Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148
AN ACT CONCERNING ELECTION SECURITY AND
TRANSPARENCY, THE COUNTING OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS,
ABSENTEE VOTING FOR CERTAIN PATIENTS OF NURSING
HOMES, SECURITY OF CERTAIN ELECTION WORKERS, STATE
ELECTIONS ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION COMPLAINTS,
BALLOTS MADE AVAILABLE IN LANGUAGES OTHER THAN
ENGLISH AND VARIOUS OTHER REVISIONS RELATED TO
ELECTION ADMINISTRATION.
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
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu
thereof (Effective from passage):
(c) (1) For purposes of this section, "mailed" means (A) sent by the
United States Postal Service or any commercial carrier, courier or
messenger service recognized and approved by the Secretary of the
State, or (B) deposited in a secure drop box designated by the municipal
clerk for such purpose, in accordance with instructions prescribed by
the Secretary.
(2) (A) In the case of absentee ballots mailed under subparagraph (B)
of subdivision (1) of this subsection, beginning on the first day of
issuance of absentee voting sets, as provided in subsection (f) of section
9-140, and on each weekday thereafter until the close of the polls at the Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 2 of 35
election, primary or referendum, including at the close of the polls at
such election, primary or referendum, the municipal clerk shall retrieve
from the secure drop box described in said subparagraph each such
ballot deposited in such drop box.
(B) On and after July 1, 2025, each municipality shall provide a video
recording device for each secure drop box described in subparagraph
(B) of subdivision (1) of this subsection within such municipality, which
device's recordings shall capture the location of such drop box and
evidence the date and time of each such recording beginning on the first
day of issuance of absentee voting sets, as provided in subsection (f) of
section 9-140, and until the last retrieval of absentee ballots from such
drop box at the close of the polls at the election or primary. Each such
recording shall, as soon as practicable, be made publicly available from
the date of recording, but in no case later than five days after such last
retrieval. Each such recording shall be retained by the municipality for
a period of twelve months and may be destroyed at the end of such
period, except that the State Elections Enforcement Commission or a
court of competent jurisdiction may order that such period be extended
until the conclusion of any investigation related to such recording.
(3) The Secretary of the State may adopt regulations, in accordance
with the provisions of chapter 54, concerning the use of secure drop
boxes for the deposit of absentee ballots, including, but not limited to,
the placement and positioning of any such drop box and the video
recording of any such drop box and retention of any such recording.
Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 9-140c of the 2024 supplement to the
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024):
(a) (1) The municipal clerk shall retain the envelopes containing
absentee ballots received by him under section 9-140b, as amended by
this act, and shall not open such envelopes. The municipal clerk shall Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 3 of 35
endorse over his signature, upon each outer envelope as he receives it,
(A) the date and precise time of its receipt, and (B) the method of its
receipt, in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (2) of this
subsection. The clerk shall make an affidavit attesting to the accuracy of
all such endorsements, and at the close of the polls shall deliver such
affidavit to the head moderator, who shall endorse the time of its receipt
and return it to the clerk after all counting is complete. The clerk shall
preserve the affidavit for one hundred eighty days in accordance with
the requirements of section 9-150b. The clerk shall keep a list of the
names of the applicants who return absentee ballots to the clerk under
section 9-140b, as amended by this act. The list shall be preserved as a
public record as required by section 9-150b.
(2) The municipal clerk shall record on the outer envelope of each
absentee ballot returned under section 9-140b, as amended by this act,
whether such ballot was (A) sent by the United States Postal Service or
any commercial carrier, courier or messenger service, (B) deposited in a
secure drop box, in which case the location of such drop box shall also
be so recorded, (C) returned in person by an elector, or (D) returned in
person by the designee or immediate family member of an elector. As
soon as reasonably practicable after the close of the polls at an election
or primary, the municipal clerk shall submit to the Secretary of the State
a report detailing the total count of all absentee ballots returned for such
election or primary, broken down by each method described in
subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, of this subdivision.
Sec. 3. Section 9-153b of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) If any absentee ballot applicant applies for an additional absentee
ballot, [he] such applicant shall note on [his] the application the reason
for [his] applying for an additional absentee ballot and [he] shall return
the absentee voting set formerly issued to [him] such applicant before
another set is issued, [to him, provided, if he] provided, if such applicant Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 4 of 35
is unable to return [the set formerly issued to him, his] such formerly
issued set, such application for an additional ballot shall be
accompanied by a statement signed under the penalties of false
statement in absentee balloting in which [he] such applicant shall [set
forth] note the reason for [his] such applicant's inability to return [the
set] such formerly issued [to him. If he] set. If such applicant fails to file
such a statement, no additional set shall be issued to [him] such
applicant. An application for an additional absentee ballot shall only be
made by an absentee ballot applicant. Any additional absentee voting
set issued under this subsection shall only be either provided in person
to the applicant or mailed directly to the applicant at the bona fide
mailing address designated by such applicant.
(b) [Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section for members
of the armed forces] For all absentee voting sets or portions thereof
returned under subsection (a) of this section, the municipal clerk shall
mark the serially-numbered outer envelope "rejected" and note the
reasons [therefor] for rejection on all absentee ballots and envelopes so
returned [to him] and shall seal all such [unopened ballots] absentee
voting sets or portions thereof in a package and retain them in a safe
place until delivered in accordance with section 9-140c, as amended by
this act. The municipal clerk shall keep a list of the names of each
absentee ballot applicant who has applied for more than one absentee
ballot, as provided in section 9-140, as amended by this act, together
with the serial number appearing on the outer envelope of each absentee
voting set issued to each such applicant. [including the latest one issued.
(c) When an absentee ballot applicant has applied for more than one
absentee ballot, only the latest absentee ballot issued to him by the
municipal clerk as determined by the serial number appearing on the
outer envelope may be counted and all absentee ballots and envelopes
formerly issued to that applicant shall be marked rejected as provided
in subsection (b) of this section and not counted. Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 5 of 35
(d) Subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section shall not apply to
members of the armed forces, and if] (c) If more than one absentee ballot
is received from any elector, [who is a member of the armed forces,] the
ballot of such elector [bearing the latest postmark] last received by the
municipal clerk shall be counted if no absentee ballot of such elector has
already been counted. [, provided that] For all absentee ballots of such
elector that are not counted, the municipal clerk shall mark [all] the
serially-numbered outer envelopes [bearing earlier postmarks]
"rejected" and note the reasons for rejection and shall deliver such
ballots in accordance with section 9-140c, as amended by this act.
Sec. 4. Section 9-153c of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) If a municipal clerk has omitted the name of a candidate, party or
office designation, inserted an incorrect or misspelled name of a
candidate, party or office designation, provided an absentee ballot
applicant with a ballot which is not the correct ballot for his voting
district, or incorrectly imprinted or failed to imprint the designation of
a state or local question on an absentee ballot in the appropriate space,
and if any such omission or error is likely to mislead any voter, he shall,
as soon as he becomes aware of such omission or error, promptly mail
to each applicant to whom such an absentee ballot has been issued, a
correct absentee ballot, envelopes for its return and instructions, a
statement explaining the error or omission including the correct name
or question and a copy of this section. The municipal clerk shall inform
the Secretary of the State when he proceeds under this subsection.
(b) Any additional absentee voting sets issued to applicants under
this section shall be issued in consecutive ascending numerical order
based upon the serial number appearing on the outer envelope for
return of ballots to the municipal clerk, and the clerk shall keep a record
of such numbers by making a notation on, or attaching a memorandum
to, the applicant's original application for an absentee ballot. Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 6 of 35
(c) The municipal clerk shall keep a list containing the name, address
and voting district of each absentee ballot applicant who has been issued
more than one absentee ballot under this section and the serial number
appearing on the outer envelope of each absentee voting set so issued.
The list shall be kept with the list required under section 9-140, as
amended by this act.
(d) If more than one ballot is received from an applicant who has been
sent a correct ballot under subsection (a) of this section, the ballot
[bearing the latest serial number] last received by the municipal clerk
shall be counted [,] if no ballot of such applicant has already been
counted. [The] For all ballots of such applicant that are not counted, the
municipal clerk shall inscribe the word "rejected" and note the reasons
for rejection on the outer envelope [of each of such applicant's other
ballots not so counted] and shall seal them, unopened, in a package and
retain them in a safe place until delivered in accordance with section 9-
140c, as amended by this act.
Sec. 5. Section 9-150c of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
An applicant who applies for an absentee ballot because of
unforeseen illness or physical disability occurring within six days
immediately preceding the close of the polls at an election, primary or
referendum or because the applicant is a patient in a hospital or nursing
home, as such terms are defined in section 19a-490, within such six-day
period, may appoint a designee, as defined in subsection (b) of section
9-140b, to deliver the ballot to [him] the applicant, by stating on the
application, in a space provided for that purpose, (1) the date of
occurrence of the illness or disability or the name and address of the
hospital or nursing home in which the applicant is a patient within such
six-day period, (2) the name, address and category under [said]
subsection [,] (b) of section 9-140b of the person so designated, and (3)
the delivery which the person is designated to perform, provided the Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 7 of 35
person so designated shall also sign a statement on the application to
the effect that [he] such person consents to the designation and will
perform the delivery without tampering with the ballot in any way. If
the application designates a person to deliver the ballot to the applicant,
[that] such person shall personally submit the application to the
municipal clerk. If such application is personally submitted to the clerk,
[in person,] within six days immediately preceding the close of the polls
at an election, [or] primary or referendum, by a person designated on
the application to deliver the absentee ballot to the applicant as
provided in this section and in subsection (b) of [said] section 9-140b, as
amended by this act, and if [the] such application is dated within such
[time] six-day period, the clerk shall give [that] such person the absentee
voting set.
Sec. 6. Section 9-364 of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024):
Any person who, with intent to disenfranchise any elector, influences
or attempts to influence by force or threat, bribery or corrupt, fraudulent
or deliberately deceitful means any elector to stay away from any
election or otherwise refrain from voting, whether such voting is by
mail, by deposit in a secure drop box or in person at a polling place or
designated early voting or same-day election registration location, shall
be guilty of a class D felony.
Sec. 7. Section 9-364a of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024):
(a) As used in this section, "election worker" means any municipal
clerk, registrar of voters, deputy registrar of voters, election official
described in section 9-258, primary official described in section 9-436 or
recanvass official described in section 9-311, and "personal identifying
information" has the same meaning as provided in section 53a-129a. Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 8 of 35
(b) Any person who influences or attempts to influence by force or
threat the vote, or by force, threat, bribery or corrupt means, the speech,
of any other person [in] at a primary, caucus, referendum, convention
or election; [or] any person who influences or attempts to influence by
force, threat or harassment any election worker in the performance of
any duty under the provisions of this title related to election
administration at a primary, referendum, election or recanvass; any
person who wilfully and fraudulently suppresses or destroys any vote
or ballot properly given or cast, whether so given or cast by mail, by
deposit in a secure drop box or in person at a polling place or designated
early voting or same-day election registration location, or, in counting
such votes or ballots, wilfully miscounts or misrepresents the number
thereof; and any presiding or other officer of a primary, caucus or
convention who wilfully announces the result of a ballot or vote of such
primary, caucus or convention, untruly and wrongfully, shall be guilty
of a class C felony.
(c) Any person who, with intent to harass, terrorize or alarm any
election worker, or to improperly influence any election worker in the
performance of any duty under this title related to election
administration at a primary, referendum, election or recanvass, publicly
discloses the personal identifying information of such election worker
shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor.
(d) Any election worker described in subsection (b) or (c) of this
section, as applicable, shall have a civil cause of action against the
person who, with respect to such election worker, violated said
subsection.
Sec. 8. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 9-139a of the general statutes
are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective
January 1, 2025):
(a) The Secretary of the State shall prescribe and furnish the following Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 9 of 35
materials to municipal clerks: The absentee ballot facsimile, the
application for absentee ballot authorized for use at each election or
primary, the inner envelope, the outer envelope provided for the return
of the ballot to the municipal clerk, the instructions for the use of the
absentee ballot and the envelope for mailing of such forms by the clerk
to the absentee ballot applicant.
(b) The application for absentee ballot shall be in the form of a
statement signed under the penalties of false statement in absentee
balloting. Each application shall contain (1) spaces for the signature
under the penalties of false statement in absentee balloting of any person
who assists the applicant in the completion of an application together
with the information required in section 9-140, as amended by this act,
[and] (2) spaces for the signature and the printed or typed name of the
applicant, and (3) a clear and conspicuous notation of the year for which
such application's use is authorized.
Sec. 9. Subsection (a) of section 9-140 of the 2024 supplement to the
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu
thereof (Effective January 1, 2025):
(a) (1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, application
for an absentee ballot shall be made to the clerk of the municipality in
which the applicant is eligible to vote or has applied for such eligibility.
Any person who assists another person in the completion of an
application shall, in the space provided, sign the application and print
or type his name, residence address and telephone number. Such
signature shall be made under the penalties of false statement in
absentee balloting. The municipal clerk shall not invalidate the
application solely because it does not contain the name of a person who
assisted the applicant in the completion of the application. The
municipal clerk shall not distribute with an absentee ballot application
any material which promotes the success or defeat of any candidate or
referendum question. The municipal clerk shall maintain a log of all Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 10 of 35
absentee ballot applications provided under this subsection, including
the name and address of each person to whom applications are
provided and the number of applications provided to each such person.
Each absentee ballot application provided by the municipal clerk shall
be consecutively numbered and be stamped or marked with the name
of the municipality issuing the application. The application shall be
signed by the applicant under the penalties of false statement in
absentee balloting on (A) the form prescribed by the Secretary of the
State pursuant to section 9-139a, as amended by this act, (B) a form
provided by any federal department or agency if applicable pursuant to
section 9-153a, or (C) any of the special forms of application prescribed
pursuant to section 9-150c, as amended by this act, 9-153a, 9-153b, as
amended by this act, 9-153d, 9-153e, 9-153f or 9-158d, if applicable. Any
such absentee ballot applicant who is unable to write may cause the
application to be completed by an authorized agent who shall, in the
spaces provided for the date and signature, write the date and name of
the absentee ballot applicant followed by the word "by" and his own
signature. If the ballot is to be mailed to the applicant, the applicant shall
list the bona fide personal mailing address of the applicant in the
appropriate space on the application.
(2) A municipal clerk may transmit an application to a person under
this subsection by facsimile machine or other electronic means, if so
requested by the applicant. If a municipal clerk has a facsimile machine
or other electronic means, an applicant may return a completed
application to the clerk by such a machine or device, provided the
applicant shall also mail the original of the completed application to the
clerk, either separately or with the absentee ballot that is issued to the
applicant. If the clerk does not receive such original application by the
close of the polls on the day of the election, primary or referendum, the
absentee ballot shall not be counted.
(3) No municipal clerk shall provide, for an election, primary or Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 11 of 35
referendum, five or more absentee ballot applications to any person
earlier than ninety days prior to the first day of issuance of absentee
voting sets, as provided in subsection (f) of section 9-140, for such
election, primary or referendum.
(4) No municipal clerk shall provide or accept for return, and no
person shall distribute or otherwise use, any absentee ballot application
in a given year unless such application contains the notation described
in subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 9-139a, as amended by this
act, authorizing such application's use in such year.
Sec. 10. Section 9-50c of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) The Secretary of the State may enter into an agreement to share
information or data with any other state in order to maintain the state-
wide centralized voter registration system established pursuant to
section 9-50b, as amended by this act. If an agency of this state, another
state or the federal government provides the Secretary with information
or data to be used to maintain such system, the Secretary shall not use
such information or data for any purpose except to maintain such
system and shall ensure that such information or data is held
confidential, [if such information or data, while in the possession of such
other agency or state or federal government, as applicable, was required
to be held confidential,] except as provided for in subsection (b) of this
section.
(b) The Secretary of the State may provide such information or data
to a nonpartisan third-party vendor for the purpose of maintaining the
state-wide centralized voter registration system established pursuant to
section 9-50b, as amended by this act, provided such vendor's activities
are performed under the supervision of the Secretary and such vendor
has entered into an agreement to protect the confidentiality of such
information or data. Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 12 of 35
Sec. 11. Section 9-50b of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July
1, 2024):
(a) As used in this section, "state-wide centralized voter registration
system" means a computerized system designed and maintained by the
Secretary of the State which includes: (1) Voter registration information
prescribed by the Secretary, (2) information contained in applications
for admission as electors described in section 9-20, (3) information
needed to compile registry lists and enrollment lists under sections 9-35
and 9-54, (4) information required by section 9-50a, and (5) other
information for use in complying with the provisions of this title.
(b) Not later than July 1, 2003, each registrar of voters shall transmit
to the office of the Secretary of the State all elector information required
by the office to complete the state-wide centralized voter registration
system. Each registrar shall transmit such information in a format
prescribed by the Secretary. Not later than September 1, 2003, each
registrar of voters shall participate in the state-wide centralized voter
registration system in the manner prescribed by the Secretary. On and
after July 1, 2024, each town clerk shall utilize the state-wide centralized
voter registration system whenever carrying out any provision of this
title.
(c) Not later than sixty days after each election or primary, the
registrars of voters shall update the state-wide centralized voter
registration system and indicate whether the eligible voters on the
official registry list for such election or primary voted and, if so, if they
voted in person on the day of such election or primary, in person during
the period of early voting at such election or primary or by absentee
ballot.
Sec. 12. Subsection (h) of section 9-163aa of the 2024 supplement to
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 13 of 35
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024):
(h) (1) No person shall solicit on behalf of or in opposition to any
candidate or on behalf of or in opposition to any question being
submitted at the election or primary, or loiter or peddle or offer any
advertising matter, ballot or circular to another person within a radius
of seventy-five feet of any outside entrance in use as an entry to any
building that contains any location designated by the registrars of voters
for early voting or in any corridor, passageway or other approach
leading from any such outside entrance to any such location or in any
room opening upon any such corridor, passageway or approach.
(2) Except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection, no person
shall be allowed within any location designated by the registrars of
voters for early voting for any purpose other than casting such person's
vote, except (A) primary officials under section 9-436, (B) election
officials under section 9-258, including (i) a municipal clerk or registrar
of voters, who is a candidate for the same office, and (ii) a deputy
registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the office of registrar of voters,
performing such official's duties, and (C) unofficial checkers under
section 9-235.
[(2)] (3) A person, including any candidate or any campaign or party
employee or volunteer, may be within [such] the seventy-five-foot
radius [of seventy-five feet] described in subdivision (1) of this
subsection (A) only for purposes related to the performance of such
person's official duties or to the conduct of government business within
such radius, (B) only for as long as necessary to perform such duties or
conduct such business, and (C) provided such person is not engaged in
any conduct described in subdivision (1) of this subsection.
Sec. 13. Subsection (j) of section 9-19j of the 2024 supplement to the
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 14 of 35
(j) (1) No person shall solicit on behalf of or in opposition to any
candidate or on behalf of or in opposition to any question being
submitted at the election, or loiter or peddle or offer any advertising
matter, ballot or circular to another person within a radius of seventy-
five feet of any outside entrance in use as an entry to any building that
contains any location designated by the registrars of voters for same-
day election registration balloting or in any corridor, passageway or
other approach leading from any such outside entrance to any such
location or in any room opening upon any such corridor, passageway
or approach.
(2) Except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection, no person
shall be allowed within any location designated by the registrars of
voters for same-day election registration balloting for any purpose other
than casting such person's vote, except (A) primary officials under
section 9-436, (B) election officials under section 9-258, including (i) a
municipal clerk or registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the same
office, and (ii) a deputy registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the
office of registrar of voters, performing such official's duties, and (C)
unofficial checkers under section 9-235.
[(2)] (3) A person, including any candidate or any campaign or party
employee or volunteer, may be within [such] the seventy-five-foot
radius [of seventy-five feet] described in subdivision (1) of this
subsection (A) only for purposes related to the performance of such
person's official duties or to the conduct of government business within
such radius, (B) only for as long as necessary to perform such duties or
conduct such business, and (C) provided such person is not engaged in
any conduct described in subdivision (1) of this subsection.
Sec. 14. Subsection (c) of section 9-236 of the general statutes is
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
2024): Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 15 of 35
(c) No person shall be allowed within any polling place for any
purpose other than casting his or her vote, except (1) those permitted or
exempt under this section or section 9-236a, (2) primary officials under
section 9-436, (3) election officials under section 9-258, including (A) a
municipal clerk or registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the same
office, performing his or her official duties, and (B) a deputy registrar of
voters, who is a candidate for the office of registrar of voters, performing
his or her official duties, or (4) [party] unofficial checkers under section
9-235. Representatives of the news media shall be allowed to enter,
remain within and leave any polling place or restricted area
surrounding any polling place to observe the election, provided any
such representative who in any way interferes with the orderly process
of voting shall be evicted by the moderator. A number of students in
grades four to twelve, inclusive, not to exceed four at any one time in
any one polling place, may enter any polling place between twelve
o'clock noon and three o'clock p.m. for the purpose of observing the
activities taking place in the polling place, provided there is proper
parental or teacher supervision present, and provided further, any such
student who in any way interferes with the orderly process of voting
shall be evicted by the moderator. An elector may be accompanied into
any polling place by one or more children who are fifteen years of age
or younger and supervised by the elector if the elector is the parent or
legal guardian of such children.
Sec. 15. Section 9-147a of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July
1, 2024):
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, at any election,
primary or referendum, all absentee ballots shall, within existing
resources, be counted in the manner provided in section 9-150a at a
central location designated by the registrars of voters in writing to the
municipal clerk at least twenty days before the election, primary or Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 16 of 35
referendum, which location shall be published in the warning for the
election, primary or referendum. Except as provided in subsection (b) of
this section, if unaffiliated electors are authorized under section 9-431 to
vote in the primary of either of two parties, all absentee ballots shall be
separated, counted, tallied and placed in depository envelopes by
voting district. Any member of the public may observe the counting of
absentee ballots at such central location, provided no candidate for
election or nomination shall be allowed to participate in such counting,
except (1) a municipal clerk or registrar of voters, who is a candidate for
the same office, and (2) a deputy registrar of voters, who is a candidate
for the office of registrar of voters, performing such official's duties.
(b) At any election, primary or referendum, all absentee ballots may
be counted in the manner provided in section 9-150a in the respective
polling places if the registrars of voters agree that such absentee ballots
should be so counted. If unaffiliated electors are authorized under
section 9-431 to vote in the primary of either of two parties, absentee
ballots may be counted in the respective polling places if the parties
agree that such absentee ballots should be so counted. Any election
official serving in a polling place may observe the counting of absentee
ballots at such polling place, provided no candidate for election or
nomination shall be allowed within such polling place during the hours
of voting for any purpose other than casting such candidate's vote and
no such candidate shall be allowed to participate in such counting,
except (1) a municipal clerk or registrar of voters, who is a candidate for
the same office, and (2) a deputy registrar of voters, who is a candidate
for the office of registrar of voters, performing such official's duties.
Sec. 16. Section 9-140e of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(a) Any elector who is permanently physically disabled or suffering
from a long-term illness and who files an application for an absentee
ballot with a certification from a primary care provider, indicating that Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 17 of 35
such elector is permanently physically disabled or suffering from a long-
term illness and unable to appear in person at such elector's designated
polling location, shall be eligible for permanent absentee ballot status
and shall receive an absentee ballot for each election, primary or
referendum conducted in such elector's municipality for which such
elector is eligible to vote. Such elector's permanent absentee ballot status
shall remain in effect until such elector: (1) Is removed from the official
registry list of the municipality, (2) is removed from permanent absentee
ballot status pursuant to the provisions of this section, or (3) requests
that he or she no longer receive such permanent absentee ballot status.
(b) The registrars of voters shall send written notice to each such
elector with permanent absentee ballot status in January of each year,
on a form prescribed by the Secretary of the State, for the purpose of
determining if such elector continues to reside at the address indicated
on the elector's permanent absentee ballot application. If [(1)] such
written notice is returned as undeliverable, [or (2) not later than sixty
days after such notice is sent to the elector, the elector fails to return such
notice to the registrars of voters, as directed on the form,] the elector in
question shall be removed from permanent absentee ballot status. If
such elector indicates on such notice that the elector no longer resides at
such address and the elector's new address is within the same
municipality, the registrars of voters shall change the elector's address
pursuant to section 9-35 and such elector shall retain permanent
absentee ballot status. If the elector indicates on such notice that the
elector no longer resides in the municipality, the registrars of voters
shall remove such individual from the registry list of the municipality
and send such individual an application for voter registration. Failure
to return such written notice shall not result in the removal of an elector
from the official registry list of the municipality or from permanent
absentee ballot status.
Sec. 17. Subsection (a) of section 9-320f of the 2024 supplement to the Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 18 of 35
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024):
(a) (1) Not earlier than the fifteenth day after any federal or state
election or primary and not later than two business days before the
canvass of votes by the Secretary of the State, Treasurer and
Comptroller, [for any federal or state election or primary, or] and (2) not
earlier than the fifth day after any municipal election or primary and not
later than two business days before the canvass of votes by the town
clerk, [for any municipal election or primary,] the registrars of voters
shall conduct a manual audit, or [, for an election or primary held on or
after January 1, 2016,] an electronic audit authorized under section 9-
320g, of the votes recorded in not less than five per cent of the voting
districts in the state, district or municipality, whichever is applicable.
For the purposes of this section, any central location used in a
municipality for the counting of absentee ballots, early voting ballots or
same-day election registration ballots shall be deemed a voting district.
Such manual or electronic audit shall be noticed in advance and be open
to public observation. Any election official who participates in the
administration and conduct of an audit pursuant to this section shall be
compensated by the municipality at the standard rate of pay established
by such municipality for elections or primaries, as the case may be.
Sec. 18. Section 9-460 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July
1, 2024):
If any party has nominated a candidate for office, or, on and after
November 4, 1981, if a candidate has qualified to appear on any ballot
by nominating petition under a reserved party designation, in
accordance with the provisions of this chapter, and such nominee
thereafter, but prior to forty-six days before the opening of the polls on
the day of the election for which such nomination has been made, dies,
withdraws such nominee's name or for any reason becomes disqualified Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 19 of 35
to hold the office for which such nominee has been nominated, (1) such
party or, on and after November 4, 1981, the party designation
committee may make a nomination to fill such vacancy or provide for
the making of such nomination as its rules prescribe, and (2) if another
party that is qualified to nominate a candidate for such office does not
have a nominee for such office, such party may also nominate a
candidate for such office as its rules prescribe. No withdrawal, and no
nomination to replace a candidate who has withdrawn, under this
section shall be valid unless the candidate who has withdrawn has filed
a letter of withdrawal signed by such candidate with the Secretary of the
State in the case of a state or district office or the office of state senator
or state representative from any district, or with the municipal clerk in
the case of a municipal office other than state senator or state
representative. A copy of such candidate's letter of withdrawal to the
municipal clerk shall also be filed with the Secretary of the State. No
nomination to fill a vacancy under this section shall be valid unless it is
certified to the Secretary of the State in the case of a state or district office
or the office of state senator or state representative from any district, or
to the municipal clerk in the case of a municipal office other than state
senator or state representative, by the organization or committee
making such nomination, at least forty-two days before the opening of
the polls on the day of the election, except as otherwise provided by this
section. If a nominee dies within forty-six days before the election, but
prior to twenty-four hours before the commencement of the period of
early voting at the election for which such nomination has been made,
the vacancy may be filled in the manner prescribed in this section by
two o'clock p.m. of the day before the first day of such period of early
voting with the municipal clerk or the Secretary of the State, as the case
may be. If a nominee dies within twenty-four hours before the
commencement of the period of early voting at the election and prior to
the close of the polls on the day of the election for which such
nomination has been made, such nominee shall not be replaced and the
votes cast for such nominee shall be canvassed and counted, and if such Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 20 of 35
nominee receives a plurality of the votes cast, a vacancy shall exist in the
office for which the nomination was made. The vacancy shall then be
filled in a manner prescribed by law. A copy of such certification to the
municipal clerk shall also be filed with the Secretary of the State. Such
nomination to fill a vacancy due to death or disqualification shall
include a statement setting forth the reason for such vacancy. If at the
time such nomination is certified to the Secretary of the State or to the
municipal clerk, as the case may be, the ballots have already been
printed, the Secretary of the State shall direct the municipal clerk in each
municipality affected to (A) have the ballots reprinted with the
nomination thus made included thereon, (B) cause printed stickers to be
affixed to the ballots so that the name of any candidate who has died [,
withdrawn or been disqualified] is deleted and the name of any
candidate chosen to fill such vacancy appears in the same position as
that in which the vacated candidacy appeared, or (C) [cause blank
stickers to be so affixed] if the vacancy is not filled, cause the name of
the candidate whose candidacy has been vacated to be obscured in such
manner that such name is no longer visible.
Sec. 19. Subsection (a) of section 9-437 of the general statutes is
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
2024):
(a) At the top of each ballot shall be printed the name of the party
holding the primary, and each ballot shall contain the names of all
candidates to be voted upon at such primary, except the names of
justices of the peace. The vertical columns shall be headed by the
designation of the office or position and instructions as to the number
for which an elector may vote for such office or position, in the same
manner as a ballot used in a regular election. The name of each
candidate for town committee or municipal office, except for the
municipal offices of state senator and state representative, shall appear
on the ballot as authorized by each candidate. The name of each Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 21 of 35
candidate for state or district office or for the municipal offices of state
senator or state representative shall appear on the ballot as it appears on
the certificate or statement of consent filed under section 9-388, 9-391, 9-
400 or 9-409. On the first horizontal line, below the designation of the
office or position in each column, shall be placed the name of the party-
endorsed candidate for such office or position, such name to be marked
with an asterisk; provided, where more than one person may be voted
for for any office or position, the names of the party-endorsed
candidates shall be arranged in alphabetical order from left to right
under the appropriate office or position designation and shall continue,
if necessary, from left to right on the next lower line or lines. In the case
of no party endorsement there shall be inserted the designation "no
party endorsement" at the head of the vertical column, immediately
beneath the designation of the office or position. On the horizontal lines
below the line for party-endorsed candidates shall be placed, in the
appropriate columns, the names of all other candidates as [hereinafter]
provided in this section.
Sec. 20. Subsection (g) of section 9-437 of the general statutes is
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
2024):
(g) The name of each candidate shall appear on the ballot in such
position as is [hereinbefore] required in this section, and such position
shall be determined as of the final time for filing candidacies specified
in section 9-400 or 9-405. Vacancies in candidacies thereafter occurring
shall not cause the position of any candidate's name on the ballot to be
changed to another position. The name of any candidate whose
candidacy has been vacated shall not appear on the ballot. If such a
vacancy results in the cancellation of a primary for any office, the office
column or columns where the names of the candidates and the title of
the office would have appeared if the primary for that office had not
been cancelled shall be left blank. If a vacancy occurs in a party- Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 22 of 35
endorsed candidacy and a person is chosen in accordance with section
9-426 or 9-428, as amended by this act, to fill the resulting vacancy in
candidacy, the name of the person so chosen shall appear in the same
position as that in which the name of the vacating candidate appeared.
The municipal clerk shall have the ballot prepared so that the name of
any candidate who has vacated such candidate's candidacy is deleted
and so that the name of any candidate chosen to fill a vacancy in
candidacy appears in the same position as that in which the vacated
candidacy appeared. The municipal clerk may use [blank or] printed
stickers [, as the case may be,] in preparing the ballots if the ballots were
printed before [the occurrence of the vacancy in candidacy or] the
selection of a candidate to fill a vacancy in candidacy. If a vacancy in
candidacy is not filled, the municipal clerk shall cause the name of the
candidate whose candidacy has been vacated to be obscured in such
manner that such name is no longer visible. The order of the offices and
positions shall be as prescribed by the Secretary of the State.
Sec. 21. Section 9-428 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July
1, 2024):
(a) If a party-endorsed candidate for election to the position of town
committee member, prior to twenty-four hours before the opening of
the polls at the primary, dies or, prior to ten days before the day of such
primary, withdraws his name from nomination or for any reason
becomes disqualified to hold the position for which he is a candidate,
the state central committee, the town committee or other authority of
the party which endorsed such candidate may make an endorsement to
fill such vacancy or provide for the making of such endorsement, in such
manner as is prescribed in the rules of such party, and certify to the
registrar and municipal clerk or to the Secretary of the State, as the case
may be, the name of the person so endorsed. If such certification is made
at least twenty-four hours prior to the opening of the polls at the Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 23 of 35
primary, in the case of such an endorsement to replace a candidate who
has died, or at least seven days before the day of such primary, in the
case of such an endorsement to replace a candidate who has withdrawn
or become disqualified, such person so endorsed shall run in the
primary as the party-endorsed candidate, except as provided in sections
9-416 and 9-417. If such certification of another party-endorsed
candidate has been made within the time specified in this section, and if
the ballots have already been printed and the names of the candidates
for such position appear on the ballots, the Secretary of the State or the
registrar, as the case may be, shall direct the clerk of each municipality
holding such primary to have the ballots reprinted with the name of the
person so certified included thereon; provided, in the case of such an
endorsement to replace a candidate who has died, if such certification
has been made less than ninety-six hours but at least twenty-four hours
prior to the opening of the polls at the primary, such Secretary or
registrar shall direct such clerk to have stickers printed and inserted
upon the ballots, having the name of the person so certified appearing
thereon, and the moderator in each polling place shall cause such
stickers to be pasted on the ballots before the opening of the polls at such
primary. If no such certification has been made, such clerk shall cause
the name of the candidate whose candidacy has been vacated to be
obscured in such manner that such name is no longer visible.
(b) If a party-endorsed candidate for nomination to an office, prior to
twenty-four hours before the commencement of the period of early
voting at the primary, dies or, prior to ten days before the first day of
such period of early voting, withdraws his name from nomination or for
any reason becomes disqualified to hold the office for which he is a
candidate, the state central committee, the town committee or other
authority of the party which endorsed such candidate may make an
endorsement to fill such vacancy or provide for the making of such
endorsement, in such manner as is prescribed in the rules of such party,
and certify to the registrar and municipal clerk or to the Secretary of the Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 24 of 35
State, as the case may be, the name of the person so endorsed. If such
certification is made at least twenty-four hours prior to the
commencement of the period of early voting at the primary, in the case
of such an endorsement to replace a candidate who has died, or at least
seven days before the first day of such period of early voting, in the case
of such an endorsement to replace a candidate who has withdrawn or
become disqualified, such person so endorsed shall run in the primary
as the party-endorsed candidate, except as provided in sections 9-416
and 9-417. If such certification of another party-endorsed candidate has
been made within the time specified in this section, and if the ballots
have already been printed and the names of the candidates for such
office appear on the ballots, the Secretary of the State or the registrar, as
the case may be, shall direct the clerk of each municipality holding such
primary to have the ballots reprinted with the name of the person so
certified included thereon; provided, in the case of such an endorsement
to replace a candidate who has died, if such certification has been made
less than ninety-six hours but at least twenty-four hours prior to the
commencement of the period of early voting at the primary, such
Secretary or registrar shall direct such clerk to have stickers printed and
inserted upon the ballots, having the name of the person so certified
appearing thereon, and the moderator in each polling place shall cause
such stickers to be pasted on the ballots before the opening of the polls
at such primary. If no such certification has been made, such clerk shall
cause the name of the candidate whose candidacy has been vacated to
be obscured in such manner that such name is no longer visible.
Sec. 22. Subsection (d) of section 9-135b of the general statutes is
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1,
2024):
(d) If a vacancy in candidacy occurs after the ballots have been
printed, the clerk may either reprint the ballots or cause [blank or]
printed stickers [, as the case may be,] to be affixed to them so that the Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 25 of 35
name of any candidate who has vacated his candidacy is deleted and
the name of any candidate chosen to fill the vacancy as provided in
section 9-428, as amended by this act, or section 9-460, as amended by
this act, appears in the same position as that in which the vacated
candidacy appeared except as provided in section 9-426 or 9-453s. If no
candidate is chosen to fill such vacancy as so provided, the clerk shall
cause the name of the candidate whose candidacy has been vacated to
be obscured in such manner that such name is no longer visible.
Sec. 23. Section 9-472 of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024):
If, after determination of the order of candidates on the ballot, a
candidate dies, his name shall not appear on such ballot; provided that
the position of each remaining candidate on the ballot shall not be
altered by the deletion of such name. The secretary may authorize [the
use of] town clerks to use blank stickers on the ballot, [by town clerks]
or otherwise cause the name of such deceased candidate to be obscured
in such manner that such name is no longer visible, in order to comply
with the provisions of this section.
Sec. 24. Subdivision (1) of subsection (g) of section 9-7a of the general
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof
(Effective July 1, 2024):
(g) (1) In the case of a written complaint filed with the commission
pursuant to section 9-7b, commission staff shall conduct and complete a
preliminary examination of such complaint by the fourteenth day
following its receipt, at which time such staff shall, at its discretion, (A)
dismiss the complaint for failure to allege any substantial violation of
state election law supported by evidence, (B) engage the respondent in
discussions in an effort to speedily resolve any matter pertaining to a de
minimis violation, or (C) investigate and docket the complaint for a
determination by the commission that probable cause or no probable Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 26 of 35
cause exists for any such violation. If commission staff dismisses a
complaint pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, such staff
shall provide a brief written statement concisely setting forth the
reasons for such dismissal. If commission staff engages a respondent
pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this subdivision but is unable to
speedily resolve any such matter described in said subparagraph by the
forty-fifth day following receipt of the complaint, such staff shall docket
such complaint for a determination by the commission that probable
cause or no probable cause exists for any violation of state election law.
If the commission does not, by the sixtieth day following receipt of the
complaint, either issue a decision or render its determination that
probable cause or no probable cause exists for any violation of state
election laws, the complainant or respondent may apply to the superior
court for the judicial district of Hartford for an order to show cause why
the commission has not acted upon the complaint and to provide
evidence that the commission has unreasonably delayed action. For any
complaint received on or after January 1, 2018, if the commission does
not, by one year following receipt of such complaint, issue a decision
thereon, the commission shall dismiss such complaint, provided the
length of time of any delay caused by (i) the commission or commission
staff granting any extension or continuance to a respondent prior to the
issuance of any such decision, (ii) any subpoena issued in connection
with such complaint, (iii) any litigation in state or federal court related
to such complaint, or (iv) any investigation by, or consultation of the
commission or commission staff with, the Chief State's Attorney, the
Attorney General, the United States Department of Justice or the United
States Attorney for Connecticut related to such complaint, shall be
added to such one year. For any complaint received on or after July 1,
2024, if the commission does not, by the ninetieth day following the
commission's determination that probable cause exists for any violation
of state election laws, issue a decision on such complaint, the
commission shall refer such complaint to the Chief State's Attorney
pursuant to subdivision (8) of subsection (a) of section 9-7b for further Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 27 of 35
enforcement action. Not later than twelve months after the referral to
the Chief State's Attorney of any complaint under this subdivision, or
not later than the expiration of the period of time prescribed by section
54-193 for the violation of state election laws alleged in any such
complaint, whichever occurs first, the Chief State's Attorney shall
submit a report to the joint standing committees of the General
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to elections and the
judiciary, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, detailing
the status of any enforcement action related to such referred complaint.
Sec. 25. Subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 9-163aa of the 2024
supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(b) (1) The registrars of voters of each municipality shall designate a
location for the conduct of early voting, which location shall be the same
for the duration of the period of early voting except as otherwise
specified in this subdivision, provided (A) the registrars of voters have
access to the state-wide centralized voter registration system from such
location, and (B) such location is certified in writing to the Secretary of
the State not later than [one hundred twenty] sixty days prior to the day
of [a regular election or a primary, other than a presidential preference
primary, or not later than twenty days prior to the day of a special
election or a presidential preference] an election or a primary. The
written certification under subparagraph (B) of this subdivision shall
provide (i) the name, street address and relevant contact information
associated with such location, (ii) the number of election or primary
officials to be appointed by the registrars of voters to serve at such
location and the roles of such officials, and (iii) a description of the
design of such location and a plan for effective conduct of such early
voting. The Secretary shall approve or disapprove such written
certification not later than [ninety] forty-five days prior to the day of [a
regular election or a primary, other than a presidential preference Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 28 of 35
primary, or not later than fifteen days prior to the day of a special
election or a presidential preference] an election or a primary. If the
Secretary disapproves such certification, the Secretary shall provide, in
writing, the reasons for such disapproval and shall issue an order for
such corrective action as the Secretary deems necessary, including, but
not limited to, the appointment of additional election or primary
officials or the alteration of such design or plan. After having received
approval of such certification or having complied with any order for
corrective action to the Secretary's satisfaction, as applicable, the
registrars of voters shall determine the site of such location designated
for the conduct of early voting at least thirty-one days prior to [a regular
election or a primary, other than a presidential preference primary, or
at least eleven days prior to a special election or a presidential
preference] an election or a primary. Such location shall not be changed
within such period, except, if the municipal clerk and registrars of voters
unanimously find that such location has been rendered unusable within
such period, such clerk and registrars shall forthwith designate another
location for the conduct of early voting to be used in place of the location
so rendered unusable and shall give adequate notice that such location
has been so changed. The provisions of sections 9-168d and 9-168e shall
apply to such location designated for the conduct of early voting.
Sec. 26. Subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of section 9-163aa of the 2024
supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(4) (A) The registrars of voters shall appoint, for each day on which
early voting is conducted, a moderator and such other election or
primary officials to serve at each location designated for such conduct.
The moderator so appointed shall perform any duty required, and may
exercise any power authorized, under this title related to the conduct of
early voting at such location. On any such day and solely for purposes
related to the conduct of early voting, the registrars of voters of a Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 29 of 35
municipality may, upon agreement, appoint one of the registrars from
such municipality as moderator in accordance with the provisions of
subparagraph (B) of this subdivision. The registrars of voters may
delegate to each other election or primary official so appointed any of
the responsibilities assigned to the registrars of voters. The registrars of
voters shall supervise each such official and train each such official to be
an early voting election or primary official.
(B) Whenever the registrars of voters of a municipality appoint,
pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, one of the registrars
of such municipality as moderator to serve at a location designated for
the conduct of early voting, such registrars of voters shall jointly submit
to the Secretary of the State (i) a certification that the registrars of voters
of such municipality are in agreement as to such appointment, and (ii)
a written plan detailing alternative coverage of the duties normally
carried out by the registrar so appointed to ensure that such registrar
abstains, on each day in which such registrar serves as moderator, from
any such duties that conflict with those of the moderator.
Sec. 27. Subsection (a) of section 9-21a of the general statutes is
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January
1, 2025):
(a) The Secretary of the State, at [such times as the Secretary
determines, may] least annually, shall cause a search to be made of
computerized voter registration records to identify electors who may be
registered in more than one town or registered more than once in the
same town. The Secretary [may] shall compile, from such search, a list
of possible duplicate registrations in any town or towns and shall
transmit such list to the registrars of voters of the appropriate town or
towns.
Sec. 28. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 9-19k of the 2024
supplement to the general statutes are repealed and the following is Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 30 of 35
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025):
(a) The Secretary of the State shall establish and maintain a system for
online voter registration. Such system shall also permit a registered
elector to apply for changes to such elector's registration. An applicant
may register to vote through this system, provided the applicant's (1)
registration information is verifiable in the manner described in
subsection (b) of this section, and (2) signature is in a database described
in said subsection (b) and such signature may be imported into such
system for online voter registration.
(b) A state agency, upon the request of the Secretary of the State, shall
provide any information to the Secretary that the Secretary deems
necessary to maintain the system for online voter registration. The
Secretary may cross reference the information input into the system by
applicants with data or information contained in any state agency's
database or a database administered by the federal government, or any
voter registration database of another state, in order to verify the
information submitted by applicants, except that the Secretary shall,
notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-20a, cross reference such
input information with the list compiled by the Jury Administrator
pursuant to subsection (c) of section 51-222a and made available to the
Secretary pursuant to section 29 of this act in order to attempt to verify
such submitted information. The Secretary shall not use the information
obtained from any such database except to verify information submitted
by the applicant, provided the applicant's signature, if part of data
contained in the state agency's database, shall be included as part of the
applicant's information contained in the system for online voter
registration.
Sec. 29. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) Not later than thirty days after
the Jury Administrator compiles the list of all qualified jurors in the state
pursuant to subsection (c) of section 51-222a of the general statutes, the
Jury Administrator shall make such list available to the Secretary of the Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 31 of 35
State for the purpose of verifying the information contained in the
system for online voter registration established and maintained
pursuant to section 9-19k of the general statutes, as amended by this act.
Sec. 30. (Effective July 1, 2024) The Secretary of the State shall review
the process by which languages other than English are translated for
purposes of appearing on the ballot in municipalities where federal or
state law requires such ballots to be made available in any such
language. Not later than January 15, 2025, the Secretary shall submit a
report on the Secretary's recommendations concerning such process,
including recommendations for preventing mistranslations on such
ballots, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having
cognizance of matters relating to elections, in accordance with the
provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes.
Sec. 31. Section 1-217 of the general statutes is repealed and the
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024):
(a) No public agency may disclose, under the Freedom of Information
Act, from its personnel, medical or similar files, the residential address
of any of the following persons employed by such public agency:
(1) A federal court judge, federal court magistrate, judge of the
Superior Court, Appellate Court or Supreme Court of the state, or
family support magistrate;
(2) A sworn member of a municipal police department, a sworn
member of the Division of State Police within the Department of
Emergency Services and Public Protection or a sworn law enforcement
officer within the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection;
(3) An employee of the Department of Correction;
(4) An attorney-at-law who represents or has represented the state in
a criminal prosecution; Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 32 of 35
(5) An attorney-at-law who is or has been employed by the Division
of Public Defender Services or a social worker who is employed by the
Division of Public Defender Services;
(6) An inspector employed by the Division of Criminal Justice;
(7) A firefighter;
(8) An employee of the Department of Children and Families;
(9) A member or employee of the Board of Pardons and Paroles;
(10) An employee of the judicial branch;
(11) An employee of the Department of Mental Health and Addiction
Services who provides direct care to patients;
(12) A member or employee of the Commission on Human Rights
and Opportunities; or
(13) A state marshal appointed by the State Marshal Commission
pursuant to section 6-38b.
(b) The business address of any person described in this section, and
the address of each town hall, city hall or other municipal building in
which the office of the registrars of voters of a municipality is located,
shall be subject to disclosure under section 1-210. The provisions of this
section shall not apply to Department of Motor Vehicles records
described in section 14-10.
(c) (1) Except as provided in subsections (a) and [(d)] (e) of this
section, no public agency may disclose the residential address of any
person listed in subsection (a) of this section from any record described
in subdivision (2) of this subsection that is requested in accordance with
the provisions of said subdivision, regardless of whether such person is
an employee of the public agency, provided such person has (A) Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 33 of 35
submitted a written request for the nondisclosure of the person's
residential address to the public agency, and (B) furnished his or her
business address to the public agency.
(2) Any public agency that receives a request for a record subject to
disclosure under this chapter where such request (A) specifically names
a person who has requested that his or her address be kept confidential
under subdivision (1) of this subsection, shall make a copy of the record
requested to be disclosed and shall redact the copy to remove such
person's residential address prior to disclosing such record, (B) is for an
existing list that is derived from a readily accessible electronic database,
shall make a reasonable effort to redact the residential address of any
person who has requested that his or her address be kept confidential
under subdivision (1) of this subsection prior to the release of such list,
or (C) is for any list that the public agency voluntarily creates in
response to a request for disclosure, shall make a reasonable effort to
redact the residential address of any person who has requested that his
or her address be kept confidential under subdivision (1) of this
subsection prior to the release of such list.
(3) Except as provided in subsection (a) of this section, an agency shall
not be prohibited from disclosing the residential address of any person
listed in subsection (a) of this section from any record other than the
records described in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of subdivision
(2) of this subsection.
(d) (1) Except as provided in subsections (a) and (e) of this section and
subject to the provisions of subdivisions (2) and (3) of this subsection,
no public agency of a municipality may disclose, under the Freedom of
Information Act, from a public record, including any record described
in subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section, the residential address
of any person who is a municipal clerk, registrar of voters, deputy
registrar of voters, election official described in section 9-258, primary
official described in section 9-436 or audit official described in section 9- Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 34 of 35
320f, as amended by this act, regardless of whether such person is an
employee of the public agency, provided such person has (A) submitted
to the municipality a written request for the nondisclosure of the
person's residential address, and (B) furnished to the municipality (i) his
or her business address, or (ii) if such person does not have a business
address, the address of the town hall, city hall or other municipal
building in which the office of the registrars of voters of such
municipality is located.
(2) (A) If a person submits a written request described in subdivision
(1) of this subsection prior to the ninetieth day preceding an election, the
prohibition in said subdivision against disclosing such person's
residential address shall take effect on the ninetieth day preceding such
election and shall expire on the ninetieth day following such election.
(B) If a person submits a written request described in subdivision (1)
of this subsection on or after the ninetieth day preceding an election, the
prohibition in said subdivision against disclosing such person's
residential address shall take effect upon such submission and shall
expire on the ninetieth day following such election.
(3) The provisions of this subsection shall not be construed to prohibit
the disclosure of the residential address of any person described in
subdivision (1) of this subsection in the case where such residential
address appears on a public record by virtue of such person holding any
elective or appointive state or municipal office other than municipal
clerk, registrar of voters or deputy registrar of voters.
[(d)] (e) The provisions of this section shall not be construed to
prohibit the disclosure without redaction of any document, as defined
in section 7-35bb, any list prepared under title 9, or any list published
under section 12-55.
[(e)] (f) No public agency or public official or employee of a public Substitute House Bill No. 5498
Public Act No. 24-148 35 of 35
agency shall be penalized for violating a provision of this section, unless
such violation is wilful and knowing. Any complaint of such a violation
shall be made to the Freedom of Information Commission. Upon receipt
of such a complaint, the commission shall serve upon the public agency,
official or employee, as the case may be, by certified or registered mail,
a copy of the complaint. The commission shall provide the public
agency, official or employee with an opportunity to be heard at a
hearing conducted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54,
unless the commission, upon motion of the public agency, official or
employee or upon motion of the commission, dismisses the complaint
without a hearing if it finds, after examining the complaint and
construing all allegations most favorably to the complainant, that the
public agency, official or employee has not wilfully and knowingly
violated a provision of this section. If the commission finds that the
public agency, official or employee wilfully and knowingly violated a
provision of this section, the commission may impose against such
public agency, official or employee a civil penalty of not less than twenty
dollars nor more than one thousand dollars. Nothing in this section shall
be construed to allow a private right of action against a public agency,
public official or employee of a public agency.