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OLR Bill Analysis
SB 353
AN ACT CONCERNING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.
SUMMARY
Effective January 1, 2022, this bill requires each municipality to hold
its biennial municipal election on the Tuesday after the first Monday in
November of odd-numbered years unless its legislative body votes by
a two-thirds majority to hold the election on the first Monday in May
of odd-numbered years. After January 1, 2022, the bill authorizes any
municipality holding its biennial municipal election in May to instead
hold the election in November through a majority vote of its legislative
body. It eliminates provisions in current law that (1) allow
municipalities to change the date of their biennial municipal election
by vote of their legislative body approved at a referendum or by
charter and (2) prohibit municipalities from changing an upcoming
election’s date within six months before its occurrence.
The bill extends, to municipalities that change their election date,
existing law’s provisions on transitioning and deferring terms of office.
It also makes several technical changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 1, 2022, except that most provisions on
transitioning and deferring terms of office are effective upon passage.
TRANSITIONING AND DE FERRING TERMS OF OFFICE
Table 1 below summarizes existing law’s transition provisions and
their application under the bill (it appears some of these provisions
may overlap).
Table 1: Transitioning and Deferring Terms of Office
§ Municipalities to
Which Provision
Applies
Requirement or Authorization 2021SB-00353-R000442-BA.DOCX
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1 Any municipality that
changes its election
date
The terms of any elected officials that are set to
expire before the next regular election because of
an election date change must be extended to the
date of that election.
2 Any municipality that
changes its election
date
For municipal elected officials whose terms will not
have expired by the first municipal election after an
election date change, the legislative body must
provide for a reasonable transition method by
January 1, 2022, such as term extensions or interim
terms. (Presumably, this requirement applies to
municipalities whose election date is changed from
May to November.)
3 Any municipality that
changes its election
date
For boards or commissions with a rotating
membership and some members elected before the
date change to terms beginning approximately one
year after that election, the legislative body may
defer the terms in order to continue the rotation.
(For certain bodies, such as zoning boards of
appeals, this may be done by ordinance.)
4 A municipality that
changes its election
date from November
to May on or after
January 1, 2022
The terms of incumbent municipal elected officials
must be reduced to conform to the change, but by
no more than nine months.
4 A municipality that
changes its election
date from May to
November on or after
January 1, 2022
The terms of incumbent municipal elected officials
must be extended to conform to the change, but by
no more than nine months.
BACKGROUND
Related Bill
sSB 5, favorably reported by the Government Administration and
Elections Committee, requires each municipality to hold its biennial
municipal election in November and has similar and additional
provisions on transitioning terms of office.
Municipalities and Boroughs Holding May Municipal Elections
According to the Office of the Secretary of the State, the following
five municipalities hold biennial municipal elections on the first
Monday in May in odd-numbered years: Andover, Bethany, Union, 2021SB-00353-R000442-BA.DOCX
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Woodbridge, and the City of Groton. The remaining municipalities
(including the Town of Groton) hold their elections in November.
In addition, the following eight boroughs hold biennial municipal
elections on the first Monday in May:
1. Bantam (Litchfield)
2. Danielson (Killingly)
3. Fenwick (Old Saybrook)
4. Jewett City (Griswold)
5. Litchfield
6. Newtown
7. Stonington
8. Woodmont (Milford)
COMMITTEE ACTION
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 13 Nay 5 (03/29/2021)