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OLR Bill Analysis
HJ 59
RESOLUTION APPROVING AN AMENDMENT TO THE STATE
CONSTITUTION TO ALLOW FOR EARLY VOTING.
SUMMARY
This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to authorize
the General Assembly to provide by law for in-person, early voting
before an election or referendum. It also removes the requirement that
a duplicate list of election results for state officers and state legislators,
which under the constitution must be sent to the secretary of the state
within 10 days after the election, be submitted under seal. (Under the
General Statutes, moderators must send a duplicate list of election
results to the secretary (1) electronically within 48 hours after the
election and (2) under seal within three days after the election (CGS §
9-314).)
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 provide for early voting?”
EFFECTIVE DATE: If the resolution passes by a majority of the
membership of each house, it will appear on the 2022 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.
CURRENT CONS TITUTIONAL PROVISIONS
The state constitution sets the first Tuesday after the first Monday in
November in specified years as the day of election for legislative and
statewide offices. It currently requires election officials to receive and
declare votes on this day to elect state legislators and state officers,
with one exception. (The exception authorizes the General Assembly to
pass a law allowing electors to cast their votes by absentee ballot for 2021HJ-00059-R000097-BA.DOCX
Researcher: KS Page 2 3/22/21
specified reasons (e.g., illness or physical disability).)
If passed, the resolution would authorize the General Assembly to
provide by law for in-person, early voting before an election or
referendum. To effectuate this, it eliminates the requirement that
election officials receive and declare votes on the day of an election for
state officers and state legislators.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 15 Nay 4 (03/05/2021)