LCO 1 of 15 General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 1536 January Session, 2025 AN ACT CONCERNING THE USE OF RANKED -CHOICE VOTING IN PARTY CAUCUSES, CONVENTIONS AND PRIMARIES, INCLUDING PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARIES, AND IN CERTAIN MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened: Section 1. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2027) (a) As used in this section: 1 (1) "Active candidate" means, with respect to a round of tabulation 2 under ranked-choice voting, a candidate (A) whose name appears on 3 the ballot or who is registered as a write-in candidate, and (B) who has 4 not been eliminated, is not a winning candidate and is not a withdrawn 5 candidate; 6 (2) "Inactive ballot" means, with respect to a given round of tabulation 7 and all subsequent rounds of tabulation under ranked-choice voting, a 8 ballot on which no vote is tabulated because (A) no candidate ranked on 9 the ballot remains an active candidate; or (B) two or more candidates are 10 ranked at the same order of preference and no other candidates that are 11 ranked higher remain as active candidates; 12 (3) "Ranked-choice voting" means a system of casting and tabulating 13 votes under which, with respect to a particular office, (A) each elector is 14 able to rank candidates on the ballot in the order of such elector's 15 preference, (B) one or more rounds of tabulation are used to determine 16 active candidates in accordance with electors' preferences, and (C) the 17 Substitute Bill No. 1536 LCO 2 of 15 active candidate with the greatest number of votes after all rounds of 18 tabulation are complete is the winning candidate; 19 (4) "Rank" or "ranking" means an elector's vote expressed in 20 numerical order of such elector's preferences as to the candidates on the 21 ballot, where "1" indicates the highest preference and subsequent 22 numbers indicate lower preferences; 23 (5) "Repeated ranking" means markings on a ballot whereby the same 24 candidate is ranked at multiple, differing orders of preference; 25 (6) "Skipped ranking" means markings on a ballot whereby an elector 26 leaves a ranking unassigned but also ranks a candidate at a lower order 27 of preference; 28 (7) "Undervote" means, with respect to all rounds of tabulation under 29 ranked-choice voting for a particular office, a ballot on which no vote is 30 cast due to no candidate being ranked; 31 (8) "Winning candidate" means the candidate with the greatest 32 number of votes, under ranked-choice voting, after all rounds of 33 tabulation are complete; and 34 (9) "Withdrawn candidate" means a person (A) whose candidacy has 35 been withdrawn in accordance with the applicable provision of title 9 of 36 the general statutes, and (B) in a presidential preference primary, who 37 complies with all applicable party rules governing the timing, 38 procedures or substance of candidate withdrawals or campaign 39 suspensions. 40 (b) (1) Except as prohibited by any provision of title 9 of the general 41 statutes, the outcome of (A) any primary, other than a presidential 42 preference primary, held on or after January 1, 2027, (B) any municipal 43 election held on or after January 1, 2027, or (C) any presidential 44 preference primary held on or after January 1, 2028, may be determined 45 under ranked-choice voting. 46 (2) (A) For any primary or municipal election determined under 47 Substitute Bill No. 1536 LCO 3 of 15 ranked-choice voting for an office to which electors nominate or elect no 48 more than one candidate, the provisions of subdivision (1) of subsection 49 (d) of this section shall apply. 50 (B) For any primary or municipal election determined under ranked-51 choice voting for offices other than those described in subparagraph (A) 52 of this subdivision, the provisions of subdivision (1) of subsection (d) of 53 this section shall not apply. 54 (c) (1) (A) At each primary or municipal election conducted under 55 ranked-choice voting, the Secretary of the State shall prescribe the type 56 of ballot to be used, the instructions to appear on such ballot and the 57 layout and orientation of such ballot. The use of any ballot at any such 58 primary or municipal election shall be subject to the approval of the 59 Secretary. 60 (B) The ballot at each primary or municipal election conducted under 61 ranked-choice voting, or the portion of such ballot used for ranked-62 choice voting, shall: 63 (i) List all candidates duly qualified to appear on such ballot for such 64 primary or municipal election and in such a manner as to allow each 65 elector who is eligible to vote in such primary or municipal election to 66 rank all such candidates in the order of such elector's preference. If such 67 ballot cannot allow for ranking of all such candidates, the Secretary may 68 limit ranking to not less than five candidates, provided such limitation 69 by the Secretary shall be uniform with respect to all electors eligible to 70 vote in such primary or municipal election; 71 (ii) For any primary, list and identify candidates in the order and 72 manner provided in subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, and (g) of section 9-73 437 of the general statutes, at a minimum; and 74 (iii) For any municipal election, and for the purposes of sections 9-75 249a, 9-372, 9-373b, 9-380, 9-453d and 9-453t of the general statutes, 76 indicate the party under which designation each candidate appears so 77 as to enable the elector to specify the party designation of the candidate 78 Substitute Bill No. 1536 LCO 4 of 15 being ranked. 79 (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-242 of the general 80 statutes, at each primary or municipal election conducted under ranked-81 choice voting, the voting tabulator shall be so constructed as to comply 82 with the provisions of this section. 83 (d) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, at each 84 primary or municipal election for an office to which electors nominate 85 or elect no more than one candidate, and conducted under ranked-86 choice voting, each ballot shall be tabulated as one vote cast for the 87 highest-ranked active candidate on such ballot and tabulation shall 88 proceed in sequential rounds such that: 89 (A) In a round with three or more active candidates, the candidate 90 with the least number of votes at the completion of tabulation shall be 91 eliminated, the vote for such eliminated candidate shall be transferred 92 to a remaining active candidate in accordance with the ranked 93 preference expressed on such ballot and all remaining active candidates 94 shall advance to the next round; and 95 (B) In a round with fewer than three active candidates, the candidate 96 with the greatest number of votes at the completion of tabulation shall 97 be declared the winning candidate and no further rounds shall be 98 required. 99 (2) (A) If at the completion of tabulation a tie occurs between 100 candidates with the least number of votes and tabulation is unable to 101 proceed until such tie is resolved, the candidate to be eliminated shall 102 be determined by lot in accordance with regulations adopted under 103 subsection (f) of this section. 104 (B) If at the completion of tabulation a tie occurs between candidates 105 with the greatest number of votes, such tie shall be resolved in 106 accordance with the provisions of (i) section 9-446 of the general statutes 107 in the case of a primary other than a presidential preference primary, (ii) 108 section 9-332 of the general statutes in the case of a municipal election, 109 Substitute Bill No. 1536 LCO 5 of 15 or (iii) chapter 154 of the general statutes in the case of a presidential 110 preference primary. 111 (C) (i) If a ballot is an inactive ballot with respect to any round, no 112 vote shall be tabulated on such ballot for such round. 113 (ii) If a ballot is an undervote, no vote shall be tabulated on such ballot 114 for all rounds. 115 (iii) If a ballot contains any repeated ranking or skipped ranking with 116 respect to any round, the vote shall be tabulated on such ballot for the 117 highest-ranked active candidate. 118 (e) For any primary or municipal election conducted under ranked-119 choice voting, the provisions of section 9-445 or 9-311a of the general 120 statutes, as applicable, shall apply to the difference between the vote for 121 the winning candidate over the vote for the active candidate having the 122 next highest number of votes. 123 (f) The Secretary of the State shall adopt regulations, in accordance 124 with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, to implement 125 the provisions of this section. 126 Sec. 2. Section 9-173 of the general statutes is repealed and the 127 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2027): 128 (a) In the election for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the 129 State, Treasurer, Comptroller and Attorney General, the person 130 receiving the greatest number of votes for each of said offices, 131 respectively, shall be declared elected. If no person has a plurality of the 132 votes for any of said offices, the General Assembly shall choose such 133 officer. 134 (b) In the election for senator in Congress, the person receiving the 135 greatest number of votes for such office shall be declared elected; but, if 136 no person has a plurality of the votes for said office, the Governor may 137 make a temporary appointment of a senator in Congress to serve for the 138 ensuing two years unless the General Assembly directs a special election 139 Substitute Bill No. 1536 LCO 6 of 15 for a senator in Congress, to be held during said period, to fill the 140 vacancy occasioned by such failure to elect. 141 (c) In all elections of representatives in Congress, state senators, state 142 representatives and judges of probate, the person having the greatest 143 number of votes shall be declared elected. 144 (d) (1) [Unless otherwise] Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this 145 subsection or by other law, in all municipal elections a plurality of the 146 votes cast shall be sufficient to elect. 147 (2) A municipality may, by charter or ordinance, (A) adopt ranked-148 choice voting, as defined in section 1 of this act, for the conduct of any 149 municipal election held on or after January 1, 2027, for any office to 150 which electors elect no more than one candidate, and (B) implement 151 ranked-choice voting procedures, as provided in section 1 of this act, at 152 such election. 153 Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2027) (a) As used in this section, 154 "state office" and "district office" have the same meanings as provided 155 in section 9-372 of the general statutes. 156 (b) At any political party convention held for the endorsement of any 157 candidate for nomination to state or district office or the office of state 158 senator or state representative, if such political party has adopted 159 ranked-choice voting, as defined in section 1 of this act, pursuant to its 160 party rules, for the purpose of making such endorsement, as between 161 three or more candidates, to which the delegates at such convention 162 endorse no more than one such candidate: 163 (1) The call of a roll and the recording of the vote of each delegate 164 entitled to vote and voting shall not be required; and 165 (2) The determination of the per cent of the votes of the convention 166 delegates present and voting on any roll-call vote, as described in 167 section 9-386 of the general statutes, and of any similar reference to the 168 per cent of such votes, including in sections 9-400 and 9-706 of the 169 Substitute Bill No. 1536 LCO 7 of 15 general statutes, shall be the number of votes received in any round of 170 tabulation by each active candidate, as defined in section 1 of this act, in 171 the round as a percentage of the votes received by all active candidates 172 in the round. 173 (c) In all such proceedings for the making of an endorsement for 174 nomination to a state or district office, the clerk or secretary of such 175 convention shall keep a true record, in writing, of the number of votes 176 received by each active candidate in each round of tabulation and of the 177 round-by-round totals and shall, at the conclusion of the voting and 178 tabulation process, announce the round-by-round and final results. 179 Such clerk or secretary shall file such record at the headquarters of the 180 state central committee, where it shall be preserved for a period of one 181 hundred eighty days after the adjournment of such convention, and 182 such record shall be open to public inspection at all reasonable times. 183 Sec. 4. Section 9-444 of the general statutes is repealed and the 184 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2027): 185 (a) (1) In the case of a primary for state or district office, each person 186 certified by the Secretary of the State as provided in section 9-440, to 187 have received the greatest number of votes of the electors eligible to vote 188 in a primary for any office shall be deemed to have been chosen as the 189 nominee of such party to such office. 190 (2) In the case of a primary for a municipal office, the moderator, or 191 the head moderator, as the case may be, shall declare nominated the 192 person having the greatest number of votes for such office and, if more 193 than one person is to be nominated for the same office, he shall declare 194 nominated the persons having the greatest number of votes for such 195 office up to the number to be chosen. 196 (3) In the case of a primary for members of a town committee, such 197 moderator shall declare elected the persons having the greatest number 198 of votes for such positions up to the number to be chosen for such 199 positions. 200 Substitute Bill No. 1536 LCO 8 of 15 (4) In the case of a primary for justice of the peace, such moderator 201 shall declare elected each person on the slate having the greatest number 202 of votes for such offices. 203 (b) (1) [In] Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, in 204 all primaries, a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to nominate 205 or elect, as the case may be. 206 (2) A major party may, pursuant to its party rules, (A) adopt ranked-207 choice voting, as defined in section 1 of this act, for the conduct of any 208 primary held on or after January 1, 2027, for any office to which electors 209 nominate no more than one candidate, and (B) implement ranked-210 choice voting procedures, as provided in section 1 of this act, at such 211 primary. The chairperson or authorized representative of any such 212 party shall provide notice to the Secretary of the State, or the Secretary's 213 designee, of such party's adoption in accordance with a process and 214 timeline established by the Secretary for the provision of such notice. 215 Sec. 5. Section 9-473 of the general statutes is repealed and the 216 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2027): 217 (a) The secretary shall establish a process and deadline for the 218 certification, by the chairman of each party to the secretary, of the 219 number of delegates to which such party is entitled. 220 (b) Not later than the [fourteenth day before the day of the primary] 221 deadline established by the secretary pursuant to subsection (a) of this 222 section, the chairman of each party shall certify in writing to the 223 secretary the number of delegates to which such party is entitled 224 pursuant to its rules. If such rules provide that such delegates are to be 225 chosen from districts, the chairman shall also certify the number of 226 delegates allocated to each district and the number to be selected at 227 large, if any. Such rules (1) may [(1)] provide for ranked-choice voting, 228 as defined in section 1 of this act, at any presidential preference primary 229 held on or after January 1, 2028, and (2) may (A) prescribe a formula for 230 the allocation of delegates to candidates based upon the percentages of 231 the total votes cast for, or received in any round of tabulation under 232 Substitute Bill No. 1536 LCO 9 of 15 ranked-choice voting by, such candidates at the primary, or [(2)] (B) 233 require that all delegates shall be allocated to the candidate [receiving] 234 for whom the greatest number of votes were cast, or by whom the 235 greatest number of votes were received in any round of tabulation 236 under ranked-choice voting, notwithstanding such candidate's 237 percentage of the total votes cast for all candidates. If such rules 238 prescribe a formula for the allocation of delegates to candidates based 239 upon the percentages of the total votes cast for, or received in any round 240 of tabulation under ranked-choice voting by, such candidates at the 241 primary, the chairman shall also certify such formula and all 242 information necessary for the application of such formula to the results 243 of the primary. 244 (c) The chairman of a party shall furnish to the secretary, upon 245 request, a written interpretation or explanation of any ranked-choice 246 voting provided for by such party's rules, or any application of [such] a 247 delegate allocation formula prescribed, under subsection (b) of this 248 section. 249 Sec. 6. Section 9-476 of the general statutes is repealed and the 250 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2027): 251 (a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or required for the 252 purposes of implementing ranked-choice voting, as defined in section 1 253 of this act, the provisions of chapter 145 and chapter 153 concerning 254 absentee voting at primaries, conduct of primaries and return and 255 tabulation of the vote at such primaries shall apply as nearly as 256 practicable and in the manner prescribed by the Secretary of the State, 257 to a presidential preference primary. 258 (b) On and after January 1, 2028, if a party's rules so provide pursuant 259 to subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of section 9-473, as amended by this 260 act, each presidential preference primary shall be conducted under 261 ranked-choice voting. The secretary shall issue written instructions for 262 the implementation of policies and procedures regarding tabulation and 263 publication of preliminary and final results, including round-by-round 264 Substitute Bill No. 1536 LCO 10 of 15 results. Such instructions shall provide that if a candidate withdraws as 265 of the day of the primary in accordance with applicable law, any ballot 266 cast prior to the day of the primary on which such candidate was the 267 highest-ranked candidate shall be counted as a vote for the next highest-268 ranked candidate on such ballot. Such instructions shall take into 269 account any procedures requested in writing by the chairman of the 270 party holding such primary, which procedures are reasonable, 271 compatible with the use of ranked-choice voting ballots and capable of 272 being implemented using existing voting tabulators, including any 273 associated hardware and software. The secretary shall post all such 274 written instructions on the Internet web site of the office of the Secretary 275 of the State. 276 (c) The primary officials of each party for each polling place shall be 277 as specified in section 9-436, except that (1) the appointment of assistant 278 registrars of voters and absentee ballot counters shall be permitted but 279 not required, (2) the minimum number of official checkers shall be one, 280 (3) the minimum number of voting tabulator tenders shall be one for 281 each two voting tabulators in use, (4) if two parties are holding 282 primaries and the registrars of voters of such parties so agree, such 283 registrars of voters may jointly appoint (A) one moderator of both 284 primaries and (B) one enrolled member of either party to serve as head 285 moderator of both primaries, (5) notwithstanding any reduction in the 286 number of primary officials as permitted by this section, any duty 287 required of primary officials by the general statutes may be performed 288 by one or more primary officials, at the direction of the registrar of 289 voters of the party of such officials, and (6) the registrar of voters shall 290 have the sole power to appoint such officials. In making such 291 appointments the registrar shall attempt, to the extent practicable, to 292 provide representation for each candidate at each polling place. The 293 provisions of section 9-436a shall apply to each candidate whose name 294 appears on the ballot, except that each such candidate, through such 295 candidate's authorized or known representative, may submit to the 296 registrar of voters the name of one designee as candidate checker for 297 each polling place, and the registrar of voters shall appoint such 298 Substitute Bill No. 1536 LCO 11 of 15 designee as candidate checker for such candidate. 299 (d) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-438, the polls shall be 300 open for voting at the primary between the hours of six o'clock a.m. and 301 eight o'clock p.m. 302 (e) The moderator or head moderator of the primary in each town 303 shall prepare duplicate head moderator returns in the manner provided 304 by section 9-440, but notwithstanding the provisions of said section, the 305 moderator or head moderator may electronically transmit such returns 306 not later than eleven fifty-nine o'clock p.m. on primary day, provided a 307 hard copy is mailed to the [Secretary of the State] secretary not later than 308 two o'clock p.m. of the day following the primary or shall hand deliver 309 one of such returns to either the [Secretary] secretary or the state police 310 by two o'clock p.m. of the day following the primary. Any moderator or 311 head moderator, as the case may be, who fails to deliver such returns to 312 either the [Secretary] secretary or the state police by such time shall pay 313 a late filing fee of fifty dollars. 314 Sec. 7. Section 9-484 of the general statutes is repealed and the 315 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2027): 316 (a) If a party's chairman did not certify (1) a formula pursuant to 317 section 9-473, as amended by this act, or (2) a requirement that all 318 delegates shall be allocated to the candidate receiving the greatest 319 number of votes notwithstanding such candidate's percentage of the 320 total votes cast for all candidates, the secretary shall determine the 321 number of delegates to be so allocated to each candidate of each such 322 party in accordance with the provisions of this section, provided such 323 allocations when the party rules do not provide for ranked-choice 324 voting shall be made under subsection (b) of this section and such 325 allocations when the party rules do provide for ranked-choice voting 326 shall be made under subsection (c) of this section. As used in this section, 327 "ranked-choice voting", "active candidate" and "withdrawn candidate" 328 have the same meanings as provided in section 1 of this act. 329 (b) (1) [Such determination shall be made separately for delegates to 330 Substitute Bill No. 1536 LCO 12 of 15 be selected at large and delegates to be selected from each district. Any] 331 For allocations under this subsection when party rules do not provide 332 for ranked-choice voting, any percentage required to be determined, in 333 accordance with the provisions of this [section] subsection, shall be 334 rounded off to the nearest one-tenth of one per cent. As used in this 335 [section] subsection, "minimum percentage" means the ratio, expressed 336 as a percentage, that the number one bears to the total number of 337 delegates to be selected, but in no event shall such percentage exceed 338 twenty-five per cent. 339 [(c)] (2) (A) The secretary shall calculate the minimum percentage, as 340 defined in [subsection (b) of this section] subdivision (1) of this 341 subsection, using the number of delegates to be selected at large and, if 342 applicable, the number of delegates to be selected from each district 343 respectively. Except as provided in this [subsection] subdivision, a 344 candidate's percentage of the total votes cast for all candidates in the 345 state or in a district [must] is required to equal or exceed such minimum 346 percentage in order for such candidate to be allocated any at large 347 delegates or any delegates from such district, as the case may be. The 348 secretary shall determine each candidate's percentage of the total votes 349 cast for all candidates in the state and in each district. In the event two 350 or more candidates have received a percentage of such total votes cast 351 equal to or greater than the minimum percentage, the secretary shall 352 calculate an adjusted percentage, which shall be each such candidate's 353 percentage of the total votes cast for all such candidates, excluding the 354 votes cast for all other candidates. The secretary shall then calculate the 355 product of each such candidate's adjusted percentage and the total 356 number of delegates to be selected, rounding off such product to the 357 nearest integer. Such product shall be the number of delegates allocated 358 to each such candidate except as hereinafter provided. 359 [(1)] (B) If the rounding off of such products to the nearest integers 360 causes the sum of all delegates so allocated to be greater than the total 361 number of delegates to be selected at large or from the district, then one 362 delegate shall be subtracted from the number allocated to the candidate 363 who received the greatest mathematical gain from such rounding off, 364 Substitute Bill No. 1536 LCO 13 of 15 and if necessary one delegate shall also be subtracted from the number 365 allocated to the candidate who received the next greatest gain, and so 366 on until the sum of all delegates allocated to candidates equals the total 367 number of delegates to be so selected. 368 [(2)] (C) If the rounding off of such products to the nearest integers 369 causes the sum of all delegates so allocated to be fewer than the total 370 number of delegates to be selected at large or from the district, then one 371 delegate shall be added to the number allocated to the candidate who 372 suffered the greatest mathematical loss from such rounding off, and if 373 necessary one delegate shall also be added to the number allocated to 374 the candidate who suffered the next greatest such loss, and so on until 375 the sum of all delegates allocated to candidates equals the total number 376 of delegates to be so selected. 377 [(d)] (3) In the event one or no candidate has received a percentage of 378 the total number of votes cast for all candidates equal to or greater than 379 the minimum percentage, the secretary shall calculate an adjusted 380 percentage for each of the candidates receiving the greatest and second 381 greatest number of votes cast for all candidates. The adjusted percentage 382 shall be such candidate's percentage of the total number of votes cast for 383 both such candidates, excluding the total number of votes cast for all 384 other candidates. The secretary shall determine the number of delegates 385 allocated to each candidate by using the same procedure as prescribed 386 in [subsection (c) of this section] subdivision (2) of this subsection. 387 (c) (1) For allocations under this subsection when party rules do 388 provide for ranked-choice voting, the secretary shall determine the 389 number of delegates, if any, to be allocated at large to each candidate 390 and, if applicable, the number of delegates, if any, to be allocated to each 391 candidate from each district respectively. An active candidate's 392 percentage of the votes received by all active candidates in the state or 393 in a district is required to equal or exceed fifteen per cent in order for 394 such candidate to be allocated any at large delegates or any delegates 395 from such district, as the case may be. The secretary shall determine each 396 candidate's percentage of the votes received by all active candidates 397 Substitute Bill No. 1536 LCO 14 of 15 under ranked-choice voting in the state and in each district. Each ballot 398 shall count as one vote for the highest-ranked candidate on such ballot 399 and shall be deemed a vote for delegates pledged to support such 400 candidate in accordance with party rules or applicable provisions of this 401 title. Any rankings for withdrawn candidates shall be treated as 402 rankings for eliminated candidates. If the vote total for any active 403 candidate is less than fifteen per cent, the active candidate with the 404 fewest votes shall be eliminated and the votes for the eliminated 405 candidate shall be counted for each ballot's next highest-ranked active 406 candidate. If the vote total of all active candidates is above fifteen per 407 cent, tabulation shall be complete. For the purpose of section 9-482, 408 votes cast for a candidate and each candidate's percentage of total votes 409 shall be determined by the secretary on the basis of the votes received 410 in the final round of tabulation. The secretary shall then calculate the 411 product of each such active candidate's percentage and the total number 412 of delegates to be selected, rounding off such product to the nearest 413 integer. Such product shall be the number of delegates allocated to each 414 such candidate except as hereinafter provided. 415 (2) If the rounding off of such products to the nearest integers causes 416 the sum of all delegates so allocated to be greater than the total number 417 of delegates to be selected at large or from the district, then one delegate 418 shall be subtracted from the number allocated to the candidate who 419 received the greatest mathematical gain from such rounding off, and if 420 necessary one delegate shall also be subtracted from the number 421 allocated to the candidate who received the next greatest gain, and so 422 on until the sum of all delegates allocated to candidates equals the total 423 number of delegates to be so selected. 424 (3) If the rounding off of such products to the nearest integers causes 425 the sum of all delegates so allocated to be fewer than the total number 426 of delegates to be selected at large or from the district, then one delegate 427 shall be added to the number allocated to the candidate who suffered 428 the greatest mathematical loss from such rounding off, and if necessary 429 one delegate shall also be added to the number allocated to the 430 candidate who suffered the next greatest such loss, and so on until the 431 Substitute Bill No. 1536 LCO 15 of 15 sum of all delegates allocated to candidates equals the total number of 432 delegates to be so selected. 433 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections: Section 1 January 1, 2027 New section Sec. 2 January 1, 2027 9-173 Sec. 3 January 1, 2027 New section Sec. 4 January 1, 2027 9-444 Sec. 5 January 1, 2027 9-473 Sec. 6 January 1, 2027 9-476 Sec. 7 January 1, 2027 9-484 Statement of Legislative Commissioners: In Section 1(c)(1)(B)(i), "preference, except that if such" was changed to "preference. If such" and "five such candidates" was changed to "five candidates" for clarity; in Section 1(e), "section 9-445 of the general statutes, or section 9-311a of the general statutes" was changed to "section 9-445 or 9-311a of the general statutes" for conciseness; in Section 3(b)(2), "and any similar reference thereto" was changed to "and of any similar reference to the per cent of such votes" for clarity; in Section 4(b)(2), "January 1, 2026" was changed to "January 1, 2027" for accuracy; in Section 5(a), "timeline" was changed to "deadline" for consistency; in Section 5(b), "deadline set" was changed to "deadline established" for consistency; in Section 7, the provisions of Subsecs. (b)(2) and (c) were subdivided and redesignated for clarity; and in Section 7(c)(1), the penultimate sentence was redrafted for clarity. GAE Joint Favorable Subst.