LCO 1 of 32
General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5498
February Session, 2024
AN ACT CONCERNING ELECTION SECURITY AND TRANSPARENCY,
VARIOUS OTHER REVISIONS RELATED TO ELECTION
ADMINISTRATION AND STATE ELECTIONS ENFORCEMENT
COMMISSION COMPLAINTS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Subsection (c) of section 9-140b of the 2024 supplement to 1
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2
thereof (Effective from passage): 3
(c) (1) For purposes of this section, "mailed" means (A) sent by the 4
United States Postal Service or any commercial carrier, courier or 5
messenger service recognized and approved by the Secretary of the 6
State, or (B) deposited in a secure drop box designated by the municipal 7
clerk for such purpose, in accordance with instructions prescribed by 8
the Secretary. 9
(2) (A) In the case of absentee ballots mailed under subparagraph (B) 10
of subdivision (1) of this subsection, beginning on the first day of 11
issuance of absentee voting sets, as provided in subsection (f) of section 12
9-140, and on each weekday thereafter until the close of the polls at the 13
election, primary or referendum, the municipal clerk shall retrieve from 14
the secure drop box described in said subparagraph each such ballot 15
deposited in such drop box. 16 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 2 of 32
(B) On and after July 1, 2025, each municipality shall provide a video 17
recording device for each secure drop box described in subparagraph 18
(B) of subdivision (1) of this subsection within such municipality, which 19
device's recordings shall capture the location of such drop box and 20
evidence the date and time of each such recording beginning on the first 21
day of issuance of absentee voting sets, as provided in subsection (f) of 22
section 9-140, and until the last retrieval of absentee ballots from such 23
drop box at the close of the polls at the election or primary. Each such 24
recording shall immediately be made publicly available from the date 25
of recording, but in no case later than five days after such last retrieval. 26
Each such recording shall be retained by the municipality for a period 27
of twelve months and may be destroyed at the end of such period, 28
except that the State Elections Enforcement Commission or a court of 29
competent jurisdiction may order that such period be extended until the 30
conclusion of any investigation related to such recording. 31
(3) The Secretary of the State may adopt regulations, in accordance 32
with the provisions of chapter 54, concerning the use of secure drop 33
boxes for the deposit of absentee ballots, including, but not limited to, 34
the placement and positioning of any such drop box and the video 35
recording of any such drop box and retention of any such recording. 36
Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 9-140c of the 2024 supplement to the 37
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 38
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 39
(a) (1) The municipal clerk shall retain the envelopes containing 40
absentee ballots received by him under section 9-140b, as amended by 41
this act, and shall not open such envelopes. The municipal clerk shall 42
endorse over his signature, upon each outer envelope as he receives it, 43
(A) the date and precise time of its receipt, and (B) the method of its 44
receipt, in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (2) of this 45
subsection. The clerk shall make an affidavit attesting to the accuracy of 46
all such endorsements, and at the close of the polls shall deliver such 47
affidavit to the head moderator, who shall endorse the time of its receipt 48
and return it to the clerk after all counting is complete. The clerk shall 49 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 3 of 32
preserve the affidavit for one hundred eighty days in accordance with 50
the requirements of section 9-150b. The clerk shall keep a list of the 51
names of the applicants who return absentee ballots to the clerk under 52
section 9-140b, as amended by this act. The list shall be preserved as a 53
public record as required by section 9-150b. 54
(2) The municipal clerk shall record on the outer envelope of each 55
absentee ballot returned under section 9-140b, as amended by this act, 56
whether such ballot was (A) sent by the United States Postal Service or 57
any commercial carrier, courier or messenger service, (B) deposited in a 58
secure drop box, in which case the location of such drop box shall also 59
be so recorded, (C) returned in person by an elector, or (D) returned in 60
person by the designee or immediate family member of an elector. 61
Immediately at the close of the polls at an election or primary, the 62
municipal clerk shall submit to the Secretary of the State a report 63
detailing the total count of all absentee ballots returned for such election 64
or primary, broken down by each method described in subparagraphs 65
(A) to (D), inclusive, of this subdivision. 66
Sec. 3. Section 9-153b of the general statutes is repealed and the 67
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 68
(a) If any absentee ballot applicant applies for an additional absentee 69
ballot, [he] such applicant shall note on [his] the application the reason 70
for [his] applying for an additional absentee ballot and [he] shall return 71
the absentee voting set formerly issued to [him] such applicant before 72
another set is issued, [to him, provided, if he] provided, if such applicant 73
is unable to return [the set formerly issued to him, his] such formerly 74
issued set, such application for an additional ballot shall be 75
accompanied by a statement signed under the penalties of false 76
statement in absentee balloting in which [he] such applicant shall [set 77
forth] note the reason for [his] such applicant's inability to return [the 78
set] such formerly issued [to him. If he] set. If such applicant fails to file 79
such a statement, no additional set shall be issued to [him] such 80
applicant. An application for an additional absentee ballot shall only be 81
made by an absentee ballot applicant. Any additional absentee voting 82 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 4 of 32
set issued under this subsection shall only be either provided in person 83
to the applicant or mailed directly to the applicant at the bona fide 84
mailing address designated by such applicant. 85
(b) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section for members 86
of the armed forces, the municipal clerk shall mark the serially-87
numbered outer envelope "rejected" and note the reasons therefor on all 88
absentee ballots and envelopes so returned [to him] and shall seal such 89
unopened ballots in a package and retain them in a safe place until 90
delivered in accordance with section 9-140c, as amended by this act. The 91
municipal clerk shall keep a list of the names of each absentee ballot 92
applicant who has applied for more than one absentee ballot, as 93
provided in section 9-140, as amended by this act, together with the 94
serial number appearing on the outer envelope of each absentee voting 95
set issued to each such applicant including the latest one issued. 96
(c) When an absentee ballot applicant has applied for more than one 97
absentee ballot, only the latest absentee ballot issued to [him] such 98
applicant by the municipal clerk as determined by the serial number 99
appearing on the outer envelope may be counted and all absentee 100
ballots and envelopes formerly issued to that applicant shall be marked 101
rejected as provided in subsection (b) of this section and not counted. 102
(d) Subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section shall not apply to 103
members of the armed forces, and if more than one absentee ballot is 104
received from any elector who is a member of the armed forces, the 105
ballot of such elector bearing the latest postmark shall be counted if no 106
absentee ballot of such elector has already been counted, provided that 107
the municipal clerk shall mark all serially-numbered outer envelopes 108
bearing earlier postmarks "rejected" and note the reasons for rejection 109
and shall deliver such ballots in accordance with section 9-140c, as 110
amended by this act. 111
Sec. 4. Section 9-364 of the general statutes is repealed and the 112
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 113
Any person who, with intent to disenfranchise any elector, influences 114 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 5 of 32
or attempts to influence by force or threat, bribery or corrupt, fraudulent 115
or deliberately deceitful means any elector to stay away from any 116
election or otherwise refrain from voting, whether such voting is by 117
mail, by deposit in a secure drop box or in person at a polling place or 118
designated early voting or same-day election registration location, shall 119
be guilty of a class D felony. 120
Sec. 5. Section 9-364a of the general statutes is repealed and the 121
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 122
Any person who influences or attempts to influence by force or threat 123
the vote, or by force, threat, bribery or corrupt means, the speech, of any 124
person in a primary, caucus, referendum convention or election; [or] any 125
person who wilfully and fraudulently suppresses or destroys any vote 126
or ballot properly given or cast, whether so given or cast by mail, by 127
deposit in a secure drop box or in person at a polling place or designated 128
early voting or same-day election registration location, or, in counting 129
such votes or ballots, wilfully miscounts or misrepresents the number 130
thereof; and any presiding or other officer of a primary, caucus or 131
convention who wilfully announces the result of a ballot or vote of such 132
primary, caucus or convention, untruly and wrongfully, shall be guilty 133
of a class C felony. 134
Sec. 6. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 9-139a of the general statutes 135
are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 136
January 1, 2025): 137
(a) The Secretary of the State shall prescribe and furnish the following 138
materials to municipal clerks: The absentee ballot facsimile, the 139
application for absentee ballot authorized for use at each election or 140
primary, the inner envelope, the outer envelope provided for the return 141
of the ballot to the municipal clerk, the instructions for the use of the 142
absentee ballot and the envelope for mailing of such forms by the clerk 143
to the absentee ballot applicant. 144
(b) The application for absentee ballot shall be in the form of a 145
statement signed under the penalties of false statement in absentee 146 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 6 of 32
balloting. Each application shall contain (1) spaces for the signature 147
under the penalties of false statement in absentee balloting of any person 148
who assists the applicant in the completion of an application together 149
with the information required in section 9-140, as amended by this act, 150
[and] (2) spaces for the signature and the printed or typed name of the 151
applicant, and (3) a clear and conspicuous notation of the year for which 152
such application's use is authorized. 153
Sec. 7. Subsection (a) of section 9-140 of the 2024 supplement to the 154
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 155
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 156
(a) (1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, application 157
for an absentee ballot shall be made to the clerk of the municipality in 158
which the applicant is eligible to vote or has applied for such eligibility. 159
Any person who assists another person in the completion of an 160
application shall, in the space provided, sign the application and print 161
or type his name, residence address and telephone number. Such 162
signature shall be made under the penalties of false statement in 163
absentee balloting. The municipal clerk shall not invalidate the 164
application solely because it does not contain the name of a person who 165
assisted the applicant in the completion of the application. The 166
municipal clerk shall not distribute with an absentee ballot application 167
any material which promotes the success or defeat of any candidate or 168
referendum question. The municipal clerk shall maintain a log of all 169
absentee ballot applications provided under this subsection, including 170
the name and address of each person to whom applications are 171
provided and the number of applications provided to each such person. 172
Each absentee ballot application provided by the municipal clerk shall 173
be consecutively numbered and be stamped or marked with the name 174
of the municipality issuing the application. The application shall be 175
signed by the applicant under the penalties of false statement in 176
absentee balloting on (A) the form prescribed by the Secretary of the 177
State pursuant to section 9-139a, as amended by this act, (B) a form 178
provided by any federal department or agency if applicable pursuant to 179
section 9-153a, or (C) any of the special forms of application prescribed 180 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 7 of 32
pursuant to section 9-150c, 9-153a, 9-153b, as amended by this act, 9-181
153d, 9-153e, 9-153f or 9-158d, if applicable. Any such absentee ballot 182
applicant who is unable to write may cause the application to be 183
completed by an authorized agent who shall, in the spaces provided for 184
the date and signature, write the date and name of the absentee ballot 185
applicant followed by the word "by" and his own signature. If the ballot 186
is to be mailed to the applicant, the applicant shall list the bona fide 187
personal mailing address of the applicant in the appropriate space on 188
the application. 189
(2) A municipal clerk may transmit an application to a person under 190
this subsection by facsimile machine or other electronic means, if so 191
requested by the applicant. If a municipal clerk has a facsimile machine 192
or other electronic means, an applicant may return a completed 193
application to the clerk by such a machine or device, provided the 194
applicant shall also mail the original of the completed application to the 195
clerk, either separately or with the absentee ballot that is issued to the 196
applicant. If the clerk does not receive such original application by the 197
close of the polls on the day of the election, primary or referendum, the 198
absentee ballot shall not be counted. 199
(3) No municipal clerk shall provide, for an election, primary or 200
referendum, five or more absentee ballot applications at a time to any 201
person earlier than ninety days prior to the first day of issuance of 202
absentee voting sets, as provided in subsection (f) of section 9-140, for 203
such election, primary or referendum. 204
(4) No municipal clerk shall provide or accept for return, and no 205
person shall distribute or otherwise use, any absentee ballot application 206
in a given year unless such application contains the notation described 207
in subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 9-139a, as amended by this 208
act, authorizing such application's use in such year. 209
Sec. 8. Section 9-50c of the general statutes is repealed and the 210
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 211
(a) The Secretary of the State may enter into an agreement to share 212 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 8 of 32
information or data with any other state in order to maintain the state-213
wide centralized voter registration system established pursuant to 214
section 9-50b, as amended by this act. If an agency of this state, another 215
state or the federal government provides the Secretary with information 216
or data to be used to maintain such system, the Secretary shall not use 217
such information or data for any purpose except to maintain such 218
system and shall ensure that such information or data is held 219
confidential, [if such information or data, while in the possession of such 220
other agency or state or federal government, as applicable, was required 221
to be held confidential,] except as provided for in subsection (b) of this 222
section. 223
(b) The Secretary of the State may provide such information or data 224
to a nonpartisan third-party vendor for the purpose of maintaining the 225
state-wide centralized voter registration system established pursuant to 226
section 9-50b, as amended by this act, provided such vendor's activities 227
are performed under the supervision of the Secretary and such vendor 228
has entered into an agreement to protect the confidentiality of such 229
information or data. 230
Sec. 9. Section 9-50b of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is 231
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 232
2024): 233
(a) As used in this section, "state-wide centralized voter registration 234
system" means a computerized system designed and maintained by the 235
Secretary of the State which includes: (1) Voter registration information 236
prescribed by the Secretary, (2) information contained in applications 237
for admission as electors described in section 9-20, (3) information 238
needed to compile registry lists and enrollment lists under sections 9-35 239
and 9-54, (4) information required by section 9-50a, and (5) other 240
information for use in complying with the provisions of this title. 241
(b) Not later than July 1, 2003, each registrar of voters shall transmit 242
to the office of the Secretary of the State all elector information required 243
by the office to complete the state-wide centralized voter registration 244 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 9 of 32
system. Each registrar shall transmit such information in a format 245
prescribed by the Secretary. Not later than September 1, 2003, each 246
registrar of voters shall participate in the state-wide centralized voter 247
registration system in the manner prescribed by the Secretary. On and 248
after July 1, 2024, each town clerk shall utilize the state-wide centralized 249
voter registration system whenever carrying out any provision of this 250
title involving the checking of absentee ballot applications or returned 251
absentee ballots against any active or inactive registry list or enrollment 252
list. 253
(c) Not later than sixty days after each election or primary, the 254
registrars of voters shall update the state-wide centralized voter 255
registration system and indicate whether the eligible voters on the 256
official registry list for such election or primary voted and, if so, if they 257
voted in person on the day of such election or primary, in person during 258
the period of early voting at such election or primary or by absentee 259
ballot. 260
Sec. 10. Section 9-50d of the general statutes is repealed and the 261
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2024): 262
(a) (1) Whenever voter registration information maintained under 263
this title by the Secretary of the State or any registrar of voters is 264
provided pursuant to any provision of the general statutes, disclosure 265
of a voter's date of birth shall be limited to only the month and year of 266
birth, unless such voter registration information is requested and used 267
for a governmental purpose, as determined by the Secretary, in which 268
case the voter's complete date of birth shall be provided. As used in this 269
section, a governmental purpose shall include, but not be limited to, jury 270
administration. 271
(2) Voter registration information described in subdivision (1) of this 272
subsection (A) may only be used for election-related, scholarly, 273
journalistic, political or governmental purposes, as determined by the 274
Secretary of the State, and (B) shall not be used for any personal, private 275
or commercial purpose, including, but not limited to, (i) harassment of 276 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 10 of 32
any voter or voter's household, (ii) advertising, solicitation, sale or 277
marketing of products or services to any voter or voter's household, and 278
(iii) reproduction of such information in print, broadcast visual or audio 279
or display on the Internet or any computer terminal. 280
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, any motor 281
vehicle operator's license number, identity card number or Social 282
Security number on a voter registration record shall be confidential and 283
shall not be disclosed to any person. 284
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, if a voter 285
submits to the Secretary of the State a signed statement that 286
nondisclosure of such voter's name from the official registry list is 287
necessary for the safety of such voter or the voter's family, the name and 288
address of such voter on his or her voter registration record shall be 289
confidential and shall not be disclosed, except that an election, primary 290
or referendum official may view such information on the official registry 291
list when such list is used by any such official at a polling place on the 292
day of an election, primary or referendum. Such signed statement shall 293
be sworn under penalty of false statement, as provided in section 53a-294
157b. 295
Sec. 11. Subsection (h) of section 9-163aa of the 2024 supplement to 296
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 297
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 298
(h) (1) No person shall solicit on behalf of or in opposition to any 299
candidate or on behalf of or in opposition to any question being 300
submitted at the election or primary, or loiter or peddle or offer any 301
advertising matter, ballot or circular to another person within a radius 302
of seventy-five feet of any outside entrance in use as an entry to any 303
location designated by the registrars of voters for early voting or in any 304
corridor, passageway or other approach leading from any such outside 305
entrance to any such location or in any room opening upon any such 306
corridor, passageway or approach. 307
(2) Except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection, no person 308 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 11 of 32
shall be allowed within any location designated by the registrars of 309
voters for early voting for any purpose other than casting such person's 310
vote, except (A) primary officials under section 9-436, (B) election 311
officials under section 9-258, including (i) a municipal clerk or registrar 312
of voters, who is a candidate for the same office, and (ii) a deputy 313
registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the office of registrar of voters, 314
performing such official's duties, and (C) unofficial checkers under 315
section 9-235. 316
[(2)] (3) A person, including any candidate or any campaign or party 317
employee or volunteer, may be within [such] the seventy-five-foot 318
radius [of seventy-five feet] described in subdivision (1) of this 319
subsection (A) only for purposes related to the performance of such 320
person's official duties or to the conduct of government business within 321
such radius, (B) only for as long as necessary to perform such duties or 322
conduct such business, and (C) provided such person is not engaged in 323
any conduct described in subdivision (1) of this subsection. 324
Sec. 12. Subsection (j) of section 9-19j of the 2024 supplement to the 325
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 326
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 327
(j) (1) No person shall solicit on behalf of or in opposition to any 328
candidate or on behalf of or in opposition to any question being 329
submitted at the election, or loiter or peddle or offer any advertising 330
matter, ballot or circular to another person within a radius of seventy-331
five feet of any outside entrance in use as an entry to any location 332
designated by the registrars of voters for same-day election registration 333
balloting or in any corridor, passageway or other approach leading from 334
any such outside entrance to any such location or in any room opening 335
upon any such corridor, passageway or approach. 336
(2) Except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection, no person 337
shall be allowed within any location designated by the registrars of 338
voters for same-day election registration balloting for any purpose other 339
than casting such person's vote, except (A) primary officials under 340 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 12 of 32
section 9-436, (B) election officials under section 9-258, including (i) a 341
municipal clerk or registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the same 342
office, and (ii) a deputy registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the 343
office of registrar of voters, performing such official's duties, and (C) 344
unofficial checkers under section 9-235. 345
[(2)] (3) A person, including any candidate or any campaign or party 346
employee or volunteer, may be within [such] the seventy-five-foot 347
radius [of seventy-five feet] described in subdivision (1) of this 348
subsection (A) only for purposes related to the performance of such 349
person's official duties or to the conduct of government business within 350
such radius, (B) only for as long as necessary to perform such duties or 351
conduct such business, and (C) provided such person is not engaged in 352
any conduct described in subdivision (1) of this subsection. 353
Sec. 13. Subsection (c) of section 9-236 of the general statutes is 354
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 355
2024): 356
(c) No person shall be allowed within any polling place for any 357
purpose other than casting his or her vote, except (1) those permitted or 358
exempt under this section or section 9-236a, (2) primary officials under 359
section 9-436, (3) election officials under section 9-258, including (A) a 360
municipal clerk or registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the same 361
office, performing his or her official duties, and (B) a deputy registrar of 362
voters, who is a candidate for the office of registrar of voters, performing 363
his or her official duties, or (4) [party] unofficial checkers under section 364
9-235. Representatives of the news media shall be allowed to enter, 365
remain within and leave any polling place or restricted area 366
surrounding any polling place to observe the election, provided any 367
such representative who in any way interferes with the orderly process 368
of voting shall be evicted by the moderator. A number of students in 369
grades four to twelve, inclusive, not to exceed four at any one time in 370
any one polling place, may enter any polling place between twelve 371
o'clock noon and three o'clock p.m. for the purpose of observing the 372
activities taking place in the polling place, provided there is proper 373 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 13 of 32
parental or teacher supervision present, and provided further, any such 374
student who in any way interferes with the orderly process of voting 375
shall be evicted by the moderator. An elector may be accompanied into 376
any polling place by one or more children who are fifteen years of age 377
or younger and supervised by the elector if the elector is the parent or 378
legal guardian of such children. 379
Sec. 14. Section 9-147a of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes 380
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 381
1, 2024): 382
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, at any election, 383
primary or referendum, all absentee ballots shall, within existing 384
resources, be counted in the manner provided in section 9-150a at a 385
central location designated by the registrars of voters in writing to the 386
municipal clerk at least twenty days before the election, primary or 387
referendum, which location shall be published in the warning for the 388
election, primary or referendum. Except as provided in subsection (b) of 389
this section, if unaffiliated electors are authorized under section 9-431 to 390
vote in the primary of either of two parties, all absentee ballots shall be 391
separated, counted, tallied and placed in depository envelopes by 392
voting district. Any member of the public may observe the counting of 393
absentee ballots at such central location, provided no candidate for 394
election or nomination shall be allowed within such central location 395
during such counting, except (1) a municipal clerk or registrar of voters, 396
who is a candidate for the same office, and (2) a deputy registrar of 397
voters, who is a candidate for the office of registrar of voters, performing 398
such official's duties. 399
(b) At any election, primary or referendum, all absentee ballots may 400
be counted in the manner provided in section 9-150a in the respective 401
polling places if the registrars of voters agree that such absentee ballots 402
should be so counted. If unaffiliated electors are authorized under 403
section 9-431 to vote in the primary of either of two parties, absentee 404
ballots may be counted in the respective polling places if the parties 405
agree that such absentee ballots should be so counted. Any election 406 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 14 of 32
official serving in a polling place may observe the counting of absentee 407
ballots at such polling place, provided no candidate for election or 408
nomination shall be allowed within such polling place during such 409
counting, except (1) a municipal clerk or registrar of voters, who is a 410
candidate for the same office, and (2) a deputy registrar of voters, who 411
is a candidate for the office of registrar of voters, performing such 412
official's duties. 413
Sec. 15. Section 9-453e of the general statutes is repealed and the 414
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 415
Each circulator of a nominating petition page shall be a United States 416
citizen [,] and at least eighteen years of age, [and a resident of a town in 417
this state] and shall not be on parole for conviction of a felony. Any 418
individual proposed as a candidate in any nominating petition may 419
serve as circulator of the pages of such nominating petition. 420
Sec. 16. Section 9-453j of the general statutes is repealed and the 421
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 422
Each page of a nominating petition submitted to the town clerk or 423
[the] Secretary of the State and filed with the Secretary of the State under 424
the provisions of sections 9-453a to 9-453s, inclusive, or section 9-216 425
shall contain a statement as to the residency [in this state] and eligibility 426
of the circulator and as to the authenticity of the signatures thereon, 427
signed under [penalties] penalty of false statement, by the person who 428
circulated the same. Such statement shall set forth (1) [such] the 429
circulator's residence address, including the town [in this state] in which 430
[such] the circulator is a resident, (2) if the circulator is not a resident in 431
this state, that the circulator agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of this 432
state in any case or controversy arising out of or related to the circulation 433
of a petition pursuant to this subpart, (3) the circulator's date of birth 434
and that the circulator is at least eighteen years of age, [(3)] (4) that the 435
circulator is a United States citizen and not on parole for conviction of a 436
felony, and [(4)] (5) that each person whose name appears on such page 437
signed the same in person in the presence of [such] the circulator and 438 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 15 of 32
that either the circulator knows each such signer or that the signer 439
satisfactorily identified [himself] such signer to the circulator. Any false 440
statement committed with respect to such statement shall be deemed to 441
have been committed in the town in which the petition was circulated. 442
Sec. 17. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 9-453k of the general statutes 443
are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 444
1, 2024): 445
(a) The town clerk or Secretary of the State shall not accept any page 446
of a nominating petition unless the circulator thereof has signed before 447
[him] the clerk or Secretary, or an appropriate person as provided in 448
section 1-29, the statement as to the residency [in this state] and 449
eligibility of the circulator and as to the authenticity of the signatures 450
thereon required by section 9-453j, as amended by this act. 451
(b) The town clerk or Secretary of the State, or an appropriate person 452
as provided in section 1-29, shall certify on each such page that the 453
circulator thereof signed such statement in [his] the presence of the 454
clerk, Secretary or appropriate person, as applicable, and that either [he] 455
the clerk, Secretary or appropriate person, as applicable, knows the 456
circulator or that the circulator satisfactorily identified [himself] such 457
circulator to the individual so certifying. 458
Sec. 18. Section 9-453o of the general statutes is repealed and the 459
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 460
(a) The Secretary of the State may not count, for purposes of 461
determining compliance with the number of signatures required by 462
section 9-453d, the signatures certified by the town clerk on any petition 463
page filed under sections 9-453a to 9-453s, inclusive, or 9-216 if: (1) The 464
name of the candidate, [his] such candidate's address or the party 465
designation, if any, has been omitted from the face of the petition; (2) the 466
page does not contain a statement by the circulator as to the residency 467
[in this state] and eligibility of the circulator and as to the authenticity 468
of the signatures thereon as required by section 9-453j, as amended by 469
this act, or upon which such statement of the circulator is incomplete in 470 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 16 of 32
any respect; or (3) the page does not contain the certifications required 471
by sections 9-453a to 9-453s, inclusive, by the town clerk of the town in 472
which the signers reside. The town clerk shall cure any omission on [his] 473
the clerk's part by signing any such page at the office of the Secretary of 474
the State and making the necessary amendment or by filing a separate 475
statement in this regard, which amendment shall be dated. 476
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the Secretary of 477
the State shall approve [every] each nominating petition which contains 478
sufficient signatures counted and certified on approved pages by the 479
town clerks. In the case of a candidate who petitions under a reserved 480
party designation the Secretary shall approve the petition only if it 481
meets the signature requirement and if a statement endorsing such 482
candidate is filed with the Secretary by the party designation committee 483
not later than four o'clock p.m. on the sixty-second day before the 484
election. In the case of a candidate who petitions under a party 485
designation which is the same as the name of a minor party the Secretary 486
shall approve the petition only if it meets the signature requirement and 487
if a statement endorsing such candidate is filed in the office of the 488
Secretary by the chairman or secretary of such minor party not later than 489
four o'clock p.m. on the sixty-second day before the election. No 490
candidate shall be qualified to appear on any ballot by nominating 491
petition unless the candidate's petition is approved by the Secretary 492
pursuant to this subsection. 493
(c) The Secretary of the State may approve a nominating petition 494
received under section 9-453k, as amended by this act, at any time 495
except such approval shall be withdrawn if sufficient signatures are 496
withdrawn under section 9-453h. 497
Sec. 19. Subsections (c) and (d) of section 9-404b of the general statutes 498
are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 499
1, 2024): 500
(c) The names of enrolled party members signing a primary petition 501
may be on several pages, provided no person shall sign more than one 502 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 17 of 32
petition page for the same candidate or candidates. Any person who 503
signs a name other than the person's own to a primary petition filed 504
under the provisions of this section or who signs a name other than the 505
person's own as circulator of such petition shall be fined not more than 506
one hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. 507
Each such page shall indicate the candidate or candidates supported, 508
the offices sought and the political party for which nomination is being 509
sought. No page of such a petition shall contain the names of enrolled 510
party members residing in different municipalities and any petition 511
page that has been certified by the registrars of voters of two or more 512
municipalities shall be rejected by the Secretary. Withdrawal of petition 513
signatures shall not be permitted. 514
(d) [Each] Any person qualified to vote under the laws of any state or 515
territory of the United States may be a circulator of a primary petition 516
page [shall be] if such person (1) is an enrolled party member of a 517
municipality in this state, [. Each] or (2) agrees to submit to the 518
jurisdiction of this state in any case or controversy arising out of or 519
related to the circulation of a primary petition. For any circulator 520
described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, each petition page shall 521
contain a statement signed by the registrar of voters of the municipality 522
in which the circulator is an enrolled party member attesting that the 523
circulator is an enrolled party member in the municipality. For any 524
circulator described in subdivision (2) of this subsection, each petition 525
page shall contain a statement signed by the circulator that the circulator 526
agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of this state in any case or 527
controversy arising out of or related to the circulation of a primary 528
petition, which signed statement shall be attested to by the registrar of 529
voters of the municipality in which such page was circulated. Unless 530
such [a] an attested statement by the registrar of voters appears on each 531
page so submitted, the Secretary shall reject the page. Each separate 532
page of the petition shall contain a statement as to the authenticity of the 533
signatures on the page and the number of such signatures, and shall be 534
signed under the [penalties] penalty of false statement by the person 535
who circulated the page, setting forth the circulator's address and the 536 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 18 of 32
town in which the circulator is an enrolled party member and attesting 537
that each person whose name appears on the page signed the petition in 538
person in the presence of the circulator, that the circulator either knows 539
each such signer or that the signer satisfactorily identified [himself or 540
herself] such signer to the circulator and that the spaces for candidates 541
supported, offices sought and the political party involved were filled in 542
prior to the obtaining of the signatures. Each separate page of the 543
petition shall also be acknowledged before an appropriate person as 544
provided in section 1-29. The Secretary shall reject any page of a petition 545
filed with the Secretary which does not contain such a statement by the 546
circulator as to the authenticity of the signatures on the page, or upon 547
which the statement of the circulator is incomplete in any respect, or 548
which does not contain the [certification] attested statement required 549
under this section by the registrar of voters of the town in which the 550
circulator is an enrolled party member or in which the page was 551
circulated. Any individual proposed as a candidate in any primary 552
petition may serve as a circulator of the pages of the petition, provided 553
the individual's service as circulator does not violate any provision of 554
this section. 555
Sec. 20. Section 9-410 of the general statutes is repealed and the 556
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 557
(a) The petition form for candidacies for nomination to municipal 558
office or for election as members of town committees shall be prescribed 559
by the Secretary of the State and provided by the registrar of voters of 560
the municipality in which the candidacy is to be filed or duplicate 561
petition pages shall be produced in accordance with section 9-409, and 562
signatures shall be obtained only on such forms or such duplicate 563
petition pages. Such form shall include, at the top of the form and in 564
bold print, the following: 565
WARNING 566
IT IS A CRIME TO SIGN THIS PETITION 567
IN THE NAME OF ANOTHER PERSON 568 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 19 of 32
WITHOUT LEGAL AUTHORITY TO DO SO 569
AND YOU MAY NOT SIGN THIS PETITION 570
IF YOU ARE NOT AN ELECTOR. 571
The form shall include thereon a statement of instructions to persons 572
using the form and shall indicate the date and time by which it shall be 573
filed and the person with whom it shall be filed. The form shall provide 574
spaces for the names and addresses of the candidates, the offices to 575
which nomination is sought or the positions to which election is sought 576
and the political party holding the primary, and shall provide lines for 577
the signatures, street addresses, dates of birth and the printing of the 578
names of enrolled party members supporting the person or persons on 579
behalf of whose candidacy the petition is used. Only as many candidates 580
may be proposed in any one primary petition for the same office or 581
position as are to be nominated or chosen by such party for such office 582
or position; but any one primary petition may propose as many 583
candidates for different offices or positions as there are nominations to 584
be made or positions to be filled. 585
(b) The names of enrolled party members signing a primary petition 586
need not all be on one sheet but may be on several sheets, but no person 587
shall sign more than one petition page for the same candidate or 588
candidates. Any person who signs a name other than the person's own 589
to a primary petition filed under the provisions of this section or who 590
signs a name other than the person's own as circulator of such a petition 591
shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not 592
more than one year or both. Each such sheet shall indicate the candidate 593
or candidates supported, the offices or positions sought and the political 594
party the nomination of which is sought or which is holding the primary 595
for election of town committee members. No page of such a petition 596
shall contain the names of enrolled party members residing in different 597
municipalities and any page thereof which has been certified by the 598
registrars of voters of two or more municipalities shall be rejected by the 599
registrar of voters. Withdrawal of petition signatures shall not be 600 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 20 of 32
permitted. 601
(c) [Each] Any person qualified to vote under the laws of any state or 602
territory of the United States may be a circulator of a primary petition 603
page [shall be] if such person (1) is an enrolled party member of a 604
municipality in this state, [who is entitled to vote. Each] or (2) agrees to 605
submit to the jurisdiction of this state in any case or controversy arising 606
out of or related to the circulation of a primary petition. For any 607
circulator described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, each petition 608
page shall contain a statement signed by the registrar of voters of the 609
municipality in which such circulator is an enrolled party member 610
attesting that the circulator is an enrolled party member in such 611
municipality. For any circulator described in subdivision (2) of this 612
subsection, each petition page shall contain a statement signed by the 613
circulator that the circulator agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of this 614
state in any case or controversy arising out of or related to the circulation 615
of a primary petition, which signed statement shall be attested to by the 616
registrar of voters of the municipality in which such page was 617
circulated. Unless such [a] an attested statement by the registrar of 618
voters appears on each page so submitted, the registrar of voters shall 619
reject such page. No candidate for the nomination of a party for a 620
municipal office or the position of town committee member shall 621
circulate any petition for another candidate or another group of 622
candidates contained in one primary petition for the nomination of such 623
party for the same office or position, and any petition page circulated in 624
violation of this provision shall be rejected by the registrar of voters. No 625
person shall circulate petitions for more than the maximum number of 626
candidates to be nominated by a party for the same office or position, 627
and any petition page circulated in violation of this provision shall be 628
rejected by the registrar of voters. Each separate sheet of such petition 629
shall contain a statement as to the authenticity of the signatures thereon 630
and the number of such signatures, and shall be signed under the 631
[penalties] penalty of false statement by the person who circulated the 632
same, setting forth such circulator's address and the town in which such 633
circulator is an enrolled party member and attesting that each person 634 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 21 of 32
whose name appears on such sheet signed the same in person in the 635
presence of such circulator, that the circulator either knows each such 636
signer or that the signer satisfactorily identified [the] such signer to the 637
circulator and that the spaces for candidates supported, offices or 638
positions sought and the political party involved were filled in prior to 639
the obtaining of the signatures. Each separate sheet of such petition shall 640
also be acknowledged before an appropriate person as provided in 641
section 1-29. Any sheet of a petition filed with the registrar of voters 642
which does not contain such a statement by the circulator as to the 643
authenticity of the signatures thereon, or upon which the statement of 644
the circulator is incomplete in any respect, or which does not contain the 645
[certification hereinbefore required] attested statement required under 646
this section by the registrar of voters of the town in which the circulator 647
is an enrolled party member or in which the page was circulated, shall 648
be rejected by the registrar of voters. Any individual proposed as a 649
candidate in any primary petition may serve as a circulator of the pages 650
of such petition, provided such individual's service as circulator does 651
not violate any provision of this section. 652
Sec. 21. Section 9-140e of the general statutes is repealed and the 653
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 654
(a) Any elector who is permanently physically disabled or suffering 655
from a long-term illness and who files an application for an absentee 656
ballot with a certification from a primary care provider, indicating that 657
such elector is permanently physically disabled or suffering from a long-658
term illness and unable to appear in person at such elector's designated 659
polling location, shall be eligible for permanent absentee ballot status 660
and shall receive an absentee ballot for each election, primary or 661
referendum conducted in such elector's municipality for which such 662
elector is eligible to vote. Such elector's permanent absentee ballot status 663
shall remain in effect until such elector: (1) Is removed from the official 664
registry list of the municipality, (2) is removed from permanent absentee 665
ballot status pursuant to the provisions of this section, or (3) requests 666
that he or she no longer receive such permanent absentee ballot status. 667 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 22 of 32
(b) The registrars of voters shall send written notice to each such 668
elector with permanent absentee ballot status in January of each year, 669
on a form prescribed by the Secretary of the State, for the purpose of 670
determining if such elector continues to reside at the address indicated 671
on the elector's permanent absentee ballot application. If [(1)] such 672
written notice is returned as undeliverable, [or (2) not later than sixty 673
days after such notice is sent to the elector, the elector fails to return such 674
notice to the registrars of voters, as directed on the form,] the elector in 675
question shall be removed from permanent absentee ballot status. If 676
such elector indicates on such notice that the elector no longer resides at 677
such address and the elector's new address is within the same 678
municipality, the registrars of voters shall change the elector's address 679
pursuant to section 9-35 and such elector shall retain permanent 680
absentee ballot status. If the elector indicates on such notice that the 681
elector no longer resides in the municipality, the registrars of voters 682
shall remove such individual from the registry list of the municipality 683
and send such individual an application for voter registration. Failure 684
to return such written notice shall not result in the removal of an elector 685
from the official registry list of the municipality or from permanent 686
absentee ballot status. 687
Sec. 22. Subsection (a) of section 9-320f of the 2024 supplement to the 688
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 689
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 690
(a) (1) Not earlier than the fifteenth day after any federal or state 691
election or primary and not later than two business days before the 692
canvass of votes by the Secretary of the State, Treasurer and 693
Comptroller, [for any federal or state election or primary, or] and (2) not 694
earlier than the fifth day after any municipal election or primary and not 695
later than two business days before the canvass of votes by the town 696
clerk, [for any municipal election or primary,] the registrars of voters 697
shall conduct a manual audit, or [, for an election or primary held on or 698
after January 1, 2016,] an electronic audit authorized under section 9-699
320g, of the votes recorded in not less than five per cent of the voting 700
districts in the state, district or municipality, whichever is applicable. 701 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 23 of 32
For the purposes of this section, any central location used in a 702
municipality for the counting of absentee ballots, early voting ballots or 703
same-day election registration ballots shall be deemed a voting district. 704
Such manual or electronic audit shall be noticed in advance and be open 705
to public observation. Any election official who participates in the 706
administration and conduct of an audit pursuant to this section shall be 707
compensated by the municipality at the standard rate of pay established 708
by such municipality for elections or primaries, as the case may be. 709
Sec. 23. Section 9-460 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes 710
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 711
1, 2024): 712
If any party has nominated a candidate for office, or, on and after 713
November 4, 1981, if a candidate has qualified to appear on any ballot 714
by nominating petition under a reserved party designation, in 715
accordance with the provisions of this chapter, and such nominee 716
thereafter, but prior to forty-six days before the opening of the polls on 717
the day of the election for which such nomination has been made, dies, 718
withdraws such nominee's name or for any reason becomes disqualified 719
to hold the office for which such nominee has been nominated, (1) such 720
party or, on and after November 4, 1981, the party designation 721
committee may make a nomination to fill such vacancy or provide for 722
the making of such nomination as its rules prescribe, and (2) if another 723
party that is qualified to nominate a candidate for such office does not 724
have a nominee for such office, such party may also nominate a 725
candidate for such office as its rules prescribe. No withdrawal, and no 726
nomination to replace a candidate who has withdrawn, under this 727
section shall be valid unless the candidate who has withdrawn has filed 728
a letter of withdrawal signed by such candidate with the Secretary of the 729
State in the case of a state or district office or the office of state senator 730
or state representative from any district, or with the municipal clerk in 731
the case of a municipal office other than state senator or state 732
representative. A copy of such candidate's letter of withdrawal to the 733
municipal clerk shall also be filed with the Secretary of the State. No 734
nomination to fill a vacancy under this section shall be valid unless it is 735 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 24 of 32
certified to the Secretary of the State in the case of a state or district office 736
or the office of state senator or state representative from any district, or 737
to the municipal clerk in the case of a municipal office other than state 738
senator or state representative, by the organization or committee 739
making such nomination, at least forty-two days before the opening of 740
the polls on the day of the election, except as otherwise provided by this 741
section. If a nominee dies within forty-six days before the election, but 742
prior to twenty-four hours before the commencement of the period of 743
early voting at the election for which such nomination has been made, 744
the vacancy may be filled in the manner prescribed in this section by 745
two o'clock p.m. of the day before the first day of such period of early 746
voting with the municipal clerk or the Secretary of the State, as the case 747
may be. If a nominee dies within twenty-four hours before the 748
commencement of the period of early voting at the election and prior to 749
the close of the polls on the day of the election for which such 750
nomination has been made, such nominee shall not be replaced and the 751
votes cast for such nominee shall be canvassed and counted, and if such 752
nominee receives a plurality of the votes cast, a vacancy shall exist in the 753
office for which the nomination was made. The vacancy shall then be 754
filled in a manner prescribed by law. A copy of such certification to the 755
municipal clerk shall also be filed with the Secretary of the State. Such 756
nomination to fill a vacancy due to death or disqualification shall 757
include a statement setting forth the reason for such vacancy. If at the 758
time such nomination is certified to the Secretary of the State or to the 759
municipal clerk, as the case may be, the ballots have already been 760
printed, the Secretary of the State shall direct the municipal clerk in each 761
municipality affected to (A) have the ballots reprinted with the 762
nomination thus made included thereon, (B) cause printed stickers to be 763
affixed to the ballots so that the name of any candidate who has died [, 764
withdrawn or been disqualified] is deleted and the name of any 765
candidate chosen to fill such vacancy appears in the same position as 766
that in which the vacated candidacy appeared, or (C) [cause blank 767
stickers to be so affixed] if the vacancy is not filled, cause the name of 768
the candidate whose candidacy has been vacated to be obscured in such 769
manner that such name is no longer visible. 770 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 25 of 32
Sec. 24. Subsection (a) of section 9-437 of the general statutes is 771
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 772
2024): 773
(a) At the top of each ballot shall be printed the name of the party 774
holding the primary, and each ballot shall contain the names of all 775
candidates to be voted upon at such primary, except the names of 776
justices of the peace. The vertical columns shall be headed by the 777
designation of the office or position and instructions as to the number 778
for which an elector may vote for such office or position, in the same 779
manner as a ballot used in a regular election. The name of each 780
candidate for town committee or municipal office, except for the 781
municipal offices of state senator and state representative, shall appear 782
on the ballot as authorized by each candidate. The name of each 783
candidate for state or district office or for the municipal offices of state 784
senator or state representative shall appear on the ballot as it appears on 785
the certificate or statement of consent filed under section 9-388, 9-391, 9-786
400 or 9-409. On the first horizontal line, below the designation of the 787
office or position in each column, shall be placed the name of the party-788
endorsed candidate for such office or position, such name to be marked 789
with an asterisk; provided, where more than one person may be voted 790
for any office or position, the names of the party-endorsed candidates 791
shall be arranged in alphabetical order from left to right under the 792
appropriate office or position designation and shall continue, if 793
necessary, from left to right on the next lower line or lines. In the case of 794
no party endorsement there shall be inserted the designation "no party 795
endorsement" at the head of the vertical column, immediately beneath 796
the designation of the office or position. On the horizontal lines below 797
the line for party-endorsed candidates shall be placed, in the 798
appropriate columns, the names of all other candidates as [hereinafter] 799
provided in this section. 800
Sec. 25. Subsection (g) of section 9-437 of the general statutes is 801
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 802
2024): 803 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 26 of 32
(g) The name of each candidate shall appear on the ballot in such 804
position as is [hereinbefore] required in this section, and such position 805
shall be determined as of the final time for filing candidacies specified 806
in section 9-400 or 9-405. Vacancies in candidacies thereafter occurring 807
shall not cause the position of any candidate's name on the ballot to be 808
changed to another position. The name of any candidate whose 809
candidacy has been vacated shall not appear on the ballot. If such a 810
vacancy results in the cancellation of a primary for any office, the office 811
column or columns where the names of the candidates and the title of 812
the office would have appeared if the primary for that office had not 813
been cancelled shall be left blank. If a vacancy occurs in a party-814
endorsed candidacy and a person is chosen in accordance with section 815
9-426 or 9-428, as amended by this act, to fill the resulting vacancy in 816
candidacy, the name of the person so chosen shall appear in the same 817
position as that in which the name of the vacating candidate appeared. 818
The municipal clerk shall have the ballot prepared so that the name of 819
any candidate who has vacated such candidate's candidacy is deleted 820
and so that the name of any candidate chosen to fill a vacancy in 821
candidacy appears in the same position as that in which the vacated 822
candidacy appeared. The municipal clerk may use [blank or] printed 823
stickers [, as the case may be,] in preparing the ballots if the ballots were 824
printed before [the occurrence of the vacancy in candidacy or] the 825
selection of a candidate to fill a vacancy in candidacy. If a vacancy in 826
candidacy is not filled, the municipal clerk shall cause the name of the 827
candidate whose candidacy has been vacated to be obscured in such 828
manner that such name is no longer visible. The order of the offices and 829
positions shall be as prescribed by the Secretary of the State. 830
Sec. 26. Section 9-428 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes 831
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 832
1, 2024): 833
(a) If a party-endorsed candidate for election to the position of town 834
committee member, prior to twenty-four hours before the opening of 835
the polls at the primary, dies or, prior to ten days before the day of such 836
primary, withdraws his name from nomination or for any reason 837 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 27 of 32
becomes disqualified to hold the position for which he is a candidate, 838
the state central committee, the town committee or other authority of 839
the party which endorsed such candidate may make an endorsement to 840
fill such vacancy or provide for the making of such endorsement, in such 841
manner as is prescribed in the rules of such party, and certify to the 842
registrar and municipal clerk or to the Secretary of the State, as the case 843
may be, the name of the person so endorsed. If such certification is made 844
at least twenty-four hours prior to the opening of the polls at the 845
primary, in the case of such an endorsement to replace a candidate who 846
has died, or at least seven days before the day of such primary, in the 847
case of such an endorsement to replace a candidate who has withdrawn 848
or become disqualified, such person so endorsed shall run in the 849
primary as the party-endorsed candidate, except as provided in sections 850
9-416 and 9-417. If such certification of another party-endorsed 851
candidate has been made within the time specified in this section, and if 852
the ballots have already been printed and the names of the candidates 853
for such position appear on the ballots, the Secretary of the State or the 854
registrar, as the case may be, shall direct the clerk of each municipality 855
holding such primary to have the ballots reprinted with the name of the 856
person so certified included thereon; provided, in the case of such an 857
endorsement to replace a candidate who has died, if such certification 858
has been made less than ninety-six hours but at least twenty-four hours 859
prior to the opening of the polls at the primary, such Secretary or 860
registrar shall direct such clerk to have stickers printed and inserted 861
upon the ballots, having the name of the person so certified appearing 862
thereon, and the moderator in each polling place shall cause such 863
stickers to be pasted on the ballots before the opening of the polls at such 864
primary. If no such certification has been made, such clerk shall cause 865
the name of the candidate whose candidacy has been vacated to be 866
obscured in such manner that such name is no longer visible. 867
(b) If a party-endorsed candidate for nomination to an office, prior to 868
twenty-four hours before the commencement of the period of early 869
voting at the primary, dies or, prior to ten days before the first day of 870
such period of early voting, withdraws his name from nomination or for 871 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 28 of 32
any reason becomes disqualified to hold the office for which he is a 872
candidate, the state central committee, the town committee or other 873
authority of the party which endorsed such candidate may make an 874
endorsement to fill such vacancy or provide for the making of such 875
endorsement, in such manner as is prescribed in the rules of such party, 876
and certify to the registrar and municipal clerk or to the Secretary of the 877
State, as the case may be, the name of the person so endorsed. If such 878
certification is made at least twenty-four hours prior to the 879
commencement of the period of early voting at the primary, in the case 880
of such an endorsement to replace a candidate who has died, or at least 881
seven days before the first day of such period of early voting, in the case 882
of such an endorsement to replace a candidate who has withdrawn or 883
become disqualified, such person so endorsed shall run in the primary 884
as the party-endorsed candidate, except as provided in sections 9-416 885
and 9-417. If such certification of another party-endorsed candidate has 886
been made within the time specified in this section, and if the ballots 887
have already been printed and the names of the candidates for such 888
office appear on the ballots, the Secretary of the State or the registrar, as 889
the case may be, shall direct the clerk of each municipality holding such 890
primary to have the ballots reprinted with the name of the person so 891
certified included thereon; provided, in the case of such an endorsement 892
to replace a candidate who has died, if such certification has been made 893
less than ninety-six hours but at least twenty-four hours prior to the 894
commencement of the period of early voting at the primary, such 895
Secretary or registrar shall direct such clerk to have stickers printed and 896
inserted upon the ballots, having the name of the person so certified 897
appearing thereon, and the moderator in each polling place shall cause 898
such stickers to be pasted on the ballots before the opening of the polls 899
at such primary. If no such certification has been made, such clerk shall 900
cause the name of the candidate whose candidacy has been vacated to 901
be obscured in such manner that such name is no longer visible. 902
Sec. 27. Subsection (d) of section 9-135b of the general statutes is 903
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 904
2024): 905 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 29 of 32
(d) If a vacancy in candidacy occurs after the ballots have been 906
printed, the clerk may either reprint the ballots or cause [blank or] 907
printed stickers [, as the case may be,] to be affixed to them so that the 908
name of any candidate who has vacated his candidacy is deleted and 909
the name of any candidate chosen to fill the vacancy as provided in 910
section 9-428, as amended by this act, or section 9-460, as amended by 911
this act, appears in the same position as that in which the vacated 912
candidacy appeared except as provided in section 9-426 or 9-453s. If no 913
candidate is chosen to fill such vacancy as so provided, the clerk shall 914
cause the name of the candidate whose candidacy has been vacated to 915
be obscured in such manner that such name is no longer visible. 916
Sec. 28. Section 9-472 of the general statutes is repealed and the 917
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 918
If, after determination of the order of candidates on the ballot, a 919
candidate dies, his name shall not appear on such ballot; provided that 920
the position of each remaining candidate on the ballot shall not be 921
altered by the deletion of such name. The secretary may authorize [the 922
use of] town clerks to use blank stickers on the ballot, [by town clerks] 923
or otherwise cause the name of such deceased candidate to be obscured 924
in such manner that such name is no longer visible, in order to comply 925
with the provisions of this section. 926
Sec. 29. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Not later than July 1, 2024, the 927
Secretary of the State shall revise each form, whether in paper or 928
electronic format, that is provided for under the provisions of chapter 929
143 of the general statutes as an application for admission as an elector 930
or enrollment in a political party, for the purposes of clarifying the 931
portion of such form regarding party affiliation and minimizing 932
potential confusion or other ambiguity related to the use of any word 933
that may be included as part of a reserved party designation recorded 934
by the Secretary pursuant to section 9-453u of the general statutes. 935
Sec. 30. Subdivision (1) of subsection (g) of section 9-7a of the general 936
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 937 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 30 of 32
(Effective July 1, 2024): 938
(g) (1) In the case of a written complaint filed with the commission 939
pursuant to section 9-7b, commission staff shall conduct and complete a 940
preliminary examination of such complaint by the fourteenth day 941
following its receipt, at which time such staff shall, at its discretion, (A) 942
dismiss the complaint for failure to allege any substantial violation of 943
state election law supported by evidence, (B) engage the respondent in 944
discussions in an effort to speedily resolve any matter pertaining to a de 945
minimis violation, or (C) investigate and docket the complaint for a 946
determination by the commission that probable cause or no probable 947
cause exists for any such violation. If commission staff dismisses a 948
complaint pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, such staff 949
shall provide a brief written statement concisely setting forth the 950
reasons for such dismissal. If commission staff engages a respondent 951
pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this subdivision but is unable to 952
speedily resolve any such matter described in said subparagraph by the 953
forty-fifth day following receipt of the complaint, such staff shall docket 954
such complaint for a determination by the commission that probable 955
cause or no probable cause exists for any violation of state election law. 956
If the commission does not, by the sixtieth day following receipt of the 957
complaint, either issue a decision or render its determination that 958
probable cause or no probable cause exists for any violation of state 959
election laws, the complainant or respondent may apply to the superior 960
court for the judicial district of Hartford for an order to show cause why 961
the commission has not acted upon the complaint and to provide 962
evidence that the commission has unreasonably delayed action. For any 963
complaint received on or after January 1, 2018, if the commission does 964
not, by one year following receipt of such complaint, issue a decision 965
thereon, the commission shall dismiss such complaint, provided the 966
length of time of any delay caused by (i) the commission or commission 967
staff granting any extension or continuance to a respondent prior to the 968
issuance of any such decision, (ii) any subpoena issued in connection 969
with such complaint, (iii) any litigation in state or federal court related 970
to such complaint, or (iv) any investigation by, or consultation of the 971 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 31 of 32
commission or commission staff with, the Chief State's Attorney, the 972
Attorney General, the United States Department of Justice or the United 973
States Attorney for Connecticut related to such complaint, shall be 974
added to such one year. For any complaint received on or after July 1, 975
2024, if the commission does not, by the ninetieth day following the 976
commission's determination that probable cause exists for any violation 977
of state election laws, issue a decision on such complaint, the 978
commission shall refer such complaint to the Chief State's Attorney for 979
further enforcement action. In the case of any complaint so referred 980
under this subdivision, the Chief State's Attorney shall submit a report 981
to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having 982
cognizance of matters relating to elections, in accordance with the 983
provisions of section 11-4a, detailing the status of any enforcement 984
action related to such referred complaint. 985
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 from passage 9-140b(c)
Sec. 2 July 1, 2024 9-140c(a)
Sec. 3 from passage 9-153b
Sec. 4 from passage 9-364
Sec. 5 from passage 9-364a
Sec. 6 January 1, 2025 9-139a(a) and (b)
Sec. 7 July 1, 2024 9-140(a)
Sec. 8 from passage 9-50c
Sec. 9 July 1, 2024 9-50b
Sec. 10 October 1, 2024 9-50d
Sec. 11 July 1, 2024 9-163aa(h)
Sec. 12 July 1, 2024 9-19j(j)
Sec. 13 July 1, 2024 9-236(c)
Sec. 14 July 1, 2024 9-147a
Sec. 15 July 1, 2024 9-453e
Sec. 16 July 1, 2024 9-453j
Sec. 17 July 1, 2024 9-453k(a) and (b)
Sec. 18 July 1, 2024 9-453o
Sec. 19 July 1, 2024 9-404b(c) and (d)
Sec. 20 July 1, 2024 9-410 Substitute Bill No. 5498
LCO 32 of 32
Sec. 21 from passage 9-140e
Sec. 22 July 1, 2024 9-320f(a)
Sec. 23 July 1, 2024 9-460
Sec. 24 July 1, 2024 9-437(a)
Sec. 25 July 1, 2024 9-437(g)
Sec. 26 July 1, 2024 9-428
Sec. 27 July 1, 2024 9-135b(d)
Sec. 28 July 1, 2024 9-472
Sec. 29 from passage New section
Sec. 30 July 1, 2024 9-7a(g)(1)
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section 4, "whether by" was changed to "whether such voting is by"
for clarity; in Section 6(a), "designated for use" was changed to
"authorized for use" for consistency; in Sections 11(h)(2)(C) and
12(j)(2)(C), "party checkers" was changed to "unofficial checkers" for
statutory consistency, and Section 13 was added to conform to such
changes; in Section 22(a), "primary,] or (2)" was changed to "primary, or]
and (2)" for clarity; and in Sections 23, 25(g), 26(a) and (b), 27(d) and 28,
the last sentence was rewritten for clarity.
GAE Joint Favorable Subst.