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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 7228
January Session, 2025
AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS REFORMS TO THE
ADMINISTRATION OF ELECTIONS IN THIS STATE.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 9-140c of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 2
(a) (1) The municipal clerk shall retain the envelopes containing 3
absentee ballots received by him under section 9-140b and shall not 4
open such envelopes. The municipal clerk shall endorse over his 5
signature, upon each outer envelope as he receives it, (A) the date and 6
precise time of its receipt, and (B) the method of its receipt, in 7
accordance with the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection. The 8
clerk shall make an affidavit attesting to the accuracy of all such 9
endorsements, and at the close of the polls shall deliver such affidavit to 10
the head moderator, who shall endorse the time of its receipt and return 11
it to the clerk after all counting is complete. The clerk shall preserve the 12
affidavit for one hundred eighty days in accordance with the 13
requirements of section 9-150b. The clerk shall keep a list of the names 14
of the applicants who return absentee ballots to the clerk under section 15
9-140b. The list shall be preserved as a public record as required by 16
section 9-150b. 17
(2) The municipal clerk shall record on the outer envelope of each 18 Substitute Bill No. 7228
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absentee ballot returned under section 9-140b whether such ballot was 19
(A) sent by the United States Postal Service or any commercial carrier, 20
courier or messenger service, (B) deposited in a secure drop box, in 21
which case the location of such drop box shall also be so recorded, (C) 22
returned in person by an elector, or (D) returned in person by the 23
designee or immediate family member of an elector. As soon as 24
reasonably practicable after the close of the polls at an election or 25
primary, the municipal clerk shall submit to the Secretary of the State a 26
report detailing the total count of all absentee ballots returned for such 27
election or primary, broken down by each method described in 28
subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, of this subdivision. 29
(b) (1) Beginning not earlier than the [seventh] fourteenth day before 30
the election, primary or referendum and on any weekday thereafter, all 31
absentee ballots received by the municipal clerk at or prior to eleven 32
o'clock a.m. of such day may be sorted into voting districts by the 33
municipal clerk and checked as provided in this subsection. On any 34
such day, beginning as soon as the ballots have been sorted, the 35
registrars of voters, without opening the outer envelopes, may check the 36
names of the applicants returning ballots on the official checklist to be 37
used at the election, primary or referendum by indicating "absentee" or 38
"A" preceding each such name and, if unaffiliated electors are 39
authorized under section 9-431 to vote in the primary of either of two 40
parties, the designation of the party in which the applicants are voting 41
preceding each such name. Unless absentee ballots are to be counted in 42
the respective polling places, pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-43
147a, as amended by this act, the registrars shall also place such 44
indication on a duplicate checklist to be retained by the municipal clerk 45
until the municipal clerk delivers such duplicate checklist to the 46
registrars, in accordance with subsection (e) of this section, for the use 47
of the absentee ballot counters pursuant to subsection (i) of this section. 48
(2) All absentee ballots received at or prior to eleven o'clock a.m. of 49
the last day before the election, primary or referendum which is not a 50
Sunday or legal holiday, shall be sorted into voting districts by the 51
municipal clerk and checked as provided in subdivision (1) of this 52 Substitute Bill No. 7228
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subsection not later than such last day. 53
(c) If the name of the applicant returning the ballot is not on the 54
official checklist for any polling place in such municipality, the 55
registrars shall endorse on the face of such outer envelope the word 56
"rejected", followed by a statement of the reasons for rejection, and the 57
outer envelope shall not be opened or the ballot counted. 58
(d) After such checking has been completed on any such day, the 59
municipal clerk shall seal the unopened ballots in a package and retain 60
them in a safe place. 61
(e) (1) [Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, 62
ballots] (A) Ballots received, sorted and checked prior to five o'clock 63
p.m. on the (i) fourth day before the election, primary or referendum 64
may be delivered by the municipal clerk to the registrars at five o'clock 65
p.m. on such fourth day, (ii) third day before the election, primary or 66
referendum may be so delivered at five o'clock p.m. on such third day, 67
and (iii) second day before the election, primary or referendum may be 68
so delivered at five o'clock p.m. on such second day; and 69
(B) Ballots received at or prior to eleven o'clock a.m. on the last day 70
before the election, primary or referendum that were not already 71
delivered under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision shall be delivered 72
by the municipal clerk to the registrars [between ten o'clock a.m. and 73
twelve o'clock noon] at eight o'clock a.m. on the day of the election or 74
primary and at twelve o'clock noon on the day of a referendum. 75
(2) Unless absentee ballots are to be counted in the respective polling 76
places [,] pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, as amended by 77
this act, each time ballots are delivered pursuant to subdivision (1) of 78
this subsection, the municipal clerk shall also deliver to the registrars at 79
[this] such time a copy of the duplicate checklist provided for in 80
subsection (b) of this section, current as of the time of such delivery, for 81
the use of the absentee ballot counters pursuant to subsection (i) of this 82
section. 83 Substitute Bill No. 7228
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[(2) The municipal clerk may deliver the ballots at a time that is later 84
than the time provided in subdivision (1) of this subsection, provided 85
such time is mutually agreed upon by the municipal clerk and registrars 86
and is not later than eight o'clock p.m. on the day of the election, primary 87
or referendum.] 88
(f) Absentee ballots timely received by the clerk after eleven o'clock 89
a.m. of such last day before an election, primary or referendum shall be 90
sorted into voting districts by the clerk and retained by the clerk 91
separately until delivered to the registrars of voters for checking. 92
(g) Any or all of such ballots received after eleven o'clock a.m. of such 93
last day before an election, primary or referendum and before six o'clock 94
p.m. on the day of the election, primary or referendum shall, upon 95
request of the registrars, be delivered to the registrars by the municipal 96
clerk at six o'clock p.m. on the day of the election, primary or 97
referendum for checking. [, or at a later time mutually agreed upon by 98
the clerk and registrars, provided such time is not later than eight o'clock 99
p.m. on the day of the election, primary or referendum.] 100
(h) Absentee ballots received after six o'clock p.m. on the day of the 101
election, primary or referendum and any ballots received prior to six 102
o'clock p.m. of such day which were not delivered earlier shall be 103
delivered to the registrars at the close of the polls for checking. 104
[Although absentee ballots shall be checked by the registrars of voters 105
at various times throughout the election, primary or referendum day, 106
absentee ballots may be counted at one single time during such day.] 107
(i) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the absentee 108
ballot counters, upon receipt of the ballots delivered by the municipal 109
clerk to the registrars at six o'clock p.m. on the day of the election, 110
primary or referendum and at the close of the polls pursuant to 111
subsections (g) and (h) of this section, shall check the names of the 112
applicants returning ballots on the duplicate checklist in the same 113
manner as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section. 114
(2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, 115 Substitute Bill No. 7228
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the names of applicants whose ballots were delivered at six o'clock p.m. 116
on the day of the election, primary or referendum shall be called in to 117
the appropriate polling places where they shall be checked by the 118
checkers on the official checklists, and they shall also be checked by the 119
absentee ballot counters on the duplicate checklist required under 120
subsection (b) of this section. 121
(B) Whenever absentee ballots are counted in any polling place 122
pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, as amended by this act, the 123
names of applicants whose ballots were delivered at six o'clock p.m. on 124
the day of the election, primary or referendum shall be checked by the 125
absentee ballot counters and checkers at such polling place on the 126
official checklist used at such polling place. 127
(3) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, 128
the names of applicants whose ballots were delivered at the close of the 129
polls shall be checked by the absentee ballot counters on the official 130
checklists used at the polling places and such official checklists, bearing 131
the certifications required by section 9-307, shall be delivered by the 132
registrars or assistant registrars to the central counting moderator for 133
that purpose. 134
(B) Whenever absentee ballots are counted in any polling place 135
pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, as amended by this act, the 136
official checklist used at such polling place shall remain in such polling 137
place for checking by the absentee ballot counters at such polling place. 138
(4) If the name of an applicant returning a ballot has been checked on 139
the official checklist as having voted in person the absentee ballot 140
counters shall, in checking the ballots, endorse on the face of the outer 141
envelope the word "rejected" followed by a statement of the reason for 142
rejection, and the outer envelope shall not be opened or the ballot 143
counted. 144
(5) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, 145
when central counting is completed and the result is announced, the 146
central counting moderator shall deliver the duplicate checklist, the 147 Substitute Bill No. 7228
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official checklists and the returns required by section 9-150b, to the head 148
moderator. 149
(B) Whenever absentee ballots are counted in any polling place 150
pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, as amended by this act, and 151
such counting is completed and the result for such polling place is 152
announced, the moderator for such polling place shall deliver the 153
official checklist used at such polling place and the return required by 154
section 9-150b to the head moderator. 155
(j) Each time absentee ballots are delivered by the clerk to the 156
registrars pursuant to this section, the clerk and registrars shall execute 157
an affidavit of delivery and receipt stating the number of ballots 158
delivered. The clerk shall preserve the affidavit for the period prescribed 159
in section 9-150b. 160
(k) [The] (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, 161
the absentee ballot counters shall count, in the manner provided in 162
section 9-150a, as amended by this act, each group of absentee ballots 163
upon receipt from the registrars. 164
(2) Whenever absentee ballots are to be processed before the day of 165
the election, primary or referendum pursuant to subdivision (1) of 166
subsection (c) of section 9-147a, as amended by this act, the absentee 167
ballot counters shall process, in the manner provided in section 3 of this 168
act, each group of absentee ballots upon receipt from the registrars. 169
(l) The municipal clerk shall retain all outer envelopes containing 170
absentee ballots received by him after the close of the polls, unopened, 171
for the period prescribed in section 9-150b. 172
Sec. 2. Section 9-147a of the general statutes is repealed and the 173
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 174
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) or (c) of this section, at any 175
election, primary or referendum, all absentee ballots shall, within 176
existing resources, be counted in the manner provided in section 9-150a, 177 Substitute Bill No. 7228
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as amended by this act, at a central location designated by the registrars 178
of voters in writing to the municipal clerk at least twenty days before 179
the election, primary or referendum, which location shall be published 180
in the warning for the election, primary or referendum. Except as 181
provided in subsection (b) of this section, if unaffiliated electors are 182
authorized under section 9-431 to vote in the primary of either of two 183
parties, all absentee ballots shall be separated, counted, tallied and 184
placed in depository envelopes by voting district. Any member of the 185
public may observe the counting of absentee ballots at such central 186
location, provided no candidate for election or nomination shall be 187
allowed to participate in such counting, except (1) a municipal clerk or 188
registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the same office, and (2) a 189
deputy registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the office of registrar 190
of voters, performing such official's duties. 191
(b) At any election, primary or referendum, all absentee ballots may 192
be counted in the manner provided in section 9-150a, as amended by 193
this act, in the respective polling places if the registrars of voters agree 194
that such absentee ballots should be so counted. If unaffiliated electors 195
are authorized under section 9-431 to vote in the primary of either of 196
two parties, absentee ballots may be counted in the respective polling 197
places if the parties agree that such absentee ballots should be so 198
counted. Any election official serving in a polling place may observe the 199
counting of absentee ballots at such polling place, provided no 200
candidate for election or nomination shall be allowed within such 201
polling place during the hours of voting for any purpose other than 202
casting such candidate's vote and no such candidate shall be allowed to 203
participate in such counting, except (1) a municipal clerk or registrar of 204
voters, who is a candidate for the same office, and (2) a deputy registrar 205
of voters, who is a candidate for the office of registrar of voters, 206
performing such official's duties. 207
(c) (1) Absentee ballots may be processed before the day of an 208
election, primary or referendum in the manner provided in section 3 of 209
this act. Any such processing shall take place at a central location 210
designated by the registrars of voters in writing to the municipal clerk 211 Substitute Bill No. 7228
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at least ten days before such election, primary or referendum, which 212
location shall be published in the warning for such election, primary or 213
referendum. 214
(2) If absentee ballots are to be processed pursuant to subdivision (1) 215
of this subsection, the registrars of voters and municipal clerk shall 216
jointly certify such fact in writing to the Secretary of the State at least ten 217
days before such election, primary or referendum. Such written 218
certification shall (A) include the name, street address and relevant 219
contact information associated with the designated central location, and 220
(B) list the name and address of each absentee ballot counter appointed 221
pursuant to section 9-147c. The Secretary shall approve or disapprove 222
such written certification not later than two days after receipt of such 223
certification and may require the appointment of one or more additional 224
absentee ballot counters. 225
(3) In the case of absentee ballots delivered to the registrars on the 226
day of such election, primary or referendum, nothing in this subsection 227
shall preclude the counting of such absentee ballots in the respective 228
polling places pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. 229
Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2026) (a) Notwithstanding the 230
provisions of section 9-150a of the general statutes, as amended by this 231
act, whenever absentee ballots are processed before the day of an 232
election, primary or referendum pursuant to subdivision (1) of 233
subsection (c) of section 9-147a of the general statutes, as amended by 234
this act: 235
(1) Not earlier than five o'clock p.m. on the fourth day before such 236
election, primary or referendum, the absentee ballot counters shall 237
proceed to the central counting location at the times designated by the 238
registrars of voters; 239
(2) At the time each group of ballots is delivered pursuant to 240
subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 9-140c 241
of the general statutes, as amended by this act, the counters shall 242
proceed as hereinafter provided; 243 Substitute Bill No. 7228
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(3) Except with respect to ballots marked "Rejected" pursuant to 244
section 9-140c of the general statutes, as amended by this act, or other 245
applicable law, the counters shall then remove the inner envelopes from 246
the outer envelopes, shall note the total number of absentee ballots 247
received and shall report such total to the moderator. The counters shall 248
similarly note and separately so report the total numbers of presidential 249
ballots and overseas ballots received pursuant to sections 9-158a to 9-250
158m, inclusive, of the general statutes; 251
(4) If the statement on the inner envelope has not been signed as 252
required by section 9-140a of the general statutes, such inner envelope 253
shall not be opened or the ballot removed therefrom, and such inner 254
envelope shall be replaced in the opened outer envelope which shall be 255
marked "Rejected" and the reason therefor endorsed thereon by the 256
counters. The registrars of voters shall use best efforts to notify each 257
absentee ballot applicant whose ballot was marked "Rejected" under this 258
subdivision for the purpose of advising that (A) such applicant's ballot 259
has been rejected, and (B) such applicant may still be able to vote in 260
person on the day of the election, primary or referendum; and 261
(5) Not earlier than the day of such election, primary or referendum, 262
and after the duties under subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of this 263
subsection have been performed, absentee ballots shall be counted in 264
the manner provided in subsections (e) to (m), inclusive, of section 9-265
150a of the general statutes. 266
(b) In accordance with instructions that shall be prescribed by the 267
Secretary of the State not later than ten days before such election, 268
primary or referendum, each group of ballots delivered pursuant to 269
subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 9-140c 270
of the general statutes, as amended by this act, shall be kept secure (1) 271
throughout the performance of the duties under subdivisions (1) to (4), 272
inclusive, of subsection (a) of this section, and (2) after such performance 273
until such time on the day of such election, primary or referendum that 274
absentee ballots are counted in the manner provided in subsections (e) 275
to (m), inclusive, of section 9-150a of the general statutes. The 276 Substitute Bill No. 7228
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requirements of this subsection shall be in addition to all other 277
applicable requirements under title 9 of the general statutes regarding 278
the security of absentee ballots and any related materials. 279
Sec. 4. Subsection (d) of section 9-150a of the general statutes is 280
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 281
1, 2026): 282
(d) (1) If the statement on the inner envelope has not been signed as 283
required by section 9-140a, such inner envelope shall not be opened or 284
the ballot removed therefrom, and such inner envelope shall be replaced 285
in the opened outer envelope which shall be marked "Rejected" and the 286
reason therefor endorsed thereon by the counters. The registrars of 287
voters shall use best efforts to notify each absentee ballot applicant 288
whose ballot was marked "Rejected" under this subdivision for the 289
purpose of advising that (A) such applicant's ballot has been rejected, 290
and (B) such applicant may still be able to vote in person on the day of 291
the election, primary or referendum. 292
(2) If such statement is signed but the individual completing the 293
ballot is an individual described in subsection (a) of section 9-23r and 294
has not met the requirements of subsection (e) of section 9-23r, the 295
counters shall replace the ballot in the opened inner envelope, replace 296
the inner envelope in the opened outer envelope and mark "Rejected as 297
an Absentee Ballot" and endorse the reason for such rejection on the 298
outer envelope, and the ballot shall be treated as a provisional ballot for 299
federal offices only, pursuant to sections 9-232i to 9-232o, inclusive. The 300
registrars of voters shall use best efforts to notify each absentee ballot 301
applicant whose ballot was marked "Rejected as an Absentee Ballot" 302
under this subdivision for the purpose of advising that (A) such 303
applicant's ballot has been rejected, and (B) such applicant may still be 304
able to vote in person on the day of the election, primary or referendum, 305
provided such applicant meets the requirements of subsection (d) of 306
section 9-23r. 307
Sec. 5. Section 9-159o of the general statutes is repealed and the 308 Substitute Bill No. 7228
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following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 309
Any elector who has returned an absentee ballot to the municipal 310
clerk and who finds such elector is able to vote in person shall proceed 311
before [ten o'clock a.m. on] five o'clock p.m. on the fourth day before 312
election, primary or referendum day to the municipal clerk's office and 313
request that such elector's ballot be withdrawn. The municipal clerk 314
shall remove the ballot from the sealed package and shall mark the 315
serially-numbered outer envelope, which shall remain unopened, 316
"rejected" and note the reasons for rejection. The elector shall also 317
endorse the envelope. The rejected ballot shall then be returned to the 318
sealed package until delivered on election, primary or referendum day 319
to the registrars of voters in accordance with section 9-140c, as amended 320
by this act. The municipal clerk shall then give the elector a signed 321
statement directed to the moderator of the voting district in which the 322
elector resides stating that the elector has withdrawn such elector's 323
absentee ballot and may vote in person. Upon delivery of the statement 324
by the elector to the moderator, the moderator shall cause the absentee 325
indication next to the name of the elector to be stricken from the official 326
checklist and the elector may then have such elector's name checked and 327
vote in person. Unless absentee ballots are to be counted in the 328
respective polling places pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, as 329
amended by this act, the municipal clerk shall also cause the absentee 330
indication next to the name of the elector to be stricken from the 331
duplicate checklist to be used by the absentee ballot counters. 332
Sec. 6. Subsection (a) of section 9-150a of the general statutes is 333
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 334
1, 2026): 335
(a) The absentee ballot counters shall proceed to the central counting 336
location or to the respective polling places when counting is to take 337
place pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, as amended by this 338
act, [at the times designated by the registrars of voters] not later than 339
eight o'clock a.m. on the day of the election, primary or referendum. 340 Substitute Bill No. 7228
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Sec. 7. Section 9-163bb of the general statutes is repealed and the 341
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 342
(a) Early voting ballots received by the municipal clerk prior to the 343
day of an election or primary, and same-day election registration ballots 344
received by the municipal clerk prior to the day of a regular election [,] 345
shall be delivered by the municipal clerk to the registrars between six 346
o'clock a.m. and [ten] eight o'clock a.m. on the day of the election or 347
primary. 348
(b) The ballot counters for such early voting ballots and same-day 349
election registration ballots shall proceed to the central counting 350
location or to the respective polling places when counting is to take 351
place pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, as amended by this 352
act, at the time, between six o'clock a.m. and [ten] eight o'clock a.m. on 353
the day of the election or primary, designated by the registrars of voters. 354
At the time such ballots are delivered to the ballot counters pursuant to 355
subsection (a) of this section, the ballot counters shall perform any 356
checking of such ballots and proceed, as nearly as possible, as provided 357
in section 9-150a, as amended by this act. 358
Sec. 8. Subsection (a) of section 9-404b of the general statutes is 359
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 360
1, 2026): 361
(a) The petition form for candidacies for nomination to state or 362
district office shall be prescribed and provided by the Secretary of the 363
State, and signatures shall be obtained only on such form or on duplicate 364
petition pages produced in accordance with the provisions of section 9-365
404a. Such form shall include, at the top of the form and in bold print, 366
the following: 367
WARNING 368
IT IS A CRIME TO SIGN THIS PETITION 369
IN THE NAME OF ANOTHER PERSON 370 Substitute Bill No. 7228
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WITHOUT LEGAL AUTHORITY TO DO SO 371
AND YOU MAY NOT SIGN THIS PETITION 372
IF YOU ARE NOT AN ELECTOR. 373
The form shall include a statement of instructions to persons using the 374
form and shall indicate the date and time by which it shall be filed and 375
the person with whom it shall be filed. The form shall provide spaces 376
for the names and addresses of the candidates, the offices to which 377
nomination is sought and the political party holding the primary, and 378
shall provide lines for the signatures, dates of such signatures, street 379
addresses, dates of birth and the printing of the names of enrolled party 380
members supporting the person or persons on behalf of whose 381
candidacy the petition is used. 382
Sec. 9. Section 9-409 of the general statutes is repealed and the 383
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 384
(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, petition forms 385
for candidacies for nomination to municipal office or for election as 386
members of town committees shall be available from the [registrar] 387
Secretary of the State beginning on the day following the making of the 388
party's endorsement of a candidate or candidates for such office or 389
position, or beginning on the day following the final day for the making 390
of such endorsement under the provisions of section 9-391, whichever 391
comes first. 392
(b) Petition forms for candidacies for nomination to the municipal 393
offices of state senator and state representative shall be available from 394
the [registrar] Secretary of the State beginning on the seventy-seventh 395
day preceding the day of the primary for such office. 396
(c) Any person who requests a petition form shall give his name and 397
address and the name, address and office or position sought of each 398
candidate for whom the petition is being obtained, and shall file a 399
statement signed by each such candidate that he consents to be a 400 Substitute Bill No. 7228
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candidate for such office or position. In the case of the municipal offices 401
of state senator and state representative, each such candidate shall 402
include on the statement of consent his name as he authorizes it to 403
appear on the ballot. Upon receiving such information and statement, 404
the [registrar] Secretary of the State shall type or print on a petition form 405
the name and address of each such candidate, the office sought and the 406
political party holding the primary. The [registrar] Secretary shall give 407
to any person requesting such form one or more petition pages, suitable 408
for duplication, as the [registrar] Secretary deems necessary. If the 409
person is requesting the form on behalf of an indigent candidate or a 410
group of indigent candidates listed on the same petition, the [registrar] 411
Secretary shall give the person a number of petition pages determined 412
by the [registrar] Secretary as at least two times the number needed to 413
contain the required number of signatures for a candidacy for 414
nomination to municipal office or a number of petition pages 415
determined by the [registrar] Secretary as at least five times the number 416
needed to contain the required number of signatures for a candidacy for 417
election as a town committee member. An original petition page filled 418
in by the [registrar] Secretary may be duplicated by or on behalf of the 419
candidate or candidates listed on the page and signatures may be 420
obtained on such duplicates. The duplicates may be filed in the same 421
manner and shall be subject to the same requirements as original 422
petition pages. All information relative to primary petitions shall be a 423
public record. 424
Sec. 10. Subsection (a) of section 9-410 of the general statutes is 425
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 426
1, 2026): 427
(a) The petition form for candidacies for nomination to municipal 428
office or for election as members of town committees shall be prescribed 429
and provided by the Secretary of the State, [and provided by the 430
registrar of the municipality in which the candidacy is to be filed or 431
duplicate petition pages shall be produced in accordance with section 9-432
409,] and signatures shall be obtained only on such [forms or] form or 433
on such duplicate petition pages produced in accordance with the 434 Substitute Bill No. 7228
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provisions of section 9-409, as amended by this act. Such form shall 435
include, at the top of the form and in bold print, the following: 436
WARNING 437
IT IS A CRIME TO SIGN THIS PETITION 438
IN THE NAME OF ANOTHER PERSON 439
WITHOUT LEGAL AUTHORITY TO DO SO 440
AND YOU MAY NOT SIGN THIS PETITION 441
IF YOU ARE NOT AN ELECTOR. 442
The form shall include thereon a statement of instructions to persons 443
using the form and shall indicate the date and time by which it shall be 444
filed and the person with whom it shall be filed. The form shall provide 445
spaces for the names and addresses of the candidates, the offices to 446
which nomination is sought or the positions to which election is sought 447
and the political party holding the primary, and shall provide lines for 448
the signatures, dates of such signatures, street addresses, dates of birth 449
and the printing of the names of enrolled party members supporting the 450
person or persons on behalf of whose candidacy the petition is used. 451
Only as many candidates may be proposed in any one primary petition 452
for the same office or position as are to be nominated or chosen by such 453
party for such office or position; but any one primary petition may 454
propose as many candidates for different offices or positions as there are 455
nominations to be made or positions to be filled. 456
Sec. 11. Section 9-309 of the general statutes is repealed and the 457
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 458
Upon the close of the polls, the moderator, in the presence of the other 459
election officials, shall immediately lock the voting tabulator against 460
voting and immediately cause the vote totals for all candidates and 461
questions to be produced. The moderator shall, in the order of the offices 462
as their titles are arranged on the ballot, read and announce in distinct 463 Substitute Bill No. 7228
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tones the result as shown, giving the number indicated and indicating 464
the candidate to whom such total belongs, and shall read the votes 465
recorded for each office on the ballot. The moderator shall also, in the 466
same manner, announce the vote on each constitutional amendment, 467
proposition or other question voted on. The vote so announced by the 468
moderator shall be taken down by each checker and recorded on the 469
tally sheets. Each checker shall record the number of votes received for 470
each candidate on the ballot and also the number received by each 471
person for whom write-in ballots were cast. The moderator shall make 472
a preliminary list from the vote totals produced by the tabulators and 473
shall prepare such preliminary list for transmission to the Secretary of 474
the State pursuant to section 9-314. [After such preliminary list has been 475
transmitted to the Secretary of the State, the canvass may be temporarily 476
interrupted, during which time] The canvass may be temporarily 477
interrupted only after such preliminary list has been transmitted to the 478
Secretary of the State in accordance with the provisions of section 9-314, 479
or only in the case of an event described in subparagraphs (B) to (G), 480
inclusive, of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 9-174a or a 481
declaration of an emergency by the Governor or the President of the 482
United States. During such temporary interruption, the moderator shall 483
(1) return the keys for all tabulators to the registrars of voters, (2) seal 484
the tabulators against voting or being tampered with, (3) prepare and 485
seal individual envelopes for all (A) write-in ballots, (B) absentee ballots, 486
(C) moderators' returns, and (D) other notes, worksheets or written 487
materials used at the election, and (4) store all such tabulators and 488
envelopes in a secure place or places directed by the registrars of voters. 489
At the end of such temporary interruption, the moderator shall receive 490
such keys from the registrars and shall take possession of and break the 491
seal on all such tabulators and envelopes for the purpose of completing 492
the canvass. The result totals shall remain in full public view until the 493
statement of canvass and all other reports have been fully completed 494
and signed by the moderator, checkers and registrars, or assistant 495
registrars, as the case may be. Any other remaining result of the votes 496
cast shall be publicly announced by the moderator not later than forty-497
eight hours after the close of the polls. Such public announcement shall 498 Substitute Bill No. 7228
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consist of reading both the name of each candidate, with the designating 499
number and letter on the ballot and the absentee vote as furnished to the 500
moderator by the absentee ballot counters, and also the vote cast for and 501
against each question submitted. While such announcement is being 502
made, ample opportunity shall be given to any person lawfully present 503
to compare the results so announced with the result totals provided by 504
the tabulator and any necessary corrections shall then and there be made 505
by the moderator, checkers and registrars or assistant registrars, after 506
which the compartments of the voting tabulator shall be closed and 507
locked. In canvassing, recording and announcing the result, the election 508
officials shall be guided by any instructions furnished by the Secretary 509
of the State. 510
Sec. 12. Subsection (a) of section 9-311 of the general statutes is 511
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 512
1, 2026): 513
(a) If, within three days after an election, it appears to the moderator 514
that there is a discrepancy in the returns of any voting district, such 515
moderator shall forthwith within said period summon, by written 516
notice delivered personally, the recanvass officials, consisting of at least 517
two checkers of different political parties and at least two absentee ballot 518
counters of different political parties who served at such election, and 519
the registrars of voters of the municipality in which the election was 520
held and such other officials as may be required to conduct such 521
recanvass. Such written notice shall require the clerk or registrars of 522
voters, as the case may be, to bring with them the depository envelopes 523
required by section 9-150a, as amended by this act, the package of write-524
in ballots provided for in section 9-310, the absentee ballot applications, 525
the list of absentee ballot applications, the registry list and the 526
moderators' returns and shall require such recanvass officials to meet at 527
a specified time not later than the fifth business day after such election 528
to recanvass the returns of [a] each voting tabulator [or voting tabulators 529
or] and all absentee ballots [or] and write-in ballots used in [such 530
district] the municipality in such election. If any of such recanvass 531
officials are unavailable at the time of the recanvass, the registrar of 532 Substitute Bill No. 7228
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voters of the same political party as that of the recanvass official unable 533
to attend shall designate another elector having previous training and 534
experience in the conduct of elections to take his place. Before such 535
recanvass is made, such moderator shall give notice, in writing, to the 536
chairperson of the town committee of each political party which 537
nominated candidates for the election, and, in the case of a state election, 538
not later than twenty-four hours after a determination is made 539
regarding the need for a recanvass to the Secretary of the State, of the 540
time and place where such recanvass is to be made; and each such 541
chairperson may send party representatives to be present at such 542
recanvass. Such party representatives may observe, but no one other 543
than a recanvass official may take part in the recanvass. If any 544
irregularity in the recanvass procedure is noted by such a party 545
representative, he shall be permitted to present evidence of such 546
irregularity in any contest relating to the election. 547
Sec. 13. Subsection (d) of section 9-311 of the general statutes is 548
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 549
1, 2026): 550
(d) (1) The moderator may, when any disorder arises that interferes 551
with the conduct of a recanvass, including any attempt by a person other 552
than a recanvass official to take part in such recanvass or by such a 553
person to communicate with a recanvass official, [other than the 554
moderator,] and the offender refuses to submit to the moderator's lawful 555
authority, order that the offender be removed by the recanvass officials 556
from such recanvass until the offender conforms to order or, if need be, 557
until such recanvass is completed. 558
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this 559
subsection, one party representative from each political party that 560
nominated a candidate for the election may communicate directly with 561
the moderator during a recanvass. 562
Sec. 14. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2026) At least thirty days prior to 563
each primary and election, the Secretary of the State shall (1) conduct a 564 Substitute Bill No. 7228
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test of the election management system to be used at such primary or 565
election, and (2) provide a demonstration to registrars of voters on such 566
system's use, including, but not limited to, entry of voting results after 567
the close of the polls at such primary or election. At least one registrar 568
of voters from each municipality shall attend such test and 569
demonstration. 570
Sec. 15. Subsection (e) of section 9-163aa of the general statutes is 571
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 572
1, 2026): 573
(e) (1) If the elector is allowed to vote, the registrars of voters shall 574
provide such elector with an early voting ballot and early voting 575
envelope and shall make a record of such issuance. The elector shall 576
complete an affirmation printed upon the back of the early voting 577
envelope and shall declare under oath that the voter has not previously 578
voted in the election or primary. The affirmation shall be in the form 579
substantially as follows and signed by the voter: 580
AFFIRMATION: I, the undersigned, do hereby state, under penalty 581
of false statement (perjury), that: 582
1. I am the elector appearing in person to vote at an election or 583
primary prior to the day of such election or primary. 584
2. I am eligible to vote in the election or primary indicated for today. 585
3. I have identified myself to the satisfaction of the registrars of voters. 586
4. I have not voted in person or by absentee ballot and I will not vote 587
otherwise than by this ballot at this election or primary. 588
5. I have received an early voting ballot for the purpose of so voting. 589
…. (Signature of voter) 590
(2) During the period of early voting at each election and primary 591
held on or after January 1, 2026, for the purpose of ensuring that each 592 Substitute Bill No. 7228
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elector in a municipality divided into voting districts has been provided 593
the early voting ballot for such elector's proper respective voting district, 594
the registrars of voters shall display, at each location designated for the 595
conduct of early voting in such municipality, at least one poster 596
explaining how electors are able to look up their proper respective 597
voting districts through the online voter registration system described 598
in section 9-19k. 599
Sec. 16. (Effective July 1, 2025) The sum of one million three hundred 600
twenty thousand dollars is appropriated to the office of the Secretary of 601
the State from the General Fund, for each of the fiscal years ending June 602
30, 2026, and June 30, 2027, for purposes related to the administration of 603
early voting. 604
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 January 1, 2026 9-140c
Sec. 2 January 1, 2026 9-147a
Sec. 3 January 1, 2026 New section
Sec. 4 January 1, 2026 9-150a(d)
Sec. 5 January 1, 2026 9-159o
Sec. 6 January 1, 2026 9-150a(a)
Sec. 7 January 1, 2026 9-163bb
Sec. 8 January 1, 2026 9-404b(a)
Sec. 9 January 1, 2026 9-409
Sec. 10 January 1, 2026 9-410(a)
Sec. 11 January 1, 2026 9-309
Sec. 12 January 1, 2026 9-311(a)
Sec. 13 January 1, 2026 9-311(d)
Sec. 14 January 1, 2026 New section
Sec. 15 January 1, 2026 9-163aa(e)
Sec. 16 July 1, 2025 New section
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
The provisions of Section 11 were redrafted for clarity; and in Section
16, "the fiscal years ending June 30, 2025, and June 30, 2026" was
changed to "the fiscal years ending June 30, 2026, and June 30, 2027" for
accuracy. Substitute Bill No. 7228
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GAE Joint Favorable Subst.