CT
Connecticut Senate Bill SB00386

Connecticut 2024 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB00386 Compare Versions

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3-LCO 1 of 8
3+LCO No. 2738 1 of 6
44
5-General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 386
5+General Assembly Raised Bill No. 386
66 February Session, 2024
7+LCO No. 2738
8+
9+
10+Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
11+AND ELECTIONS
12+
13+
14+Introduced by:
15+(GAE)
716
817
918
1019
11-
12-AN ACT CONCERNING DESIGNATION OF POLLING PLACES, EARLY
13-VOTING AND REGIONAL ELECTION ADVISORS.
20+AN ACT CONCERNING DESIGNATION OF POLLING PLACES AND
21+IMPLEMENTATION OF EARLY VOTING AT PRIMARIES AND
22+ELECTIONS.
1423 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
1524 Assembly convened:
1625
1726 Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) In any municipality where the 1
1827 registrars of voters or the legislative body of such municipality, as 2
1928 applicable, propose that the location of any polling place to be used at 3
20-an election or primary be moved from the location of such polling place 4
21-at the immediately preceding election or primary, (1) not later than one 5
22-hundred twenty days before the election or primary at which such 6
23-polling place is to be used, the registrars of voters or legislative body, as 7
24-applicable, shall so propose any such move at a regular meeting of such 8
25-legislative body, (2) not later than one hundred ten days before the 9
26-election or primary at which such polling place is to be used, the 10
27-legislative body shall conduct a public hearing on such proposed move, 11
28-and (3) not later than one hundred days before the election or primary 12
29-at which such polling place is to be used, the legislative body shall 13
30-approve or disapprove such proposed move. In the case of any such 14
31-proposed move that is approved, the registrars of voters or the 15
32-legislative body, as applicable, shall designate such new polling place 16
33-location in accordance with the provisions of applicable law. 17
34-Sec. 2. Section 9-168 of the general statutes is repealed and the 18
35-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 19 Substitute Bill No. 386
29+such election or primary be moved from the location of such polling 4
30+place at the immediately preceding election or primary, (1) not later than 5
31+one hundred twenty days before such election or primary, the registrars 6
32+of voters or legislative body, as applicable, shall so propose any such 7
33+move at a regular meeting of such legislative body, (2) not later than one 8
34+hundred ten days before such election or primary, the legislative body 9
35+shall conduct a public hearing on such proposed move, and (3) not later 10
36+than one hundred days before such election or primary, the legislative 11
37+body shall approve or disapprove such proposed move. In the case of 12
38+any such proposed move that is approved, the registrars of voters or the 13
39+legislative body, as applicable, shall designate such new polling place 14 Raised Bill No. 386
3640
3741
38-LCO 2 of 8
3942
40-[In] Subject to the provisions of section 1 of this act, (1) in any town 20
41-not divided into voting districts, the place of holding elections may be 21
42-determined by the legislative body of such town, [. In] and (2) in towns 22
43-divided into voting districts, the place of holding elections shall be 23
44-determined as provided in section 9-169, as amended by this act, or any 24
45-special act, whichever applies. Except as provided in section 9-169a, 25
46-state elections shall be held at the usual place or places of holding 26
47-elections in the town or the voting districts thereof, as the case may be, 27
48-unless, [the registrars of voters, in writing, have designated to the clerk 28
49-of such town,] at least thirty-one days before any such state election, the 29
50-legislative body of such town designates a different place or places for 30
51-holding such election in accordance with the provisions of section 1 of 31
52-this act. Unless otherwise provided by special act, the place of holding 32
53-city or borough elections shall be determined by the legislative body of 33
54-such city or borough. Any provision of any charter or special act to the 34
55-contrary notwithstanding, the place or places of holding an election 35
56-shall be determined at least thirty-one days prior to such election, and 36
57-such place or places shall not be changed within the period of thirty-one 37
58-days prior to such election except that, if the municipal clerk and 38
59-registrars of voters of a municipality unanimously find that any such 39
60-polling place within such municipality has been rendered unusable 40
61-within such period, they shall forthwith designate another polling place 41
62-to be used in place of the one so rendered unusable and shall give 42
63-adequate notice that such polling place has been so changed. 43
64-Sec. 3. Section 9-168a of the general statutes is repealed and the 44
65-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 45
66-(a) Any provision of the general statutes to the contrary 46
67-notwithstanding, in any municipality in which, at any election, or 47
68-primary, as a result of the assembly, senatorial or congressional district 48
69-lines in effect, there is a voting district or a part of a voting district which 49
70-differs geographically from the district lines as constituted in a 50
71-municipal election year, the [registrars of voters may] legislative body 51
72-of the municipality may, in accordance with the provisions of section 1 52
73-of this act, either provide a suitable polling place therein or, [may,] in 53 Substitute Bill No. 386
43+LCO No. 2738 2 of 6
44+
45+location in accordance with the provisions of applicable law. 15
46+Sec. 2. Section 9-168 of the general statutes is repealed and the 16
47+following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 17
48+[In] Subject to the provisions of section 1 of this act, (1) in any town 18
49+not divided into voting districts, the place of holding elections may be 19
50+determined by the legislative body of such town, [. In] and (2) in towns 20
51+divided into voting districts, the place of holding elections shall be 21
52+determined as provided in section 9-169, as amended by this act, or any 22
53+special act, whichever applies. Except as provided in section 9-169a, 23
54+state elections shall be held at the usual place or places of holding 24
55+elections in the town or the voting districts thereof, as the case may be, 25
56+unless, [the registrars of voters, in writing, have designated to the clerk 26
57+of such town,] at least thirty-one days before any such state election, the 27
58+legislative body of such town designates a different place or places for 28
59+holding such election in accordance with the provisions of section 1 of 29
60+this act. Unless otherwise provided by special act, the place of holding 30
61+city or borough elections shall be determined by the legislative body of 31
62+such city or borough. Any provision of any charter or special act to the 32
63+contrary notwithstanding, the place or places of holding an election 33
64+shall be determined at least thirty-one days prior to such election, and 34
65+such place or places shall not be changed within the period of thirty-one 35
66+days prior to such election except that, if the municipal clerk and 36
67+registrars of voters of a municipality unanimously find that any such 37
68+polling place within such municipality has been rendered unusable 38
69+within such period, they shall forthwith designate another polling place 39
70+to be used in place of the one so rendered unusable and shall give 40
71+adequate notice that such polling place has been so changed. 41
72+Sec. 3. Section 9-168a of the general statutes is repealed and the 42
73+following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 43
74+(a) Any provision of the general statutes to the contrary 44
75+notwithstanding, in any municipality in which, at any election, or 45
76+primary, as a result of the assembly, senatorial or congressional district 46 Raised Bill No. 386
7477
7578
76-LCO 3 of 8
7779
78-lieu thereof, [with the approval of the legislative body of the 54
79-municipality,] provide separate voting tabulators in the polling place of 55
80-another voting district in said municipality for use by such electors. The 56
81-registrars of voters shall determine which polling place officials are 57
82-necessary for such separate tabulators and shall provide the procedure 58
83-to ensure that the electors use the proper voting tabulator, which 59
84-procedure may include the registrars of voters prescribing and 60
85-providing receipts. 61
86-(b) Any provision of the general statutes to the contrary 62
87-notwithstanding, in any municipality in which, at any election or 63
88-primary, as a result of the assembly, senatorial or congressional district 64
89-lines in effect, there is a voting district with less than one thousand five 65
90-hundred electors who vote for a combination of officers that no other 66
91-electors of the town vote for, the [registrars of voters may] legislative 67
92-body of the municipality may, in accordance with the provisions of 68
93-section 1 of this act, either provide a suitable polling place therein or, 69
94-[may,] in lieu thereof, provide separate voting tabulators in the polling 70
95-place of another voting district in said municipality for use by such 71
96-electors. If the [registrars of voters provide] legislative body provides 72
97-separate voting tabulators in the polling place of another voting district, 73
98-[they] the registrars of voters shall determine which polling place 74
99-officials are necessary for the district containing less than one thousand 75
100-five hundred electors and shall provide the procedure to ensure that the 76
101-electors use the proper voting tabulators, which procedure may include 77
102-the registrars of voters prescribing and providing receipts. 78
103-(c) In any election or primary where electors in more than one voting 79
104-district vote in the same building and vote for all the same officers, and 80
105-the law does not require separate returns, the registrars of voters may 81
106-combine the voting districts and polling places into one voting district 82
107-and polling place, with or without integrating the voting districts on the 83
108-check lists used at the election or primary. The registrars of voters shall 84
109-file a statement of their action with the town clerk before the election or 85
110-primary and the town clerk shall label the polling place return form to 86
111-show which districts are combined on such return. 87 Substitute Bill No. 386
80+LCO No. 2738 3 of 6
81+
82+lines in effect, there is a voting district or a part of a voting district which 47
83+differs geographically from the district lines as constituted in a 48
84+municipal election year, the [registrars of voters may] legislative body 49
85+of the municipality may, in accordance with the provisions of section 1 50
86+of this act, either provide a suitable polling place therein or, [may,] in 51
87+lieu thereof, [with the approval of the legislative body of the 52
88+municipality,] provide separate voting tabulators in the polling place of 53
89+another voting district in said municipality for use by such electors. The 54
90+registrars of voters shall determine which polling place officials are 55
91+necessary for such separate tabulators and shall provide the procedure 56
92+to ensure that the electors use the proper voting tabulator, which 57
93+procedure may include the registrars of voters prescribing and 58
94+providing receipts. 59
95+(b) Any provision of the general statutes to the contrary 60
96+notwithstanding, in any municipality in which, at any election or 61
97+primary, as a result of the assembly, senatorial or congressional district 62
98+lines in effect, there is a voting district with less than one thousand five 63
99+hundred electors who vote for a combination of officers that no other 64
100+electors of the town vote for, the [registrars of voters may] legislative 65
101+body of the municipality may, in accordance with the provisions of 66
102+section 1 of this act, either provide a suitable polling place therein or, 67
103+[may,] in lieu thereof, provide separate voting tabulators in the polling 68
104+place of another voting district in said municipality for use by such 69
105+electors. If the [registrars of voters provide] legislative body provides 70
106+separate voting tabulators in the polling place of another voting district, 71
107+[they] the registrars of voters shall determine which polling place 72
108+officials are necessary for the district containing less than one thousand 73
109+five hundred electors and shall provide the procedure to ensure that the 74
110+electors use the proper voting tabulators, which procedure may include 75
111+the registrars of voters prescribing and providing receipts. 76
112+(c) In any election or primary where electors in more than one voting 77
113+district vote in the same building and vote for all the same officers, and 78
114+the law does not require separate returns, the registrars of voters may 79
115+combine the voting districts and polling places into one voting district 80 Raised Bill No. 386
112116
113117
114-LCO 4 of 8
115118
116-Sec. 4. Section 9-168b of the general statutes is repealed and the 88
117-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 89
118-When in the written opinion of the registrars of any municipality, the 90
119-lack of an existing convenient or suitable polling place within the lines 91
120-of a particular voting district necessitates the designation of a polling 92
121-place in an adjacent district, such registrars may submit such written 93
122-opinion to the legislative body of such municipality along with a 94
123-proposal for the legislative body to designate a convenient and suitable 95
124-polling place in a voting district adjacent thereto, located as near as 96
125-possible to the boundaries of the voting district for which designated, in 97
126-accordance with the provisions of section 1 of this act. A separate 98
127-location from the existing polling place for such adjacent district shall 99
128-be designated, except that a separate room within such existing polling 100
129-place may be designated. Such written opinion of the registrars and 101
130-designation by the legislative body shall be filed with the municipal 102
131-clerk not later than ninety days before a regular election, or primary. 103
132-Within ten days after such filing, the municipal clerk shall cause notice 104
133-of such filing to be published in the newspaper having the greatest 105
134-circulation in the town. Such designation shall remain in effect for future 106
135-elections and primaries, until the registrars file a document with the 107
136-municipal clerk stating that the designation of such polling place in an 108
137-adjacent district is no longer necessary. 109
138-Sec. 5. Section 9-169 of the general statutes is repealed and the 110
139-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 111
140-The legislative body of any town, consolidated town and city or 112
141-consolidated town and borough may divide and, from time to time, 113
142-redivide such municipality into voting districts. [The] Subject to the 114
143-provisions of section 1 of this act, the registrars of voters of any 115
144-municipality taking such action shall provide a suitable polling place in 116
145-each district but, if the registrars fail to agree as to the location of any 117
146-polling place or places, the legislative body shall determine the location 118
147-thereof. Polling places to be used in an election shall be determined at 119
148-least thirty-one days before such election, and such polling places shall 120 Substitute Bill No. 386
119+LCO No. 2738 4 of 6
120+
121+and polling place, with or without integrating the voting districts on the 81
122+check lists used at the election or primary. The registrars of voters shall 82
123+file a statement of their action with the town clerk before the election or 83
124+primary and the town clerk shall label the polling place return form to 84
125+show which districts are combined on such return. 85
126+Sec. 4. Section 9-168b of the general statutes is repealed and the 86
127+following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 87
128+When in the written opinion of the registrars of any municipality, the 88
129+lack of an existing convenient or suitable polling place within the lines 89
130+of a particular voting district necessitates the designation of a polling 90
131+place in an adjacent district, such registrars may submit such written 91
132+opinion to the legislative body of such municipality along with a 92
133+proposal for the legislative body to designate a convenient and suitable 93
134+polling place in a voting district adjacent thereto, located as near as 94
135+possible to the boundaries of the voting district for which designated, in 95
136+accordance with the provisions of section 1 of this act. A separate 96
137+location from the existing polling place for such adjacent district shall 97
138+be designated, except that a separate room within such existing polling 98
139+place may be designated. Such written opinion of the registrars and 99
140+designation by the legislative body shall be filed with the municipal 100
141+clerk not later than ninety days before a regular election, or primary. 101
142+Within ten days after such filing, the municipal clerk shall cause notice 102
143+of such filing to be published in the newspaper having the greatest 103
144+circulation in the town. Such designation shall remain in effect for future 104
145+elections and primaries, until the registrars file a document with the 105
146+municipal clerk stating that the designation of such polling place in an 106
147+adjacent district is no longer necessary. 107
148+Sec. 5. Section 9-169 of the general statutes is repealed and the 108
149+following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 109
150+The legislative body of any town, consolidated town and city or 110
151+consolidated town and borough may divide and, from time to time, 111
152+redivide such municipality into voting districts. [The] Subject to the 112 Raised Bill No. 386
149153
150154
151-LCO 5 of 8
152155
153-not be changed within [said] such period of thirty-one days except that, 121
154-if the municipal clerk and registrars of voters of a municipality 122
155-unanimously find that any such polling place within such municipality 123
156-has been rendered unusable within such period, they shall forthwith 124
157-designate another polling place to be used in place of the one so 125
158-rendered unusable and shall give adequate notice that such polling 126
159-place has been so changed. The registrars of voters shall keep separate 127
160-lists of the electors residing in each district and shall appoint for each 128
161-district a moderator in accordance with the provisions of section 9-229 129
162-and such other election officials as are required by law, and shall 130
163-designate one of the moderators so appointed or any other elector of 131
164-such town to be the head moderator for the purpose of declaring the 132
165-results of elections in the whole municipality. The registrars may also 133
166-designate a deputy head moderator to assist the head moderator in the 134
167-performance of his duties provided the deputy head moderator and the 135
168-head moderator shall not be enrolled in the same major party, as defined 136
169-in subdivision (5) of section 9-372. The selectmen, town clerk, registrars 137
170-of voters and all other officers of the municipality shall perform the 138
171-duties required of them by law with respect to elections in each voting 139
172-district established in accordance with this section. Voting district lines 140
173-shall not be drawn by a municipality so as to conflict with the lines of 141
174-congressional districts, senate districts or assembly districts as 142
175-established by law, except (1) as provided in section 9-169d, and (2) that, 143
176-as to municipal elections, any part of a split voting district containing 144
177-less than two hundred electors may be combined with another voting 145
178-district adjacent thereto from which all and the same officers are elected 146
179-at such municipal election in accordance with the provisions of section 147
180-1 of this act. Any change in the boundaries of voting districts made 148
181-within ninety days prior to any election or primary shall not apply with 149
182-respect to such election or primary. The provisions of this section shall 150
183-prevail over any contrary provision of any charter or special act. 151
184-Sec. 6. (Effective from passage) At the conclusion of the presidential 152
185-preference primary held on April 2, 2024, the Secretary of the State shall 153
186-conduct a state-wide review of the implementation of early voting 154 Substitute Bill No. 386
156+LCO No. 2738 5 of 6
157+
158+provisions of section 1 of this act, the registrars of voters of any 113
159+municipality taking such action shall provide a suitable polling place in 114
160+each district but, if the registrars fail to agree as to the location of any 115
161+polling place or places, the legislative body shall determine the location 116
162+thereof. Polling places to be used in an election shall be determined at 117
163+least thirty-one days before such election, and such polling places shall 118
164+not be changed within said period of thirty-one days except that, if the 119
165+municipal clerk and registrars of voters of a municipality unanimously 120
166+find that any such polling place within such municipality has been 121
167+rendered unusable within such period, they shall forthwith designate 122
168+another polling place to be used in place of the one so rendered unusable 123
169+and shall give adequate notice that such polling place has been so 124
170+changed. The registrars of voters shall keep separate lists of the electors 125
171+residing in each district and shall appoint for each district a moderator 126
172+in accordance with the provisions of section 9-229 and such other 127
173+election officials as are required by law, and shall designate one of the 128
174+moderators so appointed or any other elector of such town to be the 129
175+head moderator for the purpose of declaring the results of elections in 130
176+the whole municipality. The registrars may also designate a deputy 131
177+head moderator to assist the head moderator in the performance of his 132
178+duties provided the deputy head moderator and the head moderator 133
179+shall not be enrolled in the same major party, as defined in subdivision 134
180+(5) of section 9-372. The selectmen, town clerk, registrars of voters and 135
181+all other officers of the municipality shall perform the duties required of 136
182+them by law with respect to elections in each voting district established 137
183+in accordance with this section. Voting district lines shall not be drawn 138
184+by a municipality so as to conflict with the lines of congressional 139
185+districts, senate districts or assembly districts as established by law, 140
186+except (1) as provided in section 9-169d, and (2) that as to municipal 141
187+elections, any part of a split voting district containing less than two 142
188+hundred electors may be combined with another voting district adjacent 143
189+thereto from which all and the same officers are elected at such 144
190+municipal election in accordance with the provisions of section 1 of this 145
191+act. Any change in the boundaries of voting districts made within ninety 146
192+days prior to any election or primary shall not apply with respect to such 147 Raised Bill No. 386
187193
188194
189-LCO 6 of 8
190195
191-procedures at said primary for any inconsistencies, insufficiencies or 155
192-deficiencies in such implementation. Not later than May 1, 2024, the 156
193-Secretary shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the 157
194-General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to elections, in 158
195-accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 159
196-detailing the findings of such review and making recommendations for 160
197-any improvements in the implementation of early voting procedures at 161
198-future elections and primaries. 162
199-Sec. 7. Subsection (c) of section 9-229b of the 2024 supplement to the 163
200-general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 164
201-thereof (Effective from passage): 165
202-(c) [Not later than March first of the year of each regular election, 166
203-each] Each regional council of governments that has appointed a 167
204-regional election advisor shall enter into a memorandum of 168
205-understanding with the Secretary of the State concerning the assistance 169
206-to be provided by such regional election advisor, and shall confirm 170
207-within such memorandum of understanding that (1) each requirement 171
208-described in subsection (b) of this section is satisfied and the individual 172
209-who shall serve as regional election advisor has been informed, in 173
210-writing, of the minimum expectations of performance for the position, 174
211-and (2) revocation by the Secretary of such regional election advisor's 175
212-certification constitutes breach of such memorandum of understanding, 176
213-which may result in termination of such memorandum of 177
214-understanding if the regional council of governments is not able to 178
215-appoint a replacement regional election advisor within thirty days after 179
216-such revocation. 180
217-Sec. 8. Subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of section 9-163aa of the 2024 181
218-supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is 182
219-substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 183
220-(4) (A) The registrars of voters shall appoint, for each day on which 184
221-early voting is conducted, a moderator and such other election or 185
222-primary officials to serve at each location designated for such conduct. 186 Substitute Bill No. 386
196+LCO No. 2738 6 of 6
223197
224-
225-LCO 7 of 8
226-
227-The moderator so appointed shall perform any duty required, and may 187
228-exercise any power authorized, under this title related to the conduct of 188
229-early voting at such location. On any such day and solely for purposes 189
230-related to the conduct of early voting, the registrars of voters of a 190
231-municipality may, upon agreement, appoint one of the registrars from 191
232-such municipality as moderator in accordance with the provisions of 192
233-subparagraph (B) of this subdivision. The registrars of voters may 193
234-delegate to each other election or primary official so appointed any of 194
235-the responsibilities assigned to the registrars of voters. The registrars of 195
236-voters shall supervise each such official and train each such official to be 196
237-an early voting election or primary official. 197
238-(B) Whenever the registrars of voters of a municipality appoint, 198
239-pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, one of the registrars 199
240-of such municipality as moderator to serve at a location designated for 200
241-the conduct of early voting, such registrars of voters shall jointly submit 201
242-to the Secretary of the State (i) a certification that the registrars of voters 202
243-of such municipality are in agreement as to such appointment, and (ii) 203
244-a written plan detailing alternative coverage of the duties normally 204
245-carried out by the registrar so appointed to ensure that such registrar 205
246-abstains, on each day in which such registrar serves as moderator, from 206
247-any such duties that conflict with those of the moderator. 207
198+election or primary. The provisions of this section shall prevail over any 148
199+contrary provision of any charter or special act. 149
200+Sec. 6. (Effective from passage) At the conclusion of the presidential 150
201+preference primary held on April 2, 2024, the Secretary of the State shall 151
202+conduct a state-wide review of the implementation of early voting 152
203+procedures at said primary for any inconsistencies, insufficiencies or 153
204+deficiencies in such implementation. Not later than May 1, 2024, the 154
205+Secretary shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the 155
206+General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to elections, in 156
207+accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, 157
208+detailing the findings of such review and making recommendations for 158
209+any improvements in the implementation of early voting procedures at 159
210+future elections and primaries. 160
248211 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
249212 sections:
250213
251214 Section 1 July 1, 2024 New section
252215 Sec. 2 July 1, 2024 9-168
253216 Sec. 3 July 1, 2024 9-168a
254217 Sec. 4 July 1, 2024 9-168b
255218 Sec. 5 July 1, 2024 9-169
256219 Sec. 6 from passage New section
257-Sec. 7 from passage 9-229b(c)
258-Sec. 8 from passage 9-163aa(b)(4)
259220
260-Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
261-In Section 1(1) to (3), "such election or primary" was changed to "the
262-election or primary at which such polling place is to be used" for clarity; Substitute Bill No. 386
263-
264-
265-LCO 8 of 8
266-
267-and in Section 5, "said period of thirty-one days" was changed to "[said]
268-such period of thirty-one days" for consistency with standard drafting
269-conventions.
270-
271-GAE Joint Favorable Subst.
272-
221+Statement of Purpose:
222+To (1) require a public hearing and a vote of the legislative body prior
223+to any move of polling places from one election to the next, and (2)
224+require the Secretary of the State to review the implementation of early
225+voting at the 2024 presidential preference primary and make
226+recommendations for potential improvements.
227+[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
228+that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
229+underlined.]