Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB07230 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3		-	LCO 1 of 17
	3	+	LCO No. 6375 1 of 26
4	4
5		-	General Assembly ~~Substitute~~ Bill No. 7230
	5	+	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7230
6	6		January Session, 2025
	7	+	LCO No. 6375
7	8
	9	+
	10	+	Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
	11	+	AND ELECTIONS
	12	+
	13	+
	14	+	Introduced by:
	15	+	(GAE)
8	16
9	17
10	18
11	19
12	20		AN ACT CONCERNING ELECTION STATUTES RELATED TO FILINGS
13		-	WITH THE SUPERIOR COURT.
	21	+	WITH THE SUPERIOR COURT AND PETITION CIRCULATION.
14	22		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
15	23		Assembly convened:
16	24
17	25		Section 1. Section 9-324 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
18	26		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025, and 2
19	27		applicable to complaints brought on or after July 1, 2025): 3
20	28		(a) Any elector or candidate who claims that such elector or candidate 4
21	29		is aggrieved by any ruling of any election official in connection with any 5
22	30		election for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, State 6
23	31		Treasurer, Attorney General, State Comptroller or judge of probate, held 7
24	32		in such elector's or candidate's town, or that there has been a mistake in 8
25	33		the count of the votes cast at such election for candidates for said offices 9
26	34		or any of them, at any voting district in such elector's or candidate's 10
27	35		town, or any candidate for such an office who claims that such candidate 11
28	36		is aggrieved by a violation of any provision of section 9-355, 9-357 to 9-12
29	37		361, inclusive, section 9-364, 9-364a or 9-365 in the casting of absentee 13
30	38		ballots at such election or any candidate for the office of Governor, 14
	39	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	40	+
	41	+
	42	+
	43	+	LCO No. 6375 2 of 26
	44	+
31	45		Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, State Treasurer, Attorney 15
32	46		General or State Comptroller, who claims that such candidate is 16
33	47		aggrieved by a violation of any provision of sections 9-700 to 9-716, 17
34	48		inclusive, may bring such elector's or candidate's complaint [to any 18
35		-	judge of the Superior Court, in which such] in the superior court for the 19 Substitute Bill No. 7230
36		-
37		-
38		-	LCO 2 of 17
39		-
	49	+	judge of the Superior Court, in which such] in the superior court for the 19
40	50		judicial district of Hartford or for the judicial district of Bridgeport. Such 20
41	51		elector or candidate shall set out in the complaint the claimed errors of 21
42	52		such election official, the claimed errors in the count or the claimed 22
43	53		violations of said sections. In any action brought pursuant to the 23
44	54		provisions of this section, the complainant shall send a copy of the 24
45	55		complaint by first-class mail, or deliver a copy of the complaint by hand, 25
46	56		to the State Elections Enforcement Commission. If such complaint is 26
47	57		made prior to such election, [such judge] the court shall proceed 27
48	58		expeditiously to render judgment on the complaint and shall cause 28
49	59		notice of the hearing to be given to the Secretary of the State and the 29
50	60		State Elections Enforcement Commission. If such complaint is made 30
51	61		subsequent to the election, it shall be brought not later than fourteen 31
52	62		days after the election or, if such complaint is brought in response to the 32
53	63		manual tabulation of paper ballots authorized pursuant to section 9-33
54	64		320f, such complaint shall be brought not later than seven days after the 34
55	65		close of any such manual tabulation. [and, in either such circumstance, 35
56	66		such judge] 36
57	67		(b) The court shall forthwith order a hearing to be [had] held upon 37
58	68		[such] a complaint filed under subsection (a) of this section, upon a day 38
59	69		not more than five nor less than three days from the making of such 39
60	70		order, and shall cause notice of not less than three nor more than five 40
61	71		days to be given to any candidate or candidates whose election may be 41
62	72		affected by the decision upon such hearing, to such election official, the 42
63	73		Secretary of the State, the State Elections Enforcement Commission and 43
64	74		to any other party or parties whom [such judge] the court deems proper 44
65	75		parties thereto, of the time and place for the hearing upon such 45
66	76		complaint. [Such judge] The court shall, on the day fixed for such 46
67	77		hearing and without unnecessary delay, proceed to hear the parties. If 47
	78	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	79	+
	80	+
	81	+
	82	+	LCO No. 6375 3 of 26
	83	+
68	84		sufficient reason is shown, [such judge] the court may order any voting 48
69	85		tabulators to be unlocked or any ballot boxes to be opened and a recount 49
70	86		of the votes cast, including absentee ballots, to be made. [Such judge] 50
71	87		The court shall thereupon, in case [such judge] the court finds any error 51
72	88		in the rulings of the election official, any mistake in the count of the votes 52
73		-	or any violation of [said sections] any provision of sections 9-355, 9-357 53 Substitute Bill No. 7230
74		-
75		-
76		-	LCO 3 of 17
77		-
	89	+	or any violation of [said sections] any provision of sections 9-355, 9-357 53
78	90		to 9-361, inclusive, section 9-364, 9-364a or 9-365 or sections 9-700 to 9-54
79	91		716, inclusive, certify the result of [such judge's] the court's finding or 55
80	92		decision to the Secretary of the State before the fifteenth day of the next 56
81	93		succeeding December. [Such judge] The court may order a new election 57
82	94		or a change in the existing election schedule. [Such certificate of such 58
83	95		judge of such judge's] 59
84	96		(c) The certificate of the court's finding or decision pursuant to 60
85	97		subsection (b) of this section shall be final and conclusive upon all 61
86	98		questions relating to errors in the rulings of such election officials, to the 62
87	99		correctness of such count, and, for the purposes of this section only, such 63
88	100		claimed violations, and shall operate to correct the returns of the 64
89	101		moderators or presiding officers, so as to conform to such finding or 65
90	102		decision, unless the same is appealed from as provided in section 9-325, 66
91	103		as amended by this act. 67
92	104		Sec. 2. Section 9-325 of the general statutes is repealed and the 68
93	105		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025, and 69
94	106		applicable to complaints brought on or after July 1, 2025): 70
95	107		If, upon any such hearing [by a judge of the Superior Court] in the 71
96	108		superior court for the judicial district of Hartford or for the judicial 72
97	109		district of Bridgeport, any question of law is raised which any party to 73
98	110		the complaint claims should be reviewed by the Supreme Court, [such 74
99	111		judge] the court, instead of filing the certificate of [his] the court's 75
100	112		finding or decision with the Secretary of the State, shall transmit the 76
101	113		same, including therein such questions of law, together with a proper 77
102	114		finding of facts, to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, who shall 78
103	115		thereupon call a special session of [said court] the Supreme Court for 79
	116	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	117	+
	118	+
	119	+
	120	+	LCO No. 6375 4 of 26
	121	+
104	122		the purpose of an immediate hearing upon the questions of law so 80
105	123		certified. A copy of the finding and decision so certified by [the judge of 81
106	124		the Superior Court] such superior court, together with the decision of 82
107	125		the Supreme Court, on the questions of law therein certified, shall be 83
108	126		attested by the clerk of the Supreme Court, and by [him] such clerk 84
109	127		transmitted to the Secretary of the State forthwith. The finding and 85
110		-	decision of [the judge of the Superior Court] such superior court, 86 Substitute Bill No. 7230
111		-
112		-
113		-	LCO 4 of 17
114		-
	128	+	decision of [the judge of the Superior Court] such superior court, 86
115	129		together with the decision of the Supreme Court on the questions of law 87
116	130		thus certified, shall be final and conclusive upon all questions relating 88
117	131		to errors in the rulings of the election officials and to the correctness of 89
118	132		such count and shall operate to correct the returns of the moderators or 90
119	133		presiding officers so as to conform to such decision of [said court] the 91
120	134		Supreme Court. Nothing in this section shall be considered as 92
121	135		prohibiting an appeal to the Supreme Court from a final judgment of 93
122	136		[the Superior Court] such superior court. The judges of the Supreme 94
123	137		Court may establish rules of procedure for the speedy and inexpensive 95
124	138		hearing of such appeals within fifteen days of such judgment of [a judge 96
125	139		of the Superior Court] such superior court. 97
126	140		Sec. 3. Section 9-328 of the general statutes is repealed and the 98
127	141		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025, and 99
128	142		applicable to complaints brought on or after July 1, 2025): 100
129	143		(a) Any elector or candidate claiming to have been aggrieved by any 101
130	144		ruling of any election official in connection with an election for any 102
131	145		municipal office or a primary for justice of the peace, or any elector or 103
132	146		candidate claiming that there has been a mistake in the count of votes 104
133	147		cast for any such office at such election or primary, or any candidate in 105
134	148		such an election or primary claiming that [he] such candidate is 106
135	149		aggrieved by a violation of any provision of sections 9-355, 9-357 to 9-107
136	150		361, inclusive, section 9-364, 9-364a or 9-365 in the casting of absentee 108
137	151		ballots at such election or primary, may bring a complaint [to any judge 109
138	152		of the Superior Court] in the superior court for the judicial district of 110
139	153		Hartford or for the judicial district of Bridgeport for relief therefrom. In 111
140	154		any action brought pursuant to the provisions of this section, the 112
	155	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	156	+
	157	+
	158	+
	159	+	LCO No. 6375 5 of 26
	160	+
141	161		complainant shall send a copy of the complaint by first-class mail, or 113
142	162		deliver a copy of the complaint by hand, to the State Elections 114
143	163		Enforcement Commission. If such complaint is made prior to such 115
144	164		election or primary, [such judge] the court shall proceed expeditiously 116
145	165		to render judgment on the complaint and shall cause notice of the 117
146	166		hearing to be given to the Secretary of the State and the State Elections 118
147	167		Enforcement Commission. If such complaint is made subsequent to 119
148		-	such election or primary, it shall be brought not later than fourteen days 120 Substitute Bill No. 7230
149		-
150		-
151		-	LCO 5 of 17
152		-
	168	+	such election or primary, it shall be brought not later than fourteen days 120
153	169		after such election or primary, except that if such complaint is brought 121
154	170		in response to the manual tabulation of paper ballots, authorized 122
155	171		pursuant to section 9-320f, such complaint shall be brought not later 123
156	172		than seven days after the close of any such manual tabulation, to any 124
157	173		judge of [the Superior Court] such superior court, in which [he] such 125
158	174		complainant shall set out the claimed errors of the election official, the 126
159	175		claimed errors in the count or the claimed violations of [said sections. 127
160	176		Such judge] any provision of sections 9-355, 9-357 to 9-361, inclusive, 128
161	177		section 9-364, 9-364a or 9-365. 129
162	178		(b) The court shall forthwith order a hearing to be [had] held upon 130
163	179		[such] a complaint filed under subsection (a) of this section, upon a day 131
164	180		not more than five nor less than three days from the making of such 132
165	181		order, and shall cause notice of not less than three nor more than five 133
166	182		days to be given to any candidate or candidates whose election or 134
167	183		nomination may be affected by the decision upon such hearing, to such 135
168	184		election official, the Secretary of the State, the State Elections 136
169	185		Enforcement Commission and to any other party or parties whom [such 137
170	186		judge] the court deems proper parties thereto, of the time and place for 138
171	187		the hearing upon such complaint. [Such judge] The court shall, on the 139
172	188		day fixed for such hearing and without unnecessary delay, proceed to 140
173	189		hear the parties. If sufficient reason is shown, [he] the court may order 141
174	190		any voting tabulators to be unlocked or any ballot boxes to be opened 142
175	191		and a recount of the votes cast, including absentee ballots, to be made. 143
176	192		[Such judge] The court shall thereupon, if [he] the court finds any error 144
177	193		in the rulings of the election official or any mistake in the count of the 145
	194	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	195	+
	196	+
	197	+
	198	+	LCO No. 6375 6 of 26
	199	+
178	200		votes, certify the result of [his] the court's finding or decision to the 146
179	201		Secretary of the State before the tenth day succeeding the conclusion of 147
180	202		the hearing. [Such judge] The court may order a new election or primary 148
181	203		or a change in the existing election schedule. [Such certificate of such 149
182	204		judge of his] 150
183	205		(c) The certificate of the court's finding or decision under subsection 151
184	206		(b) of this section shall be final and conclusive upon all questions 152
185	207		relating to errors in the ruling of such election officials, to the correctness 153
186		-	of such count, and, for the purposes of this section only, such claimed 154 Substitute Bill No. 7230
187		-
188		-
189		-	LCO 6 of 17
190		-
	208	+	of such count, and, for the purposes of this section only, such claimed 154
191	209		violations, and shall operate to correct the returns of the moderators or 155
192	210		presiding officers, so as to conform to such finding or decision, except 156
193	211		that this section shall not affect the right of appeal to the Supreme Court 157
194	212		and [it] shall not prevent [such judge] the court from reserving such 158
195	213		questions of law for the advice of the Supreme Court as provided in 159
196	214		section 9-325, as amended by this act. [Such judge] The court may, if 160
197	215		necessary, issue [his] a writ of mandamus, requiring the adverse party 161
198	216		and those [under him] thereunder to deliver to the complainant the 162
199	217		appurtenances of such office, and shall cause [his] the court's finding 163
200	218		and [decree] decision to be entered on the records of the Superior Court 164
201	219		in the proper judicial district. 165
202	220		Sec. 4. Section 9-329a of the general statutes is repealed and the 166
203	221		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025, and 167
204	222		applicable to complaints brought on or after July 1, 2025): 168
205	223		(a) Any (1) elector or candidate aggrieved by a ruling of an election 169
206	224		official in connection with any primary held pursuant to (A) section 9-170
207	225		423, 9-425 or 9-464, or (B) a special act, (2) elector or candidate who 171
208	226		alleges that there has been a mistake in the count of the votes cast at such 172
209	227		primary, or (3) candidate in such a primary who alleges that [he] such 173
210	228		candidate is aggrieved by a violation of any provision of sections 9-355, 174
211	229		9-357 to 9-361, inclusive, section 9-364, 9-364a or 9-365 in the casting of 175
212	230		absentee ballots at such primary, may bring [his] a complaint [to any 176
213	231		judge of the Superior Court] in the superior court for the judicial district 177
	232	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	233	+
	234	+
	235	+
	236	+	LCO No. 6375 7 of 26
	237	+
214	238		of Hartford or for the judicial district of Bridgeport for appropriate 178
215	239		action. In any action brought pursuant to the provisions of this section, 179
216	240		the complainant shall file a certification attached to the complaint 180
217	241		indicating that a copy of the complaint has been sent by first-class mail 181
218	242		or delivered to the State Elections Enforcement Commission. If such 182
219		-	complaint is made prior to such primary, [such judge] the court shall 183
	243	+	complaint is made prior to such primary [such judge] the court shall 183
220	244		proceed expeditiously to render judgment on the complaint and shall 184
221	245		cause notice of the hearing to be given to the Secretary of the State and 185
222	246		the State Elections Enforcement Commission. If such complaint is made 186
223		-	subsequent to such primary, [it] such complaint shall be brought [,] not 187
224		-	later than fourteen days after such primary [,] or, if such complaint is 188 Substitute Bill No. 7230
225		-
226		-
227		-	LCO 7 of 17
228		-
229		-	brought in response to the manual tabulation of paper ballots [,] 189
230		-	described in section 9-320f, such complaint shall be brought [,] not later 190
231		-	than seven days after the close of any such manual tabulation, [to any 191
232		-	judge of the Superior Court] in such superior court. 192
	247	+	subsequent to such primary [it] such complaint shall be brought, not 187
	248	+	later than fourteen days after such primary, or if such complaint is 188
	249	+	brought in response to the manual tabulation of paper ballots, described 189
	250	+	in section 9-320f, such complaint shall be brought, not later than seven 190
	251	+	days after the close of any such manual tabulation, [to any judge of the 191
	252	+	Superior Court] in such superior court. 192
233	253		(b) [Such judge] The court shall forthwith order a hearing to be held 193
234	254		upon [such] a complaint filed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, 194
235	255		upon a day not more than five nor less than three days after the making 195
236	256		of such order, and shall cause notice of not less than three days to be 196
237	257		given to any candidate or candidates in any way directly affected by the 197
238	258		decision upon such hearing, to such election official, to the Secretary of 198
239	259		the State, the State Elections Enforcement Commission and to any other 199
240	260		person or persons, whom [such judge] the court deems proper parties 200
241	261		thereto, of the time and place of the hearing upon such complaint. [Such 201
242	262		judge] The court shall, on the day fixed for such hearing, and without 202
243	263		delay, proceed to hear the parties and determine the result. If, after 203
244	264		hearing, sufficient reason is shown, [such judge] the court may order 204
245	265		any voting tabulators to be unlocked or any ballot boxes to be opened 205
246	266		and a recount of the votes cast, including absentee ballots, to be made. 206
247	267		[Such judge] The court shall thereupon, if [he] the court finds any error 207
248	268		in the ruling of the election official, any mistake in the count of the votes 208
249	269		or any violation of [said sections] any provision of sections 9-355, 9-357 209
250	270		to 9-361, inclusive, section 9-364, 9-364a or 9-365, certify the result of 210
	271	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	272	+
	273	+
	274	+
	275	+	LCO No. 6375 8 of 26
	276	+
251	277		[his] the court's finding or decision to the Secretary of the State before 211
252	278		the tenth day following the conclusion of the hearing. [Such judge] The 212
253	279		court may (1) determine the result of such primary; (2) order a change 213
254	280		in the existing primary schedule; or (3) order a new primary if [he] the 214
255	281		court finds that, but for the error in the ruling of the election official, any 215
256	282		mistake in the count of the votes or any violation of [said sections] any 216
257	283		provision of sections 9-355, 9-357 to 9-361, inclusive, section 9-364, 9-217
258	284		364a or 9-365, the result of such primary might have been different and 218
259	285		[he] the court is unable to determine the result of such primary. 219
260	286		(c) [The certification by the judge of his] The certificate of the court's 220
261	287		finding or decision under subsection (b) of this section shall be final and 221
262		-	conclusive upon all questions relating to errors in the ruling of such 222 Substitute Bill No. 7230
263		-
264		-
265		-	LCO 8 of 17
266		-
	288	+	conclusive upon all questions relating to errors in the ruling of such 222
267	289		election official, to the correctness of such count, and, for the purposes 223
268	290		of this section only, such alleged violations, and shall operate to correct 224
269	291		any returns or certificates filed by the election officials, unless the same 225
270	292		is appealed from as provided in section 9-325, as amended by this act. 226
271	293		In the event a new primary is held pursuant to such [Superior Court] 227
272	294		order of such superior court, the result of such new primary shall be 228
273	295		final and conclusive unless a complaint is brought pursuant to this 229
274	296		section. The clerk of [the] such superior court shall forthwith transmit a 230
275	297		copy of such findings and order to the Secretary of the State. 231
276	298		Sec. 5. Section 9-329b of the general statutes is repealed and the 232
277	299		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025, and 233
278	300		applicable to complaints brought on or after July 1, 2025): 234
279	301		(a) At any time prior to a primary held before April 1, [2024] 2026, 235
280	302		and pursuant to sections 9-423, 9-425 and 9-464, or a special act, or prior 236
281	303		to any election held before April 1, [2024] 2026, the [Superior Court] 237
282	304		superior court for the judicial district of Hartford or for the judicial 238
283	305		district of Bridgeport may issue an order removing a candidate from a 239
284	306		ballot where it is shown that such candidate is improperly on the ballot. 240
285	307		(b) At any time prior to the commencement of the period of early 241
	308	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	309	+
	310	+
	311	+
	312	+	LCO No. 6375 9 of 26
	313	+
286	314		voting at a primary held on or after April 1, [2024] 2026, and pursuant 242
287	315		to sections 9-423, 9-425 and 9-464, or a special act, or prior to the 243
288	316		commencement of the period of early voting at any election held on or 244
289	317		after April 1, [2024] 2026, the [Superior Court] superior court for the 245
290	318		judicial district of Hartford or for the judicial district of Bridgeport may 246
291	319		issue an order removing a candidate from a ballot where it is shown that 247
292	320		such candidate is improperly on the ballot. 248
293	321		Sec. 6. Subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 249
294	322		9-368j of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted 250
295	323		in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025, and applicable to actions brought on or 251
296	324		after July 1, 2025): 252
297	325		(B) (i) In determining whether divergent voting patterns occur in a 253
298		-	municipality or whether a method of election in such municipality 254 Substitute Bill No. 7230
299		-
300		-
301		-	LCO 9 of 17
302		-
	326	+	municipality or whether a method of election in such municipality 254
303	327		results in a dilutive effect on the vote of protected class members, the 255
304	328		superior court for the judicial district [in which such municipality is 256
305	329		located] of Hartford or for the judicial district of Bridgeport (I) shall 257
306	330		consider elections held prior to the filing of an action pursuant to this 258
307	331		section as more probative than elections conducted after such filing, (II) 259
308	332		shall consider evidence concerning elections for any municipal office in 260
309	333		such municipality as more probative than evidence concerning elections 261
310	334		for other offices, but may still afford probative value to evidence 262
311	335		concerning elections for such other offices, (III) shall consider statistical 263
312	336		evidence as more probative than nonstatistical evidence, (IV) in the case 264
313	337		of claims brought on behalf of two or more protected classes that are 265
314	338		politically cohesive in such municipality, shall combine members of 266
315	339		such protected classes to determine whether voting by such combined 267
316	340		protected class members is divergent from other electors and shall not 268
317	341		require evidence that voting by each such protected class's members is 269
318	342		separately divergent from such other electors, and (V) shall not require 270
319	343		evidence concerning the intent of electors, elected officials or such 271
320	344		municipality to discriminate against protected class members. 272
321	345		(ii) Evidence concerning the causes of, or reasons for, the occurrence 273
	346	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	347	+
	348	+
	349	+
	350	+	LCO No. 6375 10 of 26
	351	+
322	352		of divergent voting patterns shall not be deemed relevant to the 274
323	353		determination of whether divergent voting patterns occur or whether a 275
324	354		method of election results in a dilutive effect on the vote of protected 276
325	355		class members. 277
326	356		Sec. 7. Subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 9-368j of the general 278
327	357		statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 279
328	358		(Effective July 1, 2025, and applicable to actions brought on or after July 1, 280
329	359		2025): 281
330	360		(c) (1) In determining whether, based on the totality of the 282
331	361		circumstances, an impairment of the right to vote for any protected class 283
332	362		member in a municipality, or of the opportunity or ability of protected 284
333	363		class members in a municipality to participate in the political process 285
334	364		and elect candidates of their choice or otherwise influence the outcome 286
335		-	of elections, has occurred, the superior court for the judicial district [in 287 Substitute Bill No. 7230
336		-
337		-
338		-	LCO 10 of 17
339		-
	365	+	of elections, has occurred, the superior court for the judicial district [in 287
340	366		which such municipality is located] of Hartford or for the judicial 288
341	367		district of Bridgeport may consider factors that include, but are not 289
342	368		limited to: (A) The history of discrimination in or affecting the 290
343	369		municipality or state; (B) the extent to which protected class members 291
344	370		have been elected to office in the municipality; (C) the use of any 292
345	371		qualification for eligibility to be an elector or other prerequisite to 293
346	372		voting, any statute, ordinance, regulation or other law regarding the 294
347	373		administration of elections, or any standard, practice, procedure or 295
348	374		policy, by the municipality that may enhance the dilutive effects of a 296
349	375		method of election in such municipality; (D) the extent of any history of 297
350	376		unequal access on the part of protected class members or candidates to 298
351	377		election administration or campaign finance processes that determine 299
352	378		which candidates will receive access to the ballot or financial or other 300
353	379		support in a given election for an office of the municipality; (E) the 301
354	380		extent to which protected class members in the municipality or state 302
355	381		have historically made expenditures, as defined in section 9-601b, at 303
356	382		lower rates than other individuals in such municipality or state; (F) the 304
357	383		extent to which protected class members in the municipality or state 305
358	384		vote at lower rates than other electors in the municipality or state, as 306
	385	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	386	+
	387	+
	388	+
	389	+	LCO No. 6375 11 of 26
	390	+
359	391		applicable; (G) the extent to which protected class members in the 307
360	392		municipality are disadvantaged, or otherwise bear the effects of public 308
361	393		or private discrimination, in areas that may hinder their ability to 309
362	394		participate effectively in the political process, such as education, 310
363	395		employment, health, criminal justice, housing, transportation, land use 311
364	396		or environmental protection; (H) the extent to which protected class 312
365	397		members in the municipality are disadvantaged in other areas that may 313
366	398		hinder their ability to participate effectively in the political process; (I) 314
367	399		the use of overt or subtle racial appeals in political campaigns in the 315
368	400		municipality or surrounding the adoption or maintenance of a 316
369	401		challenged practice; (J) the extent to which candidates face hostility or 317
370	402		barriers while campaigning due to their membership in a protected 318
371	403		class; (K) a significant or recurring lack of responsiveness on the part of 319
372	404		elected officials of the municipality to the particularized needs of a 320
373	405		community or communities of protected class members, except that 321
374		-	compliance with a court order shall not be considered to be evidence of 322 Substitute Bill No. 7230
375		-
376		-
377		-	LCO 11 of 17
378		-
	406	+	compliance with a court order shall not be considered to be evidence of 322
379	407		such responsiveness; and (L) whether the particular method of election, 323
380	408		ordinance, regulation or other law regarding the administration of 324
381	409		elections, standard, practice, procedure or policy was designed to 325
382	410		advance, and does materially advance, a valid state interest. 326
383	411		Sec. 8. Subsection (d) of section 9-368j of the general statutes is 327
384	412		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 328
385	413		2025, and applicable to actions brought on or after July 1, 2025): 329
386	414		(d) Any individual aggrieved by a violation of this section, any 330
387	415		organization whose membership includes individuals aggrieved by 331
388	416		such a violation or the Secretary of the State may file an action alleging 332
389	417		a violation of this section in the superior court for the judicial district [in 333
390	418		which such violation has occurred] of Hartford or for the judicial district 334
391	419		of Bridgeport. Members of two or more protected classes that are 335
392	420		politically cohesive in a municipality may jointly file such an action in 336
393	421		such court. 337
394	422		Sec. 9. Subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 9-368j of the general 338
	423	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	424	+
	425	+
	426	+
	427	+	LCO No. 6375 12 of 26
	428	+
395	429		statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 339
396	430		(Effective July 1, 2025, and applicable to actions brought on or after July 1, 340
397	431		2025): 341
398	432		(e) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of this title and any special act, 342
399	433		charter or home rule ordinance, whenever the superior court for [a] the 343
400	434		judicial district of Hartford or for the judicial district of Bridgeport finds 344
401	435		a violation by a municipality [within such judicial district] of any 345
402	436		provision of this section, such court shall order appropriate remedies 346
403	437		that are tailored to address such violation in such municipality and to 347
404	438		ensure protected class members have equitable opportunities to fully 348
405	439		participate in the political process and that can be implemented in a 349
406	440		manner that will not unduly disrupt the administration of an ongoing 350
407	441		or imminent election. Such court shall take into account the ability of 351
408	442		officials who administer elections in such municipality to implement 352
409	443		any change to voting for an ongoing or imminent election in a manner 353
410		-	that is orderly and fiscally sound, and shall not order any remedy that 354 Substitute Bill No. 7230
411		-
412		-
413		-	LCO 12 of 17
414		-
	444	+	that is orderly and fiscally sound, and shall not order any remedy that 354
415	445		contravenes the Constitution of Connecticut. Appropriate remedies 355
416	446		may include, but need not be limited to: (A) A district-based method of 356
417	447		election; (B) an alternative method of election; (C) new or revised 357
418	448		districting or redistricting plans; (D) elimination of staggered elections 358
419	449		so that all members of the legislative body are elected at the same time; 359
420	450		(E) reasonably increasing the size of the legislative body; (F) additional 360
421	451		voting days or hours; (G) additional polling places; (H) additional 361
422	452		means of voting, such as voting by mail, or additional opportunities to 362
423	453		return ballots; (I) holding of special elections; (J) expanded 363
424	454		opportunities for admission of electors; (K) additional elector education; 364
425	455		(L) the restoration or addition of individuals to registry lists; or (M) 365
426	456		retaining jurisdiction for such period of time as the court may deem 366
427	457		appropriate, during which period no qualification for eligibility to be an 367
428	458		elector or prerequisite to voting, or standard, practice or procedure with 368
429	459		respect to voting, that is different from that which was in effect at the 369
430	460		time an action under subsection (d) of this section was commenced shall 370
431	461		be enforced unless the court finds that such qualification, prerequisite, 371
	462	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	463	+
	464	+
	465	+
	466	+	LCO No. 6375 13 of 26
	467	+
432	468		standard, practice or procedure does not have the purpose, and will not 372
433	469		have the effect, of impairing the right to vote on the basis of protected 373
434	470		class membership or in contravention of the guarantees with respect to 374
435	471		such right that are set forth in sections 9-368j to 9-368q, inclusive, as 375
436	472		amended by this act, provided, in any action brought pursuant to 376
437	473		chapter 149, any remedy ordered shall be consistent with the provisions 377
438	474		of said chapter. Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (M) of 378
439	475		this subdivision, any such finding by the court shall not be a bar to any 379
440	476		subsequent action to enjoin enforcement of such qualification, 380
441	477		prerequisite, standard, practice or procedure. 381
442	478		Sec. 10. Subparagraphs (E) and (F) of subdivision (2) of subsection (g) 382
443	479		of section 9-368j of the general statutes are repealed and the following is 383
444	480		substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025, and applicable to actions 384
445	481		brought on or after July 1, 2025): 385
446	482		(E) If, pursuant to the provisions of this subsection, a municipality 386
447	483		enacts or implements a remedy or the Secretary of the State approves a 387
448		-	proposed remedy, a party who sent a notification letter described in 388 Substitute Bill No. 7230
449		-
450		-
451		-	LCO 13 of 17
452		-
	484	+	proposed remedy, a party who sent a notification letter described in 388
453	485		subdivision (1) of this subsection regarding a potential violation that is 389
454	486		related to such remedy may, not later than thirty days after such 390
455	487		enactment, implementation or approval, submit a claim for 391
456	488		reimbursement from such municipality for the costs associated with 392
457	489		producing and sending such notification letter. Such party shall submit 393
458	490		such claim in writing and substantiate such claim with financial 394
459	491		documentation, including a detailed invoice for any demography 395
460	492		services or analysis of voting patterns in such municipality. Upon 396
461	493		receipt of any such claim, such municipality may request additional 397
462	494		financial documentation if that which has been provided by such party 398
463	495		is insufficient to substantiate such costs. Such municipality shall 399
464	496		reimburse such party for reasonable costs claimed or for an amount to 400
465	497		which such party and such municipality agree, except that the 401
466	498		cumulative amount of any such reimbursements to all such parties other 402
467	499		than the Secretary of the State shall not exceed fifty thousand dollars, 403
468	500		adjusted in accordance with any change in the consumer price index for 404
	501	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	502	+
	503	+
	504	+
	505	+	LCO No. 6375 14 of 26
	506	+
469	507		all urban consumers as published by the United States Department of 405
470	508		Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. If any such party and such 406
471	509		municipality fail to agree to a reimbursement amount, either such party 407
472	510		or such municipality may file an action for a declaratory judgment with 408
473	511		the superior court for the judicial district [in which such municipality is 409
474	512		located] of Hartford or for the judicial district of Bridgeport for a 410
475	513		clarification of rights. 411
476	514		(F) (i) Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, a party 412
477	515		described in subsection (d) of this section may seek preliminary relief 413
478	516		for a regular election held in a municipality by filing an action pursuant 414
479	517		to this section during the one hundred twenty days prior to such regular 415
480	518		election. Not later than the filing of such action, such party shall send a 416
481	519		notification letter described in subdivision (1) of this subsection to such 417
482	520		municipality. In the event any such action is withdrawn or dismissed as 418
483	521		being moot as a result of such municipality's enactment or 419
484	522		implementation of a remedy, or the approval by the Secretary of the 420
485	523		State of a proposed remedy, any such party may only submit a claim for 421
486		-	reimbursement in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (E) 422 Substitute Bill No. 7230
487		-
488		-
489		-	LCO 14 of 17
490		-
	524	+	reimbursement in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (E) 422
491	525		of this subdivision. 423
492	526		(ii) In the case of preliminary relief sought pursuant to subparagraph 424
493	527		(F)(i) of this subdivision by a party described in subsection (d) of this 425
494	528		section, the superior court for the judicial district [in which such 426
495	529		municipality is located] of Hartford or for the judicial district of 427
496	530		Bridgeport shall grant such relief if such court determines that (I) such 428
497	531		party has shown a substantial likelihood of success on the merits, and 429
498	532		(II) it is possible to implement an appropriate remedy that would 430
499	533		resolve the violation alleged under this section prior to such election in 431
500	534		a manner that will not unduly disrupt such election. 432
501	535		Sec. 11. Subsection (g) of section 9-368l of the general statutes is 433
502	536		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 434
503	537		2025, and applicable to actions brought on or after July 1, 2025): 435
	538	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	539	+
	540	+
	541	+
	542	+	LCO No. 6375 15 of 26
	543	+
504	544		(g) Any individual aggrieved by a violation of this section, any 436
505	545		organization whose membership includes individuals aggrieved by 437
506	546		such a violation or the Secretary of the State may file an action alleging 438
507	547		a violation of this section in the superior court for the judicial district [in 439
508	548		which such violation has occurred] of Hartford or for the judicial district 440
509	549		of Bridgeport, except that no determination of the Secretary under this 441
510	550		section to designate a municipality or a language for the provision of 442
511	551		assistance shall constitute a violation of this section. 443
512	552		Sec. 12. Subsection (a) of section 9-368m of the general statutes is 444
513	553		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 445
514	554		2025, and applicable to actions brought on or after July 1, 2025): 446
515	555		(a) In accordance with the provisions of this section, the enactment or 447
516	556		implementation of a covered policy, as described in subsection (b) of this 448
517	557		section, by a covered jurisdiction, as described in subsection (c) of this 449
518	558		section, shall be subject to preclearance, as described in subsections (e) 450
519	559		and (f) of this section, by the Secretary of the State or the superior court 451
520	560		for the judicial district [in which such covered jurisdiction is located] of 452
521		-	Hartford or for the judicial district of Bridgeport. 453 Substitute Bill No. 7230
522		-
523		-
524		-	LCO 15 of 17
525		-
	561	+	Hartford or for the judicial district of Bridgeport. 453
526	562		Sec. 13. Subdivision (1) of subsection (f) of section 9-368m of the 454
527	563		general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 455
528	564		thereof (Effective July 1, 2025, and applicable to actions brought on or after 456
529	565		July 1, 2025): 457
530	566		(f) (1) If a covered jurisdiction seeks preclearance from the superior 458
531	567		court for the judicial district [in which such covered jurisdiction is 459
532	568		located] of Hartford or for the judicial district of Bridgeport for the 460
533	569		adoption or implementation of any covered policy, in lieu of seeking 461
534	570		such preclearance from the Secretary of the State pursuant to subsection 462
535	571		(e) of this section, such covered jurisdiction shall submit, in writing, 463
536	572		such covered policy to such court and may obtain such preclearance in 464
537	573		accordance with the provisions of this subsection, provided (A) such 465
538	574		covered jurisdiction shall also contemporaneously transmit to the 466
	575	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	576	+
	577	+
	578	+
	579	+	LCO No. 6375 16 of 26
	580	+
539	581		Secretary of the State a copy of such submission, and (B) failure to so 467
540	582		provide such copy shall result in an automatic denial of such 468
541	583		preclearance. Notwithstanding the transmission to the Secretary of a 469
542	584		copy of any such submission, the court shall exercise exclusive 470
543	585		jurisdiction over such submission. The covered jurisdiction shall bear 471
544	586		the burden of proof in the court's determination as to preclearance. 472
545	587		Sec. 14. Subsection (g) of section 9-368m of the general statutes is 473
546	588		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 474
547	589		2025, and applicable to actions brought on or after July 1, 2025): 475
548	590		(g) If any covered jurisdiction enacts or implements any covered 476
549	591		policy without obtaining preclearance for such covered policy in 477
550	592		accordance with the provisions of this section, the Secretary of the State 478
551	593		or any party described in subsection (d) of section 9-368j, as amended 479
552	594		by this act, may file an action in the superior court for the judicial district 480
553	595		[in which such covered jurisdiction is located] of Hartford or for the 481
554	596		judicial district of Bridgeport to enjoin such enactment or 482
555	597		implementation and seek sanctions against such covered jurisdiction for 483
556	598		violations of this section. 484
557		-	Sec. 15. Subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 9-368n of the 485 Substitute Bill No. 7230
558		-
559		-
560		-	LCO 16 of 17
561		-
	599	+	Sec. 15. Subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 9-368n of the 485
562	600		general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 486
563	601		thereof (Effective July 1, 2025, and applicable to actions brought on or after 487
564	602		July 1, 2025): 488
565	603		(c) (1) Any individual aggrieved by a violation of this section or any 489
566	604		organization whose membership includes individuals aggrieved by 490
567	605		such a violation may file an action alleging a violation of this section in 491
568	606		the superior court for the judicial district [in which such violation has 492
569	607		occurred] of Hartford or for the judicial district of Bridgeport. Such an 493
570	608		action may be filed irrespective of any action that may be filed by the 494
571	609		State Elections Enforcement Commission, the Attorney General or the 495
572	610		State's Attorney as a result of such a violation. 496
	611	+	Sec. 16. Section 9-453e of the general statutes is repealed and the 497
	612	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	613	+
	614	+
	615	+
	616	+	LCO No. 6375 17 of 26
	617	+
	618	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 498
	619	+	Each circulator of a nominating petition page shall be a United States 499
	620	+	citizen [,] and at least eighteen years of age, [and a resident of a town in 500
	621	+	this state] and shall not be on parole for conviction of a felony. Any 501
	622	+	individual proposed as a candidate in any nominating petition may 502
	623	+	serve as circulator of the pages of such nominating petition. 503
	624	+	Sec. 17. Section 9-453j of the general statutes is repealed and the 504
	625	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 505
	626	+	Each page of a nominating petition submitted to the town clerk or 506
	627	+	[the] Secretary of the State and filed with the Secretary of the State under 507
	628	+	the provisions of sections 9-453a to 9-453s, inclusive, or section 9-216 508
	629	+	shall contain a statement as to the residency [in this state] and eligibility 509
	630	+	of the circulator and as to the authenticity of the signatures thereon, 510
	631	+	signed under [penalties] penalty of false statement, by the person who 511
	632	+	circulated the same. Such statement shall set forth (1) [such] the 512
	633	+	circulator's residence address, including the town [in this state] in which 513
	634	+	[such] the circulator is a resident, (2) if the circulator is not a resident in 514
	635	+	this state, that the circulator agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of this 515
	636	+	state in any case or controversy arising out of or related to the circulation 516
	637	+	of a petition pursuant to this subpart, (3) the circulator's date of birth 517
	638	+	and that the circulator is at least eighteen years of age, [(3)] (4) that the 518
	639	+	circulator is a United States citizen and not on parole for conviction of a 519
	640	+	felony, and [(4)] (5) that each person whose name appears on such page 520
	641	+	signed the same in person in the presence of [such] the circulator and 521
	642	+	that either the circulator knows each such signer or that the signer 522
	643	+	satisfactorily identified [himself] such signer to the circulator. Any false 523
	644	+	statement committed with respect to such statement shall be deemed to 524
	645	+	have been committed in the town in which the petition was circulated. 525
	646	+	Sec. 18. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 9-453k of the general statutes 526
	647	+	are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 527
	648	+	1, 2025): 528
	649	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	650	+
	651	+
	652	+
	653	+	LCO No. 6375 18 of 26
	654	+
	655	+	(a) The town clerk or Secretary of the State shall not accept any page 529
	656	+	of a nominating petition unless the circulator thereof has signed before 530
	657	+	[him] the clerk or Secretary, or an appropriate person as provided in 531
	658	+	section 1-29, the statement as to the residency [in this state] and 532
	659	+	eligibility of the circulator and as to the authenticity of the signatures 533
	660	+	thereon required by section 9-453j, as amended by this act. 534
	661	+	(b) The town clerk or Secretary of the State, or an appropriate person 535
	662	+	as provided in section 1-29, shall certify on each such page that the 536
	663	+	circulator thereof signed such statement in [his] the presence of the 537
	664	+	clerk, Secretary or appropriate person, as applicable, and that either [he] 538
	665	+	the clerk, Secretary or appropriate person, as applicable, knows the 539
	666	+	circulator or that the circulator satisfactorily identified [himself] such 540
	667	+	circulator to the individual so certifying. 541
	668	+	Sec. 19. Section 9-453o of the general statutes is repealed and the 542
	669	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 543
	670	+	(a) The Secretary of the State may not count, for purposes of 544
	671	+	determining compliance with the number of signatures required by 545
	672	+	section 9-453d, the signatures certified by the town clerk on any petition 546
	673	+	page filed under sections 9-453a to 9-453s, inclusive, or 9-216 if: (1) The 547
	674	+	name of the candidate, [his] such candidate's address or the party 548
	675	+	designation, if any, has been omitted from the face of the petition; (2) the 549
	676	+	page does not contain a statement by the circulator as to the residency 550
	677	+	[in this state] and eligibility of the circulator and as to the authenticity 551
	678	+	of the signatures thereon as required by section 9-453j, as amended by 552
	679	+	this act, or upon which such statement of the circulator is incomplete in 553
	680	+	any respect; or (3) the page does not contain the certifications required 554
	681	+	by sections 9-453a to 9-453s, inclusive, by the town clerk of the town in 555
	682	+	which the signers reside. The town clerk shall cure any omission on [his] 556
	683	+	the clerk's part by signing any such page at the office of the Secretary of 557
	684	+	the State and making the necessary amendment or by filing a separate 558
	685	+	statement in this regard, which amendment shall be dated. 559
	686	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	687	+
	688	+
	689	+
	690	+	LCO No. 6375 19 of 26
	691	+
	692	+	(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the Secretary of 560
	693	+	the State shall approve [every] each nominating petition which contains 561
	694	+	sufficient signatures counted and certified on approved pages by the 562
	695	+	town clerks. In the case of a candidate who petitions under a reserved 563
	696	+	party designation the Secretary shall approve the petition only if it 564
	697	+	meets the signature requirement and if a statement endorsing such 565
	698	+	candidate is filed with the Secretary by the party designation committee 566
	699	+	not later than four o'clock p.m. on the sixty-second day before the 567
	700	+	election. In the case of a candidate who petitions under a party 568
	701	+	designation which is the same as the name of a minor party the Secretary 569
	702	+	shall approve the petition only if it meets the signature requirement and 570
	703	+	if a statement endorsing such candidate is filed in the office of the 571
	704	+	Secretary by the chairman or secretary of such minor party not later than 572
	705	+	four o'clock p.m. on the sixty-second day before the election. No 573
	706	+	candidate shall be qualified to appear on any ballot by nominating 574
	707	+	petition unless the candidate's petition is approved by the Secretary 575
	708	+	pursuant to this subsection. 576
	709	+	(c) The Secretary of the State may approve a nominating petition 577
	710	+	received under section 9-453k, as amended by this act, at any time 578
	711	+	except such approval shall be withdrawn if sufficient signatures are 579
	712	+	withdrawn under section 9-453h. 580
	713	+	Sec. 20. Subsections (c) and (d) of section 9-404b of the general statutes 581
	714	+	are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 582
	715	+	1, 2025): 583
	716	+	(c) The names of enrolled party members signing a primary petition 584
	717	+	may be on several pages, provided no person shall sign more than one 585
	718	+	petition page for the same candidate or candidates. Any person who 586
	719	+	signs a name other than the person's own to a primary petition filed 587
	720	+	under the provisions of this section or who signs a name other than the 588
	721	+	person's own as circulator of such petition shall be fined not more than 589
	722	+	one hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. 590
	723	+	Each such page shall indicate the candidate or candidates supported, 591
	724	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	725	+
	726	+
	727	+
	728	+	LCO No. 6375 20 of 26
	729	+
	730	+	the offices sought and the political party for which nomination is being 592
	731	+	sought. No page of such a petition shall contain the names of enrolled 593
	732	+	party members residing in different municipalities and any petition 594
	733	+	page that has been certified by the registrars of voters of two or more 595
	734	+	municipalities shall be rejected by the Secretary. Withdrawal of petition 596
	735	+	signatures shall not be permitted. 597
	736	+	(d) [Each] Any person qualified to vote under the laws of any state or 598
	737	+	territory of the United States may be a circulator of a primary petition 599
	738	+	page [shall be] if such person (1) is an enrolled party member of a 600
	739	+	municipality in this state, [. Each] or (2) agrees to submit to the 601
	740	+	jurisdiction of this state in any case or controversy arising out of or 602
	741	+	related to the circulation of a primary petition. For any circulator 603
	742	+	described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, each petition page shall 604
	743	+	contain a statement signed by the registrar of voters of the municipality 605
	744	+	in which the circulator is an enrolled party member attesting that the 606
	745	+	circulator is an enrolled party member in the municipality. For any 607
	746	+	circulator described in subdivision (2) of this subsection, each petition 608
	747	+	page shall contain a statement signed by the circulator that the circulator 609
	748	+	agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of this state in any case or 610
	749	+	controversy arising out of or related to the circulation of a primary 611
	750	+	petition, which signed statement shall be attested to by the registrar of 612
	751	+	voters of the municipality in which such page was circulated. Unless 613
	752	+	such [a] an attested statement by the registrar of voters appears on each 614
	753	+	page so submitted, the Secretary shall reject the page. Each separate 615
	754	+	page of the petition shall contain a statement as to the authenticity of the 616
	755	+	signatures on the page and the number of such signatures, and shall be 617
	756	+	signed under the [penalties] penalty of false statement by the person 618
	757	+	who circulated the page, setting forth the circulator's address and the 619
	758	+	town in which the circulator is an enrolled party member and attesting 620
	759	+	that each person whose name appears on the page signed the petition in 621
	760	+	person in the presence of the circulator, that the circulator either knows 622
	761	+	each such signer or that the signer satisfactorily identified [himself or 623
	762	+	herself] such signer to the circulator and that the spaces for candidates 624
	763	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	764	+
	765	+
	766	+
	767	+	LCO No. 6375 21 of 26
	768	+
	769	+	supported, offices sought and the political party involved were filled in 625
	770	+	prior to the obtaining of the signatures. Each separate page of the 626
	771	+	petition shall also be acknowledged before an appropriate person as 627
	772	+	provided in section 1-29. The Secretary shall reject any page of a petition 628
	773	+	filed with the Secretary which does not contain such a statement by the 629
	774	+	circulator as to the authenticity of the signatures on the page, or upon 630
	775	+	which the statement of the circulator is incomplete in any respect, or 631
	776	+	which does not contain the [certification] attested statement required 632
	777	+	under this section by the registrar of voters of the town in which the 633
	778	+	circulator is an enrolled party member or in which the page was 634
	779	+	circulated. Any individual proposed as a candidate in any primary 635
	780	+	petition may serve as a circulator of the pages of the petition, provided 636
	781	+	the individual's service as circulator does not violate any provision of 637
	782	+	this section. 638
	783	+	Sec. 21. Section 9-410 of the general statutes is repealed and the 639
	784	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 640
	785	+	(a) The petition form for candidacies for nomination to municipal 641
	786	+	office or for election as members of town committees shall be prescribed 642
	787	+	by the Secretary of the State and provided by the registrar of voters of 643
	788	+	the municipality in which the candidacy is to be filed or duplicate 644
	789	+	petition pages shall be produced in accordance with section 9-409, and 645
	790	+	signatures shall be obtained only on such forms or such duplicate 646
	791	+	petition pages. Such form shall include, at the top of the form and in 647
	792	+	bold print, the following: 648
	793	+	WARNING 649
	794	+	IT IS A CRIME TO SIGN THIS PETITION 650
	795	+	IN THE NAME OF ANOTHER PERSON 651
	796	+	WITHOUT LEGAL AUTHORITY TO DO SO 652
	797	+	AND YOU MAY NOT SIGN THIS PETITION 653
	798	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	799	+
	800	+
	801	+
	802	+	LCO No. 6375 22 of 26
	803	+
	804	+	IF YOU ARE NOT AN ELECTOR. 654
	805	+	The form shall include thereon a statement of instructions to persons 655
	806	+	using the form and shall indicate the date and time by which it shall be 656
	807	+	filed and the person with whom it shall be filed. The form shall provide 657
	808	+	spaces for the names and addresses of the candidates, the offices to 658
	809	+	which nomination is sought or the positions to which election is sought 659
	810	+	and the political party holding the primary, and shall provide lines for 660
	811	+	the signatures, street addresses, dates of birth and the printing of the 661
	812	+	names of enrolled party members supporting the person or persons on 662
	813	+	behalf of whose candidacy the petition is used. Only as many candidates 663
	814	+	may be proposed in any one primary petition for the same office or 664
	815	+	position as are to be nominated or chosen by such party for such office 665
	816	+	or position; but any one primary petition may propose as many 666
	817	+	candidates for different offices or positions as there are nominations to 667
	818	+	be made or positions to be filled. 668
	819	+	(b) The names of enrolled party members signing a primary petition 669
	820	+	need not all be on one sheet but may be on several sheets, but no person 670
	821	+	shall sign more than one petition page for the same candidate or 671
	822	+	candidates. Any person who signs a name other than the person's own 672
	823	+	to a primary petition filed under the provisions of this section or who 673
	824	+	signs a name other than the person's own as circulator of such a petition 674
	825	+	shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not 675
	826	+	more than one year or both. Each such sheet shall indicate the candidate 676
	827	+	or candidates supported, the offices or positions sought and the political 677
	828	+	party the nomination of which is sought or which is holding the primary 678
	829	+	for election of town committee members. No page of such a petition 679
	830	+	shall contain the names of enrolled party members residing in different 680
	831	+	municipalities and any page thereof which has been certified by the 681
	832	+	registrars of voters of two or more municipalities shall be rejected by the 682
	833	+	registrar of voters. Withdrawal of petition signatures shall not be 683
	834	+	permitted. 684
	835	+	(c) [Each] Any person qualified to vote under the laws of any state or 685
	836	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	837	+
	838	+
	839	+
	840	+	LCO No. 6375 23 of 26
	841	+
	842	+	territory of the United States may be a circulator of a primary petition 686
	843	+	page [shall be] if such person (1) is an enrolled party member of a 687
	844	+	municipality in this state, [who is entitled to vote. Each] or (2) agrees to 688
	845	+	submit to the jurisdiction of this state in any case or controversy arising 689
	846	+	out of or related to the circulation of a primary petition. For any 690
	847	+	circulator described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, each petition 691
	848	+	page shall contain a statement signed by the registrar of voters of the 692
	849	+	municipality in which such circulator is an enrolled party member 693
	850	+	attesting that the circulator is an enrolled party member in such 694
	851	+	municipality. For any circulator described in subdivision (2) of this 695
	852	+	subsection, each petition page shall contain a statement signed by the 696
	853	+	circulator that the circulator agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of this 697
	854	+	state in any case or controversy arising out of or related to the circulation 698
	855	+	of a primary petition, which signed statement shall be attested to by the 699
	856	+	registrar of voters of the municipality in which such page was 700
	857	+	circulated. Unless such [a] an attested statement by the registrar of 701
	858	+	voters appears on each page so submitted, the registrar of voters shall 702
	859	+	reject such page. No candidate for the nomination of a party for a 703
	860	+	municipal office or the position of town committee member shall 704
	861	+	circulate any petition for another candidate or another group of 705
	862	+	candidates contained in one primary petition for the nomination of such 706
	863	+	party for the same office or position, and any petition page circulated in 707
	864	+	violation of this provision shall be rejected by the registrar of voters. No 708
	865	+	person shall circulate petitions for more than the maximum number of 709
	866	+	candidates to be nominated by a party for the same office or position, 710
	867	+	and any petition page circulated in violation of this provision shall be 711
	868	+	rejected by the registrar of voters. Each separate sheet of such petition 712
	869	+	shall contain a statement as to the authenticity of the signatures thereon 713
	870	+	and the number of such signatures, and shall be signed under the 714
	871	+	[penalties] penalty of false statement by the person who circulated the 715
	872	+	same, setting forth such circulator's address and the town in which such 716
	873	+	circulator is an enrolled party member and attesting that each person 717
	874	+	whose name appears on such sheet signed the same in person in the 718
	875	+	presence of such circulator, that the circulator either knows each such 719
	876	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	877	+
	878	+
	879	+
	880	+	LCO No. 6375 24 of 26
	881	+
	882	+	signer or that the signer satisfactorily identified [the] such signer to the 720
	883	+	circulator and that the spaces for candidates supported, offices or 721
	884	+	positions sought and the political party involved were filled in prior to 722
	885	+	the obtaining of the signatures. Each separate sheet of such petition shall 723
	886	+	also be acknowledged before an appropriate person as provided in 724
	887	+	section 1-29. Any sheet of a petition filed with the registrar of voters 725
	888	+	which does not contain such a statement by the circulator as to the 726
	889	+	authenticity of the signatures thereon, or upon which the statement of 727
	890	+	the circulator is incomplete in any respect, or which does not contain the 728
	891	+	[certification hereinbefore required] attested statement required under 729
	892	+	this section by the registrar of voters of the town in which the circulator 730
	893	+	is an enrolled party member or in which the page was circulated, shall 731
	894	+	be rejected by the registrar of voters. Any individual proposed as a 732
	895	+	candidate in any primary petition may serve as a circulator of the pages 733
	896	+	of such petition, provided such individual's service as circulator does 734
	897	+	not violate any provision of this section. 735
573	898		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
574	899		sections:
575	900
576	901		Section 1 July 1, 2025, and
577	902		applicable to complaints
578	903		brought on or after July 1,
579	904		2025
580	905		9-324
581	906		Sec. 2 July 1, 2025, and
582	907		applicable to complaints
583	908		brought on or after July 1,
584	909		2025
585	910		9-325
586	911		Sec. 3 July 1, 2025, and
587	912		applicable to complaints
588	913		brought on or after July 1,
589	914		2025
590	915		9-328
591	916		Sec. 4 July 1, 2025, and
592	917		applicable to complaints
593	918		brought on or after July 1,
594	919		2025
595	920		9-329a
	921	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	922	+
	923	+
	924	+
	925	+	LCO No. 6375 25 of 26
	926	+
596	927		Sec. 5 July 1, 2025, and
597	928		applicable to complaints
598	929		brought on or after July 1,
599	930		2025
600	931		9-329b
601	932		Sec. 6 July 1, 2025, and
602	933		applicable to actions
603	934		brought on or after July 1,
604	935		2025
605		-	9-368j(b)(2)(B) Substitute Bill No. 7230
606		-
607		-
608		-	LCO 17 of 17
609		-
	936	+	9-368j(b)(2)(B)
610	937		Sec. 7 July 1, 2025, and
611	938		applicable to actions
612	939		brought on or after July 1,
613	940		2025
614	941		9-368j(c)(1)
615	942		Sec. 8 July 1, 2025, and
616	943		applicable to actions
617	944		brought on or after July 1,
618	945		2025
619	946		9-368j(d)
620	947		Sec. 9 July 1, 2025, and
621	948		applicable to actions
622	949		brought on or after July 1,
623	950		2025
624	951		9-368j(e)(1)
625	952		Sec. 10 July 1, 2025, and
626	953		applicable to actions
627	954		brought on or after July 1,
628	955		2025
629	956		9-368j(g)(2)(E) and (F)
630	957		Sec. 11 July 1, 2025, and
631	958		applicable to actions
632	959		brought on or after July 1,
633	960		2025
634	961		9-368l(g)
635	962		Sec. 12 July 1, 2025, and
636	963		applicable to actions
637	964		brought on or after July 1,
638	965		2025
639	966		9-368m(a)
640	967		Sec. 13 July 1, 2025, and
641	968		applicable to actions
642	969		brought on or after July 1,
643	970		2025
644	971		9-368m(f)(1)
645	972		Sec. 14 July 1, 2025, and
646	973		applicable to actions
647	974		brought on or after July 1,
648	975		2025
649	976		9-368m(g)
	977	+	Raised Bill No. 7230
	978	+
	979	+
	980	+
	981	+	LCO No. 6375 26 of 26
	982	+
650	983		Sec. 15 July 1, 2025, and
651	984		applicable to actions
652	985		brought on or after July 1,
653	986		2025
654	987		9-368n(c)(1)
	988	+	Sec. 16 July 1, 2025 9-453e
	989	+	Sec. 17 July 1, 2025 9-453j
	990	+	Sec. 18 July 1, 2025 9-453k(a) and (b)
	991	+	Sec. 19 July 1, 2025 9-453o
	992	+	Sec. 20 July 1, 2025 9-404b(c) and (d)
	993	+	Sec. 21 July 1, 2025 9-410
655	994
656		-	GAE Joint Favorable Subst.
	995	+	Statement of Purpose:
	996	+	To (1) require that certain election-related filings be made in the superior
	997	+	court for the judicial district of Hartford or for the judicial district of
	998	+	Bridgeport, and (2) bring into compliance with federal case law certain
	999	+	state statutes relating to the circulation of nominating and primary
	1000	+	petitions.
	1001	+
	1002	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	1003	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	1004	+	underlined.]
657	1005