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OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 386
AN ACT CONCERNING DESIGNATION OF POLLING PLACES,
EARLY VOTING AND REGIONAL ELECTION ADVISORS.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes procedural requirements for moving the location
of a polling place between one election or primary and the next,
including requiring the municipal legislative body’s approval and a
public hearing. Under current law, the registrars of voters are generally
authorized to change a polling place’s location. (The bill states the new
procedure applies specifically to proposals to move polling places, but
the bill applies the new procedure to existing provisions that appear to
contemplate other changes (e.g., creating a new polling location in an
adjacent district), as well.)
The bill also requires the secretary of the state to conduct a statewide
review of the early voting procedures used for the most recent
presidential preference primary. The secretary must review them for
any inconsistencies, insufficiencies, or deficiencies. By May 1, 2024, she
must submit a report to the Government Administration and Elections
Committee that includes her findings and recommendations to improve
the procedures for future elections and primaries (§ 6).
Additionally, the bill eliminates the requirements that regional
councils of governments (COG) enter into a memorandum of
understanding (MOU) with a regional election advisor by a specified
deadline (§ 7).
Finally, the bill establishes procedures for appointing a registrar of
voters as a moderator for an early voting location (§ 8).
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage, except that provisions regarding
the relocation of polling places are effective July 1, 2024. 2024SB-00386-R000392-BA.DOCX
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§§ 1-5 — AUTHORITY FOR DESIGN ATION OR RELOCATION OF
POLLING PLACES
Procedure to Move a Polling Place
Before a polling place may be moved from the location used for the
prior election or primary the:
1. registrars of voters or municipal legislative body, as applicable,
must propose the move (a) at a regular meeting of the legislative
body and (b) at least 120 days before the election or primary at
which the polling location will be used;
2. legislative body must hold a public hearing at least 110 days
before the election or primary; and
3. legislative body must approve or reject the move at least 100 days
before the election or primary.
By law, a polling place must be set at least 31 days before an election
and cannot be changed unless the registrars of voters and town clerk
unanimously determine a polling location is unusable. The bill does not
explicitly change this requirement or exempt it from this procedure.
The polling place must also meet any other requirements that apply
specifically when a polling place is moved before a state election (1) due
to differing voting district lines or (2) to an adjacent voting district, as
described below.
Proposal to Move Polling Location (§§ 2 & 5)
Under current law, polling locations are generally determined by a
municipality’s (1) legislative body if the town is not divided into voting
districts (i.e., has only one district) and (2) registrars of voters if the town
is divided into multiple districts, unless a special act requires otherwise.
If the registrars cannot agree on a location, the legislative body must
select it.
The bill subjects these determinations by the legislative body or
registrars, as applicable, to the procedure described above. Presumably,
in towns with only one voting district, the legislative body may propose 2024SB-00386-R000392-BA.DOCX
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moving a polling location at its regularly scheduled meeting and, in
towns with multiple districts, the registrars may do so. In either case,
the proposal is subject to the legislative body’s approval or rejection
under the bill.
Moving a Polling Place Before a State Election (§ 2)
Under current law, state elections must generally be held at their
usual locations, but the registrars of voters may designate a different
location if they comply with the law’s requirements (i.e., in writing to
the town clerk at least 31 days before the election).
The bill retains the law’s requirement that state elections be held at
their usual locations. However, it allows the municipality’s legislative
body, rather than registrars, to designate a different location and
additionally requires it to follow the approval procedure described
above (i.e., a public hearing and approval by the legislative body). For
towns with multiple voting districts, it is unclear whether the registrars
or the legislative body may propose moving the location (subject to the
bill’s procedure, as described above).
Municipal Boundaries Differ From State Legislative and
Congressional District Lines (§ 3)
Current law authorizes registrars to determine whether certain
voting districts should have a designated polling place or should instead
share a place with another voting district but have a separate designated
voting tabulator. The bill transfers the power from the registrars to the
municipality’s legislative body.
Specifically, these provisions apply for polling locations in situations
where (1) the voting district boundaries for municipal elections differ
from assembly, senatorial, or congressional district lines or (2) a voting
district has less than 1,500 electors voting for a specific combination of
officers.
Adjacent Voting Districts (§ 4)
If the registrars determine, in a written opinion, that a voting district
lacks an existing convenient or suitable polling place, current law 2024SB-00386-R000392-BA.DOCX
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authorizes them to designate a new polling location in an adjacent
voting district (or in a separate room in the adjacent district’s existing
polling place). The bill instead requires the registrars to submit their
written opinion, along with a proposal, to the municipality’s legislative
body for the body to designate.
Under existing law and the bill, the registrars’ written opinion and
the subsequent designation must be filed with the town clerk 90 days
before a regular election or primary. Within 10 days of the filing, the
town clerk must publish the determination.
§ 7 — REGIONAL ELECTION AD VISOR DEADLINE
Under existing law, COGs may appoint a regional election advisor to
consult and coordinate with the secretary of the state regarding election
administration in the participating towns. Current law allows the COG
to enter into a MOU with an advisor, but if they wish to do so, it must
occur before March 1 of each regular election year. COGs may receive a
grant for appointing an election advisor, but only if they have filed the
MOU by this deadline. The bill eliminates the (1) March 1 deadline for
entering into the MOU and (2) requirement that the MOU be filed each
regular election year.
§ 8 — PROCEDURES FOR REGIS TRARS TO SERVE AS EA RLY
VOTING MODERATORS
Existing law allows registrars of voters to appoint moderators to
oversee early voting locations. The bill specifies that the municipality’s
registrars of voters may agree to appoint one of them to serve as the
moderator instead. If they choose to do so, they must submit a
certification of their agreement to the secretary of the state as well as a
written coverage plan for the registrar’s normal duties, to ensure the
registrar abstains from any that conflict with its role as moderator.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 19 Nay 0 (03/22/2024)