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repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 2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