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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1535
January Session, 2025
LCO No. 6688
Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
AND ELECTIONS
Introduced by:
(GAE)
AN ACT CONCERNING THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE'S
RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO EARLY VOTING.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 9-163aa of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 2
(a) (1) (A) Any eligible elector may vote prior to the day of a regular 3
election, in accordance with the provisions of this section, during a 4
period of early voting at each regular election held on or after April 1, 5
2024. 6
(B) The period of early voting under subparagraph (A) of this 7
subdivision shall (i) notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-2, 8
commence on the fifteenth day prior to and conclude on the second day 9
prior to such regular election, and (ii) consist of such days between and 10
inclusive of such commencement and conclusion, except any legal 11
holiday designated, appointed or recommended under section 1-4, and 12
at such times as provided in subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 13
9-174. 14
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(2) (A) Subject to the provisions of subdivision (4) of this subsection, 15
any eligible elector may vote prior to the day of a primary, other than a 16
presidential preference primary, in accordance with the provisions of 17
this section, during a period of early voting at each primary, other than 18
a presidential preference primary, held on or after April 1, 2024. 19
(B) The period of early voting under subparagraph (A) of this 20
subdivision shall (i) notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-2, 21
commence on the eighth day prior to and conclude on the second day 22
prior to such primary, other than a presidential preference primary, and 23
(ii) consist of such days between and inclusive of such commencement 24
and conclusion, except any legal holiday designated, appointed or 25
recommended under section 1-4, and at such times as provided in 26
subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 9-174. 27
(3) (A) Any eligible elector may vote prior to the day of a special 28
election, in accordance with the provisions of this section, during a 29
period of early voting at each special election held on or after April 1, 30
2024. 31
(B) Subject to the provisions of subdivision (4) of this subsection, any 32
eligible elector may vote prior to the day of a presidential preference 33
primary, in accordance with the provisions of this section, during a 34
period of early voting at each presidential preference primary held on 35
or after April 1, 2024. 36
(C) The period of early voting under subparagraph (A) or (B) of this 37
subdivision shall (i) notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-2, 38
commence on the fifth day prior to and conclude on the second day 39
prior to such special election or such presidential preference primary, 40
except that such commencing and concluding days shall be adjusted to 41
exclude from such period March 31, 2024, and any legal holiday 42
designated, appointed or recommended under section 1-4, and (ii) 43
consist of four total days between and inclusive of such commencement 44
and conclusion, as may be adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (C)(i) of 45
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this subdivision, and at such times as provided in subdivision (2) of 46
subsection (c) of section 9-174. 47
(4) (A) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 9-19e, 9-23a, 9-26, 48
9-31a, 9-55, 9-56, as amended by this act, and 9-57: 49
(i) In the case of an unaffiliated elector who wishes to vote during the 50
period of early voting at a primary, such elector shall be eligible to so 51
vote if such elector's application for enrollment with the political party 52
holding such primary is filed with the registrars of voters by twelve 53
o'clock noon on the business day immediately preceding the day on 54
which such period of early voting commences. 55
(ii) In the case of a person who is not admitted as an elector and who 56
wishes to vote during the period of early voting at a primary, such 57
person shall be eligible to so vote if such person's application for 58
admission as an elector and enrollment with the political party holding 59
such primary is filed with the registrars of voters by twelve o'clock noon 60
on the business day immediately preceding the day during such period 61
of early voting on which such person offers to vote at such primary. 62
(B) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent an individual 63
who enrolls in a political party during a period of early voting at a 64
primary from voting by absentee ballot, if eligible, or in person on the 65
day of such primary. 66
(b) (1) (A) The registrars of voters of each municipality shall designate 67
a location for the conduct of early voting [, which] but, if the registrars 68
fail to agree as to such location, the legislative body or, in a municipality 69
where the legislative body is a town meeting, the board of selectmen, 70
shall designate such location. Such location shall be the same for the 71
duration of the period of early voting except as otherwise specified in 72
this subdivision, provided [(A)] (i) the registrars of voters have access to 73
the state-wide centralized voter registration system from such location, 74
and [(B)] (ii) such location is certified in writing to the Secretary of the 75
State. [not later than sixty days prior to the day of an election or a 76
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primary.] The written certification under subparagraph [(B)] (A)(ii) of 77
this subdivision shall be submitted annually by the registrars of voters 78
to the Secretary not later than February fifteenth, and any change thereto 79
shall be made and submitted, and approved or disapproved, in 80
accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (B) of this subdivision. 81
Such written certification shall provide [(i)] (I) the name, street address 82
and relevant contact information associated with such location, [(ii)] (II) 83
the number of election or primary officials to be appointed by the 84
registrars of voters to serve at such location and the roles of such 85
officials, and [(iii)] (III) a description of the design of such location and 86
a plan for effective conduct of such early voting, and shall include the 87
information required for same-day election registration under 88
subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 9-19j, as amended by this act. 89
The Secretary shall approve or disapprove such written certification 90
annually not later than [forty-five days prior to the day of an election or 91
a primary] March first. If the Secretary disapproves such certification, 92
the Secretary shall provide, in writing, the reasons for such disapproval 93
and shall issue an order for such corrective action as the Secretary deems 94
necessary, including, but not limited to, the appointment of additional 95
election or primary officials or the alteration of such design or plan. 96
After having received approval of such certification or having complied 97
with any order for corrective action to the Secretary's satisfaction, as 98
applicable, the registrars of voters shall determine the site of such 99
location designated for the conduct of early voting at least thirty-one 100
days prior to an election or a primary. Such location shall not be changed 101
within such period, except, if the municipal clerk and registrars of voters 102
unanimously find that such location has been rendered unusable within 103
such period, such clerk and registrars shall forthwith designate another 104
location for the conduct of early voting to be used in place of the location 105
so rendered unusable and shall give adequate notice that such location 106
has been so changed. The provisions of sections 9-168d and 9-168e shall 107
apply to such location designated for the conduct of early voting. 108
(B) If, after the registrars of voters annually submit the written 109
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certification under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, the registrars 110
make any change to any part of such written certification, such registrars 111
shall submit to the Secretary of the State an updated written 112
certification, in a form and manner prescribed by the Secretary, as soon 113
as practicable but in no case later than seven days after such change. The 114
registrars shall clearly indicate on such updated written certification the 115
information that has changed since the prior submission. The Secretary 116
shall approve or disapprove such updated written certification as soon 117
as practicable but in no case later than seven days after submission 118
thereof. If the Secretary disapproves such updated certification, the 119
Secretary shall provide, in writing, the reasons for such disapproval and 120
shall issue an order for such corrective action as the Secretary deems 121
necessary, in accordance with subparagraph (A) of this subdivision. 122
(2) In any municipality with a population of at least twenty thousand, 123
the legislative body may hold a public hearing on whether to designate 124
any additional location in such municipality for the conduct of early 125
voting, which public hearing, if any, shall be held not later than fifteen 126
days prior to the time for designating any such location set forth in 127
subdivision (1) of this subsection. Any legislative body holding such a 128
public hearing shall properly notice such public hearing not later than 129
ten days prior to such public hearing in a newspaper having general 130
circulation in such municipality and on the Internet web site of the 131
municipality. For any such municipality in which such a public hearing 132
was not held, the legislative body thereof shall determine whether to 133
designate any such additional location and shall notify the Secretary of 134
the State with a detailed explanation for such determination. For any 135
municipality in which such a public hearing was held, not later than 136
three days after the conclusion of such public hearing, the legislative 137
body thereof shall determine whether to designate any such additional 138
location and shall notify the Secretary with a detailed explanation for 139
such determination. If the legislative body determines that any such 140
additional location be designated, the registrars of voters shall so 141
designate such additional location and the provisions of subdivision (1) 142
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of this subsection shall apply to such additional location. The Secretary 143
shall take no action on any detailed explanation submitted under this 144
subdivision with regard to the number of additional locations 145
designated in such a municipality, and shall preserve each such detailed 146
explanation as a public record open to public inspection. For the 147
purposes of this subdivision, "population" means the estimated number 148
of people according to the most recent version of the State Register and 149
Manual prepared pursuant to section 3-90. 150
(3) In any municipality containing any campus of a public institution 151
of higher education with at least one thousand students living in 152
housing that is on such campus or is owned or operated by, or affiliated 153
with, such public institution of higher education, the registrars of voters 154
of such municipality shall designate an additional location in such 155
municipality for the conduct of early voting and the provisions of 156
subdivision (1) of this subsection shall apply to such additional location. 157
[(3)] (4) At each location designated for the conduct of early voting, 158
the registrars of voters shall provide to prospective electors during the 159
early voting period the opportunity to apply for same-day election 160
registration, in accordance with the procedures set forth in section 9-19j, 161
as amended by this act, for such application and for the completion and 162
processing of any such application. 163
[(4)] (5) (A) The registrars of voters shall appoint, for each day on 164
which early voting is conducted, a moderator and such other election or 165
primary officials to serve at each location designated for such conduct. 166
The moderator so appointed shall perform any duty required, and may 167
exercise any power authorized, under this title related to the conduct of 168
early voting at such location. On any such day and solely for purposes 169
related to the conduct of early voting, the registrars of voters of a 170
municipality may, upon agreement, appoint one of the registrars from 171
such municipality as moderator in accordance with the provisions of 172
subparagraph (B) of this subdivision. The registrars of voters may 173
delegate to each other election or primary official so appointed any of 174
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the responsibilities assigned to the registrars of voters. The registrars of 175
voters shall supervise each such official and train each such official to be 176
an early voting election or primary official. 177
(B) Whenever the registrars of voters of a municipality appoint, 178
pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, one of the registrars 179
of such municipality as moderator to serve at a location designated for 180
the conduct of early voting, such registrars of voters shall jointly submit 181
to the Secretary of the State (i) a certification that the registrars of voters 182
of such municipality are in agreement as to such appointment, and (ii) 183
a written plan detailing alternative coverage of the duties normally 184
carried out by the registrar so appointed to ensure that such registrar 185
abstains, on each day in which such registrar serves as moderator, from 186
any such duties that conflict with those of the moderator. 187
(C) Not later than the fourteenth day preceding the commencement 188
of the period of early voting, the registrars of voters shall provide to the 189
Secretary of the State a written report setting forth the name and address 190
of the moderator appointed to serve at each location designated for the 191
conduct of early voting pursuant to this subdivision. Such written report 192
shall be included as part of the written report provided by the registrars 193
to the Secretary under section 9-228a, as amended by this act. 194
(c) Any elector who wishes to vote during a period of early voting at 195
an election or primary, and is eligible to so vote at such election or 196
primary, shall (1) appear in person at such times as provided in 197
subsection (c) of section 9-174, at the location designated by the 198
registrars of voters for early voting, (2) identify such elector as required 199
by subsection (a) of section 9-261. [, and (3) declare under oath that such 200
elector has not previously voted in such election or primary, as provided 201
in subsection (e) of this section.] 202
(d) If the registrars of voters determine that an elector is eligible to 203
vote in the election or primary, the registrars of voters shall check the 204
state-wide centralized voter registration system before allowing such 205
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elector to cast an early voting ballot as provided in subsection (e) of this 206
section. 207
(1) If the registrars of voters determine that the elector has not already 208
voted, or if there is no report that the elector has already voted, the 209
registrars shall allow such elector to vote. 210
(2) If the registrars of voters believe that the elector may have already 211
voted, such matter shall be reviewed by the registrars of voters. After 212
completion of such review, if a resolution of the matter cannot be made 213
and such elector claims to have neither in fact voted nor offered to vote 214
in person or by absentee ballot, such elector may request a challenged 215
ballot in accordance with section 9-232d and may cast such challenged 216
ballot in accordance with section 9-232e. Such matter shall be reported 217
to the State Elections Enforcement Commission, which shall conduct an 218
investigation of the matter. The provisions of section 9-232f shall apply 219
to any challenged ballot cast under this subdivision. 220
(e) If the elector is allowed to vote, the registrars of voters shall 221
provide such elector with an early voting ballot, [and early voting 222
envelope and] shall make a record of such issuance, and shall announce 223
to such elector the voting district in which such elector resides and the 224
ballot, corresponding to such voting district, that such elector should 225
properly receive. [The elector shall complete an affirmation printed 226
upon the back of the early voting envelope and shall declare under oath 227
that the voter has not previously voted in the election or primary. The 228
affirmation shall be in the form substantially as follows and signed by 229
the voter: 230
AFFIRMATION: I, the undersigned, do hereby state, under penalty 231
of false statement (perjury), that: 232
1. I am the elector appearing in person to vote at an election or 233
primary prior to the day of such election or primary. 234
2. I am eligible to vote in the election or primary indicated for today. 235
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3. I have identified myself to the satisfaction of the registrars of voters. 236
4. I have not voted in person or by absentee ballot and I will not vote 237
otherwise than by this ballot at this election or primary. 238
5. I have received an early voting ballot for the purpose of so voting. 239
…. (Signature of voter)] 240
(f) The elector shall forthwith mark the early voting ballot in the 241
presence of the registrars of voters in such a manner that the registrars 242
of voters shall not know how the early voting ballot is marked. The 243
elector shall place the early voting ballot [in the early voting ballot 244
envelope provided and deposit such envelope in a secured early voting 245
ballot depository receptacle] into the voting tabulator. At the conclusion 246
of each day during the early voting period, the registrars of voters shall 247
[transport such receptacle containing] (1) publicly open the voting 248
tabulator, secure and seal such day's early voting ballots [to the 249
municipal clerk, who shall] in a secure receptacle and retain and 250
securely store such ballots in as near a manner as possible to that for the 251
retention and secure storage of [absentee] ballots cast at polling places 252
under section 9-261, as provided in subsection (g) of this section, except 253
that, if such manner is not practicable, then such early voting ballots 254
shall be retained and securely stored as provided in an alternate plan 255
submitted by the registrars of voters to the Secretary of the State and 256
approved by the Secretary, [. On the day of the election or primary, the 257
early voting ballots shall be delivered to the registrars of voters for the 258
purpose of counting such ballots. A section of the head moderator's 259
return shall show the number of early voting ballots received from 260
electors. The registrars of voters shall seal a copy of the vote tally for 261
early voting ballots in a depository envelope with the early voting 262
ballots and store such early voting depository envelope with the other 263
election or primary results materials. The early voting depository 264
envelope shall be preserved by the registrars of voters for the period of 265
time required to preserve counted ballots for elections or primaries] and 266
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(2) secure the voting tabulator in a locked area. 267
(g) Except as provided in section 9-163bb, as amended by this act, the 268
provisions of this title and any regulation adopted under this title 269
concerning procedures relating to the custody, control and counting of 270
[absentee] ballots cast at polling places under section 9-261 shall apply, 271
as nearly as possible, to the custody, control and counting of early voting 272
ballots under this section. A section of the head moderator's return shall 273
show the number of early voting ballots received from electors. 274
(h) (1) No person shall solicit on behalf of or in opposition to any 275
candidate or on behalf of or in opposition to any question being 276
submitted at the election or primary, or loiter or peddle or offer any 277
advertising matter, ballot or circular to another person within a radius 278
of seventy-five feet of any outside entrance in use as an entry to any 279
building that contains any location designated by the registrars of voters 280
for early voting or in any corridor, passageway or other approach 281
leading from any such outside entrance to any such location or in any 282
room opening upon any such corridor, passageway or approach. 283
(2) Except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection, no person 284
shall be allowed within any location designated by the registrars of 285
voters for early voting for any purpose other than casting such person's 286
vote, except (A) primary officials under section 9-436, (B) election 287
officials under section 9-258, including (i) a municipal clerk or registrar 288
of voters, who is a candidate for the same office, and (ii) a deputy 289
registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the office of registrar of voters, 290
performing such official's duties, and (C) unofficial checkers under 291
section 9-235. 292
(3) A person, including any candidate or any campaign or party 293
employee or volunteer, may be within the seventy-five-foot radius 294
described in subdivision (1) of this subsection (A) only for purposes 295
related to the performance of such person's official duties or to the 296
conduct of government business within such radius, (B) only for as long 297
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as necessary to perform such duties or conduct such business, and (C) 298
provided such person is not engaged in any conduct described in 299
subdivision (1) of this subsection. 300
(i) The provisions of subsections (a) to (h), inclusive, of this section 301
shall not apply to any primary held for the purpose of choosing town 302
committee members. 303
(j) No election or primary official shall perform services for any party 304
or candidate on any day during the period of early voting on which such 305
election or primary official is appointed to serve under this section, nor 306
appear at any political headquarters prior to the hour prescribed for the 307
closing of the location designated for early voting under subdivision (1) 308
or (2) of subsection (c) of section 9-174, as applicable, on such day. 309
Sec. 2. Section 9-163bb of the general statutes is repealed and the 310
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 311
(a) (1) [Early voting ballots received by the municipal clerk prior to 312
the day of an election or primary, and same-day] Same-day election 313
registration ballots received by the municipal clerk prior to the day of a 314
regular election [,] shall be delivered by the municipal clerk to the 315
registrars between six o'clock a.m. and ten o'clock a.m. on the day of the 316
regular election. [or primary.] 317
[(b)] (2) The ballot counters for such [early voting ballots and] same-318
day election registration ballots shall proceed to the central counting 319
location or to the respective polling places when counting is to take 320
place pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a at the time, between 321
six o'clock a.m. and ten o'clock a.m. on the day of the regular election, 322
[or primary,] designated by the registrars of voters. At the time such 323
ballots are delivered to the ballot counters pursuant to subsection (a) of 324
this section, the ballot counters shall perform any checking of such 325
ballots and proceed, as nearly as possible, as provided in section 9-150a. 326
(b) Upon the close of the polls on the day of an election or primary, 327
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the moderator for the location designated for the conduct of early 328
voting, in the presence of the other election or primary officials at such 329
location, shall immediately lock the voting tabulator for early voting 330
ballots against voting and immediately cause the vote totals for all 331
candidates and questions to be produced. 332
Sec. 3. Section 9-19j of the general statutes is repealed and the 333
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 334
(a) As used in this section: 335
(1) "Election day" means the day on which a regular election, as 336
defined in section 9-1, is held; and 337
(2) "Same-day election registration" means admission as an elector 338
during the period of early voting at a regular election, as provided in 339
section 9-163aa, as amended by this act, or on election day. 340
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, a person who (1) 341
is (A) not an elector, or (B) an elector registered in a municipality who 342
wishes to change such elector's registration to another municipality 343
pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of this 344
section, and (2) meets the eligibility requirements under subsection (a) 345
of section 9-12, may apply for same-day election registration pursuant 346
to the provisions of this section. 347
(c) (1) (A) The registrars of voters shall designate a location for the 348
completion and processing of same-day election registrations on 349
election day, provided [(A)] (i) the registrars of voters have access to the 350
state-wide centralized voter registration system from such location, and 351
[(B)] (ii) such location is certified in writing to the Secretary of the State. 352
[not later than forty-five days before election day.] The written 353
certification under subparagraph [(B)] (A)(ii) of this subdivision shall 354
[(i) include] be submitted annually by the registrars of voters to the 355
Secretary not later than February fifteenth as part of such registrars' 356
submission under subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) 357
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of section 9-163aa, as amended by this act, and any change thereto shall 358
be made and submitted, and approved or disapproved, in accordance 359
with the provisions of subparagraph (B) of this subdivision. Such 360
written certification shall provide (I) the name, street address and 361
relevant contact information associated with such location, [(ii) list the 362
name and address of each election official who shall] (II) the number of 363
election officials to be appointed by the registrars of voters to serve at 364
such location [, if any] and the roles of such officials, and [(iii) provide] 365
(III) a description of the design of such location and a plan for effective 366
completion and processing of [such applications] same-day election 367
registrations. The Secretary shall approve or disapprove such written 368
certification annually not later than [twenty-nine days before election 369
day] March first and may require the registrars of voters to appoint one 370
or more additional election officials or alter such design or plan. 371
(B) If, after the registrars of voters annually submit the written 372
certification under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, the registrars 373
make any change to any part of such written certification, including for 374
any additional location designated pursuant to subdivision (2) of this 375
subsection, such registrars shall submit to the Secretary of the State an 376
updated written certification, in a form and manner prescribed by the 377
Secretary, as soon as practicable but in no case later than seven days 378
after such change. The registrars shall clearly indicate on such updated 379
written certification the information that has changed since the prior 380
submission. The Secretary shall approve or disapprove such updated 381
written certification as soon as practicable but in no case later than seven 382
days after submission thereof. If the Secretary disapproves such 383
updated certification, the Secretary shall provide, in writing, the reasons 384
for such disapproval and shall issue an order for such corrective action 385
as the Secretary deems necessary, in accordance with subparagraph (A) 386
of this subdivision. 387
(2) The legislative body of the municipality may apply to the 388
Secretary of the State not later than seventy-four days before election 389
day, in a form and manner prescribed by the Secretary, to designate any 390
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additional location for the completion and processing of same-day 391
election [registration applications] registrations on election day. The 392
Secretary shall approve or disapprove such application not later than 393
fifty-nine days before election day. If the Secretary approves such 394
application, the registrars of voters may so designate any such 395
additional location. The provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection 396
shall apply to any such additional location. 397
(3) (A) The registrars of voters shall appoint, for each day on which 398
same-day election registrations are completed and processed, a 399
moderator and such other election officials to serve at each location 400
designated for such completion and processing. The moderator so 401
appointed shall perform any duty required, and may exercise any 402
power authorized, under this title related to the completion and 403
processing of same-day election registrations at such location. On any 404
such day and solely for purposes related to the completion and 405
processing of same-day election registrations, the registrars of voters of 406
a municipality may, upon agreement, appoint one of the registrars from 407
such municipality as moderator in accordance with the provisions of 408
subparagraph (B) of this subdivision. The registrars of voters may 409
delegate to each other election official so appointed [pursuant to 410
subdivision (1) of this subsection] any of the responsibilities assigned to 411
the registrars of voters. The registrars of voters shall supervise each such 412
election official and train each such official to be a same-day election 413
registration election official. 414
(B) Whenever the registrars of voters of a municipality appoint, 415
pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, one of the registrars 416
of such municipality as moderator to serve at a location designated for 417
the completion and processing of same-day election registrations, such 418
registrars of voters shall jointly submit to the Secretary of the State (i) a 419
certification that the registrars of voters of such municipality are in 420
agreement as to such appointment, and (ii) a written plan detailing 421
alternative coverage of the duties normally carried out by the registrar 422
so appointed to ensure that such registrar abstains, on each day in which 423
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such registrar serves as moderator, from any such duties that conflict 424
with those of the moderator. 425
(C) Not later than the fourteenth day preceding the commencement 426
of the period of early voting prior to election day, the registrars of voters 427
shall provide to the Secretary of the State a written report setting forth 428
the name and address of the moderator appointed to serve at each 429
location designated for the completion and processing of same-day 430
election registrations pursuant to this subdivision. Such written report 431
shall be included as part of the written report provided by the registrars 432
to the Secretary under section 9-228a, as amended by this act. 433
(d) Any person applying for same-day election registration under the 434
provisions of this section shall make application in accordance with the 435
provisions of section 9-20, provided (1) (A) on election day, the applicant 436
shall appear in person not later than eight o'clock p.m., in accordance 437
with subsection (b) of section 9-174, at the location designated by the 438
registrars of voters for same-day election registration, and (B) during the 439
period of early voting prior to election day, the applicant shall appear 440
in person at such times as provided in subdivision (1) of subsection (c) 441
of section 9-174, at such location, (2) an applicant who is a student 442
enrolled at an institution of higher education may submit a current 443
photo identification card issued by such institution in lieu of the 444
identification required by section 9-20, and (3) the applicant shall 445
declare under oath that the applicant has not previously voted in the 446
election, as provided in subsection (f) of this section. If the information 447
that the applicant is required to provide under section 9-20 and this 448
section does not include proof of the applicant's residential address, the 449
applicant shall also submit identification that shows the applicant's 450
bona fide residence address, including, but not limited to, a learner's 451
permit issued under section 14-36 or a utility bill that has the applicant's 452
name and current address and that has a due date that is not later than 453
thirty days after the election or, in the case of a student enrolled at an 454
institution of higher education, a registration or fee statement from such 455
institution that has the applicant's name and current address. 456
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(e) If the registrars of voters determine that an applicant satisfies the 457
application requirements set forth in subsection (d) of this section, the 458
registrars of voters shall check the state-wide centralized voter 459
registration system before admitting such applicant as an elector. 460
(1) If the registrars of voters determine that the applicant is not 461
already an elector, the registrars of voters shall admit the applicant as 462
an elector and the privileges of an elector shall attach immediately. 463
(2) If the registrars of voters determine that such applicant is an 464
elector in another municipality and such applicant wants to change the 465
municipality in which the applicant is an elector, notwithstanding the 466
provisions of section 9-21, the registrars of voters of the municipality in 467
which such elector now seeks to register shall immediately notify the 468
registrars of voters in such other municipality that such elector is 469
changing the municipality in which the applicant is an elector. The 470
registrars of voters in such other municipality shall notify the election 471
officials in such municipality to remove such elector from the official 472
voter list of such municipality. Such election officials shall cross through 473
the elector's name on such official voter list and mark "off" next to such 474
elector's name on such official voter list. 475
(A) If it is reported that such applicant already voted in such other 476
municipality, the registrars of voters of such other municipality shall 477
immediately notify the registrars of voters of the municipality in which 478
such elector now seeks to register. In such event, such elector shall not 479
receive a same-day election registration ballot from the registrars of 480
voters of the municipality in which such elector now seeks to register. 481
For any such elector, the same-day election registration process shall 482
cease in the municipality in which such elector now seeks to register and 483
such matter shall be reviewed by the registrars of voters in the 484
municipality in which such elector now seeks to register. After 485
completion of such review, if a resolution of the matter cannot be made, 486
such matter shall be reported to the State Elections Enforcement 487
Commission which shall conduct an investigation of the matter. 488
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(B) If there is no such report that such applicant already voted in the 489
other municipality, the registrars of voters of the municipality in which 490
the applicant seeks to register shall admit the applicant as an elector and 491
the privileges of an elector shall attach immediately. 492
(f) If the applicant is admitted as an elector, the registrars of voters 493
shall provide the elector with a same-day election registration ballot and 494
same-day election registration envelope and shall make a record of such 495
issuance. The elector shall complete an affirmation imprinted upon the 496
back of the same-day election registration envelope and shall declare 497
under oath that the applicant has not previously voted in the election. 498
The affirmation shall be in the form substantially as follows and signed 499
by the voter: 500
AFFIRMATION: I, the undersigned, do hereby state, under penalty 501
of false statement, (perjury) that: 502
1. I am the person admitted here as an elector in the town indicated. 503
2. I am eligible to vote in the election indicated for today in the town 504
indicated. 505
3. The information on my voter registration card is correct and 506
complete. 507
4. I reside at the address that I have given to the registrars of voters. 508
5. If previously registered at another location, I have provided such 509
address to the registrars of voters and hereby request cancellation of 510
such prior registration. 511
6. I have not voted in person or by absentee ballot and I will not vote 512
otherwise than by this ballot at this election. 513
7. I completed an application for a same-day election registration 514
ballot and received a same-day election registration ballot. 515
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.... (Signature of voter) 516
(g) The elector shall forthwith mark the same-day election 517
registration ballot in the presence of the registrars of voters in such a 518
manner that the registrars of voters shall not know how the same-day 519
election registration ballot is marked. The elector shall place the same-520
day election registration ballot in the same-day election registration 521
ballot envelope provided, and deposit such envelope in a secured same-522
day election registration ballot depository receptacle. At the conclusion 523
of each day during the early voting period, the registrars of voters shall 524
transport such receptacle containing such day's same-day election 525
registration ballots to the municipal clerk, who shall retain and securely 526
store such ballots in as near a manner as possible to that for the retention 527
and secure storage of absentee ballots, as provided in subsection (h) of 528
this section, except that, if such manner is not practicable, such same-529
day election registration ballots shall be retained and securely stored as 530
provided in an alternate plan submitted by the registrars of voters to the 531
Secretary of the State and approved by the Secretary. On election day, 532
the previously retained and securely stored same-day election 533
registration ballots shall be delivered to the registrars of voters and, at 534
the time designated by the registrars of voters and noticed to election 535
officials, the registrars of voters shall transport such receptacle 536
containing the same-day election registration ballots received on such 537
election day to the central location or polling place, pursuant to 538
subsection (b) of section 9-147a, where absentee ballots are counted and 539
such same-day election registration ballots shall be counted by the 540
election officials present at such central location or polling place. A 541
section of the head moderator's return shall show the number of same-542
day election registration ballots received from electors. The registrars of 543
voters shall seal a copy of the vote tally for same-day election 544
registration ballots in a depository envelope with the same-day election 545
registration ballots and store such same-day election registration 546
depository envelope with the other election results materials. The same-547
day election registration depository envelope shall be preserved by the 548
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registrars of voters for the period of time required to preserve counted 549
ballots for elections. 550
(h) Except as provided in section 9-163bb, as amended by this act, the 551
provisions of this title and any regulation adopted under this title 552
concerning procedures relating to the custody, control and counting of 553
absentee ballots shall apply, as nearly as possible, to the custody, control 554
and counting of same-day election registration ballots under this 555
section. 556
(i) After the acceptance of a same-day election registration, the 557
registrars of voters shall forthwith send a registration confirmation 558
notice to the residential address of each applicant who was admitted as 559
an elector on election day or during the period of early voting prior to 560
election day under this section. Such confirmation shall be sent by first 561
class mail with instructions on the envelope that it be returned if not 562
deliverable at the address shown on the envelope. If a confirmation 563
notice is returned undelivered, the registrars shall forthwith take the 564
necessary action in accordance with section 9-35 or 9-43, as applicable, 565
notwithstanding the May first deadline in section 9-35. 566
(j) (1) No person shall solicit on behalf of or in opposition to any 567
candidate or on behalf of or in opposition to any question being 568
submitted at the election, or loiter or peddle or offer any advertising 569
matter, ballot or circular to another person within a radius of seventy-570
five feet of any outside entrance in use as an entry to any building that 571
contains any location designated by the registrars of voters for same-572
day election registration balloting or in any corridor, passageway or 573
other approach leading from any such outside entrance to any such 574
location or in any room opening upon any such corridor, passageway 575
or approach. 576
(2) Except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection, no person 577
shall be allowed within any location designated by the registrars of 578
voters for same-day election registration balloting for any purpose other 579
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than casting such person's vote, except (A) primary officials under 580
section 9-436, (B) election officials under section 9-258, including (i) a 581
municipal clerk or registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the same 582
office, and (ii) a deputy registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the 583
office of registrar of voters, performing such official's duties, and (C) 584
unofficial checkers under section 9-235. 585
(3) A person, including any candidate or any campaign or party 586
employee or volunteer, may be within the seventy-five-foot radius 587
described in subdivision (1) of this subsection (A) only for purposes 588
related to the performance of such person's official duties or to the 589
conduct of government business within such radius, (B) only for as long 590
as necessary to perform such duties or conduct such business, and (C) 591
provided such person is not engaged in any conduct described in 592
subdivision (1) of this subsection. 593
(k) No election official shall perform services for any party or 594
candidate on any day on which such election official is appointed to 595
serve under this section, nor appear at any political headquarters prior 596
to the hour prescribed for the closing of the location designated for 597
same-day election registration under subsection (b) or subdivision (1) of 598
subsection (c) of section 9-174, as applicable, on such day. 599
Sec. 4. Section 9-228a of the general statutes is repealed and the 600
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 601
(a) [The] Not later than the thirty-first day preceding the day of each 602
municipal, state or federal election or primary, the registrars of voters of 603
each municipality shall [, not later than thirty-one days prior to each 604
municipal, state or federal election or primary,] certify to the Secretary 605
of the State, in writing, the location of each polling place that will be 606
used for such election or primary. Such certification shall detail the 607
name, address, relevant contact information and corresponding federal, 608
state and municipal districts associated with each polling place used for 609
such election or primary. 610
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(b) [The] Not later than the fourteenth day preceding the 611
commencement of the period of early voting at each municipal, state or 612
federal election or primary, in accordance with the provisions of 613
subsection (a) of section 9-163aa, as amended by this act, the registrars 614
of voters of each municipality shall [, prior to each municipal, state or 615
federal election or primary,] provide a written report to the Secretary of 616
the State setting forth the names and addresses of each moderator for 617
each (1) polling place location disclosed pursuant to subsection (a) of 618
this section, (2) location designated for the conduct of early voting 619
pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-163aa, as amended by this act, 620
and (3) location designated for the completion and processing of same-621
day election registrations pursuant to subsection (c) of section 9-19j, as 622
amended by this act. 623
(c) The Secretary of the State shall have the authority to disqualify 624
any moderator appointed by the registrars of voters if, after consultation 625
with both registrars of voters, the Secretary determines such moderator 626
has committed material misconduct, material neglect of duty or material 627
incompetence in the discharge of his or her duties as a moderator. If the 628
Secretary disqualifies a moderator, the Secretary shall share his or her 629
findings upon which the disqualification was based with the registrars 630
of voters. 631
Sec. 5. Section 9-56 of the general statutes is repealed and the 632
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 633
Except as otherwise provided in the case of an elector whose name 634
has not been placed on or has been removed from the enrollment list 635
under section 9-59, 9-60, 9-61 or 9-62, any elector not enrolled on any 636
enrollment list may at any time make a written and signed application 637
for enrollment to the registrars of voters on an application form for 638
admission as an elector, in accordance with the requirements of this 639
section. The application shall be effective as of the date it is filed with 640
the registrars of voters of the town of residence of the applicant and any 641
person making application for enrollment in such manner shall 642
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immediately be entitled to the privileges of party enrollment unless the 643
application for enrollment (1) is filed in person by the applicant with the 644
registrars of voters after twelve o'clock noon on the last business day 645
before a primary, in which case he shall be entitled to the privileges of 646
party enrollment immediately after the primary, (2) is otherwise filed 647
with the registrar after the [fifth] eighteenth day before the primary, in 648
which case he shall be entitled to the privileges of party enrollment 649
immediately after the primary, except as provided in section 9-23a, or 650
(3) is filed with the registrars of voters after 5:00 p.m. on the last business 651
day before a caucus or convention, in which case he shall be entitled to 652
the privileges of party enrollment immediately after the caucus or 653
convention. The application shall be signed or initialed by the registrar, 654
deputy, assistant or registrar's clerk receiving it, or by such other 655
personnel as such registrar or deputy may appoint for the purpose, 656
showing the date when such application is received and, in the case of 657
an applicant not immediately eligible under section 9-59, 9-60, 9-61 or 9-658
62 to the privileges accompanying enrollment in the party named in his 659
application, the date upon which such applicant becomes so eligible. In 660
municipalities divided into voting districts in which an enrollment 661
session is held in each district thereof under section 9-51, application for 662
enrollment shall be made to the registrar or assistant registrar, as the 663
case may be, in the voting district in which such elector is entitled to 664
vote at the time of making such application. If any registrar or assistant 665
registrar fails to add any name to any such list on written application or 666
adds any name to any such list except as herein provided, he shall be 667
guilty of a class D misdemeanor. 668
Sec. 6. Section 9-250 of the general statutes is repealed and the 669
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 670
(a) Ballots shall be printed in plain clear type and on material of such 671
size as will fit the tabulator, and shall be furnished by the registrar of 672
voters. The size and style of the type used to print the name of a political 673
party on a ballot shall be identical with the size and style of the type 674
used to print the names of all other political parties appearing on such 675
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ballot. The name of each major party candidate for a municipal office, as 676
defined in section 9-372, except for the municipal offices of state senator 677
and state representative, shall appear on the ballot as authorized by each 678
candidate. The name of each major party candidate for a state or district 679
office, as defined in section 9-372, or for the municipal office of state 680
senator or state representative shall appear on the ballot as it appears on 681
the certificate or statement of consent filed under section 9-388, 682
subsection (b) of section 9-391, or section 9-400 or 9-409. The name of 683
each minor party candidate shall appear on the ballot as authorized by 684
each candidate. The name of each nominating petition candidate shall 685
appear on the ballot as it is verified by the town clerk on the application 686
filed under section 9-453b. The size and style of the type used to print 687
the name of a candidate on a ballot shall be identical with the size and 688
style of the type used to print the names of all other candidates 689
appearing on such ballot. Such ballot shall contain the names of the 690
offices and the names of the candidates arranged thereon. The names of 691
the political parties and party designations shall be arranged on the 692
ballots and followed by the word "party", either in columns or 693
horizontal rows as set forth in section 9-249a, immediately adjacent to 694
the column or row occupied by the candidate or candidates of such 695
political party or organization. The ballot shall be printed in such 696
manner as to indicate how many candidates the elector may vote for 697
each office, provided in the case of a town adopting the provisions of 698
section 9-204a, such ballot shall indicate the maximum number of 699
candidates who may be elected to such office from any party. If two or 700
more candidates are to be elected to the same office for different terms, 701
the term for which each is nominated shall be printed on the official 702
ballot as a part of the title of the office. If, at any election, one candidate 703
is to be elected for a full term and another to fill a vacancy, the official 704
ballot containing the names of the candidates in the foregoing order 705
shall, as a part of the title of the office, designate the term which such 706
candidates are severally nominated to fill. No column, under the name 707
of any political party or independent organization, shall be printed on 708
any official ballot, which contains more candidates for any office than 709
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the number for which an elector may vote for that office. 710
(b) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, at 711
each election and primary held on or after January 1, 2026, the ballots 712
used during the period of early voting at such election or primary at the 713
location designated for the conduct of early voting in a municipality 714
shall bear indicators along the headers and footers of such ballots, which 715
indicators shall be of different colors that correspond uniquely to the 716
different voting districts within such municipality. 717
Sec. 7. Subsection (d) of section 9-229 of the general statutes is 718
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 719
1, 2026): 720
(d) If the person designated as moderator is unable to serve for any 721
reason, a certified alternate moderator shall serve as moderator. If such 722
certified alternate moderator is not called upon to serve as moderator, 723
he shall serve in another capacity as an election official on election or 724
primary day. If any town or voting district lacks a moderator due to the 725
death, disability or withdrawal of a certified moderator or alternate 726
moderator, or due to the disqualification of a moderator for any reason, 727
including failure to attend an instructional session as required by this 728
section, the registrars of voters shall appoint a new moderator for such 729
town or voting district in the manner provided in this section, except the 730
registrars shall not appoint as moderator any person who has, in a court 731
of competent jurisdiction, been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo 732
contendere to any (1) felony involving fraud, forgery, larceny, 733
embezzlement or bribery, or (2) criminal offense under this title. Such 734
new moderator shall attend an instructional session and a certification 735
session conducted in accordance with the provisions of this section. If 736
all such sessions have been conducted at the time of appointment of the 737
new moderator, the new moderator shall receive instruction from the 738
registrars who appointed the new moderator. 739
Sec. 8. Section 9-169 of the general statutes is repealed and the 740
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following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2026): 741
The legislative body of any town, consolidated town and city or 742
consolidated town and borough may divide and, from time to time, 743
redivide such municipality into voting districts. The registrars of voters 744
of any municipality taking such action shall provide a suitable polling 745
place in each district but, if the registrars fail to agree as to the location 746
of any polling place or places, the legislative body shall determine the 747
location thereof. Polling places to be used in an election shall be 748
determined at least thirty-one days before such election, and such 749
polling places shall not be changed within said period of thirty-one days 750
except that, if the municipal clerk and registrars of voters of a 751
municipality unanimously find that any such polling place within such 752
municipality has been rendered unusable within such period, they shall 753
forthwith designate another polling place to be used in place of the one 754
so rendered unusable and shall give adequate notice that such polling 755
place has been so changed. The registrars of voters shall keep separate 756
lists of the electors residing in each district and shall appoint for each 757
district a moderator in accordance with the provisions of section 9-229, 758
as amended by this act, and such other election officials as are required 759
by law, and shall designate one of the moderators so appointed or any 760
other elector of such town to be the head moderator for the purpose of 761
declaring the results of elections in the whole municipality, except the 762
registrars shall not appoint as moderator any person who has, in a court 763
of competent jurisdiction, been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo 764
contendere to any (1) felony involving fraud, forgery, larceny, 765
embezzlement or bribery, or (2) criminal offense under this title. The 766
registrars may also designate a deputy head moderator to assist the 767
head moderator in the performance of his duties provided the deputy 768
head moderator and the head moderator shall not be enrolled in the 769
same major party, as defined in subdivision (5) of section 9-372. The 770
selectmen, town clerk, registrars of voters and all other officers of the 771
municipality shall perform the duties required of them by law with 772
respect to elections in each voting district established in accordance with 773
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this section. Voting district lines shall not be drawn by a municipality so 774
as to conflict with the lines of congressional districts, senate districts or 775
assembly districts as established by law, except [(1)] (A) as provided in 776
section 9-169d, and [(2)] (B) that as to municipal elections, any part of a 777
split voting district containing less than two hundred electors may be 778
combined with another voting district adjacent thereto from which all 779
and the same officers are elected at such municipal election. Any change 780
in the boundaries of voting districts made within ninety days prior to 781
any election or primary shall not apply with respect to such election or 782
primary. The provisions of this section shall prevail over any contrary 783
provision of any charter or special act. 784
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2025 9-163aa
Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 9-163bb
Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 9-19j
Sec. 4 July 1, 2025 9-228a
Sec. 5 January 1, 2026 9-56
Sec. 6 January 1, 2026 9-250
Sec. 7 January 1, 2026 9-229(d)
Sec. 8 January 1, 2026 9-169
Statement of Purpose:
To (1) provide a mechanism for determining early voting locations
when registrars of voters are unable to agree thereon, (2) modify the
deadlines by which registrars of voters certify information regarding
early voting and same-day election registration locations to the
Secretary of the State and allow amendments to such certifications with
notice to the Secretary, (3) eliminate the use of envelopes for early voting
ballots and allow such ballots to be deposited directly into voting
tabulators after being marked, (4) provide for the designation of early
voting locations on certain college campuses, (5) require registrars of
voters to submit to the Secretary information regarding early voting and
same-day election registration moderators, (6) prohibit early voting and
same-day election registration officials from engaging in certain
partisan activities on days for which they are appointed to serve, (7)
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align the provisions for appointment of same-day election registration
officials with those for appointment of early voting officials, (8) amend
a provision regarding the attachment of party enrollment privileges for
consistency with prior changes, (9) require that early voting ballots have
colored headers and footers that correspond uniquely to the voting
districts within each municipality to ensure electors receive the proper
ballots, and (10) prohibit registrars of voters from appointing as
moderators certain persons with criminal backgrounds.
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]