Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB07245 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
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3		-	LCO 1 of 10
	3	+	LCO No. 6588 1 of 10
4	4
5		-	General Assembly ~~Substitute~~ Bill No. 7245
	5	+	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7245
6	6		January Session, 2025
	7	+	LCO No. 6588
	8	+
	9	+
	10	+	Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
	11	+	AND ELECTIONS
	12	+
	13	+
	14	+	Introduced by:
	15	+	(GAE)
	16	+
7	17
8	18
9	19
10	20		AN ACT CONCERNING A DEADLINE FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
11	21		AUTOMATIC VOTER REGISTRATION PROCESSES AT CERTAIN
12	22		STATE AGENCIES.
13	23		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
14	24		Assembly convened:
15	25
16	26		Section 1. Subsection (b) of section 9-19h of the general statutes is 1
17	27		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2
18	28		1, 2025): 3
19	29		(b) (1) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, 4
20	30		and except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the 5
21	31		Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall include an application for the 6
22	32		admission of an elector with each application form provided for a motor 7
23	33		vehicle operator's license and a motor vehicle operator's license renewal, 8
24	34		which are issued under subpart (B) of part III of chapter 246, and with 9
25	35		each application form provided for an identity card issued under section 10
26	36		1-1h. Such application form for the admission of an elector (A) shall be 11
27	37		subject to the approval of the Secretary of the State, (B) shall not include 12
28	38		any provisions for the witnessing of the application, and (C) shall 13
29	39		contain a statement that (i) specifies each eligibility requirement, (ii) 14
	40	+	Raised Bill No. 7245
	41	+
	42	+
	43	+
	44	+	LCO No. 6588 2 of 10
	45	+
30	46		contains an attestation that the applicant meets each such requirement, 15
31	47		and (iii) requires the signature of the applicant under penalty of perjury. 16
32	48		The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall accept any such completed 17
33	49		application for admission which is submitted in person, by mail or 18
34		-	through an electronic system pursuant to subdivision (2) of this 19 Substitute Bill No. 7245
35		-
36		-
37		-	LCO 2 of 10
38		-
	50	+	through an electronic system pursuant to subdivision (2) of this 19
39	51		subsection. Except as provided in said subdivision, the applicant shall 20
40	52		state on such form, under penalty of perjury, the applicant's name, bona 21
41	53		fide residence address, date of birth, whether the applicant is a United 22
42	54		States citizen, party enrollment, if any, prior voting address, if registered 23
43	55		previously, and that the applicant's privileges as an elector are not 24
44	56		forfeited by reason of conviction of a felony. No Social Security number 25
45	57		on any such application form for the admission of an elector filed prior 26
46	58		to January 1, 2000, may be disclosed to the public or to any 27
47	59		governmental agency. The commissioner shall indicate on each such 28
48	60		form the date of receipt of such application to ensure that any eligible 29
49	61		applicant is registered to vote in an election if it is received by the 30
50	62		Commissioner of Motor Vehicles by the last day for registration to vote 31
51	63		in an election. The commissioner shall provide the applicant with an 32
52	64		application receipt, on a form approved by the Secretary of the State and 33
53	65		on which the commissioner shall record the date that the commissioner 34
54	66		received the application, using an official date stamp bearing the words 35
55	67		"Department of Motor Vehicles". The commissioner shall provide such 36
56	68		receipt whether the application was submitted in person, by mail or 37
57	69		through an electronic system pursuant to subdivision (2) of this 38
58	70		subsection. The commissioner shall forthwith transmit the application 39
59	71		to the registrars of voters of the applicant's town of residence. If a 40
60	72		registration application is accepted within five days before the last day 41
61	73		for registration to vote in a regular election, the application shall be 42
62	74		transmitted to the registrars of voters of the town of voting residence of 43
63	75		the applicant not later than five days after the date of acceptance. The 44
64	76		procedures in subsections (c), (d), (f) and (g) of section 9-23g which are 45
65	77		not inconsistent with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 46
66	78		103-31, as amended from time to time, shall apply to applications made 47
67	79		under this section. The commissioner is not an admitting official and 48
	80	+	Raised Bill No. 7245
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	82	+
	83	+
	84	+	LCO No. 6588 3 of 10
	85	+
68	86		may not restore, under the provisions of section 9-46a, electoral 49
69	87		privileges of persons convicted of a felony. 50
70	88		(2) (A) (i) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall provide an 51
71	89		electronic system, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the State, to 52
72		-	effectuate the purposes of subdivision (1) of this subsection regarding 53 Substitute Bill No. 7245
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74		-
75		-	LCO 3 of 10
76		-
	90	+	effectuate the purposes of subdivision (1) of this subsection regarding 53
77	91		application for admission of an elector, except that the condition that an 54
78	92		applicant state and attest to meeting each eligibility requirement may be 55
79	93		waived for any such eligibility requirement verified independently by 56
80	94		said commissioner through a federally approved identity verification 57
81	95		program or other evidence acceptable to said commissioner. Such 58
82	96		electronic system may provide for the transmittal to the Secretary of an 59
83	97		applicant's signature on file with said commissioner. The use of any 60
84	98		such electronic system shall comply with the National Voter 61
85	99		Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time. 62
86		-	[(B) (i)] (ii) (I) Unless otherwise provided in [this] subparagraph 63
87		-	~~(A)(ii)~~ of this subdivision, if the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles 64
88		-	~~determines~~ that a person applying for a motor vehicle operator's license, 65
89		-	~~a motor~~ vehicle operator's license renewal or an identity card meets each 66
	100	+	[(B) (i)] (ii) (I) Unless otherwise provided in [this] subparagraph (A)(i) 63
	101	+	of this subdivision, if the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles determines 64
	102	+	that a person applying for a motor vehicle operator's license, a motor 65
	103	+	vehicle operator's license renewal or an identity card meets each 66
90	104		eligibility requirement for admission as an elector, said commissioner 67
91	105		shall forthwith transmit an application for such person's admission as 68
92	106		an elector to the registrars of voters of the town of residence of such 69
93	107		person through an electronic system pursuant to this subdivision, in 70
94	108		accordance with the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, 71
95	109		except that no such application shall be transmitted if such person 72
96	110		declines to apply for such admission. 73
97	111		[(ii)] (II) If said commissioner determines that a person applying for 74
98	112		a motor vehicle operator's license, a motor vehicle operator's license 75
99	113		renewal or an identity card is not a United States citizen, said 76
100	114		commissioner shall not provide such person an opportunity to apply for 77
101	115		admission as an elector through an electronic system pursuant to this 78
102	116		subdivision and shall not transmit any application for such admission 79
103	117		on behalf of such person. 80
	118	+	Raised Bill No. 7245
	119	+
	120	+
	121	+
	122	+	LCO No. 6588 4 of 10
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104	124		[(iii)] (III) If said commissioner cannot determine whether a person 81
105	125		applying for a motor vehicle operator's license, a motor vehicle 82
106	126		operator's license renewal or an identity card is a United States citizen, 83
107	127		such person shall attest to his or her United States citizenship as a 84
108	128		precondition of said commissioner processing such person's application 85
109		-	for admission as an elector through an electronic system pursuant to this 86 Substitute Bill No. 7245
110		-
111		-
112		-	LCO 4 of 10
113		-
	129	+	for admission as an elector through an electronic system pursuant to this 86
114	130		subdivision. 87
115	131		(B) If the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles has not provided the 88
116	132		electronic system described in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision by 89
117	133		March 31, 2027, then beginning April 1, 2027, and each day thereafter 90
118	134		until such electronic system has been so provided in accordance with 91
119	135		the provisions of said subparagraph, five thousand dollars of the funds 92
120	136		appropriated to the Department of Motor Vehicles for the fiscal year 93
121	137		ending June 30, 2027, shall be transferred to the office of the Secretary of 94
122	138		the State for each day that such electronic system is not so provided. 95
123	139		Sec. 2. Section 9-19i of the general statutes is repealed and the 96
124	140		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 97
125	141		(a) Any change of address form submitted by a person in accordance 98
126	142		with law for purposes of a motor vehicle operator's license shall serve 99
127	143		as notification of change of address for voter registration for the person 100
128	144		unless the person states on the form that the change of address is not for 101
129	145		voter registration purposes. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall 102
130	146		forthwith transmit such change of address information to the registrars 103
131	147		of voters of the town of the former address of the person. If the name of 104
132	148		the person appears on the registry list of the town, and if the new 105
133	149		address is also within such town, the registrars shall enter the name of 106
134	150		such elector on the registry list at the place where he then resides. If the 107
135	151		name of the person appears on the registry list of the town and if the 108
136	152		new address is outside such town, the registrars shall remove the name 109
137	153		of such elector from the registry list and send the elector the notice, 110
138	154		information and application required by subsection (c) of section 9-35, 111
139	155		except that if said commissioner is using an electronic system pursuant 112
	156	+	Raised Bill No. 7245
	157	+
	158	+
	159	+
	160	+	LCO No. 6588 5 of 10
	161	+
140	162		to subsection (b) of this section, the Secretary of the State may prescribe 113
141	163		alternative procedures for sending such notice and information and 114
142	164		may waive the requirement to send such application. 115
143	165		(b) (1) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall provide an 116
144	166		electronic system, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the State, to 117
145		-	effectuate the purposes of subsection (a) of this section regarding 118 Substitute Bill No. 7245
146		-
147		-
148		-	LCO 5 of 10
149		-
	167	+	effectuate the purposes of subsection (a) of this section regarding 118
150	168		notifications of change of address for voter registration. Such electronic 119
151	169		system may provide for the transmittal to the Secretary of an applicant's 120
152	170		signature on file with said commissioner. The use of any such electronic 121
153	171		system shall comply with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, 122
154	172		P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time. 123
155	173		(2) If the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles has not provided the 124
156	174		electronic system described in subdivision (1) of this subsection by 125
157	175		March 31, 2027, then beginning April 1, 2027, and each day thereafter 126
158	176		until such electronic system has been so provided in accordance with 127
159	177		the provisions of said subdivision, five thousand dollars of the funds 128
160	178		appropriated to the Department of Motor Vehicles for the fiscal year 129
161	179		ending June 30, 2027, shall be transferred to the office of the Secretary of 130
162	180		the State for each day that such electronic system is not so provided. 131
163	181		Sec. 3. Section 9-23n of the general statutes is repealed and the 132
164	182		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 133
165	183		(a) As used in this section, "voter registration agency" means (1) 134
166	184		public assistance offices, (2) all offices in the state that provide 135
167	185		state-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to 136
168	186		persons with disabilities, (3) libraries that are open to the public, and (4) 137
169	187		such other appropriate offices as the Secretary of the State shall 138
170	188		designate in accordance with the National Voter Registration Act of 139
171	189		1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time. 140
172	190		(b) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, each 141
173	191		voter registration agency shall (A) distribute mail voter registration 142
174	192		application forms, (B) assist applicants for assistance or services 143
	193	+	Raised Bill No. 7245
	194	+
	195	+
	196	+
	197	+	LCO No. 6588 6 of 10
	198	+
175	199		provided by the agency in completing voter registration application 144
176	200		forms, except for applicants who refuse assistance in completing such 145
177	201		forms, (C) accept completed voter registration application forms and 146
178	202		provide each applicant with an application receipt, on which the agency 147
179	203		shall record the date that the agency received the application, using an 148
180	204		official date stamp bearing the name of the agency, and (D) immediately 149
181		-	transmit all such applications to the registrars of voters of the town of 150 Substitute Bill No. 7245
182		-
183		-
184		-	LCO 6 of 10
185		-
	205	+	transmit all such applications to the registrars of voters of the town of 150
186	206		voting residence of the applicants. The agency shall provide such receipt 151
187	207		whether the application was submitted in person, by mail or through an 152
188	208		electronic system pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection. If a 153
189	209		registration application is accepted within five days before the last day 154
190	210		for registration to vote in a regular election, the application shall be 155
191	211		transmitted to the registrars of voters of the town of voting residence of 156
192	212		the applicant not later than five days after the date of acceptance. Except 157
193	213		as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the voter registration 158
194	214		agency shall indicate on the completed mail voter registration 159
195	215		application form, without indicating the identity of the voter 160
196	216		registration agency, the date of its acceptance by such agency, to ensure 161
197	217		that any eligible applicant is registered to vote in an election if it is 162
198	218		received by the registration agency by the last day for registration to 163
199	219		vote in an election. If a state-funded program primarily engaged in 164
200	220		providing services to persons with disabilities provides services to a 165
201	221		person with a disability at the person's home, the agency shall provide 166
202	222		such voter registration services at the person's home. The procedures in 167
203	223		subsections (c), (d), (f) and (g) of section 9-23g that are not inconsistent 168
204	224		with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as 169
205	225		amended from time to time, shall apply to applications made under this 170
206	226		section. Officials and employees of such voter registration agencies are 171
207	227		not admitting officials, as defined in section 9-17a, and may not restore, 172
208	228		under the provisions of section 9-46a, electoral privileges of persons 173
209	229		convicted of a felony. 174
210	230		(2) (A) (i) Each voter registration agency shall provide an electronic 175
211	231		system, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the State, to effectuate 176
	232	+	Raised Bill No. 7245
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	235	+
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212	238		the purposes of subdivision (1) of this subsection regarding application 177
213	239		for admission of an elector, except that the condition that an applicant 178
214	240		state and attest to meeting each eligibility requirement may be waived 179
215	241		for any such eligibility requirement verified independently by the 180
216	242		agency through a federally approved identity verification program or 181
217	243		other evidence acceptable to the agency. Such electronic system may 182
218	244		provide for the transmittal to the Secretary of an applicant's signature 183
219		-	on file with the voter registration agency. The use of any such electronic 184 Substitute Bill No. 7245
220		-
221		-
222		-	LCO 7 of 10
223		-
	245	+	on file with the voter registration agency. The use of any such electronic 184
224	246		system shall comply with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, 185
225	247		P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time. 186
226		-	[(B) (i)] (ii) (I) Unless otherwise provided in [this] subparagraph 187
227		-	~~(A)(ii)~~ of this subdivision, if the voter registration agency determines 188
228		-	~~that a~~ person applying for assistance or services provided by the agency 189
229		-	~~meets~~ each eligibility requirement for admission as an elector, the 190
230		-	~~agency shall~~ forthwith transmit an application for such person's 191
231		-	~~admission as an~~ elector to the registrars of voters of the town of 192
232		-	~~residence of such person~~ through an electronic system pursuant to this 193
233		-	~~subdivision, in~~ accordance with the provisions of subdivision (1) of this 194
234		-	~~subsection,~~ except that no such application shall be transmitted if such 195
235		-	~~person~~ declines to apply for such admission. 196
	248	+	[(B) (i)] (ii) (I) Unless otherwise provided in [this] subparagraph (A)(i) 187
	249	+	of this subdivision, if the voter registration agency determines that a 188
	250	+	person applying for assistance or services provided by the agency meets 189
	251	+	each eligibility requirement for admission as an elector, the agency shall 190
	252	+	forthwith transmit an application for such person's admission as an 191
	253	+	elector to the registrars of voters of the town of residence of such person 192
	254	+	through an electronic system pursuant to this subdivision, in 193
	255	+	accordance with the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, 194
	256	+	except that no such application shall be transmitted if such person 195
	257	+	declines to apply for such admission. 196
236	258		[(ii)] (II) If the voter registration agency determines that a person 197
237	259		applying for assistance or services provided by the agency is not a 198
238	260		United States citizen, the agency shall not provide such person an 199
239	261		opportunity to apply for admission as an elector through an electronic 200
240	262		system pursuant to this subdivision and shall not transmit any 201
241	263		application for such admission on behalf of such person. 202
242	264		[(iii)] (III) If the voter registration agency cannot determine whether 203
243	265		a person applying for assistance or services provided by the agency is a 204
244	266		United States citizen, such person shall attest to his or her United States 205
245	267		citizenship as a precondition of the agency processing such person's 206
246	268		application for admission as an elector through an electronic system 207
247	269		pursuant to this subdivision. 208
	270	+	Raised Bill No. 7245
	271	+
	272	+
	273	+
	274	+	LCO No. 6588 8 of 10
	275	+
248	276		(B) If a voter registration agency has not provided the electronic 209
249	277		system described in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision by March 31, 210
250	278		2027, then beginning April 1, 2027, and each day thereafter until such 211
251	279		electronic system has been so provided in accordance with the 212
252	280		provisions of said subparagraph, five thousand dollars of the funds 213
253	281		appropriated to such voter registration agency for the fiscal year ending 214
254	282		June 30, 2027, shall be transferred to the office of the Secretary of the 215
255		-	State for each day that such electronic system is not so provided. 216 Substitute Bill No. 7245
256		-
257		-
258		-	LCO 8 of 10
259		-
	283	+	State for each day that such electronic system is not so provided. 216
260	284		Sec. 4. Section 9-23o of the general statutes is repealed and the 217
261	285		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 218
262	286		(a) A voter registration agency, as defined in section 9-23n, as 219
263	287		amended by this act, shall comply with the National Voter Registration 220
264	288		Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time, and (1) shall 221
265	289		distribute with each application for assistance or services provided by 222
266	290		the agency, and with each recertification, renewal or change of address 223
267	291		form relating to such assistance or services, a mail voter registration 224
268	292		application form approved by the Secretary of the State, and (2) during 225
269	293		each application for such assistance or services and each recertification, 226
270	294		renewal or change of address relating to such assistance or services, 227
271	295		shall use an electronic system described in subdivision (2) of subsection 228
272	296		(b) of section 9-23n, as amended by this act, in accordance with said 229
273	297		subdivision to effectuate the purposes of subdivision (1) of said 230
274	298		subsection regarding application for admission of an elector, unless the 231
275	299		applicant declines to register to vote pursuant to the provisions of the 232
276	300		National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from 233
277	301		time to time. Such declination shall be in writing, except in the case of 234
278	302		an application for service or assistance provided by a library, or a 235
279	303		recertification, renewal or change of address form relating to such 236
280	304		library service or assistance. Such voter registration agency shall 237
281	305		provide each applicant to register to vote the same degree of assistance 238
282	306		with regard to the completion of the registration application form as is 239
283	307		provided by the agency with regard to the completion of its own forms, 240
284	308		unless the applicant refuses such assistance. 241
	309	+	Raised Bill No. 7245
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	313	+	LCO No. 6588 9 of 10
	314	+
285	315		(b) If a voter registration agency has not commenced use of the 242
286	316		electronic system described in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 243
287	317		9-23n, as amended by this act, by March 31, 2027, then beginning April 244
288	318		1, 2027, and each day thereafter until use of such electronic system has 245
289	319		commenced in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (2) of 246
290	320		subsection (a) of this section, five thousand dollars of the funds 247
291	321		appropriated to such voter registration agency for the fiscal year ending 248
292	322		June 30, 2027, shall be transferred to the office of the Secretary of the 249
293		-	State for each day that use of such electronic system has not so 250 Substitute Bill No. 7245
294		-
295		-
296		-	LCO 9 of 10
297		-
	323	+	State for each day that use of such electronic system has not so 250
298	324		commenced. 251
299	325		Sec. 5. Section 9-23p of the general statutes is repealed and the 252
300	326		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 253
301	327		(a) Each public institution of higher education shall (1) distribute mail 254
302	328		voter registration application forms, and assist applicants who request 255
303	329		assistance in completing such voter registration application forms, and 256
304	330		(2) use an electronic system described in subdivision (2) of subsection 257
305	331		(b) of section 9-23n, as amended by this act, in accordance with said 258
306	332		subdivision to effectuate the purposes of subdivision (1) of said 259
307	333		subsection regarding application for admission of an elector, and assist 260
308	334		applicants who request assistance in so applying through such 261
309	335		electronic system. 262
310	336		(b) If a public institution of higher education has not commenced use 263
311	337		of the electronic system described in subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of 264
312	338		section 9-23n, as amended by this act, by March 31, 2027, then beginning 265
313	339		April 1, 2027, and each day thereafter until use of such electronic system 266
314	340		has commenced in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (2) of 267
315	341		subsection (a) of this section, five thousand dollars of the funds 268
316	342		appropriated to such public institution of higher education for the fiscal 269
317	343		year ending June 30, 2027, shall be transferred to the office of the 270
318	344		Secretary of the State for each day that use of such electronic system has 271
319	345		not so commenced. 272
	346	+	Raised Bill No. 7245
	347	+
	348	+
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	351	+
320	352		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
321	353		sections:
322	354
323	355		Section 1 October 1, 2025 9-19h(b)
324	356		Sec. 2 October 1, 2025 9-19i
325	357		Sec. 3 October 1, 2025 9-23n
326	358		Sec. 4 October 1, 2025 9-23o
327	359		Sec. 5 October 1, 2025 9-23p
328		-	Substitute Bill No. 7245
329	360
	361	+	Statement of Purpose:
	362	+	To (1) require certain state agencies to implement automatic voter
	363	+	registration processes by not later than March 31, 2027, and (2) impose
	364	+	a penalty of five thousand dollars per day for noncompliance with such
	365	+	requirement.
330	366
331		-	LCO 10 of 10
332		-
333		-	Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
334		-	In Sections 1(b)(2)(A)(ii)(I) and 3(b)(2)(A)(ii)(I), "subparagraph (A)(i) of
335		-	this subdivision" was changed to "subparagraph (A)(ii) of this
336		-	subdivision" for accuracy.
337		-
338		-	GAE Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO
	367	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	368	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	369	+	underlined.]
339	370