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OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6871
AN ACT CONCERNING ELECTION RECANVASS PROCEDURES.
SUMMARY
This bill modifies several procedures for election recanvasses (i.e.,
recounts). Specifically, the bill:
1. requires that recanvasses be done no later than five business days
after moderators submit the duplicate lists of votes to the
Secretary of the State (SOTS), rather than five business days after
the election as current law provides;
2. requires that recanvass officials meet by 12:00 p.m. on recanvass
day (no time is currently set in law);
3. authorizes party representatives to view each ballot to discern its
markings as it is being recanvassed; and
4. makes technical changes.
The bill also requires SOTS to develop an instructional training video
on recanvass procedures based on the Recanvass Procedure Manual’s
August 2012 revision. Under the bill, SOTS must (1) publish the
recanvass procedures instructional video on its website, (2) revise it
whenever the procedure manual is revised, and (3) distribute it to
recanvass officials. These officials must view the video before starting a
recanvass.
By law, SOTS must approve the number of voting tabulators
provided for elections by each town’s board of selectmen, city’s
common council, or borough’s warden and burgesses. The bill
eliminates a provision giving registrars of voters discretion to determine
the number of voting tabulators that will be available at a special 2023HB-06871-R000287-BA.DOCX
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election, but requiring at least one for the municipality or one for each
voting district. Instead, the bill requires at least one voting tabulator be
used in each voting district for all elections.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
BACKGROUND
Recanvass Procedures
After a primary or election, a recanvass of the vote generally takes
place when there is a discrepancy, close vote, or tie. The recanvass
procedures differ depending on the circumstances under which the
recanvass was triggered. A recanvass must be open to the public and,
under current law, convene no later than five business days after the
applicable primary or election.
Generally, when a recanvass is triggered, the town clerk and
registrars of voters must impound the relevant election materials and
tools. The recanvass officials must then meet and recount the votes to
determine if the original canvass was correct or if a discrepancy remains.
If the recanvass reveals the original canvass was incorrect, the recanvass
return is substituted for the original return and has the same force and
effect as an original return (CGS §§ 9-311 through 9-311b and Conn.
Agency Regs., § 9-242a-28).
COMMITTEE ACTION
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 19 Nay 0 (03/15/2023)