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 Section 9-163aa of the general statutes is repealed and the 1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