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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1057
January Session, 2023
LCO No. 4425
Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
AND ELECTIONS
Introduced by:
(GAE)
AN ACT CONCERNING THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE AND
EARLY VOTING.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) Any eligible elector may 1
vote prior to the day of an election or primary, in accordance with the 2
provisions of this section, during a period of early voting at each regular 3
election held on or after July 1, 2023, and at each primary held on or after 4
January 1, 2024. 5
(b) Such period of early voting shall (1) commence on the eleventh 6
day, and conclude on the second day, prior to such election or primary, 7
and (2) consist of ten total days, at such times as provided in subsection 8
(c) of section 9-174 of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 9
(c) (1) The registrars of voters of each municipality shall designate a 10
location for the conduct of early voting, provided (A) the registrars of 11
voters have access to the state-wide centralized voter registration 12
system from such location, and (B) such location is certified in writing 13
to the Secretary of the State not later than one hundred twenty days 14 Raised Bill No. 1057
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prior to the day of an election or primary. The written certification under 15
subparagraph (B) of this subdivision shall provide (i) the name, street 16
address and relevant contact information associated with such location, 17
(ii) the number of election or primary officials appointed to serve at such 18
location and the roles of such officials, and (iii) a description of the 19
design of such location and a plan for effective conduct of such early 20
voting. The Secretary shall approve or disapprove such written 21
certification not later than ninety days before the day of such election or 22
primary. If the Secretary disapproves such certification, the Secretary 23
shall provide, in writing, the reasons for such disapproval and shall 24
issue an order for such corrective action as the Secretary deems 25
necessary, including, but not limited to, the appointment of additional 26
election or primary officials or the alteration of such design or plan. 27
After having received approval of such certification or having complied 28
with any order for corrective action to the Secretary's satisfaction, as 29
applicable, the registrars of voters shall determine the site of such 30
location designated for the conduct of early voting at least thirty-one 31
days prior to an election or primary. Such location shall not be changed 32
within the period of thirty-one days prior to such election or primary, 33
except, if the municipal clerk and registrars of voters unanimously find 34
that such location has been rendered unusable within such period, such 35
clerk and registrars shall forthwith designate another location for the 36
conduct of early voting to be used in place of the location so rendered 37
unusable and shall give adequate notice that such location has been so 38
changed. The provisions of sections 9-168d and 9-168e of the general 39
statutes shall apply to such location designated for the conduct of early 40
voting. 41
(2) The registrars of voters of any municipality with a population of 42
at least forty-five thousand may apply to the Secretary of the State not 43
later than one hundred twenty days before the day of an election or 44
primary, in a form and manner prescribed by the Secretary, to designate 45
any additional location for the conduct of early voting. The Secretary 46
shall approve or disapprove such application not later than ninety days 47
before the day of such election or primary. If the Secretary approves 48 Raised Bill No. 1057
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such application, the registrars of voters may so designate any such 49
additional location. The provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection 50
shall apply to any such additional location. For the purposes of this 51
subdivision, "population" means the estimated number of people 52
according to the most recent version of the State Register and Manual 53
prepared pursuant to section 3-90 of the general statutes. 54
(3) The registrars of voters may delegate to each election or primary 55
official appointed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this section any of the 56
responsibilities assigned to the registrars of voters. The registrars of 57
voters shall supervise each such official and train each such official to be 58
an early voting election or primary official. 59
(d) Any elector who wishes to vote during a period of early voting at 60
an election or primary, and is eligible to so vote at such election or 61
primary, shall (1) appear in person at such time as provided in 62
subsection (c) of section 9-174 of the general statutes, as amended by this 63
act, at the location designated by the registrars of voters for early voting, 64
(2) identify such elector as required by subsection (a) of section 9-261 of 65
the general statutes, and (3) declare under oath that such elector has not 66
previously voted in such election or primary, as provided in subsection 67
(f) of this section. 68
(e) If the registrars of voters determine that an elector is eligible to 69
vote in the election or primary, the registrars of voters shall check the 70
state-wide centralized voter registration system before allowing such 71
elector to cast an early voting ballot as provided in subsection (f) of this 72
section. 73
(1) If the registrars of voters determine that the elector has not already 74
voted, or if there is no report that the elector has already voted, the 75
registrars shall allow such elector to vote. 76
(2) If the registrars of voters determine that the elector has already 77
voted, such elector shall not be allowed to vote and such matter shall be 78
reviewed by the registrars of voters. After completion of such review, if 79
a resolution of the matter cannot be made, such matter shall be reported 80 Raised Bill No. 1057
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to the State Elections Enforcement Commission, which shall conduct an 81
investigation of the matter. 82
(f) If the elector is allowed to vote, the registrars of voters shall 83
provide such elector with an early voting ballot and early voting 84
envelope and shall make a record of such issuance. The elector shall 85
complete an affirmation printed upon the back of the early voting 86
envelope and shall declare under oath that the elector has not previously 87
voted in the election. The affirmation shall be in the form substantially 88
as follows and signed by the elector: 89
AFFIRMATION: I, the undersigned, do hereby state, under penalty 90
of false statement (perjury), that: 91
1. I am the elector appearing in person to vote at an election or 92
primary prior to the day of such election or primary. 93
2. I am eligible to vote in the election or primary indicated for today. 94
3. I have identified myself to the satisfaction of the registrars of voters. 95
4. I have not voted in person or by absentee ballot and I will not vote 96
otherwise than by this ballot at this election or primary. 97
5. I have received an early voting ballot for the purpose of so voting. 98
…. (Signature of voter) 99
(g) The elector shall forthwith mark the early voting ballot in the 100
presence of the registrars of voters in such a manner that the registrars 101
of voters shall not know how the early voting ballot is marked. The 102
elector shall place the early voting ballot in the early voting ballot 103
envelope provided and deposit such envelope in a secured early voting 104
ballot depository receptacle. At the conclusion of each day during the 105
early voting period, the registrars of voters shall transport such 106
receptacle containing such day's early voting ballots to the municipal 107
clerk, who shall retain such ballots until delivery of such ballots to the 108
registrars of voters on the day of the election or primary for the purpose 109 Raised Bill No. 1057
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of counting such ballots. A section of the head moderator's return shall 110
show the number of early voting ballots received from electors. The 111
registrars of voters shall seal a copy of the vote tally for early voting 112
ballots in a depository envelope with the early voting ballots and store 113
such early voting depository envelope with the other election or 114
primary results materials. The early voting depository envelope shall be 115
preserved by the registrars of voters for the period of time required to 116
preserve counted ballots for elections. 117
(h) Except as provided in section 2 of this act, the provisions of title 9 118
of the general statutes and any regulation adopted under said title 119
concerning procedures relating to the custody, control and counting of 120
absentee ballots shall apply, as nearly as possible, to the custody, control 121
and counting of early voting ballots under this section. 122
(i) No person shall solicit on behalf of or in opposition to any 123
candidate or on behalf of or in opposition to any question being 124
submitted at the election or primary, or loiter or peddle or offer any 125
advertising matter, ballot or circular to another person within a radius 126
of seventy-five feet of any outside entrance in use as an entry to any 127
location designated by the registrars of voters for early voting or in any 128
corridor, passageway or other approach leading from any such outside 129
entrance to any such location or in any room opening upon any such 130
corridor, passageway or approach. 131
(j) The provisions of subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this section 132
shall not apply to any primary held for the purpose of choosing town 133
committee members. 134
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) Early voting ballots and same-135
day election or same-day primary registration ballots received by the 136
municipal clerk prior to the day of the election or primary shall be 137
delivered by the municipal clerk to the registrars between six o'clock 138
a.m. and ten o'clock a.m. on the day of the election or primary. 139
(b) The ballot counters for such early voting ballots and same-day 140
election or same-day primary registration ballots shall proceed to the 141 Raised Bill No. 1057
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central counting location or to the respective polling places when 142
counting is to take place pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a of 143
the general statutes at the time, between six o'clock a.m. and ten o'clock 144
a.m. on the day of the election or primary, designated by the registrars 145
of voters. At the time such ballots are delivered to the ballot counters 146
pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the ballot counters shall 147
perform any checking of such ballots and proceed, as nearly as possible, 148
as provided in section 9-150a of the general statutes. 149
Sec. 3. Section 9-174 of the general statutes is repealed and the 150
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 151
(a) Notwithstanding [the provisions of any general statute,] any 152
provision of the general statutes or any special act or municipal charter, 153
at any regular election, or at any special election held to fill a vacancy in 154
a state, district or municipal office, the polls on the day of such election 155
shall remain open for voting from six o'clock a.m. until eight o'clock p.m. 156
No elector shall be permitted to cast such elector's vote after the hour 157
prescribed for the closing of the polls in any election unless such elector 158
is in line at eight o'clock p.m. An election official or a police officer of the 159
municipality, who is designated by the moderator, shall be placed at the 160
end of the line at eight o'clock p.m. Such official or officer shall not allow 161
any electors who were not in such line at eight o'clock p.m. to enter such 162
line. 163
(b) Notwithstanding [the provisions of any general statute,] any 164
provision of the general statutes or any special act or municipal charter, 165
at any regular election, each location designated for election day 166
registration pursuant to subsection (c) of section 9-19j, as amended by 167
this act, shall remain open for election day registration and voting from 168
six o'clock a.m. until eight o'clock p.m. No applicant for election day 169
registration shall be admitted as an elector or permitted to cast such 170
applicant's vote after the hour prescribed for the closing of the location 171
designated for such purposes in any regular election unless such 172
applicant is in line at eight o'clock p.m. An election official or a police 173
officer of the municipality, who is appointed by the registrars of voters, 174 Raised Bill No. 1057
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shall be placed at the end of the line at eight o'clock p.m. Such official or 175
officer shall not allow any applicants who were not in such line at eight 176
o'clock p.m. to enter such line. 177
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes or any 178
special act or municipal charter, at any election held on or after July 1, 179
2023, and at any primary held on or after January 1, 2024, each location 180
designated for early voting pursuant to subsection (c) of section 1 of this 181
act shall, during the early voting period, remain open from ten o'clock 182
a.m. to six o'clock p.m., except that such location shall remain open from 183
eight o'clock a.m. to eight o'clock p.m. on the last Wednesday and 184
Thursday prior to the election or primary. No elector shall be permitted 185
to cast such elector's vote after the hour prescribed for the closing of the 186
location designated for early voting at such election or primary unless 187
such elector is in line at such prescribed hour. An election or primary 188
official or a police officer of the municipality, who is appointed by the 189
registrars of voters, shall be placed at the end of the line at such 190
prescribed hour. Such official or officer shall not allow any electors who 191
were not in such line at such prescribed hour to enter such line. 192
Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 9-174a of the general statutes is 193
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 194
2023): 195
(a) For each municipality, the registrars of voters, in consultation with 196
the municipal clerk, shall create an emergency contingency plan for 197
elections, primaries and referenda to be held within such municipality, 198
including the conduct of early voting, as provided in section 1 of this 199
act, at such regular elections held on or after July 1, 2023, and at such 200
primaries held on or after January 1, 2024. Such plan shall include, but 201
not be limited to, (1) solutions for ballot or envelope shortages, and (2) 202
strategies to implement in the event of (A) a shortage or absence of [poll 203
workers] election, primary or referendum officials at the polling place 204
or the location designated for early voting, as applicable, (B) a loss of 205
power, (C) a fire or the sounding of an alarm within a polling place or a 206
location designated for early voting, (D) voting machine malfunctions, 207 Raised Bill No. 1057
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(E) a weather or other natural disaster, (F) the need to remove [a poll 208
worker or moderator] an election, primary or referendum official and to 209
replace such [worker or moderator] official, and (G) disorder in and 210
around the polling place or the location designated for early voting. 211
Sec. 5. Section 9-19j of the general statutes is repealed and the 212
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 213
(a) As used in [this subsection and subsections (b) to (i), inclusive, of] 214
this section: [, "election day"] 215
(1) "Election day" means the day on which a regular election, as 216
defined in section 9-1, as amended by this act, is held; 217
(2) "Primary day" means the day on which a primary, as defined in 218
section 9-372 or 9-463, as applicable, is held; 219
(3) "Same-day election registration" means admission as an elector 220
during the period of early voting at an election, as provided in section 1 221
of this act, or on election day; and 222
(4) "Same-day primary registration" means both admission as an 223
elector and enrollment in a political party holding a primary during the 224
period of early voting at a primary, as provided in section 1 of this act, 225
or on primary day. 226
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, a person who (1) 227
is (A) not an elector, or (B) an elector registered in a municipality who 228
wishes to change such elector's registration to another municipality 229
pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of this 230
section, and (2) meets the eligibility requirements under subsection (a) 231
of section 9-12, may apply for [admission as an elector on election day] 232
same-day election registration or same-day primary registration 233
pursuant to the provisions [of subsections (a) to (i), inclusive,] of this 234
section. 235
(c) (1) The registrars of voters shall designate a location for the 236
completion and processing of [election day registration applications on 237 Raised Bill No. 1057
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election day] same-day election registrations and same-day primary 238
registrations, provided (A) the registrars of voters [shall] have access to 239
the state-wide centralized voter registration system from such location, 240
and (B) such location [shall be] is certified in writing to the Secretary of 241
the State not later than [thirty-one] forty-one days before election day or 242
primary day. The written certification under subparagraph (B) of this 243
subdivision shall (i) include the name, street address and relevant 244
contact information associated with such location, (ii) list the name and 245
address of each election official or primary official appointed to serve at 246
such location, if any, and (iii) provide a description of the design of such 247
location and a plan for effective completion and processing of such 248
applications. The Secretary shall approve or disapprove such written 249
certification not later than [fifteen] twenty-five days before election day 250
or primary day and may require the registrars of voters to appoint one 251
or more additional election officials or primary officials or alter such 252
design or plan. 253
(2) The registrars of voters may apply to the Secretary of the State not 254
later than [sixty] seventy days before election day or primary day, in a 255
form and manner prescribed by the Secretary, to designate any 256
additional location for the completion and processing of [election day] 257
same-day election or same-day primary registration applications. [on 258
election day.] The Secretary shall approve or disapprove such 259
application not later than [forty-five] fifty-five days before election day 260
or primary day. If the Secretary approves such application, the registrars 261
of voters may so designate any such additional location. The provisions 262
of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall apply to any such additional 263
location. 264
(3) The registrars of voters may delegate to each election official 265
appointed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection [, if any,] any 266
of the responsibilities assigned to the registrars of voters. The registrars 267
of voters shall supervise each such election official or primary official 268
and train each such [election] official to be [an election day registration 269
election] a same-day election or same-day primary registration official. 270 Raised Bill No. 1057
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(d) Any person applying [to register on election day] for same-day 271
election or same-day primary registration under the provisions [of 272
subsections (a) to (i), inclusive,] of this section shall make application in 273
accordance with the provisions of section 9-20, provided (1) (A) on 274
election day or primary day, the applicant shall appear in person not 275
later than eight o'clock p.m., in accordance with subsection (b) of section 276
9-174, as amended by this act, at the location designated by the registrars 277
of voters for [election day] same-day election or same-day primary 278
registration, and (B) during the period of early voting prior to election 279
day or primary day, the applicant shall appear in person at such time as 280
provided in subsection (c) of section 9-174, as amended by this act, at 281
such location, (2) an applicant who is a student enrolled at an institution 282
of higher education may submit a current photo identification card 283
issued by such institution in lieu of the identification required by section 284
9-20, and (3) the applicant shall declare under oath that the applicant 285
has not previously voted in the election or primary, as provided in 286
subsection (f) of this section. If the information that the applicant is 287
required to provide under section 9-20 and [subsections (a) to (i), 288
inclusive, of] this section does not include proof of the applicant's 289
residential address, the applicant shall also submit identification that 290
shows the applicant's bona fide residence address, including, but not 291
limited to, a learner's permit issued under section 14-36 or a utility bill 292
that has the applicant's name and current address and that has a due 293
date that is not later than thirty days after the election or primary or, in 294
the case of a student enrolled at an institution of higher education, a 295
registration or fee statement from such institution that has the 296
applicant's name and current address. 297
(e) If the registrars of voters determine that an applicant satisfies the 298
application requirements set forth in subsection (d) of this section, the 299
registrars of voters shall check the state-wide centralized voter 300
registration system before admitting such applicant as an elector or 301
enrolling such applicant in a political party holding a primary. 302
(1) If the registrars of voters determine that the applicant is not 303
already an elector, the registrars of voters shall admit the applicant as 304 Raised Bill No. 1057
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an elector and the privileges of an elector shall attach immediately. 305
Subject to the provisions of section 9-59, if the registrars of voters 306
determine that the applicant is not already enrolled in a political party, 307
the registrars of voters shall enroll the applicant in the political party 308
holding a primary of such applicant's preference and the privileges of 309
party enrollment shall attach immediately. 310
(2) If the registrars of voters determine that such applicant is an 311
elector in another municipality and [such applicant states that he or she] 312
such applicant wants to change the municipality in which the applicant 313
is an elector, notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-21, the 314
registrars of voters of the municipality in which such elector now seeks 315
to register shall immediately notify the registrars of voters in such other 316
municipality that such elector is changing the municipality in which the 317
applicant is an elector. The registrars of voters in such other 318
municipality shall notify the election officials in such municipality to 319
remove such elector from the official voter list and, if applicable, any 320
enrollment list of such municipality. Such election officials shall cross 321
through the elector's name on such official voter list and, if applicable, 322
enrollment list and mark "off" next to such elector's name on any such 323
[official voter] list. 324
(A) If it is reported that such applicant already voted in such other 325
municipality, the registrars of voters of such other municipality shall 326
immediately notify the registrars of voters of the municipality in which 327
such elector now seeks to register. In such event, such elector shall not 328
receive [an election day] a same-day election or same-day primary 329
registration ballot from the registrars of voters of the municipality in 330
which such elector now seeks to register. For any such elector, the 331
[election day] same-day election or same-day primary registration 332
process shall cease in the municipality in which such elector now seeks 333
to register and such matter shall be reviewed by the registrars of voters 334
in the municipality in which such elector now seeks to register. After 335
completion of such review, if a resolution of the matter [can not] cannot 336
be made, such matter shall be reported to the State Elections 337
Enforcement Commission which shall conduct an investigation of the 338 Raised Bill No. 1057
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matter. 339
(B) If there is no such report that such applicant already voted in the 340
other municipality, the registrars of voters of the municipality in which 341
the applicant seeks to register shall admit the applicant as an elector and 342
the privileges of an elector shall attach immediately. Subject to the 343
provisions of section 9-59, the registrars of voters shall also enroll the 344
applicant in the political party holding a primary of such applicant's 345
preference and the privileges of party enrollment shall attach 346
immediately. 347
(f) If the applicant is admitted as an elector, the registrars of voters 348
shall provide the elector with [an election day] a same-day election or 349
same-day primary registration ballot and [election day] same-day 350
election or same-day primary registration envelope and shall make a 351
record of such issuance. The elector shall complete an affirmation 352
imprinted upon the back of the same-day election or same-day primary 353
registration envelope [for an election day registration ballot] and shall 354
declare under oath that the applicant has not previously voted in the 355
election or primary. The affirmation shall be in the form substantially as 356
follows and signed by the voter: 357
AFFIRMATION: I, the undersigned, do hereby state, under penalty 358
of false statement, (perjury) that: 359
1. I am the person admitted here as an elector in the town indicated. 360
2. I am eligible to vote in the election or primary indicated for today 361
in the town indicated. 362
3. The information on my voter registration card is correct and 363
complete. 364
4. I reside at the address that I have given to the registrars of voters. 365
5. If previously registered at another location, I have provided such 366
address to the registrars of voters and hereby request cancellation of 367
such prior registration. 368 Raised Bill No. 1057
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6. I have not voted in person or by absentee ballot and I will not vote 369
otherwise than by this ballot at this election or primary. 370
7. I completed an application for [an election day] a same-day election 371
registration or same-day primary registration ballot and received [an 372
election day] a same-day election registration or same-day primary 373
registration ballot. 374
.... (Signature of voter) 375
(g) The elector shall forthwith mark the [election day] same-day 376
election or same-day primary registration ballot in the presence of the 377
registrars of voters in such a manner that the registrars of voters shall 378
not know how the [election day] same-day election or same-day 379
primary registration ballot is marked. The elector shall place the 380
[election day] same-day election or same-day primary registration ballot 381
in the [election day] same-day election or same-day primary registration 382
ballot envelope provided, and deposit such envelope in a secured 383
[election day] same-day election or same-day primary registration ballot 384
depository receptacle. At the conclusion of each day during the early 385
voting period, the registrars of voters shall transport such receptacle 386
containing such day's same-day election or same-day primary 387
registration ballots to the municipal clerk, who shall retain such ballots 388
until delivery of such ballots to the registrars of voters on election day 389
or primary day for the purpose of counting such ballots. On election day 390
or primary day, at the time designated by the registrars of voters and 391
noticed to election officials or primary officials, the registrars of voters 392
shall transport such receptacle containing the [election day] same-day 393
election or same-day primary registration ballots received on such 394
election day or primary day to the central location or polling place, 395
pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, where absentee ballots are 396
counted and such [election day] same-day election or same-day primary 397
registration ballots shall be counted by the election officials or primary 398
officials present at such central location or polling place. A section of the 399
head moderator's return shall show the number of [election day] same-400
day election or same-day primary registration ballots received from 401 Raised Bill No. 1057
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electors. The registrars of voters shall seal a copy of the vote tally for 402
[election day] same-day election or same-day primary registration 403
ballots in a depository envelope with the [election day] same-day 404
election or same-day primary registration ballots and store such 405
[election day] same-day election or same-day primary registration 406
depository envelope with the other election or primary results 407
materials. The [election day] same-day election or same-day primary 408
registration depository envelope shall be preserved by the registrars of 409
voters for the period of time required to preserve counted ballots for 410
elections. 411
(h) [The] Except as provided in section 2 of this act, the provisions of 412
title 9 [the general statutes and regulations] and any regulation adopted 413
under said title concerning procedures relating to the custody, control 414
and counting of absentee ballots shall apply, as nearly as possible, to the 415
custody, control and counting of [election day] same-day election or 416
same-day primary registration ballots under [subsections (a) to (i), 417
inclusive, of] this section. 418
(i) After the acceptance of [an election day] a same-day election or 419
same-day primary registration, the registrars of voters shall forthwith 420
send a registration confirmation notice to the residential address of each 421
applicant who [is] was admitted as an elector on election day or during 422
the period of early voting prior to election day, or who was enrolled in 423
a political party holding a primary on primary day or during the period 424
of early voting prior to primary day, under [subsections (a) to (i), 425
inclusive, of] this section. Such confirmation shall be sent by first class 426
mail with instructions on the envelope that it be returned if not 427
deliverable at the address shown on the envelope. If a confirmation 428
notice is returned undelivered, the registrars shall forthwith take the 429
necessary action in accordance with section 9-35 or 9-43, as applicable, 430
notwithstanding the May first deadline in section 9-35. 431
(j) No person shall solicit [in] on behalf of or in opposition to [the 432
candidacy of another or himself or herself] any candidate or [in] on 433
behalf of or in opposition to any question being submitted at the 434 Raised Bill No. 1057
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election, or loiter or peddle or offer any advertising matter, ballot or 435
circular to another person within a radius of seventy-five feet of any 436
outside entrance in use as an entry to any location designated by the 437
registrars of voters for [election day] same-day election or same-day 438
primary registration balloting or in any corridor, passageway or other 439
approach leading from any such outside entrance to any such location 440
or in any room opening upon any such corridor, passageway or 441
approach. 442
Sec. 6. Subsection (a) of section 9-225 of the general statutes is 443
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 444
2023): 445
(a) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the 446
town clerk or assistant town clerk of each town shall warn the electors 447
therein to meet on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November 448
in the even-numbered years, at six o'clock a.m., which warning shall be 449
given by publication (A) in a newspaper having a general circulation in 450
such town, or towns in the case of a joint publication under subsection 451
(b) of this section, not more than fifteen nor less than five days previous 452
to [holding] the commencement of the period of early voting at such 453
election, and (B) on such town's Internet web site, not more than fifteen 454
nor less than five days previous to [holding] the commencement of the 455
period of early voting at such election. The clerk in each town shall, in 456
the warning for such election, give notice of (i) the time and the location 457
of each polling place in the town, (ii) in towns divided into voting 458
districts, the time and the location of each polling place in each district, 459
[and] (iii) the time and the [location] site of each location designated for 460
[election day] same-day election registration in the town, and (iv) the 461
time and the site of each location designated for the conduct of early 462
voting, at which such election will be held. The town clerk shall record 463
each such warning. 464
(2) For the state election in 2020, and any election held pursuant to 465
section 9-211, 9-212, 9-215 or 9-218 on or after June 23, 2021, but prior to 466
November 3, 2021, the warning under subsection (a) of this section shall 467 Raised Bill No. 1057
LCO No. 4425 16 of 32
be given not more than seven nor less than four days previous to 468
holding such election. 469
Sec. 7. Subsection (a) of section 9-226 of the general statutes is 470
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 471
2023): 472
(a) The warning of each municipal election shall specify the objects 473
for which such election is to be held. Except as provided in subsection 474
(b) of this section, notice of a town election shall be given by the town 475
clerk or assistant town clerk, by publishing a warning (1) in a newspaper 476
published in such town or having a general circulation therein, such 477
publication to be not more than fifteen nor less than five days previous 478
to [holding] the commencement of the period of early voting at the 479
election, and (2) on such town's Internet web site, such publication to be 480
not more than fifteen nor less than five days previous to [holding] the 481
commencement of the period of early voting at the election. The town 482
clerk in each town shall, in the warning for such election, give notice of 483
(A) the time and the location of each polling place in the town, (B) in 484
towns divided into voting districts, the time and the location of each 485
polling place in each district, [and] (C) the time and the [location] site of 486
each location designated for [election day] same-day election 487
registration, and (D) the time and the site of each location designated for 488
the conduct of early voting, in the town. The town clerk shall record 489
each such warning. Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, 490
notice of an election of a city or borough shall be given by publishing a 491
warning (i) in a newspaper published within the limits of such city or 492
borough or having a general circulation therein, not more than fifteen 493
nor less than five days previous to [holding] the commencement of the 494
period of early voting at the election, and (ii) on the Internet web site of 495
such city or borough, or the town having such city or borough within 496
such town's limits, not more than fifteen nor less than five days previous 497
to [holding] the commencement of the period of early voting at the 498
election, which warning shall include notice of (I) the time and the 499
location of each polling place in such city or borough, (II) in cities and 500
boroughs divided into voting districts, the time and the location of each 501 Raised Bill No. 1057
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polling place in each district, [and] (III) the time and the [location] site 502
of each location designated for [election day] same-day election 503
registration, and (IV) the time and the site of each location designated 504
for the conduct of early voting, in such city or borough. 505
Sec. 8. Subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of section 9-255a of the general 506
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 507
(Effective July 1, 2023): 508
(a) The registrars of voters and municipal clerk from each 509
municipality shall jointly certify, in writing, to the Secretary of the State 510
the number of ballots for each polling place in the municipality that have 511
been ordered for each election or primary to be held within such 512
municipality. Such registrars and clerk shall also so certify the number 513
of ballots for each location designated for the conduct of early voting in 514
the municipality that have been ordered for each regular election held 515
on or after July 1, 2023, and for each primary held on or after January 1, 516
2024. Such certification shall be on a form provided by the Secretary that 517
shall have questions, including, but not limited to, those pertaining to 518
the historical turnout for each such polling place or location, as 519
applicable, in the municipality for the past four elections or primaries of 520
similar nature to the election or primary to be held. The registrars of 521
voters and municipal clerk shall include as part of any such certification 522
any other relevant factors that may be unique to each such polling place 523
or location in their municipality. Such certification shall be provided to 524
the Secretary not later than thirty-one days prior to the commencement 525
of the period of early voting at an election or twenty-one days prior to 526
the commencement of the period of early voting at a primary. 527
(b) If the registrars of voters and municipal clerk of a municipality do 528
not jointly submit the certification as set forth in subsection (a) of this 529
section, such registrars of voters and municipal clerk shall order a 530
number of ballots equal to the total number of registered voters in their 531
municipality for such election or primary. 532
(c) The registrars of voters and municipal clerk may jointly apply to 533 Raised Bill No. 1057
LCO No. 4425 18 of 32
the Secretary of the State for a waiver of the requirements of subsections 534
(a) and (b) of this section. Such waiver request shall be submitted to the 535
Secretary of the State, in writing, not later than the forty-fifth day before 536
the commencement of the period of early voting at the election or the 537
thirtieth day before the commencement of the period of early voting at 538
the primary to be held and shall demonstrate good cause for such 539
waiver. Not later than five days after receipt of such waiver request, the 540
Secretary shall notify, in writing, the municipal clerk requesting a 541
waiver, of the Secretary's response. 542
Sec. 9. Section 9-373a of the general statutes is repealed and the 543
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 544
Any person desiring to be a write-in candidate for any state, district 545
or municipal office to be filled at any regular election shall register his 546
candidacy with the Secretary of the State on a form prescribed by the 547
Secretary. The registration shall include the candidate's name and 548
address, the designation and term of the office sought, a statement of 549
consent to the candidacy, and any other information which the Secretary 550
deems necessary. In the case of a write-in candidacy for the office of 551
Governor or Lieutenant Governor, the registration shall include a 552
candidate for each of those offices, or shall be void. The registration shall 553
not include a designation of any political party. The registration shall be 554
filed with the Secretary not more than ninety days prior to the election 555
at which the office is to be filled and not later than four o'clock p.m. on 556
the fourteenth day preceding the commencement of the period of early 557
voting at the election, or the registration shall be void. No person 558
nominated for an office by a major or minor party or by nominating 559
petition shall register as a write-in candidate for that office under the 560
provisions of this section, and any registration of a write-in candidacy 561
filed by such a person shall be void. Notwithstanding any provision of 562
this section to the contrary, any person desiring to be a write-in 563
candidate for the municipal office of town meeting member in any town 564
having a representative town meeting which has seventy-five or more 565
members shall register his candidacy with the town clerk of such town 566
not later than the last business day preceding such election. A person 567 Raised Bill No. 1057
LCO No. 4425 19 of 32
may register as a write-in candidate for a district or municipal office if 568
such person's name appears on the last-completed registry list of the 569
district or municipality represented by such office, as the case may be. 570
A person may register as a write-in candidate for a state office if such 571
person's name appears on the last-completed registry list of the state. 572
Sec. 10. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 9-224b of the general statutes 573
are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 574
January 1, 2024): 575
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, in order to be 576
a valid write-in candidate in a special election called to fill a vacancy in 577
a state, district or municipal office, a person shall register with the 578
Secretary of the State not earlier than ninety days before such election 579
and not later than the end of the business day on the fourteenth day 580
preceding the commencement of the period of early voting at such 581
election. 582
(b) In order to be a valid write-in candidate in a special election called 583
to fill a vacancy in the municipal office of town meeting member in any 584
town having a representative town meeting which has seventy-five or 585
more members, a person shall register with the town clerk of such town 586
not earlier than ninety days preceding such election and not later than 587
the last business day preceding the commencement of the period of 588
early voting at the election. 589
Sec. 11. Section 9-329b of the general statutes is repealed and the 590
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 591
At any time prior to the commencement of the period of early voting 592
at a primary held on or after January 1, 2024, and pursuant to sections 593
9-423, 9-425 and 9-464, or a special act, or prior to the commencement of 594
the period of early voting at any regular election held on or after July 1, 595
2023, the Superior Court may issue an order removing a candidate from 596
a ballot where it is shown that said candidate is improperly on the ballot. 597
Sec. 12. Section 9-460 of the general statutes is repealed and the 598 Raised Bill No. 1057
LCO No. 4425 20 of 32
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 599
If any party has nominated a candidate for office, or, on and after 600
November 4, 1981, if a candidate has qualified to appear on any ballot 601
by nominating petition under a reserved party designation, in 602
accordance with the provisions of this chapter, and such nominee 603
thereafter, but prior to forty-six days before the opening of the polls on 604
the day of the election for which such nomination has been made, dies, 605
withdraws such nominee's name or for any reason becomes disqualified 606
to hold the office for which such nominee has been nominated (1) such 607
party or, on and after November 4, 1981, the party designation 608
committee may make a nomination to fill such vacancy or provide for 609
the making of such nomination as its rules prescribe, and (2) if another 610
party that is qualified to nominate a candidate for such office does not 611
have a nominee for such office, such party may also nominate a 612
candidate for such office as its rules prescribe. No withdrawal, and no 613
nomination to replace a candidate who has withdrawn, under this 614
section shall be valid unless the candidate who has withdrawn has filed 615
a letter of withdrawal signed by such candidate with the Secretary of the 616
State in the case of a state or district office or the office of state senator 617
or state representative from any district, or with the municipal clerk in 618
the case of a municipal office other than state senator or state 619
representative. A copy of such candidate's letter of withdrawal to the 620
municipal clerk shall also be filed with the Secretary of the State. No 621
nomination to fill a vacancy under this section shall be valid unless it is 622
certified to the Secretary of the State in the case of a state or district office 623
or the office of state senator or state representative from any district, or 624
to the municipal clerk in the case of a municipal office other than state 625
senator or state representative, by the organization or committee 626
making such nomination, at least forty-two days before the opening of 627
the polls on the day of the election, except as otherwise provided by this 628
section. If a nominee dies within forty-six days, but prior to twenty-four 629
hours, before the [opening of the polls on the day of] commencement of 630
the period of early voting at the election for which such nomination has 631
been made, the vacancy may be filled in the manner prescribed in this 632 Raised Bill No. 1057
LCO No. 4425 21 of 32
section by two o'clock p.m. of the day before the [election] first day of 633
such period of early voting with the municipal clerk or the Secretary of 634
the State, as the case may be. If a nominee dies within twenty-four hours 635
before the [opening of the polls] commencement of the period of early 636
voting at the election and prior to the close of the polls on the day of the 637
election for which such nomination has been made, such nominee shall 638
not be replaced and the votes cast for such nominee shall be canvassed 639
and counted, and if such nominee receives a plurality of the votes cast, 640
a vacancy shall exist in the office for which the nomination was made. 641
The vacancy shall then be filled in a manner prescribed by law. A copy 642
of such certification to the municipal clerk shall also be filed with the 643
Secretary of the State. Such nomination to fill a vacancy due to death or 644
disqualification shall include a statement setting forth the reason for 645
such vacancy. If at the time such nomination is certified to the Secretary 646
of the State or to the municipal clerk, as the case may be, the ballots have 647
already been printed, the Secretary of the State shall direct the municipal 648
clerk in each municipality affected to (A) have the ballots reprinted with 649
the nomination thus made included thereon, (B) cause printed stickers 650
to be affixed to the ballots so that the name of any candidate who has 651
died, withdrawn or been disqualified is deleted and the name of any 652
candidate chosen to fill such vacancy appears in the same position as 653
that in which the vacated candidacy appeared, or (C) cause blank 654
stickers to be so affixed if the vacancy is not filled. 655
Sec. 13. Section 9-426 of the general statutes is repealed and the 656
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2024): 657
If only one candidacy has been filed by a person other than a party-658
endorsed candidate for the nomination by a political party to a 659
particular office and the candidate whose candidacy has been so filed 660
thereafter, but prior to the [opening of the polls] commencement of the 661
period of early voting at such primary, dies, withdraws his name from 662
nomination or for any reason becomes disqualified to hold the office for 663
which he is a candidate, no primary shall be held for the nomination of 664
such party to that office and the party-endorsed candidate for such 665
office shall be deemed to have been lawfully chosen in the same manner 666 Raised Bill No. 1057
LCO No. 4425 22 of 32
and to the same extent as is provided in sections 9-382 to 9-450, 667
inclusive, in the case where no candidacy other than a party-endorsed 668
candidacy has been filed. If candidacies have been filed by only one 669
group of persons other than party-endorsed candidates for election to a 670
town committee, and the candidates whose candidacies have been so 671
filed thereafter, but prior to the [opening of the polls] commencement of 672
the period of early voting at such primary, die, withdraw their names 673
from nomination or for any reason become disqualified to hold the 674
positions for which they are candidates, so as to render the number of 675
candidacies so filed less than twenty-five per cent of the number of town 676
committee members to be elected by such party either in the 677
municipality or in the political subdivision, as the case may be, no 678
primary shall be held for those positions and the party-endorsed 679
candidates for such positions shall be deemed to have been lawfully 680
chosen in the same manner and to the same extent as is provided in 681
sections 9-382 to 9-450, inclusive, in the case where no candidacies other 682
than party-endorsed candidacies have been filed. If any person on a 683
slate, prior to the [opening of the polls] commencement of the period of 684
early voting at such primary, dies, withdraws his name from 685
nomination or for any reason becomes disqualified to hold the position 686
for which he is a candidate, such partial slate shall appear on the ballot 687
at the primary and, if such partial slate wins, then the remaining 688
members may fill the vacancy. If only one such slate other than a slate 689
of party-endorsed candidates has been filed for election and prior to the 690
[opening of the polls] commencement of the period of early voting at 691
such primary each of the persons on such slate dies, withdraws or 692
becomes disqualified, no primary shall be held for those positions and 693
the party-endorsed candidates for those positions shall be deemed to 694
have been lawfully chosen in the same manner and to the same extent 695
as is provided in sections 9-382 to 9-450, inclusive, in the case where no 696
candidacies other than party-endorsed candidacies have been filed. 697
Sec. 14. Section 9-428 of the general statutes is repealed and the 698
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2024): 699
If a party-endorsed candidate for nomination to an office or for 700 Raised Bill No. 1057
LCO No. 4425 23 of 32
election to the position of town committee member, prior to twenty-four 701
hours before the [opening of the polls] commencement of the period of 702
early voting at the primary, dies or, prior to ten days before the first day 703
of such [primary] period of early voting, withdraws his name from 704
nomination or for any reason becomes disqualified to hold the office or 705
position for which he is a candidate, the state central committee, the 706
town committee or other authority of the party which endorsed such 707
candidate may make an endorsement to fill such vacancy or provide for 708
the making of such endorsement, in such manner as is prescribed in the 709
rules of such party, and certify to the registrar and municipal clerk or to 710
the Secretary of the State, as the case may be, the name of the person so 711
endorsed. If such certification is made at least twenty-four hours prior 712
to the [opening of the polls] commencement of the period of early voting 713
at the primary, in the case of such an endorsement to replace a candidate 714
who has died, or at least seven days before the first day of such 715
[primary] period of early voting, in the case of such an endorsement to 716
replace a candidate who has withdrawn or become disqualified, such 717
person so endorsed shall run in the primary as the party-endorsed 718
candidate, except as provided in sections 9-416 and 9-417. If such 719
certification of another party-endorsed candidate has been made within 720
the time specified in this section, and if the ballots have already been 721
printed and the names of the candidates for such office or position 722
appear on the ballots, the Secretary of the State or the registrar, as the 723
case may be, shall direct the clerk of each municipality holding such 724
primary to have the ballots reprinted with the name of the person so 725
certified included thereon; provided, in the case of such an endorsement 726
to replace a candidate who has died, if such certification has been made 727
less than ninety-six hours but at least twenty-four hours prior to the 728
[opening of the polls] commencement of the period of early voting at 729
the primary, such Secretary or registrar shall direct such clerk to have 730
stickers printed and inserted upon the ballots, having the name of the 731
person so certified appearing thereon, and the moderator in each polling 732
place shall cause such stickers to be pasted on the ballots before the 733
opening of the polls at such primary. 734 Raised Bill No. 1057
LCO No. 4425 24 of 32
Sec. 15. Section 9-429 of the general statutes is repealed and the 735
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2024): 736
If, prior to the [opening of the polls] commencement of the period of 737
early voting at a primary for nomination to an office or for election of 738
town committee members, such a number of candidates have died, 739
withdrawn their names or become ineligible, and have not been 740
replaced as permitted in sections 9-426, as amended by this act, and 9-741
428, as amended by this act, as to render the total number of candidates 742
for such office or position no greater than the number to be nominated 743
to such office or elected to such positions, the primary shall not be held, 744
and each of the party-endorsed and other candidates shall be deemed to 745
have been lawfully nominated to such office or elected to such positions. 746
Sec. 16. Subsection (b) of section 9-55 of the general statutes is 747
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 748
1, 2024): 749
(b) If a political party authorizes unaffiliated electors to vote in a 750
primary, under section 9-431, and a notice of primary is published, the 751
registrars shall cause a list of all unaffiliated electors eligible to vote in 752
the primary to be printed before the commencement of the period of 753
early voting at such primary. If unaffiliated electors are authorized to 754
vote in only one party's primary and are authorized to vote for all offices 755
to be contested at the primary, the registrars may print the list of 756
unaffiliated electors in combination with such party's enrollment list, 757
indicating party affiliation where applicable. 758
Sec. 17. Subsection (b) of section 9-4a of the general statutes is 759
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 760
2023): 761
(b) The voter guide shall contain: 762
(1) The date of the state election and the hours the polls will be open, 763
and the dates of the period of early voting at such state election and the 764
hours the locations designated for the conduct of early voting will be 765 Raised Bill No. 1057
LCO No. 4425 25 of 32
open; 766
(2) The name, party affiliation and contact information of each 767
candidate who is nominated or qualifies as a petitioning candidate for 768
election to the office of President of the United States, Vice-President of 769
the United States, senator in Congress, representative in Congress, 770
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Treasurer, 771
State Comptroller, Secretary of the State, state senator or state 772
representative at the state election. As used in this section, "contact 773
information" means any or all of the following information received by 774
the Secretary of the State in the course of the secretary's elections duties 775
or by the Federal Election Commission: A candidate's campaign mailing 776
address, telephone number, facsimile number, electronic mail address 777
and web site. The voter guide may provide contact information for a 778
candidate for the office of President of the United States, Vice-President 779
of the United States, senator in Congress or representative in Congress 780
by an electronic link to such information on the Federal Election 781
Commission's web site; 782
(3) The following three maps produced pursuant to the most recent 783
decennial reapportionment of General Assembly and Connecticut 784
congressional districts: One map showing the boundaries of state 785
senatorial districts, one map showing the boundaries of state house of 786
representatives districts and one map showing the boundaries of state 787
congressional districts; 788
(4) A description of each office to be filled at the state election; 789
(5) An absentee ballot application in printable format; 790
(6) Instructions regarding voting by absentee ballot; 791
(7) Information on the procedure for registering to vote; 792
(8) A voter registration application in printable format; 793
(9) The full text of each proposed constitutional amendment that will 794
appear on the ballot at the state election; 795 Raised Bill No. 1057
LCO No. 4425 26 of 32
(10) The explanatory text as to the content and purpose of each such 796
proposed constitutional amendment, which is prepared by the Office of 797
Legislative Research pursuant to section 2-30a; and 798
(11) The text of the Voter's Bill of Rights set forth in section 9-236b. 799
Sec. 18. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The Secretary of the State shall 800
develop and conduct a state-wide public awareness campaign to 801
educate the public regarding the availability of early voting at regular 802
elections and primaries and provide information to the public 803
concerning such early voting, including, but not limited to, the number 804
of days of early voting prior to an election or primary, the hours for early 805
voting during such days and the procedures for casting a ballot at 806
locations designated for the conduct of early voting. 807
Sec. 19. Section 9-235e of the general statutes is repealed and the 808
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 809
Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Secretary of the 810
State, or the Secretary's designee, shall be allowed access to each polling 811
place or location designated for the conduct of early voting within the 812
state during any municipal, state or federal election, primary or 813
recanvass for the purpose of reviewing [each] any such polling place or 814
location and any recanvass for compliance with state and federal law. If 815
the Secretary is a candidate on the ballot for any election or primary at 816
a polling place, only the Secretary's designee may access such polling 817
place pursuant to the provisions of this section. 818
Sec. 20. Subsection (a) of section 9-6c of the general statutes is 819
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 820
2023): 821
(a) Two or more municipalities may jointly perform any function that 822
each municipality is required to perform individually under this title, 823
except conduct early voting, by entering into an agreement pursuant to 824
this section. Any such agreement shall be negotiated and shall contain 825
all provisions upon which each participating municipality agrees. Any 826 Raised Bill No. 1057
LCO No. 4425 27 of 32
such agreement shall establish a process for amendment of, termination 827
of and withdrawal from such agreement. Any proposed agreement shall 828
be submitted to the legislative body of each participating municipality 829
for a vote to ratify or reject such agreement. The legislative body of each 830
participating municipality shall provide an opportunity for public 831
comment prior to any such vote. For purposes of this section, providing 832
an opportunity for public comment does not require a legislative body 833
to conduct a public hearing. 834
Sec. 21. Subsection (c) of section 9-50b of the general statutes is 835
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 836
2023): 837
(c) Not later than sixty days after each election or primary, the 838
registrars of voters shall update the state-wide centralized voter 839
registration system and indicate whether the eligible voters on the 840
official registry list for such election or primary voted and, if so, if they 841
voted in person on the day of such election or primary, in person during 842
the period of early voting at such election or primary or by absentee 843
ballot. 844
Sec. 22. Subsection (y) of section 9-1 of the general statutes is repealed 845
and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 846
(y) "The last session for admission of electors prior to an election" 847
means the day which is the [seventh] fourteenth day prior to an election. 848
Sec. 23. Subsection (a) of section 9-17 of the general statutes are 849
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 850
2023): 851
(a) For the purposes of this section, "primary day" means the day that 852
a primary for state, district and municipal offices is being held in 853
accordance with section 9-423, and "election day" means the day of each 854
regular election. (1) The registrars of voters of each town shall hold 855
sessions to examine the qualifications of electors and admit those found 856
qualified on the dates and at the times set forth in this section. Such 857 Raised Bill No. 1057
LCO No. 4425 28 of 32
sessions shall be held on the following days during the hours indicated, 858
except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection: 859
T1 Day Hours
T2 Fourteenth day
T3 before primary day ………………. any two hours between
T4 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
T5 [Seventh] Fourteenth day
T6 before election day .………………. 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
The session of the registrars of voters on the [seventh] fourteenth day 860
before election day shall be the last session for admission of electors 861
prior to an election, as defined in subsection (y) of section 9-1, as 862
amended by this act. (2) No town having a population of less than 863
twenty-five thousand persons shall be required to hold sessions for 864
admission of electors on the fourteenth day before primary day. 865
Sec. 24. Subsection (f) of section 9-19k of the general statutes is 866
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 867
2023): 868
(f) If an applicant registers to vote pursuant to the provisions of this 869
section after the [seventh] fourteenth day before an election or after the 870
[fifth] fourteenth day before a primary, the privileges of an elector shall 871
not attach until the day after such election or primary, as the case may 872
be. In such event, the registrars of voters may contact such applicant, 873
either by telephone or mail, in order to inform such applicant of the 874
effect of such late received application and any applicable deadline for 875
applying for admission in person. 876
Sec. 25. Subsections (c) and (d) of section 9-23g of the general statutes 877
are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 878
1, 2023): 879
(c) Forthwith upon receipt of a registration application in the office of 880
the registrars of voters, the registrar shall mark such date on the 881 Raised Bill No. 1057
LCO No. 4425 29 of 32
application and review the application to determine whether the 882
applicant has properly completed it and is legally qualified to register. 883
Forthwith upon completing his review, the registrar shall (1) indicate on 884
the application whether the application has been accepted or rejected, 885
(2) mail a notice to the applicant, (3) indicate on the application the date 886
on which such notice is mailed, and (4) provide a copy of such notice to 887
the other registrar. If the registrar determines that the applicant has not 888
properly completed the application or is not legally qualified to register, 889
the notice shall indicate that the application has been rejected and shall 890
state any reason for rejection. If the registrar determines that the 891
applicant has properly completed the application and is legally 892
qualified to register, the notice shall indicate that the application has 893
been accepted. A notice of acceptance or a notice of rejection shall be 894
sent (A) not later than four days after receipt of an application during 895
the period beginning on the forty-ninth day before an election and 896
ending on the twenty-first day before such election, (B) on the day of 897
receipt of an application if it is received (i) during the period beginning 898
on the twentieth day before such election and ending on the [seventh] 899
fourteenth day before such election, (ii) during the period beginning on 900
the [sixth] thirteenth day before an election and ending on election day 901
if the application has been received by the [seventh] fourteenth day 902
before an election by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles or by a voter 903
registration agency, (iii) during the period beginning on the twenty-first 904
day before a primary and ending on the [fifth] fourteenth day before a 905
primary, or (iv) during the period beginning on the [fourth] thirteenth 906
day before a primary and ending at twelve o'clock noon on the last 907
weekday before a primary, if the application has been postmarked by 908
the [fifth] fourteenth day before the primary and is received in the office 909
of the registrars of voters during such period or if the application is 910
received by the [fifth] fourteenth day before a primary by the 911
Commissioner of Motor Vehicles or by a voter registration agency, and 912
(C) within ten days of receipt of an application at any other time. A 913
notice of acceptance shall be sent by first-class mail with instructions on 914
the envelope that it be returned if not deliverable at the address shown 915
on the envelope. A notice of acceptance shall indicate the effective date 916 Raised Bill No. 1057
LCO No. 4425 30 of 32
of the applicant's registration and enrollment, the date of the next 917
regularly scheduled election or primary in which the applicant shall be 918
eligible to vote and the applicant's precinct and polling place. If a notice 919
of acceptance of an application is returned undelivered, the registrars 920
shall forthwith take the necessary action in accordance with section 9-35 921
or 9-43, notwithstanding the May first deadline in section 9-35. An 922
applicant for admission as an elector pursuant to this section and section 923
9-23h may only be admitted as an elector by a registrar of voters of the 924
town of his residence. Not later than December thirty-first, annually, the 925
Secretary of the State shall establish an official calendar of all deadlines 926
set forth in this subsection for regularly scheduled elections and 927
primaries to be held in the following calendar year. 928
(d) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the privileges 929
of an elector for any applicant for admission under this section and 930
section 9-23h shall attach immediately upon approval by the registrar, 931
and the registrars shall enter the name of the elector on the registry list. 932
(2) Except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection, if a mailed 933
application is postmarked, or if a delivered application is received in the 934
office of the registrars of voters, after the [seventh] fourteenth day before 935
an election or after the [fifth] fourteenth day before a primary, the 936
privileges of an elector shall not attach until the day after such election 937
or primary, as the case may be. In such event, the registrars of voters 938
may contact such applicant, either by telephone or mail, in order to 939
inform such applicant of the effect of such late received mail-in 940
application and any applicable deadline for applying for admission in 941
person. 942
(3) If an application is received after the [seventh] fourteenth day 943
before an election or after the [fifth] fourteenth day before a primary by 944
the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles or by a voter registration agency, 945
the privileges of an elector shall not attach until the day after the election 946
or primary, as the case may be, or on the day the registrar approves it, 947
whichever is later. 948 Raised Bill No. 1057
LCO No. 4425 31 of 32
(4) If on the day of an election or primary, the name of an applicant 949
does not appear on the official check list, such applicant may present to 950
the moderator at the polls either a notice of acceptance received through 951
the mail or an application receipt that was previously provided to the 952
applicant pursuant to section 9-19e, subsection (b) of section 9-19h, 953
subsection (b) of this section or section 9-23n. If an applicant presents 954
said notice or receipt, and either the registrars of voters find the original 955
application or the applicant submits a new application at the polls, the 956
registrar, or assistant registrar upon notice to and approval by the 957
registrar, shall add such person's name and address to the official check 958
list on such day and the person shall be allowed to vote if otherwise 959
eligible to vote and the person presents to the checkers at the polling 960
place a preprinted form of identification pursuant to subparagraph (A) 961
of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 9-261. 962
Sec. 26. Subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 9-192a of the 963
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 964
thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 965
(3) Once certified, pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, each 966
registrar shall participate each year in not less than eight hours of 967
training, not including any training described under subdivision (2) of 968
subsection (d) of this section, in order to maintain such certification. 969
Such training shall be as prescribed by the Secretary of the State and 970
shall be conducted by said Secretary or a third party approved by said 971
Secretary to conduct such training. On and after July 1, 2023, such 972
training shall include procedures for the conduct of early voting at 973
elections and primaries. Any registrar who fails to satisfy such annual 974
training requirement shall be directed by the Secretary of the State to 975
take remedial measures prescribed by said Secretary. 976
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2023 New section
Sec. 2 July 1, 2023 New section
Sec. 3 July 1, 2023 9-174 Raised Bill No. 1057
LCO No. 4425 32 of 32
Sec. 4 July 1, 2023 9-174a(a)
Sec. 5 July 1, 2023 9-19j
Sec. 6 July 1, 2023 9-225(a)
Sec. 7 July 1, 2023 9-226(a)
Sec. 8 July 1, 2023 9-255a(a) to (c)
Sec. 9 July 1, 2023 9-373a
Sec. 10 January 1, 2024 9-224b(a) and (b)
Sec. 11 July 1, 2023 9-329b
Sec. 12 July 1, 2023 9-460
Sec. 13 January 1, 2024 9-426
Sec. 14 January 1, 2024 9-428
Sec. 15 January 1, 2024 9-429
Sec. 16 January 1, 2024 9-55(b)
Sec. 17 July 1, 2023 9-4a(b)
Sec. 18 from passage New section
Sec. 19 July 1, 2023 9-235e
Sec. 20 July 1, 2023 9-6c(a)
Sec. 21 July 1, 2023 9-50b(c)
Sec. 22 July 1, 2023 9-1(y)
Sec. 23 July 1, 2023 9-17(a)
Sec. 24 July 1, 2023 9-19k(f)
Sec. 25 July 1, 2023 9-23g(c) and (d)
Sec. 26 July 1, 2023 9-192a(a)(3)
Statement of Purpose:
To (1) establish early voting beginning in 2023 for certain elections and
beginning in 2024 for certain primaries, (2) establish the number of days
and hours of, and implement procedures for the conduct of, such early
voting, (3) provide for same-day election and same-day primary
registrations during periods of early voting, (4) make conforming
changes to deadlines for the performance of certain duties prior to an
election or primary, and (5) require the Secretary of the State to
undertake efforts to educate the public about early voting and train
registrars of voters regarding the administration of early voting.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]