 150
	187	+	authorizes absentee ballots to be processed before the day of such 151
	188	+	election, (1) the registrars of voters of each municipality shall appoint 152
	189	+	absentee ballot counters for such purpose and such absentee ballot 153
	190	+	counters shall so process absentee ballots before the day of such election 154
	191	+	in accordance with applicable provisions of law, and (2) in the case of 155
	192	+	any returned absentee ballot for which the statement on the inner 156
	193	+	envelope has not been signed as required by section 9-140a of the 157
	194	+	general statutes, (A) the registrars of voters shall not contact the 158
	195	+	absentee ballot applicant who returned such absentee ballot for the 159
	196	+	purpose of curing such lack of signature, and (B) the absentee ballot 160
	197	+	counters shall not open such inner envelope or remove the ballot 161
	198	+	therefrom, shall replace such inner envelope in the opened outer 162
	199	+	envelope and shall mark such outer envelope "Rejected" and endorse 163
	200	+	the reason for such rejection on such outer envelope. 164
	201	+	Sec. 7. (Effective October 1, 2021) (a) Notwithstanding the provisions 165
	202	+	of section 7-192a of the general statutes, the Secretary of the State shall 166
	203	+	establish a pilot program for the manual or electronic verification of 167
	204	+	signatures on the inner envelopes for returned absentee ballots at the 168
	205	+	2022 state election. The Secretary shall randomly select five 169
	206	+	municipalities for participation in such pilot program, in accordance 170
	207	+	with the following: (1) One municipality with a population of less than 171
	208	+	ten thousand; (2) one municipality with a population of ten thousand or 172
	209	+	greater, but less than twenty-five thousand; (3) one municipality with a 173
	210	+	population of twenty-five thousand or greater, but less than fifty 174
	211	+	thousand; (4) one municipality with a population of fifty thousand or 175
	212	+	greater, but less than one hundred thousand; and (5) one municipality 176
	213	+	with a population of one hundred thousand or greater. For the purposes 177
	214	+	of this section, "population" means the estimated number of people 178
	215	+	according to the most recent version of the State Register and Manual 179
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74		-	shall serve as administrative staff of the task force. 44
75		-	(g) Not later than January 1, 2022, the task force shall submit a report 45
76		-	on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of 46
77		-	the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 47
78		-	elections, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the 48
79		-	general statutes. The task force shall terminate on the date that it 49
80		-	submits such report or January 1, 2022, whichever is later. 50
81		-	Sec. 2. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a working group 51
82		-	to (1) examine employing risk-limiting audits to determine the accuracy 52
83		-	of election results, including (A) the feasibility of implementing such 53
84		-	audits, (B) the different methods used in such audits and the practical 54
85		-	considerations for implementation of each such method within the 55
86		-	existing statutory framework, (C) any potential equipment necessary to 56
87		-	implement one or more of such methods, (D) the procedures necessary 57
88		-	to implement one or more of such methods, and (E) any changes to such 58
89		-	statutory framework necessary to implement one or more of such 59
90		-	methods, and (2) within available appropriations, oversee a pilot 60
91		-	program in not less than five and not more than ten municipalities of 61
92		-	one or more of such methods for the municipal elections held in such 62
93		-	municipalities in 2021. 63
94		-	(b) The working group shall consist of the following members: 64
95		-	(1) The Secretary of the State, or the Secretary's designee, who shall 65
96		-	be the chairperson of such working group; 66
97		-	(2) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; 67
98		-	(3) One appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate; 68
99		-	(4) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of 69
100		-	Representatives; 70
101		-	(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; 71 Substitute Bill No. 6325
	218	+	prepared pursuant to section 3-90 of the general statutes. 180
	219	+	(b) Not later than January 1, 2023, the Secretary of the State shall 181
	220	+	submit a report on the findings of the pilot program described in 182
	221	+	subsection (a) of this section and recommendations for legislation to the 183
	222	+	joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 184
	223	+	matters relating to elections, in accordance with the provisions of section 185
	224	+	11-4a of the general statutes. 186
	225	+	Sec. 8. Subsection (b) of section 9-139a of the general statutes is 187
	226	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 188
	227	+	passage): 189
	228	+	(b) The application for absentee ballot shall be in the form of a 190
	229	+	statement signed under the penalties of false statement in absentee 191
	230	+	balloting. Each application shall contain (1) spaces for the signature 192
	231	+	under the penalties of false statement in absentee balloting of any person 193
	232	+	who assists the applicant in the completion of an application, together 194
	233	+	with the information required in section 9-140, as amended by this act, 195
	234	+	[and] (2) spaces for the signature and the printed or typed name of the 196
	235	+	applicant, and (3) a conspicuously placed statement of the penalties for 197
	236	+	violation of any provision of said section regarding possession, 198
	237	+	completion or return of an application. 199
	238	+	Sec. 9. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a task force to 200
	239	+	study the feasibility of implementing procedures whereby an absentee 201
	240	+	ballot applicant uses a single envelope, instead of two, for the return of 202
	241	+	such applicant's absentee ballot. Such study shall include an 203
	242	+	examination and identification of each section of the general statutes 204
	243	+	that would require amending in order to implement such procedures. 205
	244	+	(b) The task force shall consist of the following members: 206
	245	+	(1) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; 207
	246	+	(2) One appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate; 208
	247	+	(3) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of 209
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	250	+	Representatives; 210
	251	+	(4) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; 211
	252	+	(5) One appointed by the House of Representatives chairperson of the 212
	253	+	joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 213
	254	+	matters relating to elections; 214
	255	+	(6) One appointed by the Senate chairperson of the joint standing 215
	256	+	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 216
	257	+	relating to elections; 217
	258	+	(7) One appointed by the House of Representatives ranking member 218
	259	+	of the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 219
	260	+	cognizance of matters relating to elections; 220
	261	+	(8) One appointed by the Senate ranking member of the joint standing 221
	262	+	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 222
	263	+	relating to elections; 223
	264	+	(9) The Secretary of the State, or the Secretary's designee; 224
	265	+	(10) Two appointed by the president of the Registrars of Voters 225
	266	+	Association of Connecticut, each of whom shall be enrolled in a different 226
	267	+	political party from the other; and 227
	268	+	(11) One appointed by the president of the Connecticut Town Clerks 228
	269	+	Association. 229
	270	+	(c) Any member of the task force appointed under subdivision (1), 230
	271	+	(2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) or (8) of subsection (b) of this section may be a 231
	272	+	member of the General Assembly. 232
	273	+	(d) All initial appointments to the task force shall be made not later 233
	274	+	than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy shall 234
	275	+	be filled by the appointing authority. 235
	276	+	(e) The speaker of the House of Representatives and the president pro 236
	277	+	tempore of the Senate shall select the chairpersons of the task force from 237
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	280	+	among the members of the task force. Such chairpersons shall schedule 238
	281	+	the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held not later than sixty 239
	282	+	days after the effective date of this section. 240
	283	+	(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 241
	284	+	General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to elections 242
	285	+	shall serve as administrative staff of the task force. 243
	286	+	(g) Not later than January 1, 2022, the task force shall submit a report 244
	287	+	on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of 245
	288	+	the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to 246
	289	+	elections, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the 247
	290	+	general statutes. The task force shall terminate on the date that it 248
	291	+	submits such report or January 1, 2022, whichever is later. 249
	292	+	Sec. 10. (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a working 250
	293	+	group to (1) examine employing risk-limiting audits to determine the 251
	294	+	accuracy of election results, including (A) the feasibility of 252
	295	+	implementing such audits, (B) the different methods used in such audits 253
	296	+	and the practical considerations for implementation of each such 254
	297	+	method within the existing statutory framework, (C) any potential 255
	298	+	equipment necessary to implement one or more of such methods, (D) 256
	299	+	the procedures necessary to implement one or more of such methods, 257
	300	+	and (E) any changes to such statutory framework necessary to 258
	301	+	implement one or more of such methods, and (2) within available 259
	302	+	appropriations, oversee a pilot program in not less than five and not 260
	303	+	more than ten municipalities of one or more of such methods for the 261
	304	+	municipal elections held in such municipalities in 2021. 262
	305	+	(b) The working group shall consist of the following members: 263
	306	+	(1) The Secretary of the State, or the Secretary's designee, who shall 264
	307	+	be the chairperson of such working group; 265
	308	+	(2) One appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; 266
	309	+	(3) One appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate; 267
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108		-	(6) Two appointed by the chairpersons and ranking members of the 72
109		-	joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 73
110		-	matters relating to elections, each of whom shall be enrolled in a 74
111		-	different political party from the other; 75
112		-	(7) Two appointed by the Secretary of the State, one of whom shall be 76
113		-	admitted to the practice of law in this state and have expertise in the 77
114		-	election laws of this state, and the other of whom shall be a statistician; 78
115		-	(8) Two appointed by the president of the Registrars of Voters 79
116		-	Association of Connecticut, each of whom shall be enrolled in a different 80
117		-	political party from the other; and 81
118		-	(9) The director of the Center for Voting Technology Research at The 82
119		-	University of Connecticut, or the director's designee. 83
120		-	(c) Any member of the working group appointed under subdivision 84
121		-	(2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member 85
122		-	of the General Assembly. 86
123		-	(d) All initial appointments to the working group shall be made not 87
124		-	later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy 88
125		-	shall be filled by the appointing authority. 89
126		-	(e) The Secretary of the State, or the Secretary's designee, as 90
127		-	chairperson of the working group, shall schedule the first meeting of 91
128		-	such working group, which shall be held not later than sixty days after 92
129		-	the effective date of this section. 93
130		-	(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 94
131		-	General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to elections 95
132		-	shall serve as administrative staff of the working group. 96
133		-	(g) Not later than January 31, 2022, the working group shall submit a 97
134		-	report on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing 98
135		-	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 99
136		-	relating to elections, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a 100 Substitute Bill No. 6325
	312	+	(4) One appointed by the minority leader of the House of 268
	313	+	Representatives; 269
	314	+	(5) One appointed by the minority leader of the Senate; 270
	315	+	(6) Two appointed by the chairpersons and ranking members of the 271
	316	+	joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 272
	317	+	matters relating to elections, each of whom shall be enrolled in a 273
	318	+	different political party from the other; 274
	319	+	(7) Two appointed by the Secretary of the State, one of whom shall be 275
	320	+	admitted to the practice of law in this state and have expertise in the 276
	321	+	election laws of this state, and the other of whom shall be a statistician; 277
	322	+	(8) Two appointed by the president of the Registrars of Voters 278
	323	+	Association of Connecticut, each of whom shall be enrolled in a different 279
	324	+	political party from the other; and 280
	325	+	(9) The director of the Center for Voting Technology Research at The 281
	326	+	University of Connecticut, or the director's designee. 282
	327	+	(c) Any member of the working group appointed under subdivision 283
	328	+	(2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of subsection (b) of this section may be a member 284
	329	+	of the General Assembly. 285
	330	+	(d) All initial appointments to the working group shall be made not 286
	331	+	later than thirty days after the effective date of this section. Any vacancy 287
	332	+	shall be filled by the appointing authority. 288
	333	+	(e) The Secretary of the State, or the Secretary's designee, as 289
	334	+	chairperson of the working group, shall schedule the first meeting of 290
	335	+	such working group, which shall be held not later than sixty days after 291
	336	+	the effective date of this section. 292
	337	+	(f) The administrative staff of the joint standing committee of the 293
	338	+	General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to elections 294
	339	+	shall serve as administrative staff of the working group. 295
	340	+	(g) Not later than January 31, 2022, the working group shall submit a 296
	341	+	LCO No. 4990 11 of 13
137	342
	343	+	report on its findings and recommendations to the joint standing 297
	344	+	committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 298
	345	+	relating to elections, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a 299
	346	+	of the general statutes, and to the Secretary of the State. The working 300
	347	+	group shall terminate on the date that it submits such report or January 301
	348	+	31, 2022, whichever is later. 302
	349	+	Sec. 11. Section 9-374 of the general statutes is repealed and the 303
	350	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 304
	351	+	No authority of the state or any political subdivision thereof having 305
	352	+	jurisdiction over the conduct of any primary shall permit the name of a 306
	353	+	party-endorsed candidate for an office or position to be printed on the 307
	354	+	official ballot to be used at any such primary unless a copy of the party 308
	355	+	rules regulating such party and its method of selecting party-endorsed 309
	356	+	candidates for nomination to such office or for election as town 310
	357	+	committee members, as the case may be, has been filed in the office of 311
	358	+	the Secretary of the State at least sixty days before such candidate is 312
	359	+	selected under such method of endorsement. The selection of delegates 313
	360	+	to conventions shall not be valid unless at least one copy of the party 314
	361	+	rules regulating the manner of making such selection has been filed in 315
	362	+	the office of the Secretary of the State at least sixty days before such 316
	363	+	selection is made. A duplicate copy of such rules shall also be filed with 317
	364	+	the state central committee of such party. A copy of the local party rules, 318
	365	+	relating to a party in a municipality, shall be filed forthwith by the town 319
	366	+	chairman or the secretary of the town committee of such party in such 320
	367	+	municipality with the Secretary of the State. The state party rules shall 321
	368	+	be filed by the state chairman or the secretary of the state central 322
	369	+	committee of such party. In the case of a minor party, no authority of 323
	370	+	the state or any subdivision thereof having jurisdiction over the conduct 324
	371	+	of any election shall permit the name of a candidate of such party for 325
	372	+	any office to be printed on the official ballot unless at least one copy of 326
	373	+	the party rules regulating the manner of nominating a candidate for 327
	374	+	such office has been filed in the office of the Secretary of the State at least 328
	375	+	[sixty] one hundred eighty days before the nomination of such 329
	376	+	candidate. In the case of a minor party, the selection of town committee 330
	377	+	LCO No. 4990 12 of 13
138	378
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141		-	5 of 6
142		-
143		-	of the general statutes, and to the Secretary of the State. The working 101
144		-	group shall terminate on the date that it submits such report or January 102
145		-	31, 2022, whichever is later. 103
146		-	Sec. 3. Section 9-374 of the general statutes is repealed and the 104
147		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 105
148		-	No authority of the state or any political subdivision thereof having 106
149		-	jurisdiction over the conduct of any primary shall permit the name of a 107
150		-	party-endorsed candidate for an office or position to be printed on the 108
151		-	official ballot to be used at any such primary unless a copy of the party 109
152		-	rules regulating such party and its method of selecting party-endorsed 110
153		-	candidates for nomination to such office or for election as town 111
154		-	committee members, as the case may be, has been filed in the office of 112
155		-	the Secretary of the State at least sixty days before such candidate is 113
156		-	selected under such method of endorsement. The selection of delegates 114
157		-	to conventions shall not be valid unless at least one copy of the party 115
158		-	rules regulating the manner of making such selection has been filed in 116
159		-	the office of the Secretary of the State at least sixty days before such 117
160		-	selection is made. A duplicate copy of such rules shall also be filed with 118
161		-	the state central committee of such party. A copy of the local party rules, 119
162		-	relating to a party in a municipality, shall be filed forthwith by the town 120
163		-	chairman or the secretary of the town committee of such party in such 121
164		-	municipality with the Secretary of the State. The state party rules shall 122
165		-	be filed by the state chairman or the secretary of the state central 123
166		-	committee of such party. In the case of a minor party, no authority of 124
167		-	the state or any subdivision thereof having jurisdiction over the conduct 125
168		-	of any election shall permit the name of a candidate of such party for 126
169		-	any office to be printed on the official ballot unless at least one copy of 127
170		-	the party rules regulating the manner of nominating a candidate for 128
171		-	such office has been filed in the office of the Secretary of the State at least 129
172		-	[sixty] one hundred eighty days before the nomination of such 130
173		-	candidate. In the case of a minor party, the selection of town committee 131
174		-	members and delegates to conventions shall not be valid unless at least 132
175		-	one copy of the party rules regulating the manner of making such 133 Substitute Bill No. 6325
176		-
177		-
178		-	LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2021HB-06325-
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180		-	6 of 6
181		-
182		-	selection has been filed in the office of the Secretary of the State at least 134
183		-	sixty days before such selection is made. A copy of local party rules shall 135
184		-	forthwith be also filed with the town clerk of the municipality to which 136
185		-	they relate. Party rules shall not be effective until sixty days after the 137
186		-	filing of the same with the Secretary of the State. A party in any 138
187		-	municipality for which local party rules with respect to any office or 139
188		-	position have not been filed as provided in this section shall, as to such 140
189		-	office or position, be subject to the provisions of the effective state rules 141
190		-	of such party applicable in municipalities which do not have local party 142
191		-	rules, until such time as local party rules therefor are filed and become 143
192		-	effective as provided in this section. The town chairman of a party in 144
193		-	any municipality for which local party rules have not been adopted and 145
194		-	filed as provided in this section shall forthwith file a statement with the 146
195		-	Secretary of the State to the effect that such party in such municipality 147
196		-	does not have local party rules. The term "party rules" as used in this 148
197		-	section includes any amendment to such party rules. When any 149
198		-	amendment is to be filed as required by this section, complete party 150
199		-	rules incorporating such amendment shall be filed, together with a 151
200		-	separate copy of such amendment. 152
	379	+	members and delegates to conventions shall not be valid unless at least 331
	380	+	one copy of the party rules regulating the manner of making such 332
	381	+	selection has been filed in the office of the Secretary of the State at least 333
	382	+	sixty days before such selection is made. A copy of local party rules shall 334
	383	+	forthwith be also filed with the town clerk of the municipality to which 335
	384	+	they relate. Party rules shall not be effective until sixty days after the 336
	385	+	filing of the same with the Secretary of the State. A party in any 337
	386	+	municipality for which local party rules with respect to any office or 338
	387	+	position have not been filed as provided in this section shall, as to such 339
	388	+	office or position, be subject to the provisions of the effective state rules 340
	389	+	of such party applicable in municipalities which do not have local party 341
	390	+	rules, until such time as local party rules therefor are filed and become 342
	391	+	effective as provided in this section. The town chairman of a party in 343
	392	+	any municipality for which local party rules have not been adopted and 344
	393	+	filed as provided in this section shall forthwith file a statement with the 345
	394	+	Secretary of the State to the effect that such party in such municipality 346
	395	+	does not have local party rules. The term "party rules" as used in this 347
	396	+	section includes any amendment to such party rules. When any 348
	397	+	amendment is to be filed as required by this section, complete party 349
	398	+	rules incorporating such amendment shall be filed, together with a 350
	399	+	separate copy of such amendment. 351
201	400		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
202	401		sections:
203	402
204	403		Section 1 from passage New section
205		-	Sec. 2 from passage New section
206		-	Sec. 3 from passage 9-374
	404	+	Sec. 2 October 1, 2021 9-3
	405	+	Sec. 3 October 1, 2021 4-166(16)
	406	+	Sec. 4 October 1, 2021 4-176
	407	+	Sec. 5 October 1, 2021 9-140(l)
	408	+	Sec. 6 from passage New section
	409	+	Sec. 7 October 1, 2021 New section
	410	+	Sec. 8 from passage 9-139a(b)
	411	+	Sec. 9 from passage New section
	412	+	Sec. 10 from passage New section
	413	+	Sec. 11 from passage 9-374
207	414
208		-	GAE Joint Favorable Subst.
	415	+	LCO No. 4990 13 of 13
	416	+
	417	+	Statement of Purpose:
	418	+	To (1) require the Secretary of the State to report on certain election laws
	419	+	modified or suspended for any primary or election held in 2020 or 2021,
	420	+	(2) require any declaratory ruling, instruction, opinion or order of the
	421	+	Secretary to be adopted as a regulation and submitted to the Legislative
	422	+	Regulation Review Committee, (3) prohibit the unsolicited mailing of
	423	+	absentee ballots by certain election officials, (4) provide state-wide
	424	+	consistency regarding pre-election day processing of absentee ballots
	425	+	whenever authorized and prohibit registrars of voters from contacting
	426	+	voters for the purpose of curing unsigned absentee ballots, (5) require
	427	+	the Secretary to establish a pilot program from the verification of
	428	+	signatures on returned absentee ballot envelopes, (6) require that
	429	+	absentee ballot applications contain a statement regarding penalties for
	430	+	noncompliance with certain provisions, (7) establish a task force to
	431	+	study the feasibility of single-envelope returns of absentee ballots, (8)
	432	+	establish a working group to examine risk-limiting audits of election
	433	+	results, and (9) change the deadline by which minor parties need to file
	434	+	their rules with the Secretary prior to nominating candidates for office.
	435	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	436	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	437	+	underlined.]
	438	+
	439	+	Co-Sponsors: REP. MASTROFRANCESCO, 80th Dist.; SEN. SAMPSON, 16th
	440	+	Dist.
	441	+	REP. FRANCE, 42nd Dist.; REP. FISHBEIN, 90th Dist.
	442	+	REP. ANDERSON, 62nd Dist.
	443	+
	444	+	H.B. 6325
	445	+
209	446