O F F I C E O F L E G I S L A T I V E R E S E A R C H
P U B L I C A C T S U M M A R Y
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RA 21-2—sHJ 58
Government Administration and Elections Committee
RESOLUTION PROPOSING A STATE CONSTITUTION AL
AMENDMENT TO ALLOW N O-EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTI NG
SUMMARY: This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to remove
the state constitution’s current restrictions on absentee voting. Under these
restrictions, the General Assembly may pass a law allowing electors to cast their
vote by absentee ballot if they are unable to appear at their polling place because
of absence from the town where they reside, because of sickness or physical
disability, or because the tenets of their religion prohibit secular activity on
election day (Article VI, § 7). The General Assembly exercised this authority and
passed provisions codified at CGS § 9-135 (see BACKGROUND).
The ballot designation to be used when the amendment is presented at the
general election is: “Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the
General Assembly to allow each voter to vote by absentee ballot?”
EFFECTIVE DATE: The resolution will be referred to the 2023 session of the
legislature. If it passes in that session by a majority of the membership of each
house, it will appear on the 2024 general election ballot. If a majority of those
voting on the amendment in the general election approves it, the amendment will
become part of the state constitution.
BACKGROUND
Absentee Voting
CGS § 9-135 permits qualified electors to vote by absentee ballot if they are
unable to appear at their polling place because of the following:
1. they are absent from the town in which they reside during all hours of
voting;
2. they are ill or have a physical disability;
3. the tenets of their religion forbid secular activity on the day of the primary,
election, or referendum;
4. they are in active service in the U.S. Armed Forces; or
5. they are primary, election, or referendum officials outside of their voting
district, and their duties will keep them away during all hours of voting.
Additionally, for the 2020 state election and any election, primary, or
referendum held from June 23, 2021, through November 2, 2021, the law allows
qualified electors to vote by absentee ballot because of the COVID-19 sickness
(PA 20-3, July Special Session (§ 1), as amended by PA 21-2, June Special
Session (§ 127)).