Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB01516 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3		-	LCO 1 of 32
	3	+	LCO No. 6381 1 of 33
4	4
5		-	General Assembly ~~Substitute~~ Bill No. 1516
	5	+	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1516
6	6		January Session, 2025
	7	+	LCO No. 6381
	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 THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE'S
11	21		RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO VOTING AND ELECTIONS IN
12	22		THIS STATE.
13	23		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
14	24		Assembly convened:
15	25
16	26		Section 1. Section 9-322a of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
17	27		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 2
18	28		(a) Not later than forty-eight hours following each regular election, 3
19	29		the registrars of voters shall provide the results of the votes cast at such 4
20	30		election to the town clerk. Not later than nine o'clock a.m. on the third 5
21	31		day following each regular election, the head moderator, registrars of 6
22	32		voters and town clerk for each town [divided into voting districts] shall 7
23	33		meet to identify any error in the returns. Not later than one o'clock p.m. 8
24	34		on the third day following each regular election, the head moderator 9
25	35		shall correct any error identified and file an amended return with the 10
26	36		Secretary of the State, the town clerk and the registrars of voters. 11
27	37		(b) Not later than twenty-one days following each regular state 12
28	38		election, the town clerk of each town [divided into voting districts] shall 13
	39	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
	40	+
	41	+
	42	+
	43	+	LCO No. 6381 2 of 33
	44	+
29	45		file with the Secretary of the State a consolidated listing, in tabular 14
30	46		format, as prescribed by the Secretary of the State, of the official returns 15
31	47		[of each such voting district] for all offices voted on at such election, 16
32	48		including the total number of votes cast for each candidate, the total 17
33		-	number of names on the registry list, and the total number of names 18 Substitute Bill No. 1516
34		-
35		-
36		-	LCO 2 of 32
37		-
	49	+	number of names on the registry list, and the total number of names 18
38	50		checked as having voted. [, in each such district.] The town clerk of such 19
39	51		town shall certify that he or she has examined the lists transmitted under 20
40	52		this section to determine whether there are any discrepancies between 21
41	53		the total number of votes cast for a candidate at such election in such 22
42	54		town, including for any recanvass conducted pursuant to section 9-311 23
43	55		or 9-311a, and the sum of the votes cast for the same candidate in all 24
44	56		voting districts in such town if such town has been divided into voting 25
45	57		districts. In the case of any such discrepancy, the town clerk shall notify 26
46	58		the head moderator and certify that such discrepancy has been rectified. 27
47	59		Each listing filed under this section shall be retained by the Secretary of 28
48	60		the State not less than ten years after the date of the election for which it 29
49	61		was filed. 30
50	62		Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section, 31
51	63		"municipality", "government enforcement action", "federal Voting 32
52	64		Rights Act" and "protected class" have the same meanings as provided 33
53	65		in section 9-368i of the general statutes. 34
54	66		(b) The corporation counsel of any municipality that has been subject 35
55	67		to any court order or government enforcement action described in 36
56	68		subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 9-368m 37
57	69		of the general statutes shall provide to the office of the Secretary of the 38
58	70		State all details pertaining to such matter not later than one month after 39
59	71		the effective date of this section, the issuance of such court order or the 40
60	72		commencement of such government enforcement action, whichever is 41
61	73		latest. 42
62	74		(c) If a court of competent jurisdiction finds that any action filed 43
63	75		therein alleges a violation of the provisions of sections 9-368j to 9-368q, 44
64	76		inclusive, of the general statutes, the federal Voting Rights Act, any state 45
	77	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
	78	+
	79	+
	80	+
	81	+	LCO No. 6381 3 of 33
	82	+
65	83		or federal civil rights law, the fifteenth amendment to the United States 46
66	84		Constitution or the fourteenth amendment to the United States 47
67	85		Constitution, which violation concerns the right to vote or a pattern, 48
68	86		practice of policy of discrimination against any protected class, such 49
69	87		court shall cause notice of the hearing on such action to be given to the 50
70		-	Secretary of the State. 51 Substitute Bill No. 1516
71		-
72		-
73		-	LCO 3 of 32
74		-
	88	+	Secretary of the State. 51
75	89		Sec. 3. Subsection (b) of section 9-261 of the general statutes is 52
76	90		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 53
77	91		1, 2026): 54
78	92		(b) In the event that an elector is present at the polling place but is 55
79	93		unable to gain access to the polling place due to [a temporary] an 56
80	94		incapacity, the elector may request that the ballot be brought to him or 57
81	95		her in the area designated pursuant to subsection (c) of section 9-236, as 58
82	96		amended by this act, for curbside voting. The registrars of voters or the 59
83	97		assistant registrars of voters, as the case may be, shall take such ballot, 60
84	98		along with a privacy sleeve to such elector. The elector shall show 61
85	99		identification, in accordance with the provisions of this section. The 62
86	100		elector shall forthwith mark the ballot in the presence of the election 63
87	101		officials in such manner that the election officials shall not know how 64
88	102		the ballot is marked. The elector shall place the ballot in the privacy 65
89	103		sleeve. The election officials shall mark the elector's name on the official 66
90	104		voter list, manually on paper or electronically, as having voted in person 67
91	105		and deliver such ballot and privacy sleeve to the voting tabulator where 68
92	106		such ballot shall be placed into the tabulator, by the election official, for 69
93	107		counting. The moderator shall record such activity in the moderator's 70
94	108		diary. 71
95	109		Sec. 4. Section 9-236 of the general statutes is repealed and the 72
96	110		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 73
97	111		(a) On the day of any primary, referendum or election, no person 74
98	112		shall solicit on behalf of or in opposition to the candidacy of another or 75
99	113		himself or on behalf of or in opposition to any question being submitted 76
	114	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
	115	+
	116	+
	117	+
	118	+	LCO No. 6381 4 of 33
	119	+
100	120		at the election or referendum, or loiter or peddle or offer any advertising 77
101	121		matter, ballot or circular to another person within a radius of seventy-78
102	122		five feet of any outside entrance in use as an entry to any polling place 79
103	123		or in any corridor, passageway or other approach leading from any such 80
104	124		outside entrance to such polling place or in any room opening upon any 81
105	125		such corridor, passageway or approach. Nothing contained in this 82
106	126		section shall be construed to prohibit (1) parent-teacher associations or 83
107		-	parent-teacher organizations from holding bake sales or other fund-84 Substitute Bill No. 1516
108		-
109		-
110		-	LCO 4 of 32
111		-
	127	+	parent-teacher organizations from holding bake sales or other fund-84
112	128		raising activities on the day of any primary, referendum or election in 85
113	129		any school used as a polling place, provided such sales or activities shall 86
114	130		not be held in the room in which the election booths are located, (2) the 87
115	131		registrars of voters from directing the officials at a primary, referendum 88
116	132		or election to distribute, within the restricted area, adhesive labels on 89
117	133		which are imprinted the words "I Voted Today", or (3) the registrars of 90
118	134		voters in a primary, election or referendum from jointly permitting 91
119	135		nonpartisan activities to be conducted in a room other than the room in 92
120	136		which the election booths are located. The registrars may jointly impose 93
121	137		such conditions and limitations on such nonpartisan activity as deemed 94
122	138		necessary to ensure the orderly process of voting. The moderator shall 95
123	139		evict any person who in any way interferes with the orderly process of 96
124	140		voting. 97
125	141		(b) (1) The selectmen shall provide suitable markers to indicate the 98
126	142		seventy-five-foot distance from such entrance. Such markers shall 99
127	143		consist of a board resting on an iron rod, which board shall be not less 100
128	144		than twelve inches square and painted a bright color and shall bear the 101
129	145		figures and letters "75 feet" and the following words: "On the day of any 102
130	146		primary, referendum or election no person shall solicit in behalf of or in 103
131	147		opposition to another or himself or peddle or offer any ballot, 104
132	148		advertising matter or circular to another person or loiter within a radius 105
133	149		of seventy-five feet of any outside entrance in use as an entry to any 106
134	150		polling place or in any corridor, passageway or other approach leading 107
135	151		from any such outside entrance to such polling place or in any room 108
136	152		opening upon any such corridor, passageway or approach." 109
	153	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
	154	+
	155	+
	156	+
	157	+	LCO No. 6381 5 of 33
	158	+
137	159		(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this 110
138	160		subsection, the selectmen may provide the markers required by the 111
139	161		provisions of this subsection in effect prior to October 1, 1983, except 112
140	162		that in the case of a referendum which is not held in conjunction with 113
141	163		an election or a primary, the selectmen shall provide the markers 114
142	164		required by subdivision (1) of this subsection. 115
143	165		(3) The moderator and the moderator's assistants shall meet at least 116
144		-	twenty minutes before the opening of a primary, referendum or an 117 Substitute Bill No. 1516
145		-
146		-
147		-	LCO 5 of 32
148		-
	166	+	twenty minutes before the opening of a primary, referendum or an 117
149	167		election in the voting district, and shall cause to be placed by a police 118
150	168		officer or constable, or such other primary or election official as they 119
151	169		select, a suitable number of distance markers. Such moderator or any 120
152	170		police officer or constable shall prohibit loitering and peddling of tickets 121
153	171		within that distance. 122
154	172		(c) (1) The registrars of voters shall designate at each polling place an 123
155	173		area for curbside voting where any elector who is present at the polling 124
156	174		place, but is unable to gain access to the polling place due to an 125
157	175		incapacity, may request that the ballot be brought to such elector as 126
158	176		provided in subsection (b) of section 9-261, as amended by this act. 127
159	177		(2) On the day of any primary, referendum or election, no person 128
160	178		shall solicit on behalf of or in opposition to the candidacy of another or 129
161	179		himself or on behalf of or in opposition to any question being submitted 130
162	180		at the election or referendum, or loiter or peddle or offer any advertising 131
163	181		matter, ballot or circular to another person within a marked radius of 132
164	182		twenty feet of any elector who is brought a ballot in the area designated 133
165	183		for curbside voting pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection. 134
166	184		(3) (A) While an elector is casting his or her ballot in the area 135
167	185		designated for curbside voting pursuant to subdivision (1) of this 136
168	186		subsection, no person shall be allowed in any vehicle being used by such 137
169	187		elector to cast such ballot for any purpose other than casting such ballot 138
170	188		or driving such elector to cast such ballot. 139
171	189		(B) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (A) of this 140
	190	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
	191	+
	192	+
	193	+
	194	+	LCO No. 6381 6 of 33
	195	+
172	196		subdivision, no candidate shall be allowed in any vehicle used for the 141
173	197		casting of a ballot under this subsection unless for purposes of casting 142
174	198		the candidate's own ballot. 143
175	199		(4) The Secretary of the State shall adopt regulations, in accordance 144
176	200		with the provisions of chapter 54, to carry out the provisions of this 145
177	201		subsection. Such regulations shall include, but not be limited to, a model 146
178	202		plan that municipalities may implement for curbside voting. 147
179		-	[(c)] (d) No person shall be allowed within any polling place for any 148 Substitute Bill No. 1516
180		-
181		-
182		-	LCO 6 of 32
183		-
	203	+	[(c)] (d) No person shall be allowed within any polling place for any 148
184	204		purpose other than casting his or her vote, except (1) those permitted or 149
185	205		exempt under this section or section 9-236a, (2) primary officials under 150
186	206		section 9-436, (3) election officials under section 9-258, including (A) a 151
187	207		municipal clerk or registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the same 152
188	208		office, performing his or her official duties, and (B) a deputy registrar of 153
189	209		voters, who is a candidate for the office of registrar of voters, performing 154
190	210		his or her official duties, or (4) unofficial checkers under section 9-235. 155
191	211		Representatives of the news media shall be allowed to enter, remain 156
192	212		within and leave any polling place or restricted area surrounding any 157
193	213		polling place to observe the election, provided any such representative 158
194	214		who in any way interferes with the orderly process of voting shall be 159
195	215		evicted by the moderator. A number of students in grades four to 160
196	216		twelve, inclusive, not to exceed four at any one time in any one polling 161
197	217		place, may enter any polling place between twelve o'clock noon and 162
198	218		three o'clock p.m. for the purpose of observing the activities taking place 163
199	219		in the polling place, provided there is proper parental or teacher 164
200	220		supervision present, and provided further, any such student who in any 165
201	221		way interferes with the orderly process of voting shall be evicted by the 166
202	222		moderator. An elector may be accompanied into any polling place by 167
203	223		one or more children who are fifteen years of age or younger and 168
204	224		supervised by the elector if the elector is the parent or legal guardian of 169
205	225		such children. 170
206	226		[(d)] (e) Any person who violates any provision of this section or, 171
207	227		while the polls are open for voting, removes or injures any such distance 172
	228	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
	229	+
	230	+
	231	+
	232	+	LCO No. 6381 7 of 33
	233	+
208	234		marker, shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor. 173
209	235		Sec. 5. Section 9-388 of the general statutes is repealed and the 174
210	236		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 175
211	237		(a) Whenever a convention of a political party is held for the 176
212	238		endorsement of candidates for nomination to state or district office, each 177
213	239		candidate endorsed at such convention shall file with the Secretary of 178
214	240		the State a certificate, signed by him, stating that he was endorsed by 179
215	241		such convention, his name as he authorizes it to appear on the ballot, his 180
216		-	full residence address and the title and district, if applicable, of the office 181 Substitute Bill No. 1516
217		-
218		-
219		-	LCO 7 of 32
220		-
	242	+	full residence address and the title and district, if applicable, of the office 181
221	243		for which he was endorsed. Such certificate shall be attested by either 182
222	244		(1) the chairman or presiding officer, or (2) the secretary of such 183
223	245		convention and shall be received by the Secretary of the State not later 184
224	246		than four o'clock p.m. on the fourteenth day after the close of such 185
225	247		convention. Such certificate shall either be mailed to the Secretary of the 186
226	248		State by certified mail, return receipt requested, or delivered in person, 187
227	249		in which case a receipt indicating the date and time of delivery shall be 188
228	250		provided by the Secretary of the State to the person making delivery. If 189
229	251		a certificate of a party's endorsement for a particular state or district 190
230	252		office is not received by the Secretary of the State by such time, such 191
231	253		certificate shall be invalid and such party, for the purposes of [section 9-192
232	254		416 and section 9-416a] sections 9-416 and 9-416a, shall be deemed to 193
233	255		have made no endorsement of any candidate for such office. If 194
234	256		applicable, the chairman of a party's state convention shall, forthwith 195
235	257		upon the close of such convention, file with the Secretary of the State the 196
236	258		names and full residence addresses of persons selected by such 197
237	259		convention as the nominees of such party for electors of President and 198
238	260		Vice-President of the United States in accordance with the provisions of 199
239	261		section 9-175. 200
240		-	(b) (1) In the case of a timely filed certificate of a party's endorsement 201
241		-	pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, which contains an error or 202
242		-	omission that would operate to invalidate such endorsement, the 203
243		-	candidate so certified or an individual authorized to act on behalf of 204
244		-	such candidate may correct such error or omission by appearing in 205
245		-	person at the office of the Secretary of the State not later than four o'clock 206
246		-	p.m. on the nineteenth day after the close of the state or district 207
247		-	convention, as applicable, and amending such certificate to make such 208
248		-	correction. If such candidate or individual does not appear to so amend 209
249		-	such certificate by such time, such certificate shall be invalid and such 210
250		-	party, for the purposes of sections 9-416 and 9-416a, shall be deemed to 211
251		-	have made no such endorsement. 212
252		-	(2) The Secretary of the State may, within the time period specified in 213
253		-	subdivision (1) of this subsection, amend a timely filed certificate of a 214
254		-	party's endorsement to correct any such error or omission, and shall 215 Substitute Bill No. 1516
	262	+	(b) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, in the 201
	263	+	case of a timely filed certificate of a party's endorsement pursuant to 202
	264	+	subsection (a) of this section, which contains an error or omission that 203
	265	+	would operate to invalidate such endorsement, the candidate so 204
	266	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
255	267
256	268
257		-	LCO 8 of 32
258	269
259		-	keep a record of any such amendment made pursuant to this 216
260		-	subdivision. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to require 217
261		-	the Secretary to affirmatively attempt to identify any error or omission 218
262		-	in any such certificate. 219
263		-	Sec. 6. Subsection (c) of section 9-391 of the general statutes is 220
264		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 221
265		-	1, 2026): 222
266		-	(c) (1) Each endorsement of a candidate to run in a primary for the 223
267		-	nomination of candidates for a municipal office to be voted upon at a 224
268		-	state election shall be made under the provisions of section 9-390 not 225
269		-	earlier than the eighty-fourth day or later than the seventy-seventh day 226
270		-	preceding the day of such primary. Each certification to be filed under 227
271		-	this subsection shall be received by the Secretary of the State not later 228
272		-	than four o'clock p.m. on the fourteenth day after the close of the town 229
273		-	committee meeting, caucus or convention, as the case may be. If such a 230
274		-	certificate of a party's endorsement is not received by the Secretary of 231
275		-	the State by such time, such certificate shall be invalid and such party, 232
276		-	for the purposes of sections 9-417 and 9-418, shall be deemed to have 233
277		-	neither made nor certified any endorsement of any candidate for such 234
278		-	office. The candidate so endorsed for a municipal office to be voted upon 235
279		-	at a state election, other than the office of justice of the peace, shall file 236
280		-	with the Secretary of the State a certificate, signed by that candidate, 237
281		-	stating that such candidate was so endorsed, the candidate's name as 238
282		-	the candidate authorizes it to appear on the ballot, the candidate's full 239
283		-	street address and the title and district of the office for which the 240
284		-	candidate was endorsed. Such certificate may be filed by a candidate 241
285		-	whose name appears upon the last-completed enrollment list of such 242
286		-	party within the senatorial district within which the candidate is 243
287		-	endorsed to run for nomination in the case of the municipal office of 244
288		-	state senator, or the assembly district within which the candidate is 245
289		-	endorsed to run for nomination in the case of the municipal office of 246
290		-	state representative, or the municipality or political subdivision within 247
291		-	which the candidate is to run for nomination for other municipal offices 248
292		-	to be voted on at a state election. Such certificate shall be attested by 249 Substitute Bill No. 1516
	270	+	LCO No. 6381 8 of 33
	271	+
	272	+	certified or an individual authorized to act on behalf of such candidate 205
	273	+	may correct such error or omission by appearing in person at the office 206
	274	+	of the Secretary of the State not later than four o'clock p.m. on the 207
	275	+	nineteenth day after the close of the state or district convention, as 208
	276	+	applicable, and amending such certificate to make such correction. If 209
	277	+	such candidate or individual does not appear to so amend such 210
	278	+	certificate by such time, such certificate shall be invalid and such party, 211
	279	+	for the purposes of sections 9-416 and 9-416a, shall be deemed to have 212
	280	+	made no such endorsement. 213
	281	+	(2) The Secretary of the State may, within the time period specified in 214
	282	+	subdivision (1) of this subsection, amend a timely filed certificate of a 215
	283	+	party's endorsement to correct any such error or omission, and shall 216
	284	+	keep a record of any such amendment made pursuant to this 217
	285	+	subdivision. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to require 218
	286	+	the Secretary to affirmatively attempt to identify any error or omission 219
	287	+	in any such certificate. 220
	288	+	Sec. 6. Subsection (c) of section 9-391 of the general statutes is 221
	289	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 222
	290	+	1, 2026): 223
	291	+	(c) (1) Each endorsement of a candidate to run in a primary for the 224
	292	+	nomination of candidates for a municipal office to be voted upon at a 225
	293	+	state election shall be made under the provisions of section 9-390 not 226
	294	+	earlier than the eighty-fourth day or later than the seventy-seventh day 227
	295	+	preceding the day of such primary. Each certification to be filed under 228
	296	+	this subsection shall be received by the Secretary of the State not later 229
	297	+	than four o'clock p.m. on the fourteenth day after the close of the town 230
	298	+	committee meeting, caucus or convention, as the case may be. If such a 231
	299	+	certificate of a party's endorsement is not received by the Secretary of 232
	300	+	the State by such time, such certificate shall be invalid and such party, 233
	301	+	for the purposes of sections 9-417 and 9-418, shall be deemed to have 234
	302	+	neither made nor certified any endorsement of any candidate for such 235
	303	+	office. The candidate so endorsed for a municipal office to be voted upon 236
	304	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
293	305
294	306
295		-	LCO 9 of 32
296	307
297		-	either the chairperson or presiding officer or the secretary of the town 250
298		-	committee, caucus or convention which made such endorsement. The 251
299		-	endorsement of any candidate for the office of justice of the peace shall 252
300		-	be certified to the clerk of the municipality by either the chairperson or 253
301		-	presiding officer or the secretary of the town committee, caucus or 254
302		-	convention, and shall contain the name and street address of each 255
303		-	candidate so endorsed and the title of the office for which each such 256
304		-	candidate is endorsed. Such certification shall be made on a form 257
305		-	prescribed by the Secretary of the State or on such other form as may 258
306		-	comply with the provisions of this subsection. 259
307		-	(2) (A) In the case of a timely filed certificate of a party's endorsement 260
308		-	pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, which contains an error 261
309		-	or omission that would operate to invalidate such endorsement, the 262
310		-	candidate so certified or an individual authorized to act on behalf of 263
311		-	such candidate may correct such error or omission by appearing in 264
312		-	person at the office of the Secretary of the State not later than four o'clock 265
313		-	p.m. on the nineteenth day after the close of the town committee 266
314		-	meeting, caucus or convention, as applicable, and amending such 267
315		-	certificate to make such correction. If such candidate or individual does 268
316		-	not appear to so amend such certificate by such time, such certificate 269
317		-	shall be invalid and such party, for the purposes of sections 9-417 and 9-270
318		-	418, shall be deemed to have neither made nor certified such 271
319		-	endorsement. 272
320		-	(B) The Secretary of the State may, within the time period specified in 273
321		-	subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, amend a timely filed certificate of 274
322		-	a party's endorsement to correct any such error or omission, and shall 275
323		-	keep a record of any such amendment made pursuant to this 276
324		-	subparagraph. Nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed to 277
325		-	require the Secretary to affirmatively attempt to identify any error or 278
326		-	omission in any such certificate. 279
327		-	Sec. 7. Section 9-400 of the general statutes is repealed and the 280
328		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 281 Substitute Bill No. 1516
	308	+	LCO No. 6381 9 of 33
	309	+
	310	+	at a state election, other than the office of justice of the peace, shall file 237
	311	+	with the Secretary of the State a certificate, signed by that candidate, 238
	312	+	stating that such candidate was so endorsed, the candidate's name as 239
	313	+	the candidate authorizes it to appear on the ballot, the candidate's full 240
	314	+	street address and the title and district of the office for which the 241
	315	+	candidate was endorsed. Such certificate may be filed by a candidate 242
	316	+	whose name appears upon the last-completed enrollment list of such 243
	317	+	party within the senatorial district within which the candidate is 244
	318	+	endorsed to run for nomination in the case of the municipal office of 245
	319	+	state senator, or the assembly district within which the candidate is 246
	320	+	endorsed to run for nomination in the case of the municipal office of 247
	321	+	state representative, or the municipality or political subdivision within 248
	322	+	which the candidate is to run for nomination for other municipal offices 249
	323	+	to be voted on at a state election. Such certificate shall be attested by 250
	324	+	either the chairperson or presiding officer or the secretary of the town 251
	325	+	committee, caucus or convention which made such endorsement. The 252
	326	+	endorsement of any candidate for the office of justice of the peace shall 253
	327	+	be certified to the clerk of the municipality by either the chairperson or 254
	328	+	presiding officer or the secretary of the town committee, caucus or 255
	329	+	convention, and shall contain the name and street address of each 256
	330	+	candidate so endorsed and the title of the office for which each such 257
	331	+	candidate is endorsed. Such certification shall be made on a form 258
	332	+	prescribed by the Secretary of the State or on such other form as may 259
	333	+	comply with the provisions of this subsection. 260
	334	+	(2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, in 261
	335	+	the case of a timely filed certificate of a party's endorsement pursuant to 262
	336	+	subdivision (1) of this subsection, which contains an error or omission 263
	337	+	that would operate to invalidate such endorsement, the candidate so 264
	338	+	certified or an individual authorized to act on behalf of such candidate 265
	339	+	may correct such error or omission by appearing in person at the office 266
	340	+	of the Secretary of the State not later than four o'clock p.m. on the 267
	341	+	nineteenth day after the close of the town committee meeting, caucus or 268
	342	+	convention, as applicable, and amending such certificate to make such 269
	343	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
329	344
330	345
331		-	LCO 10 of 32
332	346
333		-	~~(a) A candidacy for nomination by a political party to a state office 282~~
334		-	~~may be filed by or on behalf of any person whose name appears upon 283~~
335		-	~~the last-completed enrollment list of~~ such ~~party in any municipality 284~~
336		-	~~within the state~~ and ~~who has either (1) received at least fifteen per cent 285~~
337		-	of the ~~votes~~ of ~~the convention delegates present~~ and ~~voting on any roll-286~~
338		-	~~call vote taken on the~~ endorsement ~~or proposed endorsement of a 287~~
339		-	~~candidate for such~~ state ~~office~~, ~~whether or not~~ the ~~party-endorsed 288~~
340		-	~~candidate for such office received~~ a ~~unanimous vote on the last ballot, 289~~
341		-	or ~~(2) circulated a petition~~ and ~~obtained the signatures of at least two 290~~
342		-	~~per cent~~ of ~~the enrolled members of~~ such ~~party in the state,~~ ~~in accordance 291~~
343		-	~~with the provisions of sections 9-404a~~ to ~~9-404c, inclusive. Candidacies 292~~
344		-	~~described in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be filed by 293~~
345		-	~~submitting to the Secretary of the State not later than four o'clock p.m~~. ~~294~~
346		-	~~on the fourteenth day following the close~~ of the ~~state convention,~~ ~~a 295~~
347		-	~~certificate~~, ~~signed by such candidate and attested by either (A) the 296~~
348		-	~~chairman or presiding officer, or~~ (B) ~~the secretary of the convention,~~ ~~that 297~~
349		-	~~such candidate received at least fifteen per cent~~ of ~~such votes,~~ ~~and that 298~~
350		-	~~such candidate consents to be a candidate in a primary~~ of such party ~~for 299~~
351		-	~~such~~ state ~~office. Such certificate shall specify the candidate's name as 300~~
352		-	the ~~candidate authorizes it to appear~~ on ~~the ballot,~~ ~~the candidate's full 301~~
353		-	~~residence address and~~ the ~~title~~ of ~~the office for which the candidacy is 302~~
354		-	~~being filed. If such certificate~~ for a state office is not ~~received by~~ the ~~303~~
355		-	~~Secretary of~~ the ~~State by such time~~, ~~such certificate shall be invalid and 304~~
356		-	~~such person,~~ ~~for~~ the ~~purposes~~ of ~~sections 9-416~~ ~~and 9-416a, shall be 305~~
357		-	~~deemed to have made no valid certification~~ of ~~candidacy for nomination 306~~
358		-	~~by a political party [for]~~ to ~~such state office~~. ~~A single such certificate or 307~~
359		-	~~petition for state office may~~ be filed ~~on behalf of two or more candidates 308~~
360		-	~~for different~~ state ~~offices who consent to have their names appear on a 309~~
361		-	~~single row~~ of the ~~primary ballot under subsection (b) of section 9-437. 310~~
362		-	~~Candidacies described in subdivision~~ (2) ~~of this subsection shall be filed 311~~
363		-	~~by submitting said petition not later than four o'clock p.m. on~~ the ~~sixty-312~~
364		-	~~third day preceding the day~~ of ~~the primary for~~ such ~~office to the registrar 313~~
365		-	~~of voters~~ of ~~the towns in which the respective petition pages were 314~~
366		-	~~circulated~~. ~~Each registrar~~ shall ~~file each page of such petition with~~ the ~~315~~
367		-	~~Secretary of the State in accordance with the provisions of section 9-404c. 316 Substitute~~ Bill No. 1516
	347	+	LCO No. 6381 10 of 33
	348	+
	349	+	correction. If such candidate or individual does not appear to so amend 270
	350	+	such certificate by such time, such certificate shall be invalid and such 271
	351	+	party, for the purposes of sections 9-417 and 9-418, shall be deemed to 272
	352	+	have neither made nor certified such endorsement. 273
	353	+	(B) The Secretary of the State may, within the time period specified in 274
	354	+	subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, amend a timely filed certificate of 275
	355	+	a party's endorsement to correct any such error or omission, and shall 276
	356	+	keep a record of any such amendment made pursuant to this 277
	357	+	subparagraph. Nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed to 278
	358	+	require the Secretary to affirmatively attempt to identify any error or 279
	359	+	omission in any such certificate. 280
	360	+	Sec. 7. Section 9-400 of the general statutes is repealed and the 281
	361	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 282
	362	+	(a) A candidacy for nomination by a political party to a state office 283
	363	+	may be filed by or on behalf of any person whose name appears upon 284
	364	+	the last-completed enrollment list of such party in any municipality 285
	365	+	within the state and who has either (1) received at least fifteen per cent 286
	366	+	of the votes of the convention delegates present and voting on any roll-287
	367	+	call vote taken on the endorsement or proposed endorsement of a 288
	368	+	candidate for such state office, whether or not the party-endorsed 289
	369	+	candidate for such office received a unanimous vote on the last ballot, 290
	370	+	or (2) circulated a petition and obtained the signatures of at least two 291
	371	+	per cent of the enrolled members of such party in the state, in accordance 292
	372	+	with the provisions of sections 9-404a to 9-404c, inclusive. Candidacies 293
	373	+	described in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be filed by 294
	374	+	submitting to the Secretary of the State not later than four o'clock p.m. 295
	375	+	on the fourteenth day following the close of the state convention, a 296
	376	+	certificate, signed by such candidate and attested by either (A) the 297
	377	+	chairman or presiding officer, or (B) the secretary of the convention, that 298
	378	+	such candidate received at least fifteen per cent of such votes, and that 299
	379	+	such candidate consents to be a candidate in a primary of such party for 300
	380	+	such state office. Such certificate shall specify the candidate's name as 301
	381	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
368	382
369	383
370		-	LCO 11 of 32
371	384
372		-	A petition filed by or on behalf of a candidate for state office shall be 317
373		-	invalid for such candidate if such candidate is certified as the party-318
374		-	endorsed candidate pursuant to section 9-388, as amended by this act, 319
375		-	or as receiving at least fifteen per cent of the convention vote for such 320
376		-	office pursuant to this subsection. Except as provided in section 9-416a, 321
377		-	upon the expiration of the time period for party endorsement and 322
378		-	circulation and tabulation of petitions and signatures, if any, if one or 323
379		-	more candidacies for such state office have been filed pursuant to the 324
380		-	provisions of this section, the Secretary of the State shall notify all town 325
381		-	clerks and registrars of voters in accordance with the provisions of 326
382		-	section 9-433, that a primary for such state office shall be held in each 327
383		-	municipality in accordance with the provisions of section 9-415. 328
384		-	(b) A candidacy for nomination by a political party to a district office 329
385		-	may be filed by or on behalf of any person whose name appears upon 330
386		-	the last-completed enrollment list of such party within the district the 331
387		-	person seeks to represent that is in the office of the Secretary of the State 332
388		-	at the end of the last day prior to the convention for the party from 333
389		-	which the person seeks nomination and who has either (1) received at 334
390		-	least fifteen per cent of the votes of the convention delegates present and 335
391		-	voting on any roll-call vote taken on the endorsement or proposed 336
392		-	endorsement of a candidate for such district office, whether or not the 337
393		-	party-endorsed candidate for such office received a unanimous vote on 338
394		-	the last ballot, or (2) circulated a petition and obtained the signatures of 339
395		-	at least two per cent of the enrolled members of such party in the district 340
396		-	for the district office of representative in Congress, and at least five per 341
397		-	cent of the enrolled members of such party in the district for the district 342
398		-	offices of state senator, state representative and judge of probate, in 343
399		-	accordance with the provisions of sections 9-404a to 9-404c, inclusive. 344
400		-	Candidacies described in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be filed 345
401		-	by submitting to the Secretary of the State not later than four o'clock 346
402		-	p.m. on the fourteenth day following the close of the district convention, 347
403		-	a certificate, signed by such candidate and attested by either (A) the 348
404		-	chairman or presiding officer, or (B) the secretary of the convention, that 349
405		-	such candidate received at least fifteen per cent of such votes, and that 350 Substitute Bill No. 1516
	385	+	LCO No. 6381 11 of 33
	386	+
	387	+	the candidate authorizes it to appear on the ballot, the candidate's full 302
	388	+	residence address and the title of the office for which the candidacy is 303
	389	+	being filed. If such certificate for a state office is not received by the 304
	390	+	Secretary of the State by such time, such certificate shall be invalid and 305
	391	+	such person, for the purposes of sections 9-416 and 9-416a, shall be 306
	392	+	deemed to have made no valid certification of candidacy for nomination 307
	393	+	by a political party [for] to such state office. A single such certificate or 308
	394	+	petition for state office may be filed on behalf of two or more candidates 309
	395	+	for different state offices who consent to have their names appear on a 310
	396	+	single row of the primary ballot under subsection (b) of section 9-437. 311
	397	+	Candidacies described in subdivision (2) of this subsection shall be filed 312
	398	+	by submitting said petition not later than four o'clock p.m. on the sixty-313
	399	+	third day preceding the day of the primary for such office to the registrar 314
	400	+	of voters of the towns in which the respective petition pages were 315
	401	+	circulated. Each registrar shall file each page of such petition with the 316
	402	+	Secretary of the State in accordance with the provisions of section 9-404c. 317
	403	+	A petition filed by or on behalf of a candidate for state office shall be 318
	404	+	invalid for such candidate if such candidate is certified as the party-319
	405	+	endorsed candidate pursuant to section 9-388, as amended by this act, 320
	406	+	or as receiving at least fifteen per cent of the convention vote for such 321
	407	+	office pursuant to this subsection. Except as provided in section 9-416a, 322
	408	+	upon the expiration of the time period for party endorsement and 323
	409	+	circulation and tabulation of petitions and signatures, if any, if one or 324
	410	+	more candidacies for such state office have been filed pursuant to the 325
	411	+	provisions of this section, the Secretary of the State shall notify all town 326
	412	+	clerks and registrars of voters in accordance with the provisions of 327
	413	+	section 9-433, that a primary for such state office shall be held in each 328
	414	+	municipality in accordance with the provisions of section 9-415. 329
	415	+	(b) A candidacy for nomination by a political party to a district office 330
	416	+	may be filed by or on behalf of any person whose name appears upon 331
	417	+	the last-completed enrollment list of such party within the district the 332
	418	+	person seeks to represent that is in the office of the Secretary of the State 333
	419	+	at the end of the last day prior to the convention for the party from 334
	420	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
406	421
407	422
408		-	LCO 12 of 32
409	423
410		-	the candidate consents to be a candidate in a primary of such party for 351
411		-	such district office. Such certificate shall specify the candidate's name as 352
412		-	the candidate authorizes it to appear on the ballot, the candidate's full 353
413		-	residence address and the title and district of the office for which the 354
414		-	candidacy is being filed. If such certificate for a district office is not 355
415		-	received by the Secretary of the State by such time, such certificate shall 356
416		-	be invalid and such person, for the purposes of sections 9-416 and 9-357
417		-	416a, shall be deemed to have made no valid certification of candidacy 358
418		-	for nomination by a political party [for] to such district office. 359
419		-	Candidacies described in subdivision (2) of this subsection shall be filed 360
420		-	by submitting said petition not later than four o'clock p.m. on the sixty-361
421		-	third day preceding the day of the primary for such office to the registrar 362
422		-	of voters of the towns in which the respective petition pages were 363
423		-	circulated. Each registrar shall file each page of such petition with the 364
424		-	Secretary in accordance with the provisions of section 9-404c. A petition 365
425		-	may only be filed by or on behalf of a candidate for the district office of 366
426		-	state senator, state representative or judge of probate who is not certified 367
427		-	as the party-endorsed candidate pursuant to section 9-388, as amended 368
428		-	by this act, or as receiving at least fifteen per cent of the convention vote 369
429		-	for such office pursuant to this subsection. A petition filed by or on 370
430		-	behalf of a candidate for the district office of representative in Congress 371
431		-	shall be invalid if said candidate is certified as the party-endorsed 372
432		-	candidate pursuant to section 9-388, as amended by this act, or as 373
433		-	receiving at least fifteen per cent of the convention vote for such office 374
434		-	pursuant to this subsection. Except as provided in section 9-416a, upon 375
435		-	the expiration of the time period for party endorsement and circulation 376
436		-	and tabulation of petitions and signatures, if any, if one or more 377
437		-	candidacies for such district office have been filed pursuant to the 378
438		-	provisions of this section, the Secretary of the State shall notify all town 379
439		-	clerks within the district, in accordance with the provisions of section 9-380
440		-	433, that a primary for such district office shall be held in each 381
441		-	municipality and each part of a municipality within the district in 382
442		-	accordance with the provisions of section 9-415. 383
443		-	(c) (1) In the case of a timely filed certificate of candidacy for 384 Substitute Bill No. 1516
	424	+	LCO No. 6381 12 of 33
	425	+
	426	+	which the person seeks nomination and who has either (1) received at 335
	427	+	least fifteen per cent of the votes of the convention delegates present and 336
	428	+	voting on any roll-call vote taken on the endorsement or proposed 337
	429	+	endorsement of a candidate for such district office, whether or not the 338
	430	+	party-endorsed candidate for such office received a unanimous vote on 339
	431	+	the last ballot, or (2) circulated a petition and obtained the signatures of 340
	432	+	at least two per cent of the enrolled members of such party in the district 341
	433	+	for the district office of representative in Congress, and at least five per 342
	434	+	cent of the enrolled members of such party in the district for the district 343
	435	+	offices of state senator, state representative and judge of probate, in 344
	436	+	accordance with the provisions of sections 9-404a to 9-404c, inclusive. 345
	437	+	Candidacies described in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be filed 346
	438	+	by submitting to the Secretary of the State not later than four o'clock 347
	439	+	p.m. on the fourteenth day following the close of the district convention, 348
	440	+	a certificate, signed by such candidate and attested by either (A) the 349
	441	+	chairman or presiding officer, or (B) the secretary of the convention, that 350
	442	+	such candidate received at least fifteen per cent of such votes, and that 351
	443	+	the candidate consents to be a candidate in a primary of such party for 352
	444	+	such district office. Such certificate shall specify the candidate's name as 353
	445	+	the candidate authorizes it to appear on the ballot, the candidate's full 354
	446	+	residence address and the title and district of the office for which the 355
	447	+	candidacy is being filed. If such certificate for a district office is not 356
	448	+	received by the Secretary of the State by such time, such certificate shall 357
	449	+	be invalid and such person, for the purposes of sections 9-416 and 9-358
	450	+	416a, shall be deemed to have made no valid certification of candidacy 359
	451	+	for nomination by a political party [for] to such district office. 360
	452	+	Candidacies described in subdivision (2) of this subsection shall be filed 361
	453	+	by submitting said petition not later than four o'clock p.m. on the sixty-362
	454	+	third day preceding the day of the primary for such office to the registrar 363
	455	+	of voters of the towns in which the respective petition pages were 364
	456	+	circulated. Each registrar shall file each page of such petition with the 365
	457	+	Secretary in accordance with the provisions of section 9-404c. A petition 366
	458	+	may only be filed by or on behalf of a candidate for the district office of 367
	459	+	state senator, state representative or judge of probate who is not certified 368
	460	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
444	461
445	462
446		-	LCO 13 of 32
447	463
448		-	nomination by a political party pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this 385
449		-	section, which contains an error or omission that would operate to 386
450		-	invalidate such candidacy for nomination, the person so certified or an 387
451		-	agent of such person may correct such error or omission by appearing 388
452		-	in person at the office of the Secretary of the State not later than four 389
453		-	o'clock p.m. on the nineteenth day after the close of the state or district 390
454		-	convention, as applicable, and amending such certificate to make such 391
455		-	correction, provided neither failure of such person to timely file such 392
456		-	certificate pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section nor failure of 393
457		-	the chairperson, presiding officer or secretary of the convention to attest 394
458		-	such certificate shall be an error or omission that may be corrected 395
459		-	pursuant to this subsection. If such person or agent does not appear to 396
460		-	so amend such certificate by such time, such certificate shall be invalid 397
461		-	and such person, for the purposes of sections 9-416 and 9-416a, shall be 398
462		-	deemed to have made no valid certification of candidacy for nomination 399
463		-	by a political party. As used in this subsection, "agent" means an 400
464		-	individual authorized to act on behalf of a person. 401
465		-	(2) The Secretary of the State may, within the time period specified in 402
466		-	subdivision (1) of this subsection, amend a timely filed certificate of 403
467		-	candidacy for nomination to correct any such error or omission, and 404
468		-	shall keep a record of any such amendment made pursuant to this 405
469		-	subdivision. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to require 406
470		-	the Secretary to affirmatively attempt to identify any error or omission 407
471		-	in any such certificate. 408
472		-	[(c)] (d) For the purposes of this section, the number of enrolled 409
473		-	members of a party shall be determined by the latest enrollment records 410
474		-	in the office of the Secretary of the State prior to the earliest date that 411
475		-	primary petitions were available. The names of electors on the inactive 412
476		-	registry list compiled under section 9-35 shall not be counted for 413
477		-	purposes of computing the number of petition signatures required 414
478		-	under this section, as provided in section 9-35c. 415
479		-	[(d)] (e) On the last day for filing primary petition candidacies in 416
480		-	accordance with the provisions of this section, the office or office 417 Substitute Bill No. 1516
	464	+	LCO No. 6381 13 of 33
	465	+
	466	+	as the party-endorsed candidate pursuant to section 9-388, as amended 369
	467	+	by this act, or as receiving at least fifteen per cent of the convention vote 370
	468	+	for such office pursuant to this subsection. A petition filed by or on 371
	469	+	behalf of a candidate for the district office of representative in Congress 372
	470	+	shall be invalid if said candidate is certified as the party-endorsed 373
	471	+	candidate pursuant to section 9-388, as amended by this act, or as 374
	472	+	receiving at least fifteen per cent of the convention vote for such office 375
	473	+	pursuant to this subsection. Except as provided in section 9-416a, upon 376
	474	+	the expiration of the time period for party endorsement and circulation 377
	475	+	and tabulation of petitions and signatures, if any, if one or more 378
	476	+	candidacies for such district office have been filed pursuant to the 379
	477	+	provisions of this section, the Secretary of the State shall notify all town 380
	478	+	clerks within the district, in accordance with the provisions of section 9-381
	479	+	433, that a primary for such district office shall be held in each 382
	480	+	municipality and each part of a municipality within the district in 383
	481	+	accordance with the provisions of section 9-415. 384
	482	+	(c) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, in the 385
	483	+	case of a timely filed certificate of candidacy for nomination by a 386
	484	+	political party pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section, which 387
	485	+	contains an error or omission that would operate to invalidate such 388
	486	+	candidacy for nomination, the person so certified or an agent of such 389
	487	+	person may correct such error or omission by appearing in person at the 390
	488	+	office of the Secretary of the State not later than four o'clock p.m. on the 391
	489	+	nineteenth day after the close of the state or district convention, as 392
	490	+	applicable, and amending such certificate to make such correction, 393
	491	+	provided neither failure of such person to timely file such certificate 394
	492	+	pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section nor failure of the 395
	493	+	chairperson, presiding officer or secretary of the convention to attest 396
	494	+	such certificate shall be an error or omission that may be corrected 397
	495	+	pursuant to this subsection. If such person or agent does not appear to 398
	496	+	so amend such certificate by such time, such certificate shall be invalid 399
	497	+	and such person, for the purposes of sections 9-416 and 9-416a, shall be 400
	498	+	deemed to have made no valid certification of candidacy for nomination 401
	499	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
481	500
482	501
483		-	LCO 14 of 32
484	502
485		-	~~facilities~~ of ~~the registrars of voters shall open not later than one o'clock 418~~
486		-	~~p.m., and remain open until at least four o'clock p.m., and such 419~~
487		-	~~registrars or the deputy or assistant registrars shall be present~~. ~~420~~
488		-	~~Sec. 8.~~ ~~Section 9-452~~ of ~~the general statutes is repealed and the 421~~
489		-	~~following is substituted~~ in ~~lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 422~~
490		-	(a) ~~All minor parties nominating candidates for any elective office 423~~
491		-	~~shall make~~ such ~~nominations~~ and ~~certify and file a list of such 424~~
492		-	~~nominations, as required by~~ this ~~section, not later than the sixty-second 425~~
493		-	~~day prior~~ to ~~the day of the election at which such candidates are to be 426~~
494		-	~~voted for.~~ ~~A list of nominees in printed~~ or ~~typewritten form that includes 427~~
495		-	~~each candidate's name as authorized by each candidate to appear on the 428~~
496		-	~~ballot~~, the ~~signature~~ of ~~each candidate,~~ ~~the full street address of each 429~~
497		-	~~candidate and~~ the ~~title and district of the office for which each candidate 430~~
498		-	~~is nominated shall be certified by~~ the ~~presiding officer~~ of the ~~committee, 431~~
499		-	~~meeting or other authority making such nomination and shall be filed 432~~
500		-	~~by such presiding officer with the Secretary of the State,~~ ~~in the case of 433~~
501		-	~~any state,~~ ~~district or municipal office to be voted upon at a state election, 434~~
502		-	~~or with the clerk of the municipality,~~ in ~~the case of any municipal office 435~~
503		-	~~to be voted upon at a municipal election, not later than~~ the ~~sixty-second 436~~
504		-	~~day prior to~~ the ~~day~~ of ~~the election.~~ The ~~registrars of voters of such 437~~
505		-	~~municipality~~ shall ~~promptly verify and correct the names on any such 438~~
506		-	~~list filed with him~~, ~~or the names of nominees forwarded to the clerk of 439~~
507		-	~~the municipality by~~ the ~~Secretary of the State,~~ ~~in accordance with the 440~~
508		-	~~registry list~~ of ~~such municipality~~ and ~~endorse~~ the ~~same as having been 441~~
509		-	~~so verified and corrected.~~ ~~For purposes of this section~~, ~~a list of 442~~
510		-	~~nominations shall be deemed to be filed when it is received by the 443~~
511		-	~~Secretary~~ of ~~the State or clerk of the municipality, as appropriate. If~~ such ~~444~~
512		-	~~certificate of a party's nomination is~~ not ~~received by~~ the ~~Secretary of the 445~~
513		-	~~State or clerk~~ of the ~~municipality, as appropriate, by~~ such ~~time, such 446~~
514		-	~~certificate shall be invalid and such party,~~ for ~~purposes~~ of ~~sections 9-460, 447~~
515		-	~~9-461 and 9-462, shall be deemed~~ to ~~have neither made nor certified any 448~~
516		-	~~nomination~~ of ~~any~~ candidate ~~for such office.~~ ~~A candidacy for 449~~
517		-	~~nomination by a minor party to a~~ district ~~or municipal~~ office ~~may be 450~~
518		-	~~filed on behalf of any person whose name appears on the last-completed 451 Substitute~~ Bill No. 1516
	503	+	LCO No. 6381 14 of 33
	504	+
	505	+	by a political party. As used in this subsection, "agent" means an 402
	506	+	individual authorized to act on behalf of a person. 403
	507	+	(2) The Secretary of the State may, within the time period specified in 404
	508	+	subdivision (1) of this subsection, amend a timely filed certificate of 405
	509	+	candidacy for nomination to correct any such error or omission, and 406
	510	+	shall keep a record of any such amendment made pursuant to this 407
	511	+	subdivision. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to require 408
	512	+	the Secretary to affirmatively attempt to identify any error or omission 409
	513	+	in any such certificate. 410
	514	+	[(c)] (d) For the purposes of this section, the number of enrolled 411
	515	+	members of a party shall be determined by the latest enrollment records 412
	516	+	in the office of the Secretary of the State prior to the earliest date that 413
	517	+	primary petitions were available. The names of electors on the inactive 414
	518	+	registry list compiled under section 9-35 shall not be counted for 415
	519	+	purposes of computing the number of petition signatures required 416
	520	+	under this section, as provided in section 9-35c. 417
	521	+	[(d)] (e) On the last day for filing primary petition candidacies in 418
	522	+	accordance with the provisions of this section, the office or office 419
	523	+	facilities of the registrars of voters shall open not later than one o'clock 420
	524	+	p.m., and remain open until at least four o'clock p.m., and such 421
	525	+	registrars or the deputy or assistant registrars shall be present. 422
	526	+	Sec. 8. Section 9-452 of the general statutes is repealed and the 423
	527	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 424
	528	+	(a) All minor parties nominating candidates for any elective office 425
	529	+	shall make such nominations and certify and file a list of such 426
	530	+	nominations, as required by this section, not later than the sixty-second 427
	531	+	day prior to the day of the election at which such candidates are to be 428
	532	+	voted for. A list of nominees in printed or typewritten form that includes 429
	533	+	each candidate's name as authorized by each candidate to appear on the 430
	534	+	ballot, the signature of each candidate, the full street address of each 431
	535	+	candidate and the title and district of the office for which each candidate 432
	536	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
519	537
520	538
521		-	LCO 15 of 32
522	539
523		-	registry list of the district or municipality represented by such office, as 452
524		-	the case may be. A candidacy for nomination by a minor party to a state 453
525		-	office may be filed on behalf of any person whose name appears on the 454
526		-	last-completed registry list of the state. 455
527		-	(b) (1) In the case of a timely filed certificate of nomination for any 456
528		-	state, district or municipal office to be voted upon at a state election 457
529		-	pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, which contains an error or 458
530		-	omission that would operate to invalidate such nomination, the 459
531		-	candidate so certified or an individual authorized to act on behalf of 460
532		-	such candidate may correct such error or omission by appearing in 461
533		-	person at the office of the Secretary of the State not later than four o'clock 462
534		-	p.m. on the fifty-seventh day prior to the day of the election and 463
535		-	amending such certificate to make such correction, provided neither 464
536		-	failure of the presiding officer of the committee, meeting or other 465
537		-	authority to timely file such certificate pursuant to subsection (a) of this 466
538		-	section nor failure of the candidate to sign such certificate shall be an 467
539		-	error or omission that may be corrected pursuant to this subsection. If 468
540		-	such candidate or individual does not appear to so amend such 469
541		-	certificate by such time, such certificate shall be invalid and such party, 470
542		-	for the purposes of sections 9-460, 9-461 and 9-462, shall be deemed to 471
543		-	have neither made nor certified any such nomination. 472
544		-	(2) The Secretary of the State may, within the time period specified in 473
545		-	subdivision (1) of this subsection, amend a timely filed certificate of 474
546		-	nomination to correct any such error or omission, and shall keep a 475
547		-	record of any such amendment made pursuant to this subdivision. 476
548		-	Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to require the Secretary 477
549		-	to affirmatively attempt to identify any error or omission in any such 478
550		-	certificate. 479
551		-	Sec. 9. Subsection (d) of section 9-404b of the general statutes is 480
552		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 481
553		-	passage): 482
554		-	(d) Each circulator of a primary petition page shall be an enrolled 483 Substitute Bill No. 1516
	540	+	LCO No. 6381 15 of 33
	541	+
	542	+	is nominated shall be certified by the presiding officer of the committee, 433
	543	+	meeting or other authority making such nomination and shall be filed 434
	544	+	by such presiding officer with the Secretary of the State, in the case of 435
	545	+	any state, district or municipal office to be voted upon at a state election, 436
	546	+	or with the clerk of the municipality, in the case of any municipal office 437
	547	+	to be voted upon at a municipal election, not later than the sixty-second 438
	548	+	day prior to the day of the election. The registrars of voters of such 439
	549	+	municipality shall promptly verify and correct the names on any such 440
	550	+	list filed with him, or the names of nominees forwarded to the clerk of 441
	551	+	the municipality by the Secretary of the State, in accordance with the 442
	552	+	registry list of such municipality and endorse the same as having been 443
	553	+	so verified and corrected. For purposes of this section, a list of 444
	554	+	nominations shall be deemed to be filed when it is received by the 445
	555	+	Secretary of the State or clerk of the municipality, as appropriate. If such 446
	556	+	certificate of a party's nomination is not received by the Secretary of the 447
	557	+	State or clerk of the municipality, as appropriate, by such time, such 448
	558	+	certificate shall be invalid and such party, for purposes of sections 9-460, 449
	559	+	9-461 and 9-462, shall be deemed to have neither made nor certified any 450
	560	+	nomination of any candidate for such office. A candidacy for 451
	561	+	nomination by a minor party to a district or municipal office may be 452
	562	+	filed on behalf of any person whose name appears on the last-completed 453
	563	+	registry list of the district or municipality represented by such office, as 454
	564	+	the case may be. A candidacy for nomination by a minor party to a state 455
	565	+	office may be filed on behalf of any person whose name appears on the 456
	566	+	last-completed registry list of the state. 457
	567	+	(b) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, in the 458
	568	+	case of a timely filed certificate of nomination for any state, district or 459
	569	+	municipal office to be voted upon at a state election pursuant to 460
	570	+	subsection (a) of this section, which contains an error or omission that 461
	571	+	would operate to invalidate such nomination, the candidate so certified 462
	572	+	or an individual authorized to act on behalf of such candidate may 463
	573	+	correct such error or omission by appearing in person at the office of the 464
	574	+	Secretary of the State not later than four o'clock p.m. on the fifty-seventh 465
	575	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
555	576
556	577
557		-	LCO 16 of 32
558	578
559		-	party member of a municipality in this state. Each petition page shall 484
560		-	contain a statement signed by the registrar of the municipality in which 485
561		-	the circulator is an enrolled party member attesting that the circulator is 486
562		-	an enrolled party member in the municipality. Unless such a statement 487
563		-	by the registrar of voters appears on each page so submitted, the 488
564		-	Secretary shall reject the page. Each separate page of the petition shall 489
565		-	contain a statement as to the authenticity of the signatures on the page 490
566		-	and the number of such signatures, and shall be signed under the 491
567		-	penalties of false statement by the person who circulated the page, 492
568		-	setting forth the circulator's address and the town in which the 493
569		-	circulator is an enrolled party member and attesting that each person 494
570		-	whose name appears on the page signed the petition in person in the 495
571		-	presence of the circulator, that the circulator either knows each such 496
572		-	signer or that the signer satisfactorily identified himself or herself to the 497
573		-	circulator and that the spaces for candidates supported, offices sought 498
574		-	and the political party involved were filled in prior to the obtaining of 499
575		-	the signatures. Each separate page of the petition shall also be 500
576		-	acknowledged before an appropriate person as provided in section 1-501
577		-	29. The Secretary shall reject any page of a petition filed with the 502
578		-	Secretary which does not contain such a statement by the circulator as 503
579		-	to the authenticity of the signatures on the page, or upon which the 504
580		-	statement of the circulator is incomplete in any respect, or which does 505
581		-	not contain the certification required under this section by the registrar 506
582		-	of the town in which the circulator is an enrolled party member. No 507
583		-	person who has been convicted of a crime under this title shall circulate 508
584		-	any page of a primary petition during such person's period of probation 509
585		-	or parole, and for a period of twelve years after such person's release 510
586		-	from confinement, probation or parole, and the Secretary shall reject for 511
587		-	filing any such page that was circulated in violation of such prohibition. 512
588		-	Any individual proposed as a candidate in any primary petition may 513
589		-	serve as a circulator of the pages of the petition, provided the 514
590		-	individual's service as circulator does not violate any provision of this 515
591		-	section. 516
592		-	Sec. 10. Subsection (c) of section 9-410 of the general statutes is 517 Substitute Bill No. 1516
	579	+	LCO No. 6381 16 of 33
	580	+
	581	+	day prior to the day of the election and amending such certificate to 466
	582	+	make such correction, provided neither failure of the presiding officer 467
	583	+	of the committee, meeting or other authority to timely file such 468
	584	+	certificate pursuant to subsection (a) of this section nor failure of the 469
	585	+	candidate to sign such certificate shall be an error or omission that may 470
	586	+	be corrected pursuant to this subsection. If such candidate or individual 471
	587	+	does not appear to so amend such certificate by such time, such 472
	588	+	certificate shall be invalid and such party, for the purposes of sections 473
	589	+	9-460, 9-461 and 9-462, shall be deemed to have neither made nor 474
	590	+	certified any such nomination. 475
	591	+	(2) The Secretary of the State may, within the time period specified in 476
	592	+	subdivision (1) of this subsection, amend a timely filed certificate of 477
	593	+	nomination to correct any such error or omission, and shall keep a 478
	594	+	record of any such amendment made pursuant to this subdivision. 479
	595	+	Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to require the Secretary 480
	596	+	to affirmatively attempt to identify any error or omission in any such 481
	597	+	certificate. 482
	598	+	Sec. 9. Subsection (d) of section 9-404b of the general statutes is 483
	599	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 484
	600	+	passage): 485
	601	+	(d) Each circulator of a primary petition page shall be an enrolled 486
	602	+	party member of a municipality in this state. Each petition page shall 487
	603	+	contain a statement signed by the registrar of the municipality in which 488
	604	+	the circulator is an enrolled party member attesting that the circulator is 489
	605	+	an enrolled party member in the municipality. Unless such a statement 490
	606	+	by the registrar of voters appears on each page so submitted, the 491
	607	+	Secretary shall reject the page. Each separate page of the petition shall 492
	608	+	contain a statement as to the authenticity of the signatures on the page 493
	609	+	and the number of such signatures, and shall be signed under the 494
	610	+	penalties of false statement by the person who circulated the page, 495
	611	+	setting forth the circulator's address and the town in which the 496
	612	+	circulator is an enrolled party member and attesting that each person 497
	613	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
593	614
594	615
595		-	LCO 17 of 32
596	616
597		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 518
598		-	passage): 519
599		-	(c) Each circulator of a primary petition page shall be an enrolled 520
600		-	party member of a municipality in this state who is entitled to vote. Each 521
601		-	petition page shall contain a statement signed by the registrar of the 522
602		-	municipality in which such circulator is an enrolled party member 523
603		-	attesting that the circulator is an enrolled party member in such 524
604		-	municipality. Unless such a statement by the registrar appears on each 525
605		-	page so submitted, the registrar shall reject such page. No candidate for 526
606		-	the nomination of a party for a municipal office or the position of town 527
607		-	committee member shall circulate any petition for another candidate or 528
608		-	another group of candidates contained in one primary petition for the 529
609		-	nomination of such party for the same office or position, and any 530
610		-	petition page circulated in violation of this provision shall be rejected by 531
611		-	the registrar. No person shall circulate petitions for more than the 532
612		-	maximum number of candidates to be nominated by a party for the 533
613		-	same office or position, and any petition page circulated in violation of 534
614		-	this provision shall be rejected by the registrar. Each separate sheet of 535
615		-	such petition shall contain a statement as to the authenticity of the 536
616		-	signatures thereon and the number of such signatures, and shall be 537
617		-	signed under the penalties of false statement by the person who 538
618		-	circulated the same, setting forth such circulator's address and the town 539
619		-	in which such circulator is an enrolled party member and attesting that 540
620		-	each person whose name appears on such sheet signed the same in 541
621		-	person in the presence of such circulator, that the circulator either knows 542
622		-	each such signer or that the signer satisfactorily identified the signer to 543
623		-	the circulator and that the spaces for candidates supported, offices or 544
624		-	positions sought and the political party involved were filled in prior to 545
625		-	the obtaining of the signatures. Each separate sheet of such petition shall 546
626		-	also be acknowledged before an appropriate person as provided in 547
627		-	section 1-29. Any sheet of a petition filed with the registrar which does 548
628		-	not contain such a statement by the circulator as to the authenticity of 549
629		-	the signatures thereon, or upon which the statement of the circulator is 550
630		-	incomplete in any respect, or which does not contain the certification 551 Substitute Bill No. 1516
	617	+	LCO No. 6381 17 of 33
	618	+
	619	+	whose name appears on the page signed the petition in person in the 498
	620	+	presence of the circulator, that the circulator either knows each such 499
	621	+	signer or that the signer satisfactorily identified himself or herself to the 500
	622	+	circulator and that the spaces for candidates supported, offices sought 501
	623	+	and the political party involved were filled in prior to the obtaining of 502
	624	+	the signatures. Each separate page of the petition shall also be 503
	625	+	acknowledged before an appropriate person as provided in section 1-504
	626	+	29. The Secretary shall reject any page of a petition filed with the 505
	627	+	Secretary which does not contain such a statement by the circulator as 506
	628	+	to the authenticity of the signatures on the page, or upon which the 507
	629	+	statement of the circulator is incomplete in any respect, or which does 508
	630	+	not contain the certification required under this section by the registrar 509
	631	+	of the town in which the circulator is an enrolled party member. No 510
	632	+	person who has been convicted of a crime under this title shall circulate 511
	633	+	any page of a primary petition during such person's period of probation 512
	634	+	or parole, and for a period of twelve years after such person's release 513
	635	+	from confinement, probation or parole, and the Secretary shall reject for 514
	636	+	filing any such page that was circulated in violation of such prohibition. 515
	637	+	Any individual proposed as a candidate in any primary petition may 516
	638	+	serve as a circulator of the pages of the petition, provided the 517
	639	+	individual's service as circulator does not violate any provision of this 518
	640	+	section. 519
	641	+	Sec. 10. Subsection (c) of section 9-410 of the general statutes is 520
	642	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 521
	643	+	passage): 522
	644	+	(c) Each circulator of a primary petition page shall be an enrolled 523
	645	+	party member of a municipality in this state who is entitled to vote. Each 524
	646	+	petition page shall contain a statement signed by the registrar of the 525
	647	+	municipality in which such circulator is an enrolled party member 526
	648	+	attesting that the circulator is an enrolled party member in such 527
	649	+	municipality. Unless such a statement by the registrar appears on each 528
	650	+	page so submitted, the registrar shall reject such page. No candidate for 529
	651	+	the nomination of a party for a municipal office or the position of town 530
	652	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
631	653
632	654
633		-	LCO 18 of 32
634	655
635		-	hereinbefore required by the registrar of the town in which the 552
636		-	circulator is an enrolled party member, shall be rejected by the registrar. 553
637		-	No person who has been convicted of a crime under this title shall 554
638		-	circulate any page of a primary petition during such person's period of 555
639		-	probation or parole, and for a period of twelve years after such person's 556
640		-	release from confinement, probation or parole, and the registrar shall 557
641		-	reject for filing any such page that was circulated in violation of such 558
642		-	prohibition. Any individual proposed as a candidate in any primary 559
643		-	petition may serve as a circulator of the pages of such petition, provided 560
644		-	such individual's service as circulator does not violate any provision of 561
645		-	this section. 562
646		-	Sec. 11. Section 9-453e of the general statutes is repealed and the 563
647		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 564
648		-	(a) Each circulator of a nominating petition page shall be a United 565
649		-	States citizen, at least eighteen years of age and a resident of a town in 566
650		-	this state and shall not be on parole for conviction of a felony. Any 567
651		-	individual proposed as a candidate in any nominating petition may 568
652		-	serve as circulator of the pages of such nominating petition. 569
653		-	(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, 570
654		-	no person who has been convicted of a crime under this title shall 571
655		-	circulate any page of a nominating petition during such person's period 572
656		-	of probation or parole, and for a period of twelve years after such 573
657		-	person's release from confinement, probation or parole. The appropriate 574
658		-	town clerk or the Secretary of the State, as applicable under section 9-575
659		-	453i, shall reject for filing any such page that was circulated in violation 576
660		-	of such prohibition. 577
661		-	Sec. 12. Section 9-453j of the general statutes is repealed and the 578
662		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 579
663		-	Each page of a nominating petition submitted to the town clerk or the 580
664		-	Secretary of the State and filed with the Secretary of the State under the 581
665		-	provisions of sections 9-453a to 9-453s, inclusive, or section 9-216 shall 582
666		-	contain a statement as to the residency in this state and eligibility of the 583 Substitute Bill No. 1516
	656	+	LCO No. 6381 18 of 33
	657	+
	658	+	committee member shall circulate any petition for another candidate or 531
	659	+	another group of candidates contained in one primary petition for the 532
	660	+	nomination of such party for the same office or position, and any 533
	661	+	petition page circulated in violation of this provision shall be rejected by 534
	662	+	the registrar. No person shall circulate petitions for more than the 535
	663	+	maximum number of candidates to be nominated by a party for the 536
	664	+	same office or position, and any petition page circulated in violation of 537
	665	+	this provision shall be rejected by the registrar. Each separate sheet of 538
	666	+	such petition shall contain a statement as to the authenticity of the 539
	667	+	signatures thereon and the number of such signatures, and shall be 540
	668	+	signed under the penalties of false statement by the person who 541
	669	+	circulated the same, setting forth such circulator's address and the town 542
	670	+	in which such circulator is an enrolled party member and attesting that 543
	671	+	each person whose name appears on such sheet signed the same in 544
	672	+	person in the presence of such circulator, that the circulator either knows 545
	673	+	each such signer or that the signer satisfactorily identified the signer to 546
	674	+	the circulator and that the spaces for candidates supported, offices or 547
	675	+	positions sought and the political party involved were filled in prior to 548
	676	+	the obtaining of the signatures. Each separate sheet of such petition shall 549
	677	+	also be acknowledged before an appropriate person as provided in 550
	678	+	section 1-29. Any sheet of a petition filed with the registrar which does 551
	679	+	not contain such a statement by the circulator as to the authenticity of 552
	680	+	the signatures thereon, or upon which the statement of the circulator is 553
	681	+	incomplete in any respect, or which does not contain the certification 554
	682	+	hereinbefore required by the registrar of the town in which the 555
	683	+	circulator is an enrolled party member, shall be rejected by the registrar. 556
	684	+	No person who has been convicted of a crime under this title shall 557
	685	+	circulate any page of a primary petition during such person's period of 558
	686	+	probation or parole, and for a period of twelve years after such person's 559
	687	+	release from confinement, probation or parole, and the registrar shall 560
	688	+	reject for filing any such page that was circulated in violation of such 561
	689	+	prohibition. Any individual proposed as a candidate in any primary 562
	690	+	petition may serve as a circulator of the pages of such petition, provided 563
	691	+	such individual's service as circulator does not violate any provision of 564
	692	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
667	693
668	694
669		-	LCO 19 of 32
670	695
671		-	circulator and authenticity of the signatures thereon, signed under 584
672		-	penalties of false statement, by the person who circulated the same. Such 585
673		-	statement shall set forth (1) such circulator's residence address, 586
674		-	including the town in this state in which such circulator is a resident, (2) 587
675		-	the circulator's date of birth and that the circulator is at least eighteen 588
676		-	years of age, (3) that the circulator is a United States citizen and [not] 589
677		-	neither (A) on parole for conviction of a felony, nor (B) on probation or 590
678		-	parole for conviction of a crime under this title or within twelve years of 591
679		-	release from confinement, probation or parole due to such a conviction 592
680		-	under this subparagraph, and (4) that each person whose name appears 593
681		-	on such page signed the same in person in the presence of such 594
682		-	circulator and that either the circulator knows each such signer or that 595
683		-	the signer satisfactorily identified himself to the circulator. Any false 596
684		-	statement committed with respect to such statement shall be deemed to 597
685		-	have been committed in the town in which the petition was circulated. 598
686		-	Sec. 13. Subsection (k) of section 9-140 of the general statutes is 599
687		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 600
688		-	passage): 601
689		-	(k) (1) (A) A person shall register with the town clerk before 602
690		-	distributing five or more absentee ballot applications for an election, 603
691		-	primary or referendum, not including applications distributed to such 604
692		-	person's immediate family. Such requirement shall not apply to a person 605
693		-	who is the designee of an applicant. 606
694		-	(B) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (A) of this 607
695		-	subdivision, no person who has been convicted of a crime under this 608
696		-	title shall distribute any absentee ballot application during such person's 609
697		-	period of probation or parole, and for a period of twelve years after such 610
698		-	person's release from confinement, probation or parole. The town clerk 611
699		-	shall reject for filing any absentee ballot application that was distributed 612
700		-	in violation of such prohibition. 613
701		-	(2) Any person who distributes absentee ballot applications shall 614
702		-	maintain a list of the names and addresses of prospective absentee ballot 615 Substitute Bill No. 1516
	696	+	LCO No. 6381 19 of 33
	697	+
	698	+	this section. 565
	699	+	Sec. 11. Section 9-453e of the general statutes is repealed and the 566
	700	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 567
	701	+	(a) Each circulator of a nominating petition page shall be a United 568
	702	+	States citizen, at least eighteen years of age and a resident of a town in 569
	703	+	this state and shall not be on parole for conviction of a felony. Any 570
	704	+	individual proposed as a candidate in any nominating petition may 571
	705	+	serve as circulator of the pages of such nominating petition. 572
	706	+	(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, 573
	707	+	no person who has been convicted of a crime under this title shall 574
	708	+	circulate any page of a nominating petition during such person's period 575
	709	+	of probation or parole, and for a period of twelve years after such 576
	710	+	person's release from confinement, probation or parole. The appropriate 577
	711	+	town clerk or the Secretary of the State, as applicable under section 9-578
	712	+	453i, shall reject for filing any such page that was circulated in violation 579
	713	+	of such prohibition. 580
	714	+	Sec. 12. Section 9-453j of the general statutes is repealed and the 581
	715	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 582
	716	+	Each page of a nominating petition submitted to the town clerk or the 583
	717	+	Secretary of the State and filed with the Secretary of the State under the 584
	718	+	provisions of sections 9-453a to 9-453s, inclusive, or section 9-216 shall 585
	719	+	contain a statement as to the residency in this state and eligibility of the 586
	720	+	circulator and authenticity of the signatures thereon, signed under 587
	721	+	penalties of false statement, by the person who circulated the same. Such 588
	722	+	statement shall set forth (1) such circulator's residence address, 589
	723	+	including the town in this state in which such circulator is a resident, (2) 590
	724	+	the circulator's date of birth and that the circulator is at least eighteen 591
	725	+	years of age, (3) that the circulator is a United States citizen and [not] 592
	726	+	neither (A) on parole for conviction of a felony, nor (B) on probation or 593
	727	+	parole for conviction of a crime under this title or within twelve years of 594
	728	+	release from confinement, probation or parole due to such a conviction 595
	729	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
703	730
704	731
705		-	LCO 20 of 32
706	732
707		-	applicants who receive such applications, and shall file such list with 616
708		-	the town clerk prior to the date of the primary, election or referendum 617
709		-	for which the applications were so distributed. Any person who 618
710		-	distributes absentee ballot applications and receives an executed 619
711		-	application shall forthwith file the application with the town clerk. 620
712		-	Sec. 14. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) There is established, within 621
713		-	the office of the Secretary of the State, a Translation Advisory 622
714		-	Committee for the purposes of (1) validating the translations of election-623
715		-	related materials for accuracy and ensuring that such translations meet 624
716		-	the needs of the intended audience in a culturally responsive and 625
717		-	linguistically appropriate way, and (2) making recommendations to the 626
718		-	Secretary of the State and municipal officials on related matters. 627
719		-	(b) The Secretary of the State shall appoint members to serve on the 628
720		-	Translation Advisory Committee based on an application that shall 629
721		-	include the submission of a writing sample. Each member shall: 630
722		-	(1) Be a current resident of the state of Connecticut; 631
723		-	(2) Have experience in one or more of the municipalities served by 632
724		-	the translation of election-related materials; 633
725		-	(3) Be proficient in reading and writing in (A) English, and (B) one or 634
726		-	more dialects of a language, other than English, that is spoken in 635
727		-	Connecticut and in which federal or state law requires election-related 636
728		-	materials be made available; and 637
729		-	(4) Have experience in (A) election administration, including, but not 638
730		-	limited to, serving as a poll worker, or (B) bilingual educational settings 639
731		-	or community assistance programs. 640
732		-	(c) The Secretary of the State shall make initial appointments to the 641
733		-	Translation Advisory Committee not later than August 1, 2025. Each 642
734		-	member shall serve for a term of four years from such appointment, or 643
735		-	until a successor is appointed and has qualified. 644
736		-	(d) The Translation Advisory Committee shall meet as frequently as 645 Substitute Bill No. 1516
	733	+	LCO No. 6381 20 of 33
	734	+
	735	+	under this subparagraph, and (4) that each person whose name appears 596
	736	+	on such page signed the same in person in the presence of such 597
	737	+	circulator and that either the circulator knows each such signer or that 598
	738	+	the signer satisfactorily identified himself to the circulator. Any false 599
	739	+	statement committed with respect to such statement shall be deemed to 600
	740	+	have been committed in the town in which the petition was circulated. 601
	741	+	Sec. 13. Subsection (k) of section 9-140 of the general statutes is 602
	742	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 603
	743	+	passage): 604
	744	+	(k) (1) (A) A person shall register with the town clerk before 605
	745	+	distributing five or more absentee ballot applications for an election, 606
	746	+	primary or referendum, not including applications distributed to such 607
	747	+	person's immediate family. Such requirement shall not apply to a person 608
	748	+	who is the designee of an applicant. 609
	749	+	(B) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (A) of this 610
	750	+	subdivision, no person who has been convicted of a crime under this 611
	751	+	title shall distribute any absentee ballot application during such person's 612
	752	+	period of probation or parole, and for a period of twelve years after such 613
	753	+	person's release from confinement, probation or parole. The town clerk 614
	754	+	shall reject for filing any absentee ballot application that was distributed 615
	755	+	in violation of such prohibition. 616
	756	+	(2) Any person who distributes absentee ballot applications shall 617
	757	+	maintain a list of the names and addresses of prospective absentee ballot 618
	758	+	applicants who receive such applications, and shall file such list with 619
	759	+	the town clerk prior to the date of the primary, election or referendum 620
	760	+	for which the applications were so distributed. Any person who 621
	761	+	distributes absentee ballot applications and receives an executed 622
	762	+	application shall forthwith file the application with the town clerk. 623
	763	+	Sec. 14. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) There is established, within 624
	764	+	the office of the Secretary of the State, a Translation Advisory 625
	765	+	Committee for the purposes of (1) validating the translations of election-626
	766	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
737	767
738	768
739		-	LCO 21 of 32
740	769
741		-	~~necessary to timely approve election-related~~ ~~materials translations prior 646~~
742		-	~~to elections, primaries and referenda, but not less than quarterly each 647~~
743		-	~~year. Committee members shall serve without compensation~~ and ~~shall 648~~
744		-	~~not be eligible for mileage reimbursement.~~ ~~Not later than January 15,~~ ~~649~~
745		-	~~2027~~, and ~~biennially thereafter,~~ ~~the committee shall submit~~ to the ~~650~~
746		-	Secretary of the State ~~a report~~ on ~~the committee's proceedings,~~ ~~including 651~~
747		-	~~any recommendations for improvements in performing~~ the ~~committee's 652~~
748		-	~~duties under this section.~~ ~~653~~
749		-	~~(e)~~ The ~~Secretary~~ of ~~the State may adopt regulations,~~ ~~in accordance 654~~
750		-	~~with the provisions of chapter 54~~ of the ~~general statutes,~~ ~~to carry out the 655~~
751		-	~~purposes~~ of ~~this section.~~ ~~656~~
752		-	~~Sec. 15.~~ ~~(NEW) (Effective~~ ~~January 1,~~ ~~2026) Each municipality that, 657~~
753		-	~~pursuant to federal~~ or ~~state law, is required to make election-related 658~~
754		-	~~materials available in~~ a language other than English ~~shall use 659~~
755		-	~~professional translators when translating~~ election-related ~~materials 660~~
756		-	~~from English into such other language.~~ ~~As soon as practicable, but in no 661~~
757		-	~~case later than sixty-five~~ ~~days prior to each~~ election, ~~primary or 662~~
758		-	~~referendum~~, ~~such municipality shall submit its translated election-663~~
759		-	~~related materials to the Translation Advisory Committee established 664~~
760		-	~~under section 14~~ of ~~this act for review of such translations.~~ ~~As used in 665~~
761		-	~~this section~~, ~~"professional translator"~~ ~~means a person who has attained 666~~
762		-	~~(1) an academic certificate~~ or ~~degree in translation from an accredited 667~~
763		-	~~institution of higher education, or (2) certification as~~ a ~~translator by a 668~~
764		-	~~professional association or other accrediting organization.~~ ~~669~~
765		-	~~Sec. 16.~~ ~~Section 9-250 of the general statutes is repealed and the 670~~
766		-	~~following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1~~, ~~2026): 671~~
767		-	~~(a) Ballots~~ shall ~~be printed in plain clear type and on material of such 672~~
768		-	~~size as will fit the tabulator,~~ and shall be ~~furnished by the registrar of 673~~
769		-	~~voters.~~ The ~~size and style of the type used to print the name of a political 674~~
770		-	~~party on a ballot~~ shall ~~be identical with~~ the ~~size and style~~ of the ~~type 675~~
771		-	~~used to print the names of all other political parties appearing on such 676~~
772		-	~~ballot. The name of each major party candidate for a municipal office, as 677 Substitute~~ Bill No. 1516
	770	+	LCO No. 6381 21 of 33
	771	+
	772	+	related materials for accuracy and ensuring that such translations meet 627
	773	+	the needs of the intended audience in a culturally responsive and 628
	774	+	linguistically appropriate way, and (2) making recommendations to the 629
	775	+	Secretary of the State and municipal officials on related matters. 630
	776	+	(b) The Secretary of the State shall appoint members to serve on the 631
	777	+	Translation Advisory Committee based on an application that shall 632
	778	+	include the submission of a writing sample. Each member shall: 633
	779	+	(1) Be a current resident of the state of Connecticut; 634
	780	+	(2) Have experience in one or more of the municipalities served by 635
	781	+	the translation of election-related materials; 636
	782	+	(3) Be proficient in reading and writing in (A) English, and (B) one or 637
	783	+	more dialects of a language, other than English, that is spoken in 638
	784	+	Connecticut and in which federal or state law requires election-related 639
	785	+	materials be made available; and 640
	786	+	(4) Have experience in (A) election administration, including, but not 641
	787	+	limited to, serving as a poll worker, or (B) bilingual educational settings 642
	788	+	or community assistance programs. 643
	789	+	(c) The Secretary of the State shall make initial appointments to the 644
	790	+	Translation Advisory Committee not later than August 1, 2025. Each 645
	791	+	member shall serve for a term of four years from such appointment, or 646
	792	+	until a successor is appointed and has qualified. 647
	793	+	(d) The Translation Advisory Committee shall meet as frequently as 648
	794	+	necessary to timely approve election-related materials translations prior 649
	795	+	to elections, primaries and referenda, but not less frequently than 650
	796	+	quarterly each year. Committee members shall serve without 651
	797	+	compensation and shall not be eligible for mileage reimbursement. Not 652
	798	+	later than January 15, 2027, and biennially thereafter, the committee 653
	799	+	shall submit to the Secretary of the State a report on the committee's 654
	800	+	proceedings, including any recommendations for improvements in 655
	801	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
773	802
774	803
775		-	LCO 22 of 32
776	804
777		-	~~defined in section 9-372, except for the municipal offices~~ of ~~state senator 678~~
778		-	~~and state representative, shall appear on the ballot as authorized by each 679~~
779		-	~~candidate.~~ The ~~name of each major party candidate for a state or district 680~~
780		-	~~office~~, ~~as defined~~ in ~~section 9-372, or for the municipal office of state 681~~
781		-	~~senator or state representative shall appear on~~ the ~~ballot as it appears on 682~~
782		-	~~the certificate or statement~~ of ~~consent filed under~~ section ~~9-388, as 683~~
783		-	~~amended by this act~~, ~~subsection (b~~) ~~of section 9-391~~, ~~or section 9-400, as 684~~
784		-	~~amended by this act,~~ or ~~9-409.~~ ~~The name of each minor party candidate 685~~
785		-	shall ~~appear on the ballot as authorized by each candidate. The name of 686~~
786		-	~~each nominating petition candidate shall appear on the ballot as it is 687~~
787		-	~~verified by the town clerk on the application filed under section 9-453b~~. ~~688~~
788		-	~~The size and style of the type used~~ to ~~print the name of a candidate on a 689~~
789		-	~~ballot~~ shall ~~be identical with the size and style of the type used to print 690~~
790		-	the ~~names of all other candidates appearing on such ballot. Such ballot 691~~
791		-	~~shall contain the names~~ of ~~the offices and the names~~ of ~~the candidates 692~~
792		-	~~arranged thereon.~~ ~~The names of the political parties and party 693~~
793		-	~~designations shall be arranged on the ballots and followed by the word 694~~
794		-	~~"party"~~, ~~either in columns~~ or ~~horizontal rows~~ as ~~set forth in section 9-695~~
795		-	~~249a, immediately adjacent to the column~~ or ~~row occupied by the 696~~
796		-	~~candidate or candidates~~ of ~~such political party or organization.~~ The ~~697~~
797		-	~~ballot shall be printed~~ in ~~such manner as to indicate how many 698~~
798		-	~~candidates the elector may vote for each office, provided~~ in ~~the case~~ of ~~a 699~~
799		-	~~town adopting~~ the ~~provisions~~ of ~~section 9-204a, such ballot shall indicate 700~~
800		-	the ~~maximum number~~ of ~~candidates who may be elected~~ to ~~such office 701~~
801		-	~~from any party.~~ ~~If two or more candidates are to~~ be ~~elected to~~ the ~~same 702~~
802		-	~~office for different terms,~~ the ~~term for which each is nominated shall be 703~~
803		-	~~printed on~~ the ~~official ballot~~ as ~~a part of the title of the office. If, at any 704~~
804		-	~~election~~, ~~one candidate is to be elected~~ for ~~a full term and another to fill 705~~
805		-	~~a vacancy~~, the ~~official~~ ballot ~~containing the names of the candidates in 706~~
806		-	the ~~foregoing order shall,~~ as a ~~part of the title of the office, designate the 707~~
807		-	~~term which such candidates are severally nominated to fill. No column~~, ~~708~~
808		-	~~under~~ the ~~name of any political party or independent organization, shall 709~~
809		-	~~be printed on any official ballot~~, ~~which contains more candidates for any 710~~
810		-	~~office than the number for which an elector may vote for that office. 711 Substitute~~ Bill No. 1516
	805	+	LCO No. 6381 22 of 33
	806	+
	807	+	performing the committee's duties under this section. 656
	808	+	(e) The Secretary of the State may adopt regulations, in accordance 657
	809	+	with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, to carry out the 658
	810	+	purposes of this section. 659
	811	+	Sec. 15. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2026) Each municipality that, 660
	812	+	pursuant to federal or state law, is required to make election-related 661
	813	+	materials available in a language other than English shall use 662
	814	+	professional translators when translating election-related materials 663
	815	+	from English into such other language. As soon as practicable, but in no 664
	816	+	case later than sixty-five days prior to each election, primary or 665
	817	+	referendum, such municipality shall submit its translated election-666
	818	+	related materials to the Translation Advisory Committee established 667
	819	+	under section 1 of this act for review of such translations. As used in this 668
	820	+	section, "professional translator" means a person who has attained (1) 669
	821	+	an academic certificate or degree in translation from an accredited 670
	822	+	institution of higher education, or (2) certification as a translator by a 671
	823	+	professional association or other accrediting organization. 672
	824	+	Sec. 16. Section 9-250 of the general statutes is repealed and the 673
	825	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 674
	826	+	(a) Ballots shall be printed in plain clear type and on material of such 675
	827	+	size as will fit the tabulator, and shall be furnished by the registrar of 676
	828	+	voters. The size and style of the type used to print the name of a political 677
	829	+	party on a ballot shall be identical with the size and style of the type 678
	830	+	used to print the names of all other political parties appearing on such 679
	831	+	ballot. The name of each major party candidate for a municipal office, as 680
	832	+	defined in section 9-372, except for the municipal offices of state senator 681
	833	+	and state representative, shall appear on the ballot as authorized by each 682
	834	+	candidate. The name of each major party candidate for a state or district 683
	835	+	office, as defined in section 9-372, or for the municipal office of state 684
	836	+	senator or state representative shall appear on the ballot as it appears on 685
	837	+	the certificate or statement of consent filed under section 9-388, as 686
	838	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
811	839
812	840
813		-	LCO 23 of 32
814	841
815		-	(b) Not later than ten days prior to the commencement of the period 712
816		-	of early voting at an election, the registrars of voters of each 713
817		-	municipality shall file with the Secretary of the State, for each voting 714
818		-	district in such municipality, the official ballot to be used for such voting 715
819		-	district. No such official ballot shall be used at any election unless it has 716
820		-	been approved by the Secretary of the State. 717
821		-	Sec. 17. Subsection (j) of section 9-437 of the general statutes is 718
822		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 719
823		-	1, 2026): 720
824		-	(j) (1) All ballots used at a primary shall be prepared by the clerk of 721
825		-	the municipality in which such primary is held and shall be printed at 722
826		-	the expense of the municipality. Not later than ten days prior to the 723
827		-	commencement of the period of early voting at a primary, such clerk 724
828		-	shall file with the Secretary of the State, for each voting district in such 725
829		-	municipality at which such primary is held, the ballot to be used for 726
830		-	such voting district. No such ballot shall be used at any primary unless 727
831		-	it has been approved by the Secretary of the State. 728
832		-	(2) Each municipality shall provide for all polling places: 729
833		-	[(1)] (A) At least forty-eight hours before the primary, such clerk shall 730
834		-	have sample ballots for general distribution, which shall contain the 731
835		-	offices or positions and names of candidates to be voted upon. Each such 732
836		-	sample ballot shall also include printed instructions approved by the 733
837		-	Secretary of the State concerning the use of the voting tabulator and 734
838		-	information concerning the date of the primary and the hours during 735
839		-	which polling places will be open. Such clerk shall have available for 736
840		-	distribution such number of sample ballots as such clerk deems 737
841		-	advisable, but in no event less than three which shall be posted inside 738
842		-	the polling place so as to be visible to those within the polling place 739
843		-	during the whole day of the primary. At least one of such sample ballots 740
844		-	shall be posted so as to be visible to an elector being instructed on the 741
845		-	demonstrator device, pursuant to section 9-260. If paper ballots are used 742
846		-	in any primary, such sample paper ballots shall be overprinted with the 743 Substitute Bill No. 1516
	842	+	LCO No. 6381 23 of 33
	843	+
	844	+	amended by this act, subsection (b) of section 9-391, or section 9-400, as 687
	845	+	amended by this act, or 9-409. The name of each minor party candidate 688
	846	+	shall appear on the ballot as authorized by each candidate. The name of 689
	847	+	each nominating petition candidate shall appear on the ballot as it is 690
	848	+	verified by the town clerk on the application filed under section 9-453b. 691
	849	+	The size and style of the type used to print the name of a candidate on a 692
	850	+	ballot shall be identical with the size and style of the type used to print 693
	851	+	the names of all other candidates appearing on such ballot. Such ballot 694
	852	+	shall contain the names of the offices and the names of the candidates 695
	853	+	arranged thereon. The names of the political parties and party 696
	854	+	designations shall be arranged on the ballots and followed by the word 697
	855	+	"party", either in columns or horizontal rows as set forth in section 9-698
	856	+	249a, immediately adjacent to the column or row occupied by the 699
	857	+	candidate or candidates of such political party or organization. The 700
	858	+	ballot shall be printed in such manner as to indicate how many 701
	859	+	candidates the elector may vote for each office, provided in the case of a 702
	860	+	town adopting the provisions of section 9-204a, such ballot shall indicate 703
	861	+	the maximum number of candidates who may be elected to such office 704
	862	+	from any party. If two or more candidates are to be elected to the same 705
	863	+	office for different terms, the term for which each is nominated shall be 706
	864	+	printed on the official ballot as a part of the title of the office. If, at any 707
	865	+	election, one candidate is to be elected for a full term and another to fill 708
	866	+	a vacancy, the official ballot containing the names of the candidates in 709
	867	+	the foregoing order shall, as a part of the title of the office, designate the 710
	868	+	term which such candidates are severally nominated to fill. No column, 711
	869	+	under the name of any political party or independent organization, shall 712
	870	+	be printed on any official ballot, which contains more candidates for any 713
	871	+	office than the number for which an elector may vote for that office. 714
	872	+	(b) Not later than ten days prior to the commencement of the period 715
	873	+	of early voting at an election, the registrars of voters of each 716
	874	+	municipality shall file with the Secretary of the State, for each voting 717
	875	+	district in such municipality, the official ballot to be used for such voting 718
	876	+	district. No such official ballot shall be used at any election unless it has 719
	877	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
847	878
848	879
849		-	LCO 24 of 32
850	880
851		-	word "Sample"; 744
852		-	[(2)] (B) Instructions on how to cast a provisional ballot, as prescribed 745
853		-	by the Secretary of the State; 746
854		-	[(3)] (C) Instructions for mail-in registrants and first-time voters who 747
855		-	register to vote by mail on or after January 1, 2003, as prescribed by the 748
856		-	Secretary of the State; 749
857		-	[(4)] (D) General information concerning voting rights under federal 750
858		-	and Connecticut laws, including information on the right of an 751
859		-	individual to cast a provisional ballot and instructions on how to contact 752
860		-	the appropriate officials if such rights are alleged to have been violated, 753
861		-	as prescribed by the Secretary of the State; and 754
862		-	[(5)] (E) General information on federal and state laws concerning 755
863		-	prohibitions on acts of fraud and misrepresentation, as prescribed by 756
864		-	the Secretary of the State. 757
865		-	Sec. 18. Subsection (a) of section 9-135a of the general statutes is 758
866		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 759
867		-	1, 2026): 760
868		-	(a) Each absentee ballot shall be arranged to resemble the appropriate 761
869		-	ballot and sample ballot as prescribed by law, and shall include, as 762
870		-	applicable, the offices, party designations, names of candidates and 763
871		-	questions to be voted upon and spaces for write-in votes. A replica of 764
872		-	the state seal shall be printed on the ballot. The size, type, form, 765
873		-	instructions, specifications for paper and printing and other 766
874		-	specifications shall be prescribed by the Secretary of the State. Prior to 767
875		-	printing such absentee ballots pursuant to this section, the clerk of the 768
876		-	municipality shall file with the Secretary of the State, for each voting 769
877		-	district in such municipality, the absentee ballot to be used for such 770
878		-	voting district. No such absentee ballot shall be used at any election or 771
879		-	primary unless it has been approved by the Secretary of the State. 772
880		-	Sec. 19. Section 9-135b of the general statutes is repealed and the 773 Substitute Bill No. 1516
	881	+	LCO No. 6381 24 of 33
	882	+
	883	+	been approved by the Secretary of the State. 720
	884	+	Sec. 17. Subsection (j) of section 9-437 of the general statutes is 721
	885	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 722
	886	+	1, 2026): 723
	887	+	(j) (1) All ballots used at a primary shall be prepared by the clerk of 724
	888	+	the municipality in which such primary is held and shall be printed at 725
	889	+	the expense of the municipality. Not later than ten days prior to the 726
	890	+	commencement of the period of early voting at a primary, such clerk 727
	891	+	shall file with the Secretary of the State, for each voting district in such 728
	892	+	municipality at which such primary is held, the ballot to be used for 729
	893	+	such voting district. No such ballot shall be used at any primary unless 730
	894	+	it has been approved by the Secretary of the State. 731
	895	+	(2) Each municipality shall provide for all polling places: 732
	896	+	[(1)] (A) At least forty-eight hours before the primary, such clerk shall 733
	897	+	have sample ballots for general distribution, which shall contain the 734
	898	+	offices or positions and names of candidates to be voted upon. Each such 735
	899	+	sample ballot shall also include printed instructions approved by the 736
	900	+	Secretary of the State concerning the use of the voting tabulator and 737
	901	+	information concerning the date of the primary and the hours during 738
	902	+	which polling places will be open. Such clerk shall have available for 739
	903	+	distribution such number of sample ballots as such clerk deems 740
	904	+	advisable, but in no event less than three which shall be posted inside 741
	905	+	the polling place so as to be visible to those within the polling place 742
	906	+	during the whole day of the primary. At least one of such sample ballots 743
	907	+	shall be posted so as to be visible to an elector being instructed on the 744
	908	+	demonstrator device, pursuant to section 9-260. If paper ballots are used 745
	909	+	in any primary, such sample paper ballots shall be overprinted with the 746
	910	+	word "Sample"; 747
	911	+	[(2)] (B) Instructions on how to cast a provisional ballot, as prescribed 748
	912	+	by the Secretary of the State; 749
	913	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
881	914
882	915
883		-	LCO 25 of 32
884	916
885		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 774
886		-	(a) Immediately after the deadline for certification of all candidates 775
887		-	whose names are to appear on the ballot, and in sufficient time to begin 776
888		-	issuing absentee ballots on the day prescribed by law, the municipal 777
889		-	clerk shall prepare the absentee ballots and have them printed. Prior to 778
890		-	printing such ballots, the registrars of voters of the municipality may 779
891		-	provide comments concerning the content and form of such ballots to 780
892		-	the clerk, provided no such ballot shall be printed unless the Secretary 781
893		-	of the State has approved of such ballot in accordance with section 9-782
894		-	135a, as amended by this act. 783
895		-	(b) A layout model of each different absentee ballot shall be available 784
896		-	for public inspection at the clerk's office prior to printing. The model 785
897		-	shall indicate the type face to be used, the spelling and placement of 786
898		-	names and other information to be printed on the ballots. 787
899		-	(c) Immediately upon receiving the printed absentee ballots, the 788
900		-	municipal clerk shall file one with the Secretary of the State or, if there 789
901		-	are different ballots for different political subdivisions, one ballot for 790
902		-	each subdivision. The clerk shall also file his affidavit with the Secretary, 791
903		-	stating the number of ballots printed. The form of affidavit shall be 792
904		-	prescribed by the Secretary. If any correction or alteration is 793
905		-	subsequently made on any absentee ballot the clerk shall immediately 794
906		-	file a corrected or altered ballot and, using the prescribed form, his 795
907		-	affidavit stating the number of such ballots printed, with the Secretary. 796
908		-	(d) If a vacancy in candidacy occurs after the ballots have been 797
909		-	printed, the clerk may either reprint the ballots or cause printed stickers 798
910		-	to be affixed to them so that the name of any candidate who has vacated 799
911		-	his candidacy is deleted and the name of any candidate chosen to fill the 800
912		-	vacancy as provided in section 9-428 or section 9-460 appears in the 801
913		-	same position as that in which the vacated candidacy appeared except 802
914		-	as provided in section 9-426 or 9-453s. If no candidate is chosen to fill 803
915		-	such vacancy as so provided, the clerk shall cause the name of the 804
916		-	candidate whose candidacy has been vacated to be obscured in such 805 Substitute Bill No. 1516
	917	+	LCO No. 6381 25 of 33
	918	+
	919	+	[(3)] (C) Instructions for mail-in registrants and first-time voters who 750
	920	+	register to vote by mail on or after January 1, 2003, as prescribed by the 751
	921	+	Secretary of the State; 752
	922	+	[(4)] (D) General information concerning voting rights under federal 753
	923	+	and Connecticut laws, including information on the right of an 754
	924	+	individual to cast a provisional ballot and instructions on how to contact 755
	925	+	the appropriate officials if such rights are alleged to have been violated, 756
	926	+	as prescribed by the Secretary of the State; and 757
	927	+	[(5)] (E) General information on federal and state laws concerning 758
	928	+	prohibitions on acts of fraud and misrepresentation, as prescribed by 759
	929	+	the Secretary of the State. 760
	930	+	Sec. 18. Subsection (a) of section 9-135a of the general statutes is 761
	931	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 762
	932	+	1, 2026): 763
	933	+	(a) Each absentee ballot shall be arranged to resemble the appropriate 764
	934	+	ballot and sample ballot as prescribed by law, and shall include, as 765
	935	+	applicable, the offices, party designations, names of candidates and 766
	936	+	questions to be voted upon and spaces for write-in votes. A replica of 767
	937	+	the state seal shall be printed on the ballot. The size, type, form, 768
	938	+	instructions, specifications for paper and printing and other 769
	939	+	specifications shall be prescribed by the Secretary of the State. Prior to 770
	940	+	printing such absentee ballots pursuant to section 9-135a, as amended 771
	941	+	by this act, the clerk of the municipality shall file with the Secretary of 772
	942	+	the State, for each voting district in such municipality, the absentee 773
	943	+	ballot to be used for such voting district. No such absentee ballot shall 774
	944	+	be used at any election or primary unless it has been approved by the 775
	945	+	Secretary of the State. 776
	946	+	Sec. 19. Section 9-135b of the general statutes is repealed and the 777
	947	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 778
	948	+	(a) Immediately after the deadline for certification of all candidates 779
	949	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
917	950
918	951
919		-	LCO 26 of 32
920	952
921		-	manner that such name is no longer visible. 806
922		-	(e) [The] Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the 807
923		-	Secretary of the State [shall examine each absentee ballot required to be 808
924		-	filed pursuant to this section and if a ballot contains an omission or 809
925		-	error, the Secretary shall order] from ordering the municipal clerk to 810
926		-	reprint a corrected absentee ballot or to take such other action as the 811
927		-	Secretary may deem appropriate in the case of an absentee ballot that 812
928		-	contains an omission or error. 813
929		-	Sec. 20. Section 9-256 of the general statutes is repealed and the 814
930		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 815
931		-	[The registrars of voters of each municipality shall, not less than ten 816
932		-	days prior to the commencement of the period of early voting at an 817
933		-	election, file with the Secretary of the State a sample ballot identical with 818
934		-	those to be provided for each polling place under section 9-255. The 819
935		-	Secretary of the State shall examine the sample ballot required to be filed 820
936		-	under this section, and if such sample ballot contains an error, the 821
937		-	Secretary of the State shall order] Notwithstanding the provisions of 822
938		-	subsection (b) of section 9-250, as amended by this act, the Secretary of 823
939		-	the State may order the registrars of voters to reprint a corrected 824
940		-	[sample] ballot or to take other such action as the Secretary may deem 825
941		-	appropriate in the case of any ballot that contains an omission or error. 826
942		-	Sec. 21. Subsection (a) of section 9-140b of the general statutes is 827
943		-	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 828
944		-	passage): 829
945		-	(a) An absentee ballot shall be cast at a primary, election or 830
946		-	referendum only if: (1) It is mailed by (A) the ballot applicant, (B) a 831
947		-	designee of a person who applies for an absentee ballot because of 832
948		-	illness or physical disability, or (C) a member of the immediate family 833
949		-	of an applicant who is a student, so that it is received by the clerk of the 834
950		-	municipality in which the applicant is qualified to vote not later than the 835
951		-	close of the polls; (2) it is returned by the applicant in person to the clerk 836
952		-	by the day before [a regular election, special] the election or primary or 837 Substitute Bill No. 1516
	953	+	LCO No. 6381 26 of 33
	954	+
	955	+	whose names are to appear on the ballot, and in sufficient time to begin 780
	956	+	issuing absentee ballots on the day prescribed by law, the municipal 781
	957	+	clerk shall prepare the absentee ballots and have them printed. Prior to 782
	958	+	printing such ballots, the registrars of voters of the municipality may 783
	959	+	provide comments concerning the content and form of such ballots to 784
	960	+	the clerk, provided no such ballot shall be printed unless the Secretary 785
	961	+	of the State has approved thereof in accordance with section 9-135a, as 786
	962	+	amended by this act. 787
	963	+	(b) A layout model of each different absentee ballot shall be available 788
	964	+	for public inspection at the clerk's office prior to printing. The model 789
	965	+	shall indicate the type face to be used, the spelling and placement of 790
	966	+	names and other information to be printed on the ballots. 791
	967	+	(c) Immediately upon receiving the printed absentee ballots, the 792
	968	+	municipal clerk shall file one with the Secretary of the State or, if there 793
	969	+	are different ballots for different political subdivisions, one ballot for 794
	970	+	each subdivision. The clerk shall also file his affidavit with the Secretary, 795
	971	+	stating the number of ballots printed. The form of affidavit shall be 796
	972	+	prescribed by the Secretary. If any correction or alteration is 797
	973	+	subsequently made on any absentee ballot the clerk shall immediately 798
	974	+	file a corrected or altered ballot and, using the prescribed form, his 799
	975	+	affidavit stating the number of such ballots printed, with the Secretary. 800
	976	+	(d) If a vacancy in candidacy occurs after the ballots have been 801
	977	+	printed, the clerk may either reprint the ballots or cause printed stickers 802
	978	+	to be affixed to them so that the name of any candidate who has vacated 803
	979	+	his candidacy is deleted and the name of any candidate chosen to fill the 804
	980	+	vacancy as provided in section 9-428 or section 9-460 appears in the 805
	981	+	same position as that in which the vacated candidacy appeared except 806
	982	+	as provided in section 9-426 or 9-453s. If no candidate is chosen to fill 807
	983	+	such vacancy as so provided, the clerk shall cause the name of the 808
	984	+	candidate whose candidacy has been vacated to be obscured in such 809
	985	+	manner that such name is no longer visible. 810
	986	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
953	987
954	988
955		-	LCO 27 of 32
956	989
957		-	~~prior to the opening~~ of ~~the polls on the day of [a] the referendum; (3) it 838~~
958		-	~~is returned by a designee of an ill or physically disabled ballot applicant, 839~~
959		-	in ~~person,~~ to ~~said clerk not later than~~ the ~~close of the polls on the day of 840~~
960		-	~~the election, primary or referendum; (4) it is returned by a member~~ of ~~841~~
961		-	~~the immediate family of the absentee voter, in person,~~ to ~~said clerk not 842~~
962		-	~~later than~~ the ~~close of~~ the ~~polls on the day of the election, primary or 843~~
963		-	~~referendum; (5) in~~ the ~~case of a presidential or overseas ballot, it is 844~~
964		-	~~mailed or otherwise returned pursuant to~~ the ~~provisions~~ of ~~section 9-845~~
965		-	~~158g;~~ or ~~(6) it is returned with the proper identification as required by 846~~
966		-	the ~~Help America Vote Act,~~ ~~P.L. 107-252, as amended from time to time, 847~~
967		-	~~if applicable,~~ ~~inserted~~ in ~~the outer envelope so such identification can be 848~~
968		-	~~viewed without opening~~ the ~~inner envelope.~~ ~~A person returning an 849~~
969		-	~~absentee ballot~~ to the ~~municipal clerk pursuant to subdivision (3) or (4) 850~~
970		-	~~of this subsection shall present identification and~~, on the ~~outer envelope 851~~
971		-	of the ~~absentee ballot, sign his name in the presence of the municipal 852~~
972		-	~~clerk, and indicate his address,~~ ~~his relationship~~ to ~~the voter or his 853~~
973		-	~~position, and the date and time of such return. As used in~~ this section, ~~854~~
974		-	~~"immediate family" means a dependent relative who resides in~~ the ~~855~~
975		-	~~individual's household or any spouse, child, parent or sibling~~ of the ~~856~~
976		-	~~individual. 857~~
977		-	~~Sec. 22.~~ ~~(Effective from passage)~~ ~~(a) There shall be,~~ ~~in any municipality 858~~
978		-	~~with a population~~ of ~~at least one hundred forty thousand,~~ an ~~election 859~~
979		-	~~monitor for~~ the ~~municipal election in 2025 and the state election in 2026 860~~
980		-	~~to detect~~ and ~~prevent irregularity and impropriety~~ in ~~the management 861~~
981		-	~~of election administration procedures and the conduct of said elections 862~~
982		-	~~in such municipality.~~ ~~The office of the Secretary of the State~~ shall ~~863~~
983		-	~~contract with one or more individuals to serve in such capacity as 864~~
984		-	~~election monitor until December 31,~~ ~~2026, unless such contract is 865~~
985		-	~~terminated for any reason by the Secretary~~ of the ~~State prior to said date. 866~~
986		-	~~Such election monitor shall:~~ ~~(1) Not be considered~~ a ~~state employee;~~ ~~(2) 867~~
987		-	~~be compensated~~ in ~~accordance with such contract;~~ ~~and (3) be 868~~
988		-	~~reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred~~ in the ~~performance of his 869~~
989		-	~~or her duties. Costs related to~~ the ~~service of such~~ election ~~monitor shall 870~~
990		-	~~be paid from moneys appropriated to the Secretary for such purpose. 871 Substitute~~ Bill No. 1516
	990	+	LCO No. 6381 27 of 33
	991	+
	992	+	(e) [The] Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the 811
	993	+	Secretary of the State [shall examine each absentee ballot required to be 812
	994	+	filed pursuant to this section and if a ballot contains an omission or 813
	995	+	error, the Secretary shall order] from ordering the municipal clerk to 814
	996	+	reprint a corrected absentee ballot or to take such other action as the 815
	997	+	Secretary may deem appropriate in the case of an absentee ballot that 816
	998	+	contains an omission or error. 817
	999	+	Sec. 20. Section 9-256 of the general statutes is repealed and the 818
	1000	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 819
	1001	+	[The registrars of voters of each municipality shall, not less than ten 820
	1002	+	days prior to the commencement of the period of early voting at an 821
	1003	+	election, file with the Secretary of the State a sample ballot identical with 822
	1004	+	those to be provided for each polling place under section 9-255. The 823
	1005	+	Secretary of the State shall examine the sample ballot required to be filed 824
	1006	+	under this section, and if such sample ballot contains an error, the 825
	1007	+	Secretary of the State shall order] Notwithstanding the provisions of 826
	1008	+	subsection (b) of section 9-250, as amended by this act, the Secretary of 827
	1009	+	the State may order the registrars of voters to reprint a corrected 828
	1010	+	[sample] ballot or to take other such action as the Secretary may deem 829
	1011	+	appropriate in the case of any ballot that contains an omission or error. 830
	1012	+	Sec. 21. Subsection (a) of section 9-140b of the general statutes is 831
	1013	+	repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 832
	1014	+	passage): 833
	1015	+	(a) An absentee ballot shall be cast at a primary, election or 834
	1016	+	referendum only if: (1) It is mailed by (A) the ballot applicant, (B) a 835
	1017	+	designee of a person who applies for an absentee ballot because of 836
	1018	+	illness or physical disability, or (C) a member of the immediate family 837
	1019	+	of an applicant who is a student, so that it is received by the clerk of the 838
	1020	+	municipality in which the applicant is qualified to vote not later than the 839
	1021	+	close of the polls; (2) it is returned by the applicant in person to the clerk 840
	1022	+	by the day before [a regular election, special] the election or primary or 841
	1023	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
991	1024
992	1025
993		-	LCO 28 of 32
994	1026
995		-	Any such municipality shall provide for such election monitor any office 872
996		-	space, supplies, equipment and services necessary to properly carry out 873
997		-	the duties and responsibilities of the position. As used in this section, 874
998		-	"population" means the estimated number of people according to the 875
999		-	most recent version of the State Register and Manual prepared pursuant 876
1000		-	to section 3-90 of the general statutes. 877
1001		-	(b) An election monitor appointed under subsection (a) of this section 878
1002		-	shall: (1) Oversee the municipal primary and election in 2025 in such 879
1003		-	municipality, including, but not limited to, absentee ballots, early 880
1004		-	voting, same-day election registration and voting at polling places on 881
1005		-	the days of the primary and the election; (2) oversee the state primary 882
1006		-	and election in 2026 in such municipality, including, but not limited to, 883
1007		-	absentee ballots, early voting, same-day election registration and voting 884
1008		-	at polling places on the days of the primary and the election; (3) oversee 885
1009		-	each special election in 2025 and 2026, if any; (4) conduct inspections, 886
1010		-	inquiries and investigations relating to any duty or responsibility under 887
1011		-	title 9 of the general statutes to be carried out by any official of the 888
1012		-	municipality or appointee of such official; (5) have access to all records, 889
1013		-	data and material maintained by or available to any such official or 890
1014		-	appointee; (6) issue periodic reports on a schedule agreed to by the 891
1015		-	Secretary of the State; and (7) immediately report to the Secretary any 892
1016		-	irregularity or impropriety in the performance of any duty or 893
1017		-	responsibility under title 9 of the general statutes to be carried out by 894
1018		-	any official of the municipality or appointee of such official. Nothing in 895
1019		-	this section shall be construed to prohibit the State Elections 896
1020		-	Enforcement Commission from taking any action authorized under 897
1021		-	section 9-7b of the general statutes. 898
1022		-	(c) The Secretary of the State shall, using moneys appropriated 899
1023		-	pursuant to this section, develop and conduct a town-wide bilingual 900
1024		-	public awareness campaign in such municipality to educate members of 901
1025		-	the public regarding title 9 of the general statutes and such members' 902
1026		-	rights thereunder. 903
1027		-	Sec. 23. Section 9-50d of the general statutes is repealed and the 904 Substitute Bill No. 1516
	1027	+	LCO No. 6381 28 of 33
	1028	+
	1029	+	prior to the opening of the polls on the day of [a] the referendum; (3) it 842
	1030	+	is returned by a designee of an ill or physically disabled ballot applicant, 843
	1031	+	in person, to said clerk not later than the close of the polls on the day of 844
	1032	+	the election, primary or referendum; (4) it is returned by a member of 845
	1033	+	the immediate family of the absentee voter, in person, to said clerk not 846
	1034	+	later than the close of the polls on the day of the election, primary or 847
	1035	+	referendum; (5) in the case of a presidential or overseas ballot, it is 848
	1036	+	mailed or otherwise returned pursuant to the provisions of section 9-849
	1037	+	158g; or (6) it is returned with the proper identification as required by 850
	1038	+	the Help America Vote Act, P.L. 107-252, as amended from time to time, 851
	1039	+	if applicable, inserted in the outer envelope so such identification can be 852
	1040	+	viewed without opening the inner envelope. A person returning an 853
	1041	+	absentee ballot to the municipal clerk pursuant to subdivision (3) or (4) 854
	1042	+	of this subsection shall present identification and, on the outer envelope 855
	1043	+	of the absentee ballot, sign his name in the presence of the municipal 856
	1044	+	clerk, and indicate his address, his relationship to the voter or his 857
	1045	+	position, and the date and time of such return. As used in this section, 858
	1046	+	"immediate family" means a dependent relative who resides in the 859
	1047	+	individual's household or any spouse, child, parent or sibling of the 860
	1048	+	individual. 861
	1049	+	Sec. 22. (Effective from passage) (a) There shall be, in any municipality 862
	1050	+	with a population of at least one hundred forty thousand, an election 863
	1051	+	monitor for the municipal election in 2025 and the state election in 2026 864
	1052	+	to detect and prevent irregularity and impropriety in the management 865
	1053	+	of election administration procedures and the conduct of said elections 866
	1054	+	in such municipality. The office of the Secretary of the State shall 867
	1055	+	contract with one or more individuals to serve in such capacity as 868
	1056	+	election monitor until December 31, 2026, unless such contract is 869
	1057	+	terminated for any reason by the Secretary of the State prior to said date. 870
	1058	+	Such election monitor shall: (1) Not be considered a state employee; (2) 871
	1059	+	be compensated in accordance with such contract; and (3) be 872
	1060	+	reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of his 873
	1061	+	or her duties. Costs related to the service of such election monitor shall 874
	1062	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
1028	1063
1029	1064
1030		-	LCO 29 of 32
1031	1065
1032		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 905
1033		-	(a) (1) Whenever voter registration information maintained under 906
1034		-	this title by the Secretary of the State or any registrar of voters is 907
1035		-	provided pursuant to any provision of the general statutes, disclosure 908
1036		-	of a voter's date of birth shall be limited to only the month and year of 909
1037		-	birth, unless such voter registration information is requested and used 910
1038		-	for a governmental purpose, as determined by the Secretary, in which 911
1039		-	case the voter's complete date of birth shall be provided. As used in this 912
1040		-	section, a governmental purpose shall include, but not be limited to, jury 913
1041		-	administration. 914
1042		-	(2) Voter registration information described in subdivision (1) of this 915
1043		-	subsection (A) may only be used for election-related, scholarly, 916
1044		-	journalistic, political or governmental purposes, and (B) shall not be 917
1045		-	used for any personal, private or commercial purpose, including, but 918
1046		-	not limited to, (i) harassment of any voter or voter's household, (ii) 919
1047		-	advertising, solicitation, sale or marketing of products or services to any 920
1048		-	voter or voter's household, and (iii) reproduction of such information in 921
1049		-	print, broadcast visual or audio or display on the Internet or any 922
1050		-	computer terminal. 923
1051		-	(3) The Secretary of the State may adopt regulations, in accordance 924
1052		-	with the provisions of chapter 54, concerning the permissible uses of 925
1053		-	voter registration information. 926
1054		-	(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, any motor 927
1055		-	vehicle operator's license number, identity card number or Social 928
1056		-	Security number on a voter registration record shall be confidential and 929
1057		-	shall not be disclosed to any person. 930
1058		-	(c) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, if a voter 931
1059		-	submits to the Secretary of the State a signed statement that 932
1060		-	nondisclosure of such voter's name from the official registry list is 933
1061		-	necessary for the safety of such voter or the voter's family, the name and 934
1062		-	address of such voter on his or her voter registration record shall be 935
1063		-	confidential and shall not be disclosed, except that an election, primary 936 Substitute Bill No. 1516
	1066	+	LCO No. 6381 29 of 33
	1067	+
	1068	+	be paid from moneys appropriated to the Secretary for such purpose. 875
	1069	+	Such municipality shall provide for such election monitor any office 876
	1070	+	space, supplies, equipment and services necessary to properly carry out 877
	1071	+	the duties and responsibilities of the position. As used in this section, 878
	1072	+	"population" means the estimated number of people according to the 879
	1073	+	most recent version of the State Register and Manual prepared pursuant 880
	1074	+	to section 3-90 of the general statutes. 881
	1075	+	(b) An election monitor appointed under subsection (a) of this section 882
	1076	+	shall: (1) Oversee the municipal primary and election in 2025 in such 883
	1077	+	municipality, including, but not limited to, absentee ballots, early 884
	1078	+	voting, same-day election registration and voting at polling places on 885
	1079	+	the days of the primary and the election; (2) oversee the state primary 886
	1080	+	and election in 2026 in such municipality, including, but not limited to, 887
	1081	+	absentee ballots, early voting, same-day election registration and voting 888
	1082	+	at polling places on the days of the primary and the election; (3) oversee 889
	1083	+	each special election in 2025 and 2026, if any; (4) conduct inspections, 890
	1084	+	inquiries and investigations relating to any duty or responsibility under 891
	1085	+	title 9 of the general statutes to be carried out by any official of the 892
	1086	+	municipality or appointee of such official; (5) have access to all records, 893
	1087	+	data and material maintained by or available to any such official or 894
	1088	+	appointee; (6) issue periodic reports on a schedule agreed to by the 895
	1089	+	Secretary of the State; and (7) immediately report to the Secretary any 896
	1090	+	irregularity or impropriety in the performance of any duty or 897
	1091	+	responsibility described in this subsection. Nothing in this section shall 898
	1092	+	be construed to prohibit the State Elections Enforcement Commission 899
	1093	+	from taking any action authorized under section 9-7b of the general 900
	1094	+	statutes. 901
	1095	+	(c) The Secretary of the State shall, using moneys appropriated 902
	1096	+	pursuant to this section, develop and conduct a town-wide bilingual 903
	1097	+	public awareness campaign in such municipality to educate members of 904
	1098	+	the public regarding title 9 of the general statutes and such members' 905
	1099	+	rights thereunder. 906
	1100	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
1064	1101
1065	1102
1066		-	LCO 30 of 32
1067	1103
1068		-	or referendum official may view such information on the official registry 937
1069		-	list when such list is used by any such official at a polling place on the 938
1070		-	day of an election, primary or referendum. Such signed statement shall 939
1071		-	be sworn under penalty of false statement, as provided in section 53a-940
1072		-	157b. 941
1073		-	Sec. 24. Section 9-3 of the general statutes is repealed and the 942
1074		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 943
1075		-	(a) The Secretary of the State, by virtue of the office, shall be the 944
1076		-	Commissioner of Elections of the state, with such powers and duties 945
1077		-	relating to the conduct of elections as are prescribed by law and, unless 946
1078		-	otherwise provided by state statute, the Secretary's regulations, 947
1079		-	declaratory rulings, instructions and opinions, if in written form, and 948
1080		-	any order issued under subsection (b) of this section, shall be presumed 949
1081		-	as correctly interpreting and effectuating the administration of elections 950
1082		-	and primaries under this title, except for chapters 155 to 158, inclusive, 951
1083		-	and shall be executed, carried out or implemented, as the case may be, 952
1084		-	provided nothing in this section shall be construed to alter the right of 953
1085		-	appeal provided under the provisions of chapter 54. Any such written 954
1086		-	instruction or opinion shall be labeled as an instruction or opinion 955
1087		-	issued pursuant to this section, as applicable, and any such instruction 956
1088		-	or opinion shall cite any authority that is discussed in such instruction 957
1089		-	or opinion. 958
1090		-	(b) During any municipal, state or federal election, primary or 959
1091		-	recanvass, or any audit conducted pursuant to section 9-320f, the 960
1092		-	Secretary of the State may issue an order, whether orally or in writing, 961
1093		-	to any registrar of voters or moderator to correct any irregularity or 962
1094		-	impropriety in the conduct of such election, primary or recanvass or 963
1095		-	audit. Any such order shall be effective upon issuance. As soon as 964
1096		-	practicable after issuance of an oral order pursuant to this subsection, 965
1097		-	the Secretary shall reduce such order to writing, cite within such order 966
1098		-	any applicable provision of law authorizing such order and cause a copy 967
1099		-	of such written order to be delivered to the individual who is the subject 968
1100		-	of such order or, in the case that such order was originally issued in 969 Substitute Bill No. 1516
	1104	+	LCO No. 6381 30 of 33
	1105	+
	1106	+	Sec. 23. Section 9-50d of the general statutes is repealed and the 907
	1107	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 908
	1108	+	(a) (1) Whenever voter registration information maintained under 909
	1109	+	this title by the Secretary of the State or any registrar of voters is 910
	1110	+	provided pursuant to any provision of the general statutes, disclosure 911
	1111	+	of a voter's date of birth shall be limited to only the month and year of 912
	1112	+	birth, unless such voter registration information is requested and used 913
	1113	+	for a governmental purpose, as determined by the Secretary, in which 914
	1114	+	case the voter's complete date of birth shall be provided. As used in this 915
	1115	+	section, a governmental purpose shall include, but not be limited to, jury 916
	1116	+	administration. 917
	1117	+	(2) Voter registration information described in subdivision (1) of this 918
	1118	+	subsection (A) may only be used for election-related, scholarly, 919
	1119	+	journalistic, political or governmental purposes, and (B) shall not be 920
	1120	+	used for any personal, private or commercial purpose, including, but 921
	1121	+	not limited to, (i) harassment of any voter or voter's household, (ii) 922
	1122	+	advertising, solicitation, sale or marketing of products or services to any 923
	1123	+	voter or voter's household, and (iii) reproduction of such information in 924
	1124	+	print, broadcast visual or audio or display on the Internet or any 925
	1125	+	computer terminal. 926
	1126	+	(3) The Secretary of the State may adopt regulations, in accordance 927
	1127	+	with the provisions of chapter 54, concerning the use of voter 928
	1128	+	registration information. 929
	1129	+	(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, any motor 930
	1130	+	vehicle operator's license number, identity card number or Social 931
	1131	+	Security number on a voter registration record shall be confidential and 932
	1132	+	shall not be disclosed to any person. 933
	1133	+	(c) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, if a voter 934
	1134	+	submits to the Secretary of the State a signed statement that 935
	1135	+	nondisclosure of such voter's name from the official registry list is 936
	1136	+	necessary for the safety of such voter or the voter's family, the name and 937
	1137	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
1101	1138
1102	1139
1103		-	LCO 31 of 32
1104	1140
1105		-	writing, issue a subsequent written order that conforms to such 970
1106		-	requirements. The Superior Court, on application of the Secretary or the 971
1107		-	Attorney General, may enforce by appropriate decree or process any 972
1108		-	such order issued pursuant to this subsection. 973
1109		-	(c) Whenever, during the ninety days preceding the day of an election 974
1110		-	or primary, one or more electors have alleged aggrievement under this 975
1111		-	title, the Secretary of the State may commence a declaratory judgment 976
1112		-	action under section 52-29 for a determination as to whether such elector 977
1113		-	or electors have been so aggrieved and for an order to ensure election 978
1114		-	administration procedures are properly executed and electors' rights are 979
1115		-	adequately protected under this title. 980
	1141	+	LCO No. 6381 31 of 33
	1142	+
	1143	+	address of such voter on his or her voter registration record shall be 938
	1144	+	confidential and shall not be disclosed, except that an election, primary 939
	1145	+	or referendum official may view such information on the official registry 940
	1146	+	list when such list is used by any such official at a polling place on the 941
	1147	+	day of an election, primary or referendum. Such signed statement shall 942
	1148	+	be sworn under penalty of false statement, as provided in section 53a-943
	1149	+	157b. 944
	1150	+	Sec. 24. Section 9-3 of the general statutes is repealed and the 945
	1151	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 946
	1152	+	(a) The Secretary of the State, by virtue of the office, shall be the 947
	1153	+	Commissioner of Elections of the state, with such powers and duties 948
	1154	+	relating to the conduct of elections as are prescribed by law and, unless 949
	1155	+	otherwise provided by state statute, the Secretary's regulations, 950
	1156	+	declaratory rulings, instructions and opinions, if in written form, and 951
	1157	+	any order issued under subsection (b) of this section, shall be presumed 952
	1158	+	as correctly interpreting and effectuating the administration of elections 953
	1159	+	and primaries under this title, except for chapters 155 to 158, inclusive, 954
	1160	+	and shall be executed, carried out or implemented, as the case may be, 955
	1161	+	provided nothing in this section shall be construed to alter the right of 956
	1162	+	appeal provided under the provisions of chapter 54. Any such written 957
	1163	+	instruction or opinion shall be labeled as an instruction or opinion 958
	1164	+	issued pursuant to this section, as applicable, and any such instruction 959
	1165	+	or opinion shall cite any authority that is discussed in such instruction 960
	1166	+	or opinion. 961
	1167	+	(b) During any municipal, state or federal election, primary or 962
	1168	+	recanvass, or any audit conducted pursuant to section 9-320f, the 963
	1169	+	Secretary of the State may issue an order, whether orally or in writing, 964
	1170	+	to any registrar of voters or moderator to correct any irregularity or 965
	1171	+	impropriety in the conduct of such election, primary or recanvass or 966
	1172	+	audit. Any such order shall be effective upon issuance. As soon as 967
	1173	+	practicable after issuance of an oral order pursuant to this subsection, 968
	1174	+	the Secretary shall reduce such order to writing, cite within such order 969
	1175	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
	1176	+
	1177	+
	1178	+
	1179	+	LCO No. 6381 32 of 33
	1180	+
	1181	+	any applicable provision of law authorizing such order and cause a copy 970
	1182	+	of such written order to be delivered to the individual who is the subject 971
	1183	+	of such order or, in the case that such order was originally issued in 972
	1184	+	writing, issue a subsequent written order that conforms to such 973
	1185	+	requirements. The Superior Court, on application of the Secretary or the 974
	1186	+	Attorney General, may enforce by appropriate decree or process any 975
	1187	+	such order issued pursuant to this subsection. 976
	1188	+	(c) Whenever, during the ninety days preceding the day of an election 977
	1189	+	or primary, one or more electors have alleged aggrievement under this 978
	1190	+	title, the Secretary of the State may commence a declaratory judgment 979
	1191	+	action under section 52-29 for a determination as to whether such elector 980
	1192	+	or electors have been so aggrieved and for an order to ensure election 981
	1193	+	administration procedures are properly executed and electors' rights are 982
	1194	+	adequately protected under this title. 983
1116	1195		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
1117	1196		sections:
1118	1197
1119	1198		Section 1 from passage 9-322a
1120	1199		Sec. 2 from passage New section
1121	1200		Sec. 3 January 1, 2026 9-261(b)
1122	1201		Sec. 4 January 1, 2026 9-236
1123	1202		Sec. 5 January 1, 2026 9-388
1124	1203		Sec. 6 January 1, 2026 9-391(c)
1125	1204		Sec. 7 January 1, 2026 9-400
1126	1205		Sec. 8 January 1, 2026 9-452
1127	1206		Sec. 9 from passage 9-404b(d)
1128	1207		Sec. 10 from passage 9-410(c)
1129	1208		Sec. 11 from passage 9-453e
1130	1209		Sec. 12 from passage 9-453j
1131	1210		Sec. 13 from passage 9-140(k)
1132	1211		Sec. 14 July 1, 2025 New section
1133	1212		Sec. 15 January 1, 2026 New section
1134	1213		Sec. 16 January 1, 2026 9-250
1135	1214		Sec. 17 January 1, 2026 9-437(j)
1136	1215		Sec. 18 January 1, 2026 9-135a(a)
1137	1216		Sec. 19 January 1, 2026 9-135b
	1217	+	Raised Bill No. 1516
	1218	+
	1219	+
	1220	+
	1221	+	LCO No. 6381 33 of 33
	1222	+
1138	1223		Sec. 20 January 1, 2026 9-256
1139	1224		Sec. 21 from passage 9-140b(a)
1140	1225		Sec. 22 from passage New section
1141		-	Sec. 23 October 1, 2025 9-50d Substitute Bill No. 1516
1142		-
1143		-
1144		-	LCO 32 of 32
1145		-
	1226	+	Sec. 23 October 1, 2025 9-50d
1146	1227		Sec. 24 from passage 9-3
1147	1228
1148		-	Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
1149		-	In Sections 5(b)(1), 7(c)(1) and 8(b)(1), "Except as provided in
1150		-	subdivision (2) of this subsection," was deleted for accuracy; in Section
1151		-	6(c)(2)(A), "Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision,"
1152		-	was deleted for accuracy; in Section 14(d), "not less frequently than" was
1153		-	changed to "not less than" for clarity; in Section 15, "section 1 of this act"
1154		-	was changed to "section 14 of this act" for accuracy; in Section 18,
1155		-	"section 9-135a, as amended by this act" was changed to "this section"
1156		-	for consistency with standard drafting conventions; in Section 19(a),
1157		-	"thereof" was changed to "of such ballot" for clarity; in Section 22(a),
1158		-	"Such municipality" was changed to "Any such municipality" for
1159		-	accuracy; in Section 22(b)(7), "described in this subsection" was changed
1160		-	to "under title 9 of the general statutes to be carried out by any official
1161		-	of the municipality or appointee of such official" for consistency; and in
1162		-	Section 23(a)(3), "use" was changed to "permissible uses" for clarity.
	1229	+	Statement of Purpose:
	1230	+	To (1) expand certain post-election procedures for the correction of
	1231	+	returns to all towns rather than just those divided into voting districts,
	1232	+	(2) provide for notice to the Secretary of the State in certain matters
	1233	+	relating to state or federal voting rights, (3) require registrars of voters
	1234	+	to designate areas designated for curbside voting at polling places, (4)
	1235	+	allow for the correction of errors or omissions of timely-filed
	1236	+	endorsement, nominating or other candidacy-related certificates that
	1237	+	would operate to invalidate such certificates if not corrected, (5) prohibit
	1238	+	for a period of time certain individuals convicted of crimes under title 9
	1239	+	of the general statutes from circulating primary and nominating
	1240	+	petitions and absentee ballot applications, (6) establish a Translation
	1241	+	Advisory Committee and require towns to submit translated election-
	1242	+	related materials thereto, (7) provide for the Secretary's pre-approval of
	1243	+	town's ballots and authority to order corrections in case of omissions or
	1244	+	errors, (8) establish an election monitor in a town of a certain size for the
	1245	+	2025 and 2026 elections, (9) prohibit the commercial use of certain voter
	1246	+	registration information, and (10) during the ninety days prior to an
	1247	+	election or primary, allow the Secretary to go to Superior Court to seek
	1248	+	a declaratory judgment on behalf of electors alleging aggrievement.
1163	1249
1164		-	GAE Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO
	1250	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	1251	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	1252	+	underlined.]
1165	1253