Researcher: MHF Page 1 4/10/24
OLR Bill Analysis
HB 5308
AN ACT CONCERNING ABSENTEE VOTING FOR CERTAIN
PATIENTS OF NURSING HOMES.
SUMMARY
This bill allows for nursing home patients who apply for an absentee
ballot up to six days before the polls close at an election, primary, or
referendum to appoint someone who will bring them their ballot.
Existing law already allows this for hospital patients.
Under the bill, the absentee ballot application must include the
following: (1) name and address of the nursing home where the
applicant is a patient; (2) name, address, and category of the designated
person (”designee,” see below); and (3) designee’s authorization to
deliver the completed ballot.
As under existing law, the designated person must (1) sign a
statement on the application consenting to be the designee and agreeing
not to tamper with the ballot and (2) personally submit the application
to the town clerk. If the application is delivered within the appropriate
timeframe, the clerk must give the designee an absentee ballot to be
given to the patient.
Under the bill, the designee must be (1) a person caring for the
applicant because of the applicant’s illness or physical disability (e.g., a
licensed physician or a registered or practical nurse); (2) the applicant’s
family member; or (3) a police officer, registrar of voters, or deputy or
assistant registrar of voters in the municipality where the patient resides
(CGS § 9-140b).
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage 2024HB-05308-R000407-BA.DOCX
Researcher: MHF Page 2 4/10/24
COMMITTEE ACTION
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 19 Nay 0 (03/22/2024)