Researcher: KS Page 1 4/27/21
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6408 (as amended by House "A")*
AN ACT REQUIRING HOUSING AUTHORITIES TO PROVIDE
VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS TO PROSPECTIVE
TENANTS.
SUMMARY
Starting January 1, 2022, this bill requires that housing authorities
provide, to certain individuals, voter registration applications (1) at the
time when a household has been accepted for admission to a housing
authority residential unit and (2) at the household’s annual
recertification. Housing authorities must provide the applications to
each household member who is eligible to apply for admission as an
elector (see BACKGROUND).
The bill also requires that housing authorities make voter
registration materials publicly available, just as existing law requires
for the departments of Social Services, Labor, and Motor Vehicles, as
well as for the State Library and libraries of the state’s public higher
education institutions. Under the bill, (1) housing authorities must
make voter registration information and materials available in their
public areas and (2) the secretary of the state must provide housing
authorities with the voter registration applications and materials,
including nonpartisan literature, and any needed display furniture.
*House Amendment “A” eliminates the requirement that housing
authorities assist individuals with completing voter registration
applications upon request.
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2022
BACKGROUND
Admission as an Elector
By law, an individual is eligible to apply for admission as an elector
(i.e., person who is qualified to vote) if he or she is (1) a U.S. citizen, (2) 2021HB-06408-R01-BA.DOCX
Researcher: KS Page 2 4/27/21
age 18 or older, and (3) a bona fide resident of the municipality in
which he or she applies for admission. A 17-year-old who will turn age
18 by the day of the next regular election may apply for admission and,
if otherwise qualified, becomes an elector on his or her 18th birthday
(CGS § 9-12).
A mentally incompetent individual cannot be admitted as an
elector. An individual convicted of a felony and committed to any
federal or state prison forfeits his or her electoral rights while
incarcerated (CGS § 9-46).
COMMITTEE ACTION
Housing Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 12 Nay 3 (03/11/2021)