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Connecticut Senate Bill SB01163

Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB01163 Compare Versions

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5-General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 1163
4+LCO No. 5198 1 of 8
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6+General Assembly Committee Bill No. 1163
67 January Session, 2025
8+LCO No. 5198
79
810
11+Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
12+AND ELECTIONS
13+
14+
15+Introduced by:
16+(GAE)
917
1018
1119
1220 AN ACT CONCERNING QUALIFICATIONS OF INDIVIDUALS
1321 APPOINTED TO SERVE AS MODERATORS AT ELECTIONS AND
1422 PRIMARIES.
1523 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
1624 Assembly convened:
1725
18-Section 1. Subsection (d) of section 9-229 of the general statutes is 1
19-repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 2
20-1, 2026): 3
21-(d) If the person designated as moderator is unable to serve for any 4
22-reason, a certified alternate moderator shall serve as moderator. If such 5
23-certified alternate moderator is not called upon to serve as moderator, 6
24-he shall serve in another capacity as an election official on election or 7
25-primary day. If any town or voting district lacks a moderator due to the 8
26-death, disability or withdrawal of a certified moderator or alternate 9
27-moderator, or due to the disqualification of a moderator for any reason, 10
28-including failure to attend an instructional session as required by this 11
29-section, the registrars of voters shall appoint a new moderator for such 12
30-town or voting district in the manner provided in this section, except 13
31-that the registrars shall not appoint as moderator any person who has, 14
32-in a court of competent jurisdiction, been convicted of or pled guilty or 15
33-nolo contendere to any (1) felony involving fraud, forgery, larceny, 16
34-embezzlement or bribery, or (2) criminal offense under this title. Such 17
35-new moderator shall attend an instructional session and a certification 18 Substitute Bill No. 1163
26+Section 1. Section 9-229 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
27+following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 2
28+(a) The registrars of voters in the several towns and, in towns where 3
29+there are different registrars for different voting districts, the registrars 4
30+of voters in such districts shall appoint the moderators of regular and 5
31+special state and municipal elections in their respective towns or 6
32+districts. For the purpose of providing a reserve group of persons who 7
33+may serve as moderators, the registrars shall designate alternate 8
34+moderators from among those persons chosen as official checkers, or 9
35+tabulator tenders, in the following minimum numbers: In towns with 10
36+one or more but not exceeding three voting districts, one alternate 11
37+moderator; in towns with four or more but not exceeding eight voting 12
38+districts, two alternate moderators; in towns with more than eight 13
39+voting districts, a number of alternate moderators equal to one-fourth 14
40+Committee Bill No. 1163
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38-LCO 2 of 3
43+LCO No. 5198 2 of 8
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40-session conducted in accordance with the provisions of this section. If 19
41-all such sessions have been conducted at the time of appointment of the 20
42-new moderator, the new moderator shall receive instruction from the 21
43-registrars who appointed the new moderator. 22
44-Sec. 2. Section 9-169 of the general statutes is repealed and the 23
45-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 24
46-The legislative body of any town, consolidated town and city or 25
47-consolidated town and borough may divide and, from time to time, 26
48-redivide such municipality into voting districts. The registrars of voters 27
49-of any municipality taking such action shall provide a suitable polling 28
50-place in each district but, if the registrars fail to agree as to the location 29
51-of any polling place or places, the legislative body shall determine the 30
52-location thereof. Polling places to be used in an election shall be 31
53-determined at least thirty-one days before such election, and such 32
54-polling places shall not be changed within said period of thirty-one days 33
55-except that, if the municipal clerk and registrars of voters of a 34
56-municipality unanimously find that any such polling place within such 35
57-municipality has been rendered unusable within such period, they shall 36
58-forthwith designate another polling place to be used in place of the one 37
59-so rendered unusable and shall give adequate notice that such polling 38
60-place has been so changed. The registrars of voters shall keep separate 39
61-lists of the electors residing in each district and shall appoint for each 40
62-district a moderator in accordance with the provisions of section 9-229, 41
63-as amended by this act, and such other election officials as are required 42
64-by law, and shall designate one of the moderators so appointed or any 43
65-other elector of such town to be the head moderator for the purpose of 44
66-declaring the results of elections in the whole municipality, except that 45
67-the registrars shall not appoint as moderator any person who has, in a 46
68-court of competent jurisdiction, been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo 47
69-contendere to any (1) felony involving fraud, forgery, larceny, 48
70-embezzlement or bribery, or (2) criminal offense under this title. The 49
71-registrars may also designate a deputy head moderator to assist the 50
72-head moderator in the performance of his duties provided the deputy 51
73-head moderator and the head moderator shall not be enrolled in the 52 Substitute Bill No. 1163
45+of the number of voting districts rounded off to the nearest multiple of 15
46+four. In case the registrars fail to agree in the choice of a moderator or 16
47+alternate moderator, the choice shall be determined between such 17
48+registrars by lot. In the case of a primary, the registrar, as defined in 18
49+section 9-372, shall so appoint such moderators and alternate 19
50+moderators. Moderators and alternate moderators shall be appointed at 20
51+least twenty days before the commencement of the period of early 21
52+voting at such election or primary. The registrars shall submit a list of 22
53+the names of such moderators and alternate moderators to the 23
54+municipal clerk, which list shall be made available for public inspection 24
55+by such clerk. Each person appointed to serve as moderator or alternate 25
56+moderator, including any head moderator, shall be certified by the 26
57+Secretary of the State in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) 27
58+of this section, except as provided in subsection (d) of this section or 28
59+section 9-436. 29
60+(b) (1) The Secretary of the State shall: (A) Request registrars of voters 30
61+to volunteer to serve as instructors for moderators and alternate 31
62+moderators; (B) select registrars from among such volunteers to serve as 32
63+such instructors; (C) establish a curriculum for instructional sessions for 33
64+moderators and alternate moderators; (D) establish the number of such 34
65+instructional sessions to be held, provided at least one such instructional 35
66+session shall be held in each congressional district in each calendar year; 36
67+and (E) train the instructors for such sessions. The curriculum for such 37
68+instructional sessions shall include, but need not be limited to, 38
69+procedures for counting and recording absentee ballots, hands-on 39
70+training in the use of voting tabulators, and the duties of a moderator in 40
71+the conduct of a primary or an election. The Secretary may employ 41
72+assistants on a temporary basis within existing budgetary resources for 42
73+the purpose of implementing the provisions of this section. Such 43
74+assistants shall not be subject to the provisions of chapter 67. The 44
75+instructors shall conduct instructional sessions for moderators and 45
76+alternate moderators in accordance with their training by the Secretary 46
77+and the curriculum for such sessions. 47
78+Committee Bill No. 1163
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78-same major party, as defined in subdivision (5) of section 9-372. The 53
79-selectmen, town clerk, registrars of voters and all other officers of the 54
80-municipality shall perform the duties required of them by law with 55
81-respect to elections in each voting district established in accordance with 56
82-this section. Voting district lines shall not be drawn by a municipality so 57
83-as to conflict with the lines of congressional districts, senate districts or 58
84-assembly districts as established by law, except [(1)] (A) as provided in 59
85-section 9-169d, and [(2)] (B) that as to municipal elections, any part of a 60
86-split voting district containing less than two hundred electors may be 61
87-combined with another voting district adjacent thereto from which all 62
88-and the same officers are elected at such municipal election. Any change 63
89-in the boundaries of voting districts made within ninety days prior to 64
90-any election or primary shall not apply with respect to such election or 65
91-primary. The provisions of this section shall prevail over any contrary 66
92-provision of any charter or special act. 67
83+(2) The Secretary of the State shall also: (A) Coordinate with each 48
84+regional election advisor appointed pursuant to section 9-229b, and the 49
85+regional council of governments that appointed such regional election 50
86+advisor, to hold instructional sessions for moderators and alternate 51
87+moderators within the planning region served by such regional council 52
88+of governments, in accordance with the curriculum established under 53
89+subdivision (1) of this subsection; and (B) train and certify each regional 54
90+election advisor for purposes of performing the duties of the position. 55
91+The Secretary shall certify as a regional election advisor each individual 56
92+who successfully completes training under subparagraph (B) of this 57
93+subdivision, except the Secretary shall not so certify any individual who 58
94+has, in a court of competent jurisdiction, been convicted of or pled guilty 59
95+or nolo contendere to any (i) felony involving fraud, forgery, larceny, 60
96+embezzlement or bribery, or (ii) criminal offense under this title. Any 61
97+such initial certification granted under this subdivision shall expire two 62
98+years after the date of such granting. Prior to expiration of the initial or 63
99+any subsequent certification, a regional election advisor may undergo 64
100+an abridged recertification process prescribed by the Secretary, and 65
101+upon successful completion thereof, such certification shall be renewed 66
102+for two years after the date of such completion. Only certification in 67
103+accordance with this subdivision shall satisfy the requirement of 68
104+subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of section 9-229b, and the Secretary may 69
105+revoke any such certification, with or without cause, at any time. 70
106+(3) The duties of each regional election advisor shall include, but not 71
107+be limited to: (A) Holding the instructional sessions described in 72
108+subdivision (2) of this subsection; (B) communicating with registrars of 73
109+voters to assist, to the extent permitted under law, in preparations for 74
110+and operations of any election, primary or recanvass, or any audit 75
111+conducted pursuant to section 9-320f; and (C) transmitting any order 76
112+issued by the Secretary of the State, pursuant to subsection (b) of section 77
113+9-3. 78
114+(4) Any elector may attend one or more of the sessions held under 79
115+subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection. Each instructor or regional 80
116+Committee Bill No. 1163
117+
118+
119+LCO No. 5198 4 of 8
120+
121+election advisor, as the case may be, shall provide the Secretary of the 81
122+State with the name and address of each person who completes any such 82
123+session. 83
124+(c) The Secretary shall conduct certification sessions for moderators 84
125+and alternate moderators each year at times and places to be determined 85
126+by said Secretary, provided at least eight such sessions shall be held each 86
127+calendar year and at least one such session shall be conducted prior to 87
128+every primary. The Secretary shall certify each person who successfully 88
129+completes an instructional session or regional instructional session, as 89
130+the case may be, conducted in accordance with the provisions of 90
131+subsection (b) of this section and an examination administered by the 91
132+Secretary, as eligible to serve as moderator or alternate moderator at any 92
133+election or primary held during the time such certification is effective, 93
134+except the Secretary shall not certify any person as moderator or 94
135+alternate moderator who has been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo 95
136+contendere to, in a court of competent jurisdiction, any felony involving 96
137+fraud, forgery, larceny, embezzlement or bribery or any criminal offense 97
138+under this title. Before July 1, 2019, (1) any initial certification granted 98
139+under this subsection shall expire two years after the date of its granting, 99
140+and (2) prior to expiration of an initial or subsequent certification, a 100
141+moderator or alternate moderator may undergo an abridged 101
142+recertification process prescribed by the Secretary, and upon successful 102
143+completion thereof, such certification shall be renewed for two years 103
144+after the date of such completion. On and after July 1, 2019, (A) any 104
145+initial certification granted under this subsection shall expire four years 105
146+after the date of its granting, and (B) prior to expiration of an initial or 106
147+subsequent certification, a moderator or alternate moderator may 107
148+undergo an abridged recertification process prescribed by the Secretary, 108
149+and upon successful completion thereof, such certification shall be 109
150+renewed for four years after the date of such completion. Only those 110
151+persons who are certified in accordance with this subsection shall be 111
152+eligible to serve as moderators on election or primary day, except as 112
153+provided in subsection (d) of this section or section 9-436. The Secretary 113
154+of the State may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of 114
155+Committee Bill No. 1163
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157+
158+LCO No. 5198 5 of 8
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160+chapter 54, as the Secretary deems necessary to implement the 115
161+certification process under this section. 116
162+(d) If the person designated as moderator is unable to serve for any 117
163+reason, a certified alternate moderator shall serve as moderator. If such 118
164+certified alternate moderator is not called upon to serve as moderator, 119
165+he shall serve in another capacity as an election official on election or 120
166+primary day. If any town or voting district lacks a moderator due to the 121
167+death, disability or withdrawal of a certified moderator or alternate 122
168+moderator, or due to the disqualification of a moderator for any reason, 123
169+including failure to attend an instructional session as required by this 124
170+section, the registrars of voters shall appoint a new moderator for such 125
171+town or voting district in the manner provided in this section. Such new 126
172+moderator shall attend an instructional session and a certification 127
173+session conducted in accordance with the provisions of this section. If 128
174+all such sessions have been conducted at the time of appointment of the 129
175+new moderator, the new moderator shall receive instruction from the 130
176+registrars who appointed the new moderator. 131
177+Sec. 2. Subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of section 9-163aa of the 132
178+general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 133
179+thereof (Effective from passage): 134
180+(4) (A) The registrars of voters shall appoint, for each day on which 135
181+early voting is conducted, a moderator, in accordance with the 136
182+provisions of section 9-229, as amended by this act, and such other 137
183+election or primary officials to serve at each location designated for such 138
184+conduct. The moderator so appointed shall perform any duty required, 139
185+and may exercise any power authorized, under this title related to the 140
186+conduct of early voting at such location. On any such day and solely for 141
187+purposes related to the conduct of early voting, the registrars of voters 142
188+of a municipality may, upon agreement, appoint one of the registrars 143
189+from such municipality as moderator in accordance with the provisions 144
190+of subparagraph (B) of this subdivision. The registrars of voters may 145
191+delegate to each other election or primary official so appointed any of 146
192+Committee Bill No. 1163
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195+LCO No. 5198 6 of 8
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197+the responsibilities assigned to the registrars of voters. The registrars of 147
198+voters shall supervise each such official and train each such official to be 148
199+an early voting election or primary official. 149
200+(B) Whenever the registrars of voters of a municipality appoint, 150
201+pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, one of the registrars 151
202+of such municipality as moderator to serve at a location designated for 152
203+the conduct of early voting, such registrars of voters shall jointly submit 153
204+to the Secretary of the State (i) a certification that the registrars of voters 154
205+of such municipality are in agreement as to such appointment, and (ii) 155
206+a written plan detailing alternative coverage of the duties normally 156
207+carried out by the registrar so appointed to ensure that such registrar 157
208+abstains, on each day in which such registrar serves as moderator, from 158
209+any such duties that conflict with those of the moderator. 159
210+Sec. 3. Subsection (c) of section 9-19j of the general statutes is repealed 160
211+and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 161
212+(c) (1) The registrars of voters shall designate a location for the 162
213+completion and processing of same-day election registrations on 163
214+election day, provided (A) the registrars of voters have access to the 164
215+state-wide centralized voter registration system from such location, and 165
216+(B) such location is certified in writing to the Secretary of the State not 166
217+later than forty-five days before election day. The written certification 167
218+under subparagraph (B) of this subdivision shall (i) include the name, 168
219+street address and relevant contact information associated with such 169
220+location, (ii) list the name and address of the moderator who shall be 170
221+appointed in accordance with the provisions of section 9-229, as 171
222+amended by this act, and of each other election official who shall be 172
223+appointed, by the registrars of voters to serve at such location, if any, 173
224+and (iii) provide a description of the design of such location and a plan 174
225+for effective completion and processing of such applications. The 175
226+Secretary shall approve or disapprove such written certification not later 176
227+than twenty-nine days before election day and may require the 177
228+registrars of voters to appoint one or more additional election officials 178
229+Committee Bill No. 1163
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232+LCO No. 5198 7 of 8
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234+or alter such design or plan. 179
235+(2) The legislative body of the municipality may apply to the 180
236+Secretary of the State not later than seventy-four days before election 181
237+day, in a form and manner prescribed by the Secretary, to designate any 182
238+additional location for the completion and processing of same-day 183
239+election registration applications on election day. The Secretary shall 184
240+approve or disapprove such application not later than fifty-nine days 185
241+before election day. If the Secretary approves such application, the 186
242+registrars of voters may so designate any such additional location. The 187
243+provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall apply to any such 188
244+additional location. 189
245+(3) The registrars of voters may delegate to each election official 190
246+appointed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection any of the 191
247+responsibilities assigned to the registrars of voters. The registrars of 192
248+voters shall supervise each such election official and train each such 193
249+official to be a same-day election official. 194
250+Sec. 4. Section 9-147c of the general statutes is repealed and the 195
251+following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 196
252+Each registrar of voters shall appoint one or more electors of the 197
253+town, known to be persons of integrity, to count all absentee ballots. No 198
254+spouse, parent, grandparent, child or sibling of a candidate may be 199
255+appointed to count absentee ballots on which the name of such 200
256+candidate appears. Unless absentee ballots are to be counted in the 201
257+respective polling places pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, 202
258+the registrars shall also jointly appoint a central counting moderator and 203
259+alternate moderator, [pursuant to the requirements] in accordance with 204
260+the provisions of section 9-229, as amended by this act. No person shall 205
261+print, publish, announce, or otherwise make known such count prior to 206
262+the time for the closing of the polls. 207
263+Committee Bill No. 1163
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265+
266+LCO No. 5198 8 of 8
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93268 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
94269 sections:
95270
96-Section 1 January 1, 2026 9-229(d)
97-Sec. 2 January 1, 2026 9-169
271+Section 1 from passage 9-229
272+Sec. 2 from passage 9-163aa(b)(4)
273+Sec. 3 from passage 9-19j(c)
274+Sec. 4 from passage 9-147c
98275
99-GAE Joint Favorable Subst.
276+Statement of Purpose:
277+To require that all persons appointed to serve as moderators, including
278+as head moderators, at an election or primary be certified by the
279+Secretary of the State and meet the qualifications for such certification.
280+
281+[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
282+that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
283+underlined.]
284+
285+Co-Sponsors: SEN. LESSER, 9th Dist.
286+
287+S.B. 1163
288+
100289