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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 6578
January Session, 2021
AN ACT CONCERNING PA RTICIPATION IN THE ELECTORAL
PROCESS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 9-45 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 2
(a) The Commissioner of Correction shall, on or before the fifteenth 3
day of each month, transmit to the Secretary of the State a list of all 4
persons who, during the preceding calendar month, have been (1) 5
convicted in the Superior Court of a felony and committed to the 6
custody of the Commissioner of Correction for confinement in a 7
correctional institution or facility, [or a community residence] or (2) 8
returned to confinement in a correctional institution or facility from 9
parole or special parole, release pursuant to section 18-100, 18-100c, 18-10
100e, 18-100h or 18-100i or furlough pursuant to section 18-101a. Such 11
lists shall include the names, birth dates and addresses of such persons, 12
with the dates of their conviction and the crimes of which such persons 13
have been convicted, or the dates of the violation of their parole, special 14
parole, release or furlough and the nature of such violation, as 15
applicable. The Secretary of the State shall transmit such lists to the 16
registrars of the towns in which such [convicted] persons who have been 17
convicted or returned to confinement, as applicable, resided at the time 18 Substitute Bill No. 6578
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of their conviction or violation of parole, special parole, release or 19
furlough and to the registrars of any towns where the [secretary] 20
Secretary believes such persons may be electors. The registrars of such 21
towns shall compare the same with the list of electors upon their registry 22
lists and, after written notice mailed by certified mail to each of the 23
persons named at the last-known place of address of such person, shall 24
erase such names from the registry lists in their respective towns or 25
voting districts. 26
(b) Any person who procures such person or another to be registered 27
after having been disfranchised by reason of conviction of crime and 28
committed to the custody of the Commissioner of Correction for 29
confinement in a correctional institution or facility or a community 30
residence, and any person who votes at any election after having 31
forfeited such privileges by reason of conviction of crime and 32
confinement, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars and 33
imprisoned not more than one year. 34
Sec. 2. Section 9-46 of the general statutes is repealed and the 35
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2021): 36
(a) A person shall forfeit such person's right to become an elector and 37
such person's privileges as an elector upon conviction of a felony and 38
(1) committal to the custody of the Commissioner of Correction for 39
confinement in a correctional institution or facility, [or] but not a 40
community residence, (2) committal to confinement in a federal 41
correctional institution or facility, or (3) committal to the custody of the 42
chief correctional official of any other state or a county of any other state 43
for confinement in a correctional institution or facility, [or] but not a 44
community residence, in such state or county. 45
(b) If a person has forfeited such person's privileges as an elector 46
under subsection (a) of this section, has regained such privileges under 47
section 9-46a, as amended by this act, and is subsequently returned to 48
confinement in a correctional institution or facility, but not a community 49
residence, from parole or special parole, release pursuant to section 18-50 Substitute Bill No. 6578
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100, 18-100c, 18-100e, 18-100h or 18-100i or furlough pursuant to section 51
18-101a, such person shall again forfeit such privileges. 52
[(b)] (c) No person who has forfeited and not regained such person's 53
privileges as an elector [,] as provided in section 9-46a, as amended by 54
this act, or who has regained such privileges and again forfeited such 55
privileges as provided in subsection (b) of this section, may be a 56
candidate for or hold public office. 57
Sec. 3. Section 9-46a of the general statutes is repealed and the 58
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2022): 59
(a) (1) A person who has been convicted of a felony and committed 60
to confinement in a [federal or other state] correctional institution or 61
facility [or community residence] of the federal government or of 62
another state shall have such person's electoral privileges restored 63
[upon the payment of all fines in conjunction with the conviction and] 64
once such person has been [discharged] released from confinement. [, 65
and, if applicable, parole] 66
(2) A person who has been convicted of a felony and is committed to 67
confinement in a community residence of the federal government or of 68
another state shall have such person's electoral privileges restored if 69
such person had previously forfeited such electoral privileges. 70
(b) (1) Upon the release from confinement in a correctional institution 71
or facility [or a community residence] of a person who has been 72
convicted of a felony and committed to the custody of the Commissioner 73
of Correction, [and, if applicable, the discharge of such person from 74
parole, (1)] (A) the person shall have the right to become an elector, [(2)] 75
(B) the Commissioner of Correction shall give the person a document 76
certifying that the person has been released from such confinement, 77
[and, if applicable, has been discharged from parole, (3)] (C) if the 78
person was an elector at the time of such felony conviction and, after 79
such release, [and any such discharge,] is residing in the same 80
municipality in which the person resided at the time of such felony 81 Substitute Bill No. 6578
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conviction, the person's electoral privileges shall be restored, and [(4)] 82
(D) if the person was an elector at the time of such felony conviction and, 83
after such release, [and any such discharge,] is residing in a different 84
municipality or if the person was not an elector at the time of such felony 85
conviction, the person's electoral privileges shall be restored or granted 86
upon submitting to an admitting official satisfactory proof of the 87
person's qualifications to be admitted as an elector. [The provisions of 88
subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of this subsection shall not apply to any 89
person convicted of a felony for a violation of any provision of this title 90
until such person has been discharged from any parole or probation for 91
such felony] 92
(2) A person who has been convicted of a felony and committed to 93
the custody of the Commissioner of Correction and is confined in a 94
community residence shall have such person's electoral privileges 95
restored if such person had previously forfeited such electoral 96
privileges. 97
(c) The registrars of voters of the municipality in which a person is 98
admitted as an elector pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section, 99
within thirty days after the date on which such person is admitted, shall 100
notify the registrars of voters of the municipality wherein such person 101
resided at the time of such person's conviction that such person's 102
electoral rights have been so restored. 103
(d) The Commissioner of Correction shall establish procedures to 104
inform those persons who have been convicted of a felony and 105
committed to the custody of said commissioner for confinement in a 106
correctional institution or facility or a community residence, and are 107
eligible to have their electoral privileges restored or granted pursuant to 108
subsection (b) of this section, of the right and procedures to have such 109
privileges restored. [The Office of Adult Probation] The Commissioner 110
of Correction shall, within available appropriations, inform such 111
persons who are on [probation on January 1, 2002] parole or special 112
parole, or confined in a community residence, of their right to become 113
electors and procedures to have their electoral privileges restored, 114 Substitute Bill No. 6578
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which shall be in accordance with subsections (b) and (c) of this section. 115
(e) The Commissioner of Correction shall, on or before the fifteenth 116
day of each month, transmit to the Secretary of the State a list of all 117
persons convicted of a felony and committed to the custody of said 118
commissioner who, during the preceding calendar month, have (1) been 119
released from confinement in a correctional institution or facility, or (2) 120
begun confinement in a community residence. [and, if applicable, 121
discharged from parole.] Such lists shall include the names, birth dates 122
and addresses of such persons, with the dates of their convictions and 123
the crimes of which such persons have been convicted. The Secretary [of 124
the State] shall transmit such lists to the registrars of the municipalities 125
in which such convicted persons resided at the time of their convictions 126
and to the registrars of any municipalities where the [secretary] 127
Secretary believes such persons may be electors. 128
Sec. 4. Section 9-19h of the general statutes is repealed and the 129
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 130
(a) The Department of Social Services, the Labor Department and the 131
Department of Motor Vehicles shall make voter registration information 132
and materials available to the public. Such information and materials 133
shall be placed in public areas of the offices of such departments. The 134
State Library and the libraries of the state's public institutions of higher 135
education shall also make such information and materials available to 136
users of the libraries. The Secretary of the State shall provide such 137
departments, such libraries and any libraries open to the public with 138
suitable nonpartisan literature, materials and voter registration 139
application forms authorized under sections 9-23g and 9-23h. [The 140
secretary shall also provide to the Department of Social Services, the 141
Labor Department and the Department of Motor Vehicles any furniture 142
needed to display such literature, materials and forms.] 143
(b) (1) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, 144
and except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the 145
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles [, not later than January 1, 1994,] shall 146 Substitute Bill No. 6578
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include an application for the admission of an elector with each 147
application form provided for a motor vehicle operator's license and a 148
motor vehicle operator's license renewal, which are issued under 149
subpart (B) of part III of chapter 246, and with each application form 150
provided for an identity card issued under section 1-1h. Such 151
application form for the admission of an elector [(1)] (A) shall be subject 152
to the approval of the Secretary of the State, [(2)] (B) shall not include 153
any provisions for the witnessing of the application, and [(3)] (C) shall 154
contain a statement that [(A)] (i) specifies each eligibility requirement, 155
[(B)] (ii) contains an attestation that the applicant meets each such 156
requirement, and [(C)] (iii) requires the signature of the applicant under 157
penalty of perjury. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall accept 158
any such completed application for admission which is submitted in 159
person, [or] by mail [. The] or through an electronic system pursuant to 160
subdivision (2) of this subsection. Except as provided in said 161
subdivision, the applicant shall state on such form, under penalty of 162
perjury, the applicant's name, bona fide residence address, date of birth, 163
whether the applicant is a United States citizen, party enrollment, if any, 164
prior voting address, if registered previously, and that the applicant's 165
privileges as an elector are not forfeited by reason of conviction of a 166
felony. No Social Security number on any such application form for the 167
admission of an elector filed prior to January 1, 2000, may be disclosed 168
to the public or to any governmental agency. The commissioner shall 169
indicate on each such form the date of receipt of such application to 170
ensure that any eligible applicant is registered to vote in an election if it 171
is received by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles by the last day for 172
registration to vote in an election. The commissioner shall provide the 173
applicant with an application receipt, on a form approved by the 174
Secretary of the State and on which the commissioner shall record the 175
date that the commissioner received the application, using an official 176
date stamp bearing the words "Department of Motor Vehicles". The 177
commissioner shall provide such receipt whether the application was 178
submitted in person, [or] by mail or through an electronic system 179
pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection. The commissioner shall 180
forthwith transmit the application to the registrars of voters of the 181 Substitute Bill No. 6578
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applicant's town of residence. If a registration application is accepted 182
within five days before the last day for registration to vote in a regular 183
election, the application shall be transmitted to the registrars of voters 184
of the town of voting residence of the applicant not later than five days 185
after the date of acceptance. The procedures in subsections (c), (d), (f) 186
and (g) of section 9-23g which are not inconsistent with the National 187
Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to 188
time, shall apply to applications made under this section. The 189
commissioner is not an admitting official and may not restore, under the 190
provisions of section 9-46a, as amended by this act, electoral privileges 191
of persons convicted of a felony. 192
(2) (A) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall provide an 193
electronic system, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the State, to 194
effectuate the purposes of subdivision (1) of this subsection regarding 195
application for admission of an elector, except that the condition that an 196
applicant state and attest to meeting each eligibility requirement may be 197
waived for any such eligibility requirement verified independently by 198
said commissioner through a federally approved identity verification 199
program or other evidence acceptable to said commissioner. Such 200
electronic system may provide for the transmittal to the Secretary of an 201
applicant's signature on file with said commissioner. The use of any 202
such electronic system shall comply with the National Voter 203
Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time. 204
(B) (i) Unless otherwise provided in this subparagraph, if the 205
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles determines that a person applying for 206
a motor vehicle operator's license, a motor vehicle operator's license 207
renewal or an identity card meets each eligibility requirement for 208
admission as an elector, said commissioner shall forthwith transmit an 209
application for such person's admission as an elector to the registrars of 210
voters of the town of residence of such person through an electronic 211
system pursuant to this subdivision, in accordance with the provisions 212
of subdivision (1) of this subsection, except that no such application 213
shall be transmitted if such person declines to apply for such admission. 214 Substitute Bill No. 6578
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(ii) If said commissioner determines that a person applying for a 215
motor vehicle operator's license, a motor vehicle operator's license 216
renewal or an identity card is not a United States citizen, said 217
commissioner shall not provide such person an opportunity to apply for 218
admission as an elector through an electronic system pursuant to this 219
subdivision and shall not transmit any application for such admission 220
on behalf of such person. 221
(iii) If said commissioner cannot determine whether a person 222
applying for a motor vehicle operator's license, a motor vehicle 223
operator's license renewal or an identity card is a United States citizen, 224
such person shall attest to his or her United States citizenship as a 225
precondition of said commissioner processing such person's application 226
for admission as an elector through an electronic system pursuant to this 227
subdivision. 228
(C) In the case of an individual already admitted as an elector and 229
who is also enrolled in a party, if use of such electronic system results in 230
such elector being removed from the enrollment list of such party 231
because such elector did not affirmatively confirm an intent to continue 232
enrollment in such party, such removal shall be presumed unintentional 233
and such elector shall be restored to such list upon such elector's 234
notification of such removal to the registrar of voters of the town of 235
residence of such elector. 236
Sec. 5. Section 9-19i of the general statutes is repealed and the 237
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 238
(a) Any change of address form submitted by a person in accordance 239
with law for purposes of a motor vehicle operator's license shall serve 240
as notification of change of address for voter registration for the person 241
unless the person states on the form that the change of address is not for 242
voter registration purposes. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall 243
forthwith transmit such change of address information to the registrars 244
of voters of the town of the former address of the person. If the name of 245
the person appears on the registry list of the town, and if the new 246 Substitute Bill No. 6578
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address is also within such town, the registrars shall enter the name of 247
such elector on the registry list at the place where he then resides. If the 248
name of the person appears on the registry list of the town and if the 249
new address is outside such town, the registrars shall remove the name 250
of such elector from the registry list and send the elector the notice, 251
information and application required by subsection (c) of section 9-35, 252
except that if said commissioner is using an electronic system pursuant 253
to subsection (b) of this section, the Secretary of the State may prescribe 254
alternative procedures for sending such notice and information and 255
may waive the requirement to send such application. 256
(b) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall provide an electronic 257
system, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the State, to effectuate 258
the purposes of subsection (a) of this section regarding notifications of 259
change of address for voter registration. Such electronic system may 260
provide for the transmittal to the Secretary of an applicant's signature 261
on file with said commissioner. The use of any such electronic system 262
shall comply with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-263
31, as amended from time to time. 264
Sec. 6. Section 9-23n of the general statutes is repealed and the 265
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2022): 266
(a) As used in this section, "voter registration agency" means (1) 267
public assistance offices, (2) all offices in the state that provide 268
state-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to 269
persons with disabilities, (3) libraries that are open to the public, and (4) 270
such other appropriate offices as the Secretary of the State shall 271
designate in accordance with the National Voter Registration Act of 272
1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time. 273
(b) [Voter registration agencies shall] (1) Except as provided in 274
subdivision (2) of this subsection, each voter registration agency shall 275
(A) distribute mail voter registration application forms, [(2)] (B) assist 276
applicants for [such] assistance or services provided by the agency in 277
completing voter registration application forms, except for applicants 278 Substitute Bill No. 6578
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who refuse [such] assistance in completing such forms, [(3)] (C) accept 279
completed voter registration application forms and provide each 280
applicant with an application receipt, on which the agency shall record 281
the date that the agency received the application, using an official date 282
stamp bearing the name of the agency, and [(4)] (D) immediately 283
transmit all such applications to the registrars of voters of the town of 284
voting residence of the applicants. The agency shall provide such receipt 285
whether the application was submitted in person, [or] by mail or 286
through an electronic system pursuant to subdivision (2) of this 287
subsection. If a registration application is accepted within five days 288
before the last day for registration to vote in a regular election, the 289
application shall be transmitted to the registrars of voters of the town of 290
voting residence of the applicant not later than five days after the date 291
of acceptance. [The] Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this 292
subsection, the voter registration agency shall indicate on the completed 293
mail voter registration application form, without indicating the identity 294
of the voter registration agency, the date of its acceptance by such 295
agency, to ensure that any eligible applicant is registered to vote in an 296
election if it is received by the registration agency by the last day for 297
registration to vote in an election. If a state-funded program primarily 298
engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities provides 299
services to a person with a disability at the person's home, the agency 300
shall provide such voter registration services at the person's home. The 301
procedures in subsections (c), (d), (f) and (g) of section 9-23g that are not 302
inconsistent with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 303
103-31, as amended from time to time, shall apply to applications made 304
under this section. Officials and employees of such voter registration 305
agencies are not admitting officials, as defined in section 9-17a, and may 306
not restore, under the provisions of section 9-46a, electoral privileges of 307
persons convicted of a felony. 308
(2) (A) Each voter registration agency shall provide an electronic 309
system, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the State, to effectuate 310
the purposes of subdivision (1) of this subsection regarding application 311
for admission of an elector, except that the condition that an applicant 312 Substitute Bill No. 6578
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state and attest to meeting each eligibility requirement may be waived 313
for any such eligibility requirement verified independently by the 314
agency through a federally approved identity verification program or 315
other evidence acceptable to the agency. Such electronic system may 316
provide for the transmittal to the Secretary of an applicant's signature 317
on file with the voter registration agency. The use of any such electronic 318
system shall comply with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, 319
P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time. 320
(B) (i) Unless otherwise provided in this subparagraph, if the voter 321
registration agency determines that a person applying for assistance or 322
services provided by the agency meets each eligibility requirement for 323
admission as an elector, the agency shall forthwith transmit an 324
application for such person's admission as an elector to the registrars of 325
voters of the town of residence of such person through an electronic 326
system pursuant to this subdivision, in accordance with the provisions 327
of subdivision (1) of this subsection, except that no such application 328
shall be transmitted if such person declines to apply for such admission. 329
(ii) If the voter registration agency determines that a person applying 330
for assistance or services provided by the agency is not a United States 331
citizen, the agency shall not provide such person an opportunity to 332
apply for admission as an elector through an electronic system pursuant 333
to this subdivision and shall not transmit any application for such 334
admission on behalf of such person. 335
(iii) If the voter registration agency cannot determine whether a 336
person applying for assistance or services provided by the agency is a 337
United States citizen, such person shall attest to his or her United States 338
citizenship as a precondition of the agency processing such person's 339
application for admission as an elector through an electronic system 340
pursuant to this subdivision. 341
(C) In the case of an individual already admitted as an elector and 342
who is also enrolled in a party, if use of such electronic system results in 343
such elector being removed from the enrollment list of such party 344 Substitute Bill No. 6578
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because such elector did not affirmatively confirm an intent to continue 345
enrollment in such party, such removal shall be presumed unintentional 346
and such elector shall be restored to such list upon such elector's 347
notification of such removal to the registrar of voters of the town of 348
residence of such elector. 349
Sec. 7. Section 9-23o of the general statutes is repealed and the 350
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2022): 351
A voter registration agency, as defined in section 9-23n, as amended 352
by this act, shall comply with the National Voter Registration Act of 353
1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time, and (1) shall distribute 354
with each application for [service or] assistance or services provided by 355
the agency, and with each recertification, renewal or change of address 356
form relating to such [service or] assistance or services a mail voter 357
registration application form approved by the Secretary of the State, and 358
(2) during each application for such assistance or services and each 359
recertification, renewal or change of address relating to such assistance 360
or services, shall use an electronic system described in subdivision (2) of 361
subsection (b) of section 9-23n, as amended by this act, in accordance 362
with said subdivision to effectuate the purposes of subdivision (1) of 363
said subsection regarding application for admission of an elector, unless 364
the applicant declines to register to vote pursuant to the provisions of 365
the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended 366
from time to time. Such declination shall be in writing, except in the case 367
of an application for service or assistance provided by a library, or a 368
recertification, renewal or change of address form relating to such 369
library service or assistance. Such voter registration agency shall 370
provide each applicant to register to vote the same degree of assistance 371
with regard to the completion of the registration application form as is 372
provided by the agency with regard to the completion of its own forms, 373
unless the applicant refuses such assistance. 374
Sec. 8. Section 9-23p of the general statutes is repealed and the 375
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2022): 376 Substitute Bill No. 6578
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Each public institution of higher education shall (1) distribute mail 377
voter registration application forms, and [(2)] assist applicants who 378
request assistance in completing such voter registration application 379
forms, and (2) use an electronic system described in subdivision (2) of 380
subsection (b) of section 9-23n, as amended by this act, in accordance 381
with said subdivision to effectuate the purposes of subdivision (1) of 382
said subsection regarding application for admission of an elector, and 383
assist applicants who request assistance in so applying through such 384
electronic system. 385
Sec. 9. Subsection (a) of section 9-232 of the general statutes is 386
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 387
passage): 388
(a) [Each registrar may appoint one or more challengers in his town 389
or district, one of whom may be present at the offering of any vote; and 390
any such challenger or any] Any elector may challenge the right of any 391
person offering to vote, on the ground of want of identity with the 392
person on whose name the vote is offered, or disfranchisement or lack 393
of bona fide residence, and the moderator shall decide upon the right of 394
the person so challenged to vote. 395
Sec. 10. Section 9-235d of the general statutes is repealed and the 396
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 397
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of sections 9-233, 9-235 and 9-258, 398
as amended by this act, [to the contrary,] a United States citizen who is 399
sixteen or seventeen years of age and a bona fide resident of a town may 400
be [(1)] appointed as [a challenger or] (1) an unofficial checker in an 401
election, or (2) [appointed as] a checker, translator, ballot clerk or voting 402
tabulator tender in an election after (A) attending poll worker training, 403
and (B) receiving the written permission of a parent, guardian or the 404
principal of the school that the citizen attends if the citizen is a secondary 405
school student and the citizen is to be appointed to work on a day when 406
such school is in session. 407 Substitute Bill No. 6578
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(b) Notwithstanding any provision of section 9-436, as amended by 408
this act, or 9-436a, [to the contrary,] a United States citizen who is sixteen 409
or seventeen years of age and a bona fide resident of a town or political 410
subdivision holding a primary may be [(1)] appointed as [a challenger 411
or] (1) a candidate checker in the primary, or (2) [appointed as] a 412
checker, translator, ballot clerk or voting tabulator tender in a primary 413
after (A) attending poll worker training, and (B) receiving the written 414
permission of a parent, guardian or the principal of the school that the 415
citizen attends if the citizen is a secondary school student and the citizen 416
is to be appointed to work on a day when such school is in session. 417
Sec. 11. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 9-258 of the general statutes 418
are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 419
from passage): 420
(a) For municipalities with more than one voting district, the election 421
officials of each polling place shall be electors of the state and shall 422
consist of (1) one moderator, (2) at least one but not more than two 423
official checkers, (3) two assistant registrars of voters of opposite 424
political parties, each of whom shall be residents of the town, (4) [not 425
more than two challengers if the registrars of voters have appointed 426
challengers pursuant to section 9-232, (5)] at least one but not more than 427
two ballot clerks, and [(6)] (5) at least one but not more than two voting 428
tabulator tenders for each voting tabulator in use at the polling place. A 429
known candidate for any office shall not serve as an election official on 430
election day or serve at the polls in any capacity, except that (A) a 431
municipal clerk or a registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the same 432
office, may perform his or her official duties, and (B) a deputy registrar 433
of voters, who is a candidate for the office of registrar of voters, may 434
perform his or her official duties. If, in the opinion of the registrar of 435
voters, the public convenience of the electors in any voting district so 436
requires, provision shall be made for an additional line or lines of 437
electors at the polling place and, if more than one line of electors is 438
established, at least one but not more than two additional official 439
checkers and at least one but not more than two ballot clerks for each 440 Substitute Bill No. 6578
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line of electors shall be appointed and, if more than one tabulator is used 441
in a polling place, at least one but not more than two additional voting 442
tabulator tenders shall be appointed for each additional machine so 443
used. Head moderators, central counting moderators and absentee 444
ballot counters appointed pursuant to law shall also be deemed election 445
officials. 446
(b) For municipalities with one voting district, the election officials of 447
such polling place shall be electors of the state and shall consist of (1) 448
one moderator, (2) at least one but not more than two official checkers, 449
(3) [not more than two challengers if the registrars of voters have 450
appointed challengers pursuant to section 9-232, (4)] at least one but not 451
more than two voting tabulator tenders for each voting tabulator in use 452
at the polling place, and [(5)] (4) at least one but not more than two ballot 453
clerks. Additionally, such election officials may consist of two registrars 454
of voters of opposite political parties, or two assistant registrars of voters 455
of opposite political parties, as the case may be, subject to the 456
requirements of sections 9-259 and 9-439, provided if the registrars of 457
voters are present in the polling place, they shall appoint at least one 458
designee to be present in their office. A known candidate for any office 459
shall not serve as an election official on election day or serve at the polls 460
in any capacity, except that (A) a municipal clerk or a registrar of voters, 461
who is a candidate for the same office, may perform his or her official 462
duties, and (B) a deputy registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the 463
office of registrar of voters, may perform his or her official duties. If, in 464
the opinion of the registrar of voters, the public convenience of the 465
electors in any voting district so requires, provision shall be made for an 466
additional line or lines of electors at the polling place and, if more than 467
one line of electors is established, at least one but not more than two 468
additional official checkers for each line of electors shall be appointed 469
and, if more than one tabulator is used in a polling place, at least one 470
but not more than two additional voting tabulator tenders shall be 471
appointed for each additional tabulator so used. Head moderators, 472
central counting moderators and absentee ballot counters appointed 473
pursuant to law shall be deemed to be election officials. 474 Substitute Bill No. 6578
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Sec. 12. Subsection (c) of section 9-436 of the general statutes is 475
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 476
passage): 477
(c) The registrar shall appoint from among the enrolled party 478
members in the state, to serve in each polling place, the primary polling 479
place officials, who shall consist of (1) one moderator, (2) at least one [,] 480
but not more than two official checkers, [not more than two challengers 481
if the registrar deems it necessary, and] (3) at least one [and] but not 482
more than two ballot clerks, [and] (4) at least one but not more than two 483
voting tabulator tenders for each tabulator in use at such primary, and 484
[,] (5) in towns with two or more voting districts, at least one [and] but 485
not more than two assistant registrars, provided [(1)] (A) in the case of 486
either a municipality or a political subdivision holding a primary, if no 487
enrolled party member can be found or no such person consents to serve 488
as a moderator, the registrar may appoint any elector who resides in the 489
state and is a certified moderator to be moderator, [(2)] (B) in the case of 490
a political subdivision holding a primary, if an insufficient number of 491
enrolled party members who reside in the state consent to serve as 492
checkers, [challengers,] voting tabulator tenders or assistant registrars, 493
the registrar may appoint any elector who resides in the state to be a 494
checker, [challenger,] voting tabulator tender or assistant registrar, and 495
[(3)] (C) in the case of either a municipality or a political subdivision 496
holding more than one primary on the same day for different political 497
parties, one certified moderator may serve as moderator for both 498
primaries, if the registrars of voters so agree. If unaffiliated electors are 499
authorized under section 9-431 to vote for some but not all of the offices 500
to be contested at the primary, the registrar shall appoint two additional 501
checkers to check the list of unaffiliated electors who are authorized to 502
vote on the separate tabulators. If unaffiliated electors are authorized 503
under section 9-431 to vote in the primary of either of two parties in the 504
same polling place, whether for some or for all offices to be contested at 505
the primary, each such registrar shall appoint two additional checkers 506
to check the list of unaffiliated electors who are authorized to vote in 507
either such primary. 508 Substitute Bill No. 6578
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This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2021 9-45
Sec. 2 July 1, 2021 9-46
Sec. 3 July 1, 2022 9-46a
Sec. 4 from passage 9-19h
Sec. 5 from passage 9-19i
Sec. 6 January 1, 2022 9-23n
Sec. 7 January 1, 2022 9-23o
Sec. 8 January 1, 2022 9-23p
Sec. 9 from passage 9-232(a)
Sec. 10 from passage 9-235d
Sec. 11 from passage 9-258(a) and (b)
Sec. 12 from passage 9-436(c)
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section 1(a), "conviction or violation or parole" was changed to
"conviction or violation of parole" for accuracy; in Sections 4(b)(2)(B)(i)
and 6(b)(2)(B)(i), "such person's residence" was changed to "the town of
residence of such person" for accuracy and consistency; and in Sections
4(b)(2)(C) and 6(b)(2)(C), "in which such elector resides" was changed to
"of residence of such elector" for consistency.
GAE Joint Favorable Subst.