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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 226
February Session, 2026 LCO No. 1561
Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
AND ELECTIONS
Introduced by:
(GAE)
AN ACT CONCERNING VARIOUS REVISIONS RELATED TO
ELECTION PROCESSES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1 . Section 9 -163aa of the 2026 supplement to the general 1
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 2
(Effective July 1, 2026): 3
(a) (1) (A) Any eligible elector may vote prior to the day of a regular 4
election, in accordance with the provisions of this section, during a 5
period of early voting at each regular election held on or after April 1, 6
2024. 7
(B) The period of early voting under subparagraph (A) of this 8
subdivision shall (i) notwithstanding the provisions of section 9 -2, 9
commence on the fifteenth day prior to and conclude on the second day 10
prior to such regular election, and (ii) consist of such days between and 11
inclusive of such commencement and conclusion, except any legal 12
holiday designated, appointed or recommended under section 1-4, and 13
at such times as provided in subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 14
9-174. 15
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(2) (A) Subject to the provisions of subdivision (4) of this subsection, 16
any eligible elector may vote prior to the day of a primary, other than a 17
presidential preference primary, in accordance with the provisions of 18
this section, during a period of early voting at each primary, other than 19
a presidential preference primary, held on or after April 1, 2024. 20
(B) The period of early voting under subparagraph (A) of this 21
subdivision shall (i) notwithstanding the provisions of section 9 -2, 22
commence on the eighth day prior to and conclude on the second day 23
prior to such primary, other than a presidential preference primary, and 24
(ii) consist of such days between and inclusive of such commencement 25
and conclusion, except any legal holiday designated, appointed or 26
recommended under section 1 -4, and at such times as provided in 27
subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 9-174. 28
(3) (A) Any eligible elector may vote prior to the day of a special 29
election, in accordance with the provisions of this section, during a 30
period of early voting at each special election held on or after April 1, 31
2024. 32
(B) Subject to the provisions of subdivision (4) of this subsection, any 33
eligible elector may vote prior to the day of a presidential preference 34
primary, in accordance with the provisions of this section, during a 35
period of early voting at each presidential preference primary held on 36
or after April 1, 2024. 37
(C) The period of early voting under subparagraph (A) or (B) of this 38
subdivision shall (i) notwithstanding the provisions of section 9 -2, 39
commence on the fifth day prior to and conclude on the second day 40
prior to such special election or such presidential preference primary, 41
except that such commencing and concluding days shall be adjusted to 42
exclude from such period April 20, 2025, and any legal holiday 43
designated, appointed or recommended under section 1 -4, and (ii) 44
consist of four total days between and inclusive of such commencement 45
and conclusion, as may be adjusted pursuant to subparagraph (C)(i) of 46
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this subdivision, and at such times as provided in subdivision (2) of 47
subsection (c) of section 9-174. 48
(4) (A) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 9-19e, 9-23a, 9-26, 49
9-31a, 9-55, 9-56, as amended by this act, and 9-57: 50
(i) In the case of an unaffiliated elector who wishes to vote during the 51
period of early voting at a primary, such elector shall be eligible to so 52
vote if such elector's application for enrollment with the political party 53
holding such primary is filed with the registrars of voters by twelve 54
o'clock noon on the business day immediately preceding the day on 55
which such period of early voting commences. 56
(ii) In the case of a person who is not admitted as an elector and who 57
wishes to vote during the period of early voting at a primary, such 58
person shall be eligible to so vote if such person's application for 59
admission as an elector and enrollment with the political party holding 60
such primary is filed with the registrars of voters by twelve o'clock noon 61
on the business day immediately preceding the day during such period 62
of early voting on which such person offers to vote at such primary. 63
(B) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent an individual 64
who enrolls in a political party during a period of early voting at a 65
primary from voting by absentee ballot, if eligible, or in person on the 66
day of such primary. 67
(b) (1) (A) The registrars of voters of each municipality shall designate 68
a location for the conduct of early voting [, which] but, if the registrars 69
fail to agree as to such location, the legislative body or, in a municipality 70
where the legislative body is a town meeting, the board of selectmen, 71
shall designate such location. Such location shall be the same for the 72
duration of the period of early voting except as otherwise specified in 73
this subdivision, provided [(A)] (i) the registrars of voters have access to 74
the state-wide centralized voter registration system from such location, 75
and [(B)] (ii) such location is certified in writing to the Secretary of the 76
State. [not later than sixty days prior to the day of an election or a 77
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primary.] The written certification under subparagraph [(B)] (A)(ii) of 78
this subdivision shall be submitted annually by the registrars of voters 79
to the Secretary not later than February fifteenth. Any change to such 80
written certification shall be made and submitted, and approved or 81
disapproved, in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (B) of 82
this subdivision. Such written certification shall provide [(i)] (I) the 83
name, street address and relevant contact information associated with 84
such location, [(ii)] (II) the number of election or primary officials to be 85
appointed by the registrars of voters to serve at such location and the 86
roles of such officials, and [(iii)] (III) a description of the design of such 87
location and a plan for effective conduct of such early voting , and shall 88
include the information required for same -day election registration 89
under subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 9 -19j, as amended by 90
this act . The Secretary shall approve or disapprove such written 91
certification annually not later than [forty-five days prior to the day of 92
an election or a primary] March first. If the Secretary disapproves such 93
certification, the Secretary shall provide, in writing, the reasons for such 94
disapproval and shall issue an order for such corrective action as the 95
Secretary deems necessary, including, but not limited to, the 96
appointment of additional election or primary officials or the alteration 97
of such design or plan. After having received approval of such 98
certification or having complied with any order for corrective action to 99
the Secretary's satisfaction, as applicable, the registrars of voters shall 100
determine the site of such location designated for the conduct of early 101
voting at least thirty -one days prior to an election or a primary. Such 102
location shall not be changed within such period, except, if the 103
municipal clerk and registrars of voters unanimously find that such 104
location has been rendered unusable within such period, such clerk and 105
registrars shall forthwith designate another location for the conduct of 106
early voting to be used in place of the location so rendered unusable and 107
shall give adequate notice that such location has been so changed. The 108
provisions of sections 9 -168d and 9 -168e shall apply to such location 109
designated for the conduct of early voting. 110
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(B) If, after the registrars of voters annually submit the written 111
certification under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, the registrars 112
make any change to any part of such written certification, such registrars 113
shall submit to the Secretary of the State an updated written 114
certification, in a form and manner prescribed by the Secretary, as soon 115
as practicable but in no case later than seven days after such change. The 116
registrars shall clearly indicate on such updated written certification the 117
information that has changed since the prior submission. The Secretary 118
shall approve or disapprove such updated written certification as soon 119
as practicable but in no case later than seven days after submission 120
thereof. If the Secretary disapproves such updated certification, the 121
Secretary shall provide, in writing, the reasons for such disapproval and 122
shall issue an order for such corrective action as the Secretary deems 123
necessary, in accordance with subparagraph (A) of this subdivision. 124
(2) In any municipality with a population of at least twenty thousand, 125
the legislative body may hold a public hearing on whether to designate 126
any additional location in such municipality for the conduct of early 127
voting, which public hearing, if any, shall be held not later than fifteen 128
days prior to the time for designating any such location set forth in 129
subdivision (1) of this subsection. Any legislative body holding such a 130
public hearing shall properly notice such public hearing not later than 131
ten days prior to such public hearing in a newspaper having general 132
circulation in such municipality and on the Internet web site of the 133
municipality. For any such municipality in which such a public hearing 134
was not held, the legislative body thereof shall determine whether to 135
designate any such additional location and shall notify the Secretary of 136
the State with a detailed explanation for such determination. For any 137
municipality in which such a public hearing was held, not later than 138
three days after the conclusion of such public hearing, the legislative 139
body thereof shall determine whether to designate any such additional 140
location and shall notify the Secretary with a detailed explanation for 141
such determination. If the legislative body determines that any such 142
additional location be designated, the [registrars of voters ] legislative 143
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body or, in a municipality where the legislative body is a town meeting, 144
the board of selectmen, shall so designate such additional location and 145
the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall apply to such 146
additional location. The Secretary shall take no action on any detailed 147
explanation submitted under this subdivision with regard to the 148
number of additional locations designated in such a municipality, and 149
shall preserve each such detailed explanation as a public record open to 150
public inspection. For the purposes of this subdivision, "population" 151
means the estimated number of people according to the most recent 152
version of the State Register and Manual prepared pursuant to section 153
3-90. 154
(3) In any municipality containing any campus of a constituent unit, 155
as defined in section 10a-1, with at least one thousand students living in 156
housing that is on such campus or is owned or operated by, or affiliated 157
with, such constituent unit, the registrars of voters of such municipality 158
shall designate an additional location on such campus for the conduct 159
of early voting and the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection 160
shall apply to such additional location. 161
(4) At each location designated for the conduct of early voting, the 162
registrars of voters shall provide to prospective electors during the early 163
voting period the opportunity to apply for same -day election 164
registration, in accordance with the procedures set forth in section 9-19j, 165
as amended by this act, for such application and for the completion and 166
processing of any such application. 167
(5) (A) The registrars of voters shall appoint, for each day on which 168
early voting is conducted, a moderator and such other election or 169
primary officials to serve at each location designated for such conduct. 170
The moderator so appointed shall perform any duty required, and may 171
exercise any power authorized, under this title related to the conduct of 172
early voting at such location. On any such day and solely for purposes 173
related to the conduct of early voting, the registrars of voters of a 174
municipality may, upon agreement, appoint one of the registrars from 175
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such municipality as moderator in accordance with the provisions of 176
subparagraph (B) of this subdivision. The registrars of voters may 177
delegate to each other election or primary official so appointed any of 178
the responsibilities assigned to the registrars of voters. The registrars of 179
voters shall supervise each such official and train each such official to be 180
an early voting election or primary official. 181
(B) Whenever the registrars of voters of a municipality appoint, 182
pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, one of the registrars 183
of such municipality as moderator to serve at a location designated for 184
the conduct of early voting, such registrars of voters shall jointly submit 185
to the Secretary of the State (i) a certification that the registrars of voters 186
of such municipality are in agreement as to such appointment, and (ii) 187
a written plan detailing alternative coverage of the duties normally 188
carried out by the registrar so appointed to ensure that such registrar 189
abstains, on each day in which such registrar serves as moderator, from 190
any such duties that conflict with those of the moderator. 191
(C) Not later than the fourteenth day preceding the commencement 192
of the period of early voting, the registrars of voters shall provide to the 193
Secretary of the State a written report setting forth the name, address 194
and, if available, cellular mobile telephone number of the moderator 195
appointed to serve at each location designated for the conduct of early 196
voting pursuant to this subdivision. Such written report shall be 197
included as part of the written report provided by the registrars to the 198
Secretary under section 9-228a, as amended by this act. 199
(c) Any elector who wishes to vote during a period of early voting at 200
an election or primary, and is eligible to so vote at such election or 201
primary, shall (1) appear in person at such times as provided in 202
subsection (c) of section 9 -174, at the location designated by the 203
registrars of voters for early voting, and (2) identify such elector as 204
required by subsection (a) of section 9-261. [, and (3) declare under oath 205
that such elector has not previously voted in such election or primary, 206
as provided in subsection (e) of this section.] 207
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(d) If the registrars of voters determine that an elector is eligible to 208
vote in the election or primary, the registrars of voters shall check the 209
state-wide centralized voter registration system before allowing such 210
elector to cast an early voting ballot as provided in subsection (e) of this 211
section. 212
(1) If the registrars of voters determine that the elector has not already 213
voted, or if there is no report that the elector has already voted, the 214
registrars shall allow such elector to vote. 215
(2) If the registrars of voters believe that the elector may have already 216
voted, such matter shall be reviewed by the registrars of voters. After 217
completion of such review, if a resolution of the matter cannot be made 218
and such elector claims to have neither in fact voted nor offered to vote 219
in person or by absentee ballot, such elector may request a challenged 220
ballot in accordance with section 9 -232d and may cast such challenged 221
ballot in accordance with section 9 -232e. Such matter shall be reported 222
to the State Elections Enforcement Commission, which shall conduct an 223
investigation of the matter. The provisions of section 9 -232f shall apply 224
to any challenged ballot cast under this subdivision. 225
(e) If the elector is allowed to vote, the registrars of voters shall 226
provide such elector with an early voting ballot , [and early voting 227
envelope and shall make a record of such issuance. The ] shall make a 228
record of such issuance and shall announce to such elector the voting 229
district in which such elector resides and the ballot, corresponding to 230
such voting district, that such elector should properly receive. Prior to 231
marking the early voting ballot, the elector shall complete [an] a printed 232
affirmation [printed upon the back of the early voting envelope] in a log 233
book provided by the registrars of voters and shall declare under oath 234
that the [voter] elector has not previously voted in the election or 235
primary. The Secretary of the State shall prescribe the form of such log 236
book and shall make a sample thereof available on the Internet web site 237
of the office of the Secretary of the State. Such printed affirmation shall 238
be in the form substantially as follows and signed by the [voter] elector: 239
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AFFIRMATION: I, the undersigned, do hereby state, under penalty 240
of false statement (perjury), that: 241
1. I am the elector appearing in person to vote early at [an] this 242
election or primary. [prior to the day of such election or primary.] 243
2. I am eligible to vote in [the] this election or primary. [indicated for 244
today.] 245
3. I have identified myself to the satisfaction of the registrars of voters. 246
4. I have not voted in person or by absentee ballot and I will not vote 247
otherwise than by this ballot at this election or primary. 248
5. I have received an early voting ballot for the purpose of [so] voting. 249
…. (Signature of voter) 250
(f) The elector shall forthwith mark the early voting ballot in the 251
presence of the registrars of voters in such a manner that the registrars 252
of voters shall not know how the early voting ballot is marked. The 253
elector shall place the early voting ballot [in the early voting ballot 254
envelope provided and deposit such envelope in a secured early voting 255
ballot depository receptacle] into the voting tabulator. At the conclusion 256
of each day during the early voting period, the registrars of voters shall 257
[transport such receptacle containing ] (1) publicly open the voting 258
tabulator, secure and seal such day's early voting ballots [to the 259
municipal clerk, who shall ] in a secure receptacle and retain and 260
securely store such ballots in as near a manner as possible to that for the 261
retention and secure storage of [absentee] ballots cast at polling places 262
under section 9-261, as provided in subsection (g) of this section, except 263
that, if such manner is not practicable, then such early voting ballots 264
shall be retained and securely stored as provided in an alternate plan 265
submitted by the registrars of voters to the Secretary of the State and 266
approved by the Secretary, [. On the day of the election or primary, the 267
early voting ballots shall be delivered to the registrars of voters for the 268
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purpose of counting such ballots. A section of the head moderator's 269
return shall show the number of early voting ballots received from 270
electors. The registrars of voters shall seal a copy of the vote tally for 271
early voting ballots in a depository envelope with the early voting 272
ballots and store such early voting depository envelope with the other 273
election or primary results materials. The early voting depository 274
envelope shall be preserved by the registrars of voters for the period of 275
time required to preserve counted ballots for elections or primaries] and 276
(2) secure the voting tabulator in a locked area. 277
(g) Except as provided in section 9-163bb, as amended by this act, the 278
provisions of this title and any regulation adopted under this title 279
concerning procedures relating to the custody, control and counting of 280
[absentee] ballots cast at polling places under section 9-261 shall apply, 281
as nearly as possible, to the custody, control and counting of early voting 282
ballots under this section. A section of the head moderator's return shall 283
show the number of early voting ballots received from electors. 284
(h) (1) No person shall solicit on behalf of or in opposition to any 285
candidate or on behalf of or in opposition to any question being 286
submitted at the election or primary, or loiter or peddle or offer any 287
advertising matter, ballot or circular to another person within a radius 288
of seventy -five feet of any outside entrance in use as an entry to any 289
building that contains any location designated by the registrars of voters 290
for early voting or in any corridor, passageway or other approach 291
leading from any such outside entrance to any such location or in any 292
room opening upon any such corridor, passageway or approach. 293
(2) Except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection, no person 294
shall be allowed within any location designated by the registrars of 295
voters for early voting for any purpose other than casting such person's 296
vote, except (A) primary officials under section 9 -436, (B) election 297
officials under section 9-258, including (i) a municipal clerk or registrar 298
of voters, who is a candidate for the same office, and (ii) a deputy 299
registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the office of registrar of voters, 300
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performing such official's duties, and (C) unofficial checkers under 301
section 9-235. 302
(3) A person, including any candidate or any campaign or party 303
employee or volunteer, may be within the seventy -five-foot radius 304
described in subdivision (1) of this subsection (A) only for purposes 305
related to the performance of such person's official duties or to the 306
conduct of government business within such radius, (B) only for as long 307
as necessary to perform such duties or conduct such business, and (C) 308
provided such person is not engaged in any conduct described in 309
subdivision (1) of this subsection. 310
(i) The provisions of subsections (a) to (h), inclusive, of this section 311
shall not apply to any primary held for the purpose of choosing town 312
committee members. 313
(j) No election or primary official shall perform services for any party 314
or candidate on any day during the period of early voting on which such 315
election or primary official is appointed to serve under this section, nor 316
appear at any political party headquarters prior to the hour prescribed 317
under subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (c) of section 9 -174, as 318
applicable, for the closing of the location designated for early voting on 319
such day. 320
Sec. 2. Section 9 -163bb of the general statutes is repealed and the 321
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 322
(a) [Early voting ballots received by the municipal clerk prior to the 323
day of an election or primary, and same -day] (1) Same -day election 324
registration ballots received by the municipal clerk prior to the day of a 325
regular election [,] shall be delivered by the municipal clerk to the 326
registrars between six o'clock a.m. and ten o'clock a.m. on the day of the 327
regular election. [or primary.] 328
[(b)] (2)The ballot counters for such [early voting ballots and ] same-329
day election registration ballots shall proceed to the central counting 330
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location or to the respective polling places when counting is to take 331
place pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9 -147a at the time, between 332
six o'clock a.m. and ten o'clock a.m. on the day of the regular election, 333
[or primary, ] designated by the registrars of voters. At the time such 334
ballots are delivered to the ballot counters pursuant to subsection (a) of 335
this section, the ballot counters shall perform any checking of such 336
ballots and proceed, as nearly as possible, as provided in section 9-150a, 337
as amended by this act. 338
(b) Upon the close of the polls on the day of an election or primary, 339
the moderator for the location designated for the conduct of early 340
voting, in the presence of the other election or primary officials at such 341
location, shall immediately lock the voting tabulator for early voting 342
ballots against voting and immediately cause the vote totals for all 343
candidates and questions to be produced. 344
Sec. 3. Section 9-19j of the 2026 supplement to the general statutes is 345
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 346
2026): 347
(a) As used in this section: 348
(1) "Election day" means the day on which a regular election, as 349
defined in section 9-1, as amended by this act, is held; and 350
(2) "Same-day election registration" means admission as an elector 351
during the period of early voting at a regular election, as provided in 352
section 9-163aa, as amended by this act, or on election day. 353
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter, a person who (1) 354
is (A) not an elector, or (B) an elector registered in a municipality who 355
wishes to change such elector's registration to another municipality 356
pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of this 357
section, and (2) meets the eligibility requirements under subsection (a) 358
of section 9-12, may apply for same-day election registration pursuant 359
to the provisions of this section. 360
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(c) (1) (A) The registrars of voters shall designate a location for the 361
completion and processing of same-day election registrations on 362
election day, provided [(A)] (i) the registrars of voters have access to the 363
state-wide centralized voter registration system from such location, and 364
[(B)] (ii) such location is certified in writing to the Secretary of the State. 365
[not later than forty-five days before election day. ] The written 366
certification under subparagraph [(B)] (A)(ii) of this subdivision shall 367
[(i) include ] be submitted annually by the registrars of voters to the 368
Secretary not later than February fifteenth as part of such registrars' 369
submission under subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) 370
of section 9-163aa, as amended by this act. Any change to such written 371
certification shall be made and submitted, and approved or 372
disapproved, in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (B) of 373
this subdivision. Such written certification shall provide (I) the name, 374
street address and relevant contact information associated with such 375
location, [(ii) list the name and address of each election official who 376
shall] (II) the number of election officials to be appointed by the 377
registrars of voters to serve at such location [, if any ] and the roles of 378
such officials, and [(iii) provide] (III) a description of the design of such 379
location and a plan for effective completion and processing of [such 380
applications] same-day election registrations . The Secretary shall 381
approve or disapprove such written certification annually not later than 382
[twenty-nine days before election day] March first and may require the 383
registrars of voters to appoint one or more additional election officials 384
or alter such design or plan. 385
(B) If, after the registrars of voters annually submit the written 386
certification under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, the registrars 387
make any change to any part of such written certification, including for 388
any additional location designated pursuant to subdivision (2) of this 389
subsection, such registrars shall submit to the Secretary of the State an 390
updated written certification, in a form and manner prescribed by the 391
Secretary, as soon as practicable but in no case later than seven days 392
after such change. The registrars shall clearly indicate on such updated 393
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written certification the information that has changed since the prior 394
submission. The Secretary shall approve or disapprove such updated 395
written certification as soon as practicable but in no case later than seven 396
days after submission thereof. If the Secretary disapproves such 397
updated certification, the Secretary shall provide, in writing, the reasons 398
for such disapproval and shall issue an order for such corrective action 399
as the Secretary deems necessary, in accordance with subparagraph (A) 400
of this subdivision. 401
(2) The legislative body of the municipality may apply to the 402
Secretary of the State not later than seventy-four days before election 403
day, in a form and manner prescribed by the Secretary, to designate any 404
additional location for the completion and processing of same-day 405
election [registration applications ] registrations on election day. The 406
Secretary shall approve or disapprove such application not later than 407
fifty-nine days before election day. If the Secretary approves such 408
application, the registrars of voters may so designate any such 409
additional location. The provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection 410
shall apply to any such additional location. 411
(3) (A) The registrars of voters shall appoint, for each day on which 412
same-day election registrations are completed and processed, a 413
moderator and such other election officials to serve at each location 414
designated for such completion and processing. The moderator so 415
appointed shall perform any duty required, and may exercise any 416
power authorized, under this title related to the completion and 417
processing of same -day election registrations at such location. On any 418
such day and solely for purposes related to the completion and 419
processing of same-day election registrations, the registrars of voters of 420
a municipality may, upon agreement, appoint one of the registrars from 421
such municipality as moderator in accordance with the provisions of 422
subparagraph (B) of this subdivision. The registrars of voters may 423
delegate to each other election official so appointed [pursuant to 424
subdivision (1) of this subsection] any of the responsibilities assigned to 425
the registrars of voters. The registrars of voters shall supervise each such 426
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election official and train each such official to be a same-day election 427
registration election official. 428
(B) Whenever the registrars of voters of a municipality appoint, 429
pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, one of the registrars 430
of such municipality as moderator to serve at a location designated for 431
the completion and processing of same -day election registrations, such 432
registrars of voters shall jointly submit to the Secretary of the State (i) a 433
certification that the registrars of voters of such municipality are in 434
agreement as to such appointment, and (ii) a written plan detailing 435
alternative coverage of the duties normally carried out by the registrar 436
so appointed to ensure that such registrar abstains, on each day in which 437
such registrar serves as moderator, from any such duties that conflict 438
with those of the moderator. 439
(C) Not later than the fourteenth day preceding the commencement 440
of the period of early voting prior to election day, the registrars of voters 441
shall provide to the Secretary of the State a written report setting forth 442
the name, address and, if available, cellular mobile telephone number of 443
the moderator appointed to serve at each location designated for the 444
completion and processing of same-day election registrations pursuant 445
to this subdivision. Such written report shall be included as part of the 446
written report provided by the registrars to the Secretary under section 447
9-228a, as amended by this act. 448
(d) Any person applying for same-day election registration under the 449
provisions of this section shall make application in accordance with the 450
provisions of section 9-20, provided (1) (A) on election day, the applicant 451
shall appear in person not later than eight o'clock p.m., in accordance 452
with subsection (b) of section 9 -174, at the location designated by the 453
registrars of voters for same-day election registration, and (B) during the 454
period of early voting prior to election day, the applicant shall appear 455
in person at such times as provided in subdivision (1) of subsection (c) 456
of section 9 -174, at such location, (2) an applicant who is a student 457
enrolled at an institution of higher education may submit a current 458
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photo identification card issued by such institution in lieu of the 459
identification required by section 9 -20, and (3) the applicant shall 460
declare under oath that the applicant has not previously voted in the 461
election, as provided in subsection (f) of this section. If the information 462
that the applicant is required to provide under section 9 -20 and this 463
section does not include proof of the applicant's residential address, the 464
applicant shall also [(i)] (A) submit identification that shows the 465
applicant's bona fide residence address, including, but not limited to, a 466
learner's permit issued under section 14 -36 or a utility bill that has the 467
applicant's name and current address and that has a due date that is not 468
later than thirty days after the election or, in the case of a student 469
enrolled at an institution of higher education, a registration or fee 470
statement from such institution that has the applicant's name and 471
current address, or [(ii)] (B) prove the applicant's bona fide residence 472
address by the testimony under oath of at least one elector. 473
(e) If the registrars of voters determine that an applicant satisfies the 474
application requirements set forth in subsection (d) of this section, the 475
registrars of voters shall check the state -wide centralized voter 476
registration system before admitting such applicant as an elector. 477
(1) If the registrars of voters determine that the applicant is not 478
already an elector, the registrars of voters shall admit the applicant as 479
an elector and the privileges of an elector shall attach immediately. 480
(2) If the registrars of voters determine that such applicant is an 481
elector in another municipality and such applicant wants to change the 482
municipality in which the applicant is an elector, notwithstanding the 483
provisions of section 9-21, the registrars of voters of the municipality in 484
which such elector now seeks to register shall immediately notify the 485
registrars of voters in such other municipality that such elector is 486
changing the municipality in which the applicant is an elector. The 487
registrars of voters in such other municipality shall notify the election 488
officials in such municipality to remove such elector from the official 489
voter list of such municipality. Such election officials shall cross through 490
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the elector's name on such official voter list and mark "off" next to such 491
elector's name on such official voter list. 492
(A) If it is reported that such applicant already voted in such other 493
municipality, the registrars of voters of such other municipality shall 494
immediately notify the registrars of voters of the municipality in which 495
such elector now seeks to register. In such event, such elector shall not 496
receive a same -day election registration ballot from the registrars of 497
voters of the municipality in which such elector now seeks to register. 498
For any such elector, the same-day election registration process shall 499
cease in the municipality in which such elector now seeks to register and 500
such matter shall be reviewed by the registrars of voters in the 501
municipality in which such elector now seeks to register. After 502
completion of such review, if a resolution of the matter cannot be made, 503
such matter shall be reported to the State Elections Enforcement 504
Commission which shall conduct an investigation of the matter. 505
(B) If there is no such report that such applicant already voted in the 506
other municipality, the registrars of voters of the municipality in which 507
the applicant seeks to register shall admit the applicant as an elector and 508
the privileges of an elector shall attach immediately. 509
(f) If the applicant is admitted as an elector, the registrars of voters 510
shall provide the elector with a same-day election registration ballot and 511
same-day election registration envelope and shall make a record of such 512
issuance. The elector shall complete an affirmation imprinted upon the 513
back of the same -day election registration envelope and shall declare 514
under oath that the applicant has not previously voted in the election. 515
The affirmation shall be in the form substantially as follows and signed 516
by the [voter] elector: 517
AFFIRMATION: I, the undersigned, do hereby state, under penalty 518
of false statement, (perjury) that: 519
1. I am the person admitted here as an elector in the town indicated. 520
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2. I am eligible to vote in the election indicated for today in the town 521
indicated. 522
3. The information on my voter registration card is correct and 523
complete. 524
4. I reside at the address that I have given to the registrars of voters. 525
5. If previously registered at another location, I have provided such 526
address to the registrars of voters and hereby request cancellation of 527
such prior registration. 528
6. I have not voted in person or by absentee ballot and I will not vote 529
otherwise than by this ballot at this election. 530
7. I completed an application for a same -day election registration 531
ballot and received a same-day election registration ballot. 532
.... (Signature of voter) 533
(g) The elector shall forthwith mark the same-day election 534
registration ballot in the presence of the registrars of voters in such a 535
manner that the registrars of voters shall not know how the same-day 536
election registration ballot is marked. The elector shall place the same-537
day election registration ballot in the same-day election registration 538
ballot envelope provided, and deposit such envelope in a secured same-539
day election registration ballot depository receptacle. At the conclusion 540
of each day during the early voting period, the registrars of voters shall 541
transport such receptacle containing such day's same -day election 542
registration ballots to the municipal clerk, who shall retain and securely 543
store such ballots in as near a manner as possible to that for the retention 544
and secure storage of absentee ballots, as provided in subsection (h) of 545
this section, except that, if such manner is not practicable, such same -546
day election registration ballots shall be retained and securely stored as 547
provided in an alternate plan submitted by the registrars of voters to the 548
Secretary of the State and approved by the Secretary. On election day, 549
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the previously retained and securely stored same -day election 550
registration ballots shall be delivered to the registrars of voters and, at 551
the time designated by the registrars of voters and noticed to election 552
officials, the registrars of voters shall transport such receptacle 553
containing the same-day election registration ballots received on such 554
election day to the central location or polling place, pursuant to 555
subsection (b) of section 9-147a, where absentee ballots are counted and 556
such same-day election registration ballots shall be counted by the 557
election officials present at such central location or polling place. A 558
section of the head moderator's return shall show the number of same-559
day election registration ballots received from electors. The registrars of 560
voters shall seal a copy of the vote tally for same-day election 561
registration ballots in a depository envelope with the same-day election 562
registration ballots and store such same-day election registration 563
depository envelope with the other election results materials. The same-564
day election registration depository envelope shall be preserved by the 565
registrars of voters for the period of time required to preserve counted 566
ballots for elections. 567
(h) Except as provided in section 9-163bb, as amended by this act, the 568
provisions of this title and any regulation adopted under this title 569
concerning procedures relating to the custody, control and counting of 570
absentee ballots shall apply, as nearly as possible, to the custody, control 571
and counting of same-day election registration ballots under this 572
section. 573
(i) After the acceptance of a same -day election registration, the 574
registrars of voters shall forthwith send a registration confirmation 575
notice to the residential address of each applicant who was admitted as 576
an elector on election day or during the period of early voting prior to 577
election day under this section. Such confirmation shall be sent by first 578
class mail with instructions on the envelope that it be returned if not 579
deliverable at the address shown on the envelope. If a confirmation 580
notice is returned undelivered, the registrars shall forthwith take the 581
necessary action in accordance with section 9 -35 or 9-43, as applicable, 582
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notwithstanding the May first deadline in section 9-35. 583
(j) (1) No person shall solicit on behalf of or in opposition to any 584
candidate or on behalf of or in opposition to any question being 585
submitted at the election, or loiter or peddle or offer any advertising 586
matter, ballot or circular to another person within a radius of seventy -587
five feet of any outside entrance in use as an entry to any building that 588
contains any location designated by the registrars of voters for same -589
day election registration balloting or in any corridor, passageway or 590
other approach leading from any such outside entrance to any such 591
location or in any room opening upon any such corridor, passageway 592
or approach. 593
(2) Except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection, no person 594
shall be allowed within any location designated by the registrars of 595
voters for same-day election registration balloting for any purpose other 596
than casting such person's vote, except (A) primary officials under 597
section 9-436, (B) election officials under section 9 -258, including (i) a 598
municipal clerk or registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the same 599
office, and (ii) a deputy registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the 600
office of registrar of voters, performing such official's duties, and (C) 601
unofficial checkers under section 9-235. 602
(3) A person, including any candidate or any campaign or party 603
employee or volunteer, may be within the seventy -five-foot radius 604
described in subdivision (1) of this subsection (A) only for purposes 605
related to the performance of such person's official duties or to the 606
conduct of government business within such radius, (B) only for as long 607
as necessary to perform such duties or conduct such business, and (C) 608
provided such person is not engaged in any conduct described in 609
subdivision (1) of this subsection. 610
(k) No election official shall perform services for any party or 611
candidate on any day on which such election official is appointed to 612
serve under this section, nor appear at any political party headquarters 613
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prior to the hour prescribed under subsection (b) or subdivision (1) of 614
subsection (c) of section 9 -174, as applicable, for the closing of the 615
location designated for same-day election registration on such day. 616
Sec. 4. Section 9 -228a of the general statutes is repealed and the 617
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 618
(a) [The] Not later than the thirty-first day preceding the day of each 619
municipal, state or federal election or primary, the registrars of voters of 620
each municipality shall [, not later than thirty -one days prior to each 621
municipal, state or federal election or primary, ] certify to the Secretary 622
of the State, in writing, the location of each polling place that will be 623
used for such election or primary. Such certification shall detail the 624
name, address, relevant contact information and corresponding federal, 625
state and municipal districts associated with each polling place used for 626
such election or primary. 627
(b) [The] Not later than the fourteenth day preceding the 628
commencement of the period of early voting at each municipal, state or 629
federal election or primary, in accordance with the provisions of 630
subsection (a) of section 9 -163aa, as amended by this act, the registrars 631
of voters of each municipality shall [, prior to each municipal, state or 632
federal election or primary,] provide a written report to the Secretary of 633
the State setting forth the names , [and] addresses and, if available, 634
cellular mobile telephone numbers of each moderator for each (1) 635
polling place location disclosed pursuant to subsection (a) of this 636
section, (2) location designated for the conduct of early voting pursuant 637
to subsection (b) of section 9 -163aa, as amended by this act, and (3) 638
location designated for the completion and processing of same -day 639
election registrations pursuant to subsection (c) of section 9 -19j, as 640
amended by this act. 641
(c) The Secretary of the State shall have the authority to disqualify 642
any moderator appointed by the registrars of voters if, after consultation 643
with both registrars of voters, the Secretary determines such moderator 644
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has committed material misconduct, material neglect of duty or material 645
incompetence in the discharge of his or her duties as a moderator. If the 646
Secretary disqualifies a moderator, the Secretary shall share his or her 647
findings upon which the disqualification was based with the registrars 648
of voters. 649
Sec. 5. Section 9 -56 of the general statutes is repealed and the 650
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 651
Except as otherwise provided in the case of an elector whose name 652
has not been placed on or has been removed from the enrollment list 653
under section 9 -59, 9-60, 9-61 or 9 -62, any elector not enrolled on any 654
enrollment list may at any time make a written and signed application 655
for enrollment to the registrars of voters on an application form for 656
admission as an elector, in accordance with the requirements of this 657
section. The application shall be effective as of the date it is filed with 658
the registrars of voters of the town of residence of the applicant and any 659
person making application for enrollment in such manner shall 660
immediately be entitled to the privileges of party enrollment unless the 661
application for enrollment (1) is filed in person by the applicant with the 662
registrars of voters after twelve o'clock noon on the last business day 663
before a primary, in which case he shall be entitled to the privileges of 664
party enrollment immediately after the primary, (2) is otherwise filed 665
with the registrar after the [fifth] eighteenth day before the primary, in 666
which case he shall be entitled to the privileges of party enrollment 667
immediately after the primary, except as provided in section 9 -23a, or 668
(3) is filed with the registrars of voters after 5:00 p.m. on the last business 669
day before a caucus or convention, in which case he shall be entitled to 670
the privileges of party enrollment immediately after the caucus or 671
convention. The application shall be signed or initialed by the registrar, 672
deputy, assistant or registrar's clerk receiving it, or by such other 673
personnel as such registrar or deputy may appoint for the purpose, 674
showing the date when such application is received and, in the case of 675
an applicant not immediately eligible under section 9-59, 9-60, 9-61 or 9-676
62 to the privileges accompanying enrollment in the party named in his 677
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application, the date upon which such applicant becomes so eligible. In 678
municipalities divided into voting districts in which an enrollment 679
session is held in each district thereof under section 9-51, application for 680
enrollment shall be made to the registrar or assistant registrar, as the 681
case may be, in the voting district in which such elector is entitled to 682
vote at the time of making such application. If any registrar or assistant 683
registrar fails to add any name to any such list on written application or 684
adds any name to any such list except as herein provided, he shall be 685
guilty of a class D misdemeanor. 686
Sec. 6. Subsection (d) of section 9 -229 of the general statutes is 687
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 688
2026): 689
(d) If the person designated as moderator is unable to serve for any 690
reason, a certified alternate moderator shall serve as moderator. If such 691
certified alternate moderator is not called upon to serve as moderator, 692
he shall serve in another capacity as an election official on election or 693
primary day. If any town or voting district lacks a moderator due to the 694
death, disability or withdrawal of a certified moderator or alternate 695
moderator, or due to the disqualification of a moderator for any reason, 696
including failure to attend an instructional session as required by this 697
section, the registrars of voters shall appoint a new moderator for such 698
town or voting district in the manner provided in this section , except 699
that the registrars shall not appoint as moderator any person who has, 700
in a court of competent jurisdiction, been convicted of or pled guilty or 701
nolo contendere to any (1) felony involving fraud, forgery, larceny, 702
embezzlement or bribery, or (2) criminal offense under this title . Such 703
new moderator shall attend an instructional session and a certification 704
session conducted in accordance with the provisions of this section. If 705
all such sessions have been conducted at the time of appointment of the 706
new moderator, the new moderator shall receive instruction from the 707
registrars who appointed the new moderator. 708
Sec. 7. Section 9 -169 of the general statutes is repealed and the 709
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following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 710
The legislative body of any town, consolidated town and city or 711
consolidated town and borough may divide and, from time to time, 712
redivide such municipality into voting districts. The registrars of voters 713
of any municipality taking such action shall provide a suitable polling 714
place in each district but, if the registrars fail to agree as to the location 715
of any polling place or places, the legislative body shall determine the 716
location thereof. Polling places to be used in an election shall be 717
determined at least thirty -one days before such election, and such 718
polling places shall not be changed within said period of thirty-one days 719
except that, if the municipal clerk and registrars of voters of a 720
municipality unanimously find that any such polling place within such 721
municipality has been rendered unusable within such period, they shall 722
forthwith designate another polling place to be used in place of the one 723
so rendered unusable and shall give adequate notice that such polling 724
place has been so changed. The registrars of voters shall keep separate 725
lists of the electors residing in each district and shall appoint for each 726
district a moderator in accordance with the provisions of section 9 -229, 727
as amended by this act, and such other election officials as are required 728
by law, and shall designate one of the moderators so appointed or any 729
other elector of such town to be the head moderator for the purpose of 730
declaring the results of elections in the whole municipality , except that 731
the registrars shall not appoint as moderator any person who has, in a 732
court of competent jurisdiction, been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo 733
contendere to any (1) felony involving fraud, forgery, larceny, 734
embezzlement or bribery, or (2) criminal offense under this title . The 735
registrars may also designate a deputy head moderator to assist the 736
head moderator in the performance of his duties provided the deputy 737
head moderator and the head moderator shall not be enrolled in the 738
same major party, as defined in subdivision (5) of section 9 -372. The 739
selectmen, town clerk, registrars of voters and all other officers of the 740
municipality shall perform the duties required of them by law with 741
respect to elections in each voting district established in accordance with 742
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this section. Voting district lines shall not be drawn by a municipality so 743
as to conflict with the lines of congressional districts, senate districts or 744
assembly districts as established by law, except [(1)] (A) as provided in 745
section 9-169d, and [(2)] (B) that as to municipal elections, any part of a 746
split voting district containing less than two hundred electors may be 747
combined with another voting district adjacent thereto from which all 748
and the same officers are elected at such municipal election. Any change 749
in the boundaries of voting districts made within ninety days prior to 750
any election or primary shall not apply with respect to such election or 751
primary. The provisions of this section shall prevail over any contrary 752
provision of any charter or special act. 753
Sec. 8. Section 9 -322a of the general statutes is repealed and the 754
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 755
(a) Not later than forty-eight hours following each regular election, 756
the registrars of voters shall provide the results of the votes cast at such 757
election to the town clerk. Not later than nine o'clock a.m. on the third 758
day following each regular election, the head moderator, registrars of 759
voters and town clerk for each town [divided into voting districts] shall 760
meet to identify any error in the returns. Not later than one o'clock p.m. 761
on the third day following each regular election, the head moderator 762
shall correct any error identified and file an amended return with the 763
Secretary of the State, the town clerk and the registrars of voters. 764
(b) Not later than twenty -one days following each regular state 765
election, the town clerk of each town [divided into voting districts] shall 766
file with the Secretary of the State a consolidated listing, in tabular 767
format, as prescribed by the Secretary of the State, of the official returns 768
[of each such voting district ] for all offices voted on at such election, 769
including the total number of votes cast for each candidate, the total 770
number of names on the registry list, and the total number of names 771
checked as having voted. [, in each such district.] The town clerk of such 772
town shall certify that he or she has examined the lists transmitted under 773
this section to determine whether there are any discrepancies between 774
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the total number of votes cast for a candidate at such election in such 775
town, including for any recanvass conducted pursuant to section 9-311, 776
as amended by this act, or 9-311a, and the sum of the votes cast for the 777
same candidate in all voting districts in such town if such town has been 778
divided into voting districts . In the case of any such discrepancy, the 779
town clerk shall notify the head moderator and certify that such 780
discrepancy has been rectified. Each listing filed under this section shall 781
be retained by the Secretary of the State not less than ten years after the 782
date of the election for which it was filed. 783
Sec. 9. (NEW) ( Effective from passage ) (a) As used in this section, 784
"municipality", "government enforcement action", "federal Voting 785
Rights Act" and "protected class" have the same meanings as provided 786
in section 9-368i of the general statutes. 787
(b) The corporation counsel of any municipality that has been subject 788
to any court order or government enforcement action described in 789
subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 9 -368m 790
of the general statutes shall provide to the office of the Secretary of the 791
State all details pertaining to such matter not later than one month after 792
the effective date of this section, the issuance of such court order or the 793
commencement of such government enforcement action, whichever is 794
latest. 795
(c) If an action filed in a court of competent jurisdiction alleges a 796
violation of the provisions of sections 9 -368j to 9-368q, inclusive, of the 797
general statutes, the federal Voting Rights Act, any state or federal civil 798
rights law, the fifteenth amendment to the United States Constitution or 799
the fourteenth amendment to the United States Constitution, which 800
violation concerns the right to vote or a pattern, practice or policy of 801
discrimination against any protected class, the party that filed such 802
action shall cause notice of the hearing on such action to be given to the 803
Secretary of the State. 804
Sec. 10. Section 9 -388 of the general statutes is repealed and the 805
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following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 806
(a) Whenever a convention of a political party is held for the 807
endorsement of candidates for nomination to state or district office, each 808
candidate endorsed at such convention shall file with the Secretary of 809
the State a certificate, signed by him, stating that he was endorsed by 810
such convention, his name as he authorizes it to appear on the ballot, his 811
full residence address and the title and district, if applicable, of the office 812
for which he was endorsed. Such certificate shall be attested by either 813
(1) the chairman or presiding officer, or (2) the secretary of such 814
convention and shall be received by the Secretary of the State not later 815
than four o'clock p.m. on the fourteenth day after the close of such 816
convention. Such certificate shall either be mailed to the Secretary of the 817
State by certified mail, return receipt requested, or delivered in person, 818
in which case a receipt indicating the date and time of delivery shall be 819
provided by the Secretary of the State to the person making delivery. If 820
a certificate of a party's endorsement for a particular state or district 821
office is not received by the Secretary of the State by such time, such 822
certificate shall be invalid and such party, for the purposes of [section 9-823
416 and section 9 -416a] sections 9-416 and 9 -416a, shall be deemed to 824
have made no endorsement of any candidate for such office. If 825
applicable, the chairman of a party's state convention shall, forthwith 826
upon the close of such convention, file with the Secretary of the State the 827
names and full residence addresses of persons selected by such 828
convention as the nominees of such party for electors of President and 829
Vice-President of the United States in accordance with the provisions of 830
section 9-175. 831
(b) (1) In the case of a timely filed certificate of a party's endorsement 832
pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, which contains an error or 833
omission that would operate to invalidate such endorsement, the 834
candidate so certified or an individual authorized to act on behalf of 835
such candidate may correct such error or omission by appearing in 836
person at the office of the Secretary of the State not later than four o'clock 837
p.m. on the nineteenth day after the close of the state or district 838
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convention, as applicable, and amending such certificate to make such 839
correction. If such candidate or individual does not appear to so amend 840
such certificate by such time, such certificate shall be invalid and such 841
party, for the purposes of sections 9-416 and 9-416a, shall be deemed to 842
have made no such endorsement. 843
(2) The Secretary of the State may, within the time period specified in 844
subdivision (1) of this subsection, amend a timely filed certificate of a 845
party's endorsement to correct any such error or omission, and shall 846
keep a record of any such amendment made pursuant to this 847
subdivision. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to require 848
the Secretary to affirmatively attempt to identify any error or omission 849
in any such certificate. 850
Sec. 11. Subsection (c) of section 9 -391 of the general statutes is 851
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof ( Effective from 852
passage): 853
(c) (1) Each endorsement of a candidate to run in a primary for the 854
nomination of candidates for a municipal office to be voted upon at a 855
state election shall be made under the provisions of section 9 -390 not 856
earlier than the eighty-fourth day or later than the seventy-seventh day 857
preceding the day of such primary. Each certification to be filed under 858
this subsection shall be received by the Secretary of the State not later 859
than four o'clock p.m. on the fourteenth day after the close of the town 860
committee meeting, caucus or convention, as the case may be. If such a 861
certificate of a party's endorsement is not received by the Secretary of 862
the State by such time, such certificate shall be invalid and such party, 863
for the purposes of sections 9 -417 and 9 -418, shall be deemed to have 864
neither made nor certified any endorsement of any candidate for such 865
office. The candidate so endorsed for a municipal office to be voted upon 866
at a state election, other than the office of justice of the peace, shall file 867
with the Secretary of the State a certificate, signed by that candidate, 868
stating that such candidate was so endorsed, the candidate's name as 869
the candidate authorizes it to appear on the ballot, the candidate's full 870
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street address and the title and district of the office for which the 871
candidate was endorsed. Such certificate may be filed by a candidate 872
whose name appears upon the last -completed enrollment list of such 873
party within the senatorial district within which the candidate is 874
endorsed to run for nomination in the case of the municipal office of 875
state senator, or the assembly district within which the candidate is 876
endorsed to run for nomination in the case of the municipal office of 877
state representative, or the municipality or political subdivision within 878
which the candidate is to run for nomination for other municipal offices 879
to be voted on at a state election. Such certificate shall be attested by 880
either the chairperson or presiding officer or the secretary of the town 881
committee, caucus or convention which made such endorsement. The 882
endorsement of any candidate for the office of justice of the peace shall 883
be certified to the clerk of the municipality by either the chairperson or 884
presiding officer or the secretary of the town committee, caucus or 885
convention, and shall contain the name and street address of each 886
candidate so endorsed and the title of the office for which each such 887
candidate is endorsed. Such certification shall be made on a form 888
prescribed by the Secretary of the State or on such other form as may 889
comply with the provisions of this subsection. 890
(2) (A) In the case of a timely filed certificate of a party's endorsement 891
pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, which contains an error 892
or omission that would operate to invalidate such endorsement, the 893
candidate so certified or an individual authorized to act on behalf of 894
such candidate may correct such error or omission by appearing in 895
person at the office of the Secretary of the State not later than four o'clock 896
p.m. on the nineteenth day after the close of the town committee 897
meeting, caucus or convention, as applicable, and amending such 898
certificate to make such correction. If such candidate or individual does 899
not appear to so amend such certificate by such time, such certificate 900
shall be invalid and such party, for the purposes of sections 9-417 and 9-901
418, shall be deemed to have neither made nor certified such 902
endorsement. 903
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(B) The Secretary of the State may, within the time period specified in 904
subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, amend a timely filed certificate of 905
a party's endorsement to correct any such error or omission, and shall 906
keep a record of any such amendment made pursuant to this 907
subparagraph. Nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed to 908
require the Secretary to affirmatively attempt to identify any error or 909
omission in any such certificate. 910
Sec. 12. Section 9 -400 of the general statutes is repealed and the 911
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 912
(a) A candidacy for nomination by a political party to a state office 913
may be filed by or on behalf of any person whose name appears upon 914
the last -completed enrollment list of such party in any municipality 915
within the state and who has either (1) received at least fifteen per cent 916
of the votes of the convention delegates present and voting on any roll-917
call vote taken on the endorsement or proposed endorsement of a 918
candidate for such state office, whether or not the party -endorsed 919
candidate for such office received a unanimous vote on the last ballot, 920
or (2) circulated a petition and obtained the signatures of at least two 921
per cent of the enrolled members of such party in the state, in accordance 922
with the provisions of sections 9 -404a to 9-404c, inclusive. Candidacies 923
described in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be filed by 924
submitting to the Secretary of the State not later than four o'clock p.m. 925
on the fourteenth day following the close of the state convention, a 926
certificate, signed by such candidate and attested by either (A) the 927
chairman or presiding officer, or (B) the secretary of the convention, that 928
such candidate received at least fifteen per cent of such votes, and that 929
such candidate consents to be a candidate in a primary of such party for 930
such state office. Such certificate shall specify the candidate's name as 931
the candidate authorizes it to appear on the ballot, the candidate's full 932
residence address and the title of the office for which the candidacy is 933
being filed. If such certificate for a state office is not received by the 934
Secretary of the State by such time, such certificate shall be invalid and 935
such person , for the purposes of sections 9 -416 and 9 -416a, shall be 936
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deemed to have made no valid certification of candidacy for nomination 937
by a political party [for] to such state office. A single such certificate or 938
petition for state office may be filed on behalf of two or more candidates 939
for different state offices who consent to have their names appear on a 940
single row of the primary ballot under subsection (b) of section 9 -437. 941
Candidacies described in subdivision (2) of this subsection shall be filed 942
by submitting said petition not later than four o'clock p.m. on the sixty-943
third day preceding the day of the primary for such office to the registrar 944
of voters of the towns in which the respective petition pages were 945
circulated. Each registrar shall file each page of such petition with the 946
Secretary of the State in accordance with the provisions of section 9-404c. 947
A petition filed by or on behalf of a candidate for state office shall be 948
invalid for such candidate if such candidate is certified as the party -949
endorsed candidate pursuant to section 9 -388, as amended by this act, 950
or as receiving at least fifteen per cent of the convention vote for such 951
office pursuant to this subsection. Except as provided in section 9-416a, 952
upon the expiration of the time period for party endorsement and 953
circulation and tabulation of petitions and signatures, if any, if one or 954
more candidacies for such state office have been filed pursuant to the 955
provisions of this section, the Secretary of the State shall notify all town 956
clerks and registrars of voters in accordance with the provisions of 957
section 9-433, that a primary for such state office shall be held in each 958
municipality in accordance with the provisions of section 9-415. 959
(b) A candidacy for nomination by a political party to a district office 960
may be filed by or on behalf of any person whose name appears upon 961
the last-completed enrollment list of such party within the district the 962
person seeks to represent that is in the office of the Secretary of the State 963
at the end of the last day prior to the convention for the party from 964
which the person seeks nomination and who has either (1) received at 965
least fifteen per cent of the votes of the convention delegates present and 966
voting on any roll -call vote taken on the endorsement or proposed 967
endorsement of a candidate for such district office, whether or not the 968
party-endorsed candidate for such office received a unanimous vote on 969
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the last ballot, or (2) circulated a petition and obtained the signatures of 970
at least two per cent of the enrolled members of such party in the district 971
for the district office of representative in Congress, and at least five per 972
cent of the enrolled members of such party in the district for the district 973
offices of state senator, state representative and judge of probate, in 974
accordance with the provisions of sections 9 -404a to 9 -404c, inclusive. 975
Candidacies described in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be filed 976
by submitting to the Secretary of the State not later than four o'clock 977
p.m. on the fourteenth day following the close of the district convention, 978
a certificate, signed by such candidate and attested by either (A) the 979
chairman or presiding officer, or (B) the secretary of the convention, that 980
such candidate received at least fifteen per cent of such votes, and that 981
the candidate consents to be a candidate in a primary of such party for 982
such district office. Such certificate shall specify the candidate's name as 983
the candidate authorizes it to appear on the ballot, the candidate's full 984
residence address and the title and district of the office for which the 985
candidacy is being filed. If such certificate for a district office is not 986
received by the Secretary of the State by such time, such certificate shall 987
be invalid and such person, for the purposes of sections 9 -416 and 9 -988
416a, shall be deemed to have made no valid certification of candidacy 989
for nomination by a political party [for] to such district office. 990
Candidacies described in subdivision (2) of this subsection shall be filed 991
by submitting said petition not later than four o'clock p.m. on the sixty-992
third day preceding the day of the primary for such office to the registrar 993
of voters of the towns in which the respective petition pages were 994
circulated. Each registrar shall file each page of such petition with the 995
Secretary in accordance with the provisions of section 9-404c. A petition 996
may only be filed by or on behalf of a candidate for the district office of 997
state senator, state representative or judge of probate who is not certified 998
as the party-endorsed candidate pursuant to section 9-388, as amended 999
by this act, or as receiving at least fifteen per cent of the convention vote 1000
for such office pursuant to this subsection. A petition filed by or on 1001
behalf of a candidate for the district office of representative in Congress 1002
shall be invalid if said candidate is certified as the party -endorsed 1003
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candidate pursuant to section 9 -388, as amended by this act, or as 1004
receiving at least fifteen per cent of the convention vote for such office 1005
pursuant to this subsection. Except as provided in section 9 -416a, upon 1006
the expiration of the time period for party endorsement and circulation 1007
and tabulation of petitions and signatures, if any, if one or more 1008
candidacies for such district office have been filed pursuant to the 1009
provisions of this section, the Secretary of the State shall notify all town 1010
clerks within the district, in accordance with the provisions of section 9-1011
433, that a primary for such district office shall be held in each 1012
municipality and each part of a municipality within the district in 1013
accordance with the provisions of section 9-415. 1014
(c) (1) In the case of a timely filed certificate of candidacy for 1015
nomination by a political party pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this 1016
section, which contains an error or omission that would operate to 1017
invalidate such candidacy for nomination, the person so certified or an 1018
agent of such person may correct such error or omission by appearing 1019
in person at the office of the Secretary of the State not later than four 1020
o'clock p.m. on the nineteenth day after the close of the state or district 1021
convention, as applicable, and amending such certificate to make such 1022
correction, provided neither failure of such person to timely file such 1023
certificate pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section nor failure of 1024
the chairperson, presiding officer or secretary of the convention to attest 1025
such certificate shall be an error or omission that may be corrected 1026
pursuant to this subsection. If such person or agent does not appear to 1027
so amend such certificate by such time, such certificate shall be invalid 1028
and such person, for the purposes of sections 9-416 and 9-416a, shall be 1029
deemed to have made no valid certification of candidacy for nomination 1030
by a political party. As used in this subsection, "agent" means an 1031
individual authorized to act on behalf of a person. 1032
(2) The Secretary of the State may, within the time period specified in 1033
subdivision (1) of this subsection, amend a timely filed certificate of 1034
candidacy for nomination to correct any such error or omission, and 1035
shall keep a record of any such amendment made pursuant to this 1036
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subdivision. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to require 1037
the Secretary to affirmatively attempt to identify any error or omission 1038
in any such certificate. 1039
[(c)] (d) For the purposes of this section, the number of enrolled 1040
members of a party shall be determined by the latest enrollment records 1041
in the office of the Secretary of the State prior to the earliest date that 1042
primary petitions were available. The names of electors on the inactive 1043
registry list compiled under section 9 -35 shall not be counted for 1044
purposes of computing the number of petition signatures required 1045
under this section, as provided in section 9-35c. 1046
[(d)] (e) On the last day for filing primary petition candidacies in 1047
accordance with the provisions of this section, the office or office 1048
facilities of the registrars of voters shall open not later than one o'clock 1049
p.m., and remain open until at least four o'clock p.m., and such 1050
registrars or the deputy or assistant registrars shall be present. 1051
Sec. 13. Section 9 -452 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1052
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 1053
(a) All minor parties nominating candidates for any elective office 1054
shall make such nominations and certify and file a list of such 1055
nominations, as required by this section, not later than the sixty-second 1056
day prior to the day of the election at which such candidates are to be 1057
voted for. A list of nominees in printed or typewritten form that includes 1058
each candidate's name as authorized by each candidate to appear on the 1059
ballot, the signature of each candidate, the full street address of each 1060
candidate and the title and district of the office for which each candidate 1061
is nominated shall be certified by the presiding officer of the committee, 1062
meeting or other authority making such nomination and shall be filed 1063
by such presiding officer with the Secretary of the State, in the case of 1064
any state, district or municipal office to be voted upon at a state election, 1065
or with the clerk of the municipality, in the case of any municipal office 1066
to be voted upon at a municipal election, not later than the sixty-second 1067
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day prior to the day of the election. The registrars of voters of such 1068
municipality shall promptly verify and correct the names on any such 1069
list filed with him, or the names of nominees forwarded to the clerk of 1070
the municipality by the Secretary of the State, in accordance with the 1071
registry list of such municipality and endorse the same as having been 1072
so verified and corrected. For the purposes of this section, a list of 1073
nominations shall be deemed to be filed when it is received by the 1074
Secretary of the State or clerk of the municipality, as appropriate. If such 1075
certificate of a party's nomination is not received by the Secretary of the 1076
State or clerk of the municipality, as appropriate, by such time, such 1077
certificate shall be invalid and such party, for purposes of sections 9-460, 1078
9-461 and 9-462, shall be deemed to have neither made nor certified any 1079
nomination of any candidate for such office. A candidacy for 1080
nomination by a minor party to a district or municipal office may be 1081
filed on behalf of any person whose name appears on the last-completed 1082
registry list of the district or municipality represented by such office, as 1083
the case may be. A candidacy for nomination by a minor party to a state 1084
office may be filed on behalf of any person whose name appears on the 1085
last-completed registry list of the state. 1086
(b) (1) In the case of a timely filed certificate of nomination for any 1087
state, district or municipal office to be voted upon at a state election 1088
pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, which contains an error or 1089
omission that would operate to invalidate such nomination, the 1090
candidate so certified or an individual authorized to act on behalf of 1091
such candidate may correct such error or omission by appearing in 1092
person at the office of the Secretary of the State not later than four o'clock 1093
p.m. on the fifty -seventh day prior to the day of the election and 1094
amending such certificate to make such correction, provided neither 1095
failure of the presiding officer of the committee, meeting or other 1096
authority to timely file such certificate pursuant to subsection (a) of this 1097
section nor failure of the candidate to sign such certificate shall be an 1098
error or omission that may be corrected pursuant to this subsection. If 1099
such candidate or individual does not appear to so amend such 1100
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certificate by such time, such certificate shall be invalid and such party, 1101
for the purposes of sections 9 -460, 9-461 and 9-462, shall be deemed to 1102
have neither made nor certified any such nomination. 1103
(2) The Secretary of the State may, within the time period specified in 1104
subdivision (1) of this subsection, amend a timely filed certificate of 1105
nomination to correct any such error or omission, and shall keep a 1106
record of any such amendment made pursuant to this subdivision. 1107
Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to require the Secretary 1108
to affirmatively attempt to identify any error or omission in any such 1109
certificate. 1110
Sec. 1 4. Section 9 -250 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1111
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1112
(a) Ballots shall be printed in plain clear type and on material of such 1113
size as will fit the tabulator, and shall be furnished by the registrar of 1114
voters. The size and style of the type used to print the name of a political 1115
party on a ballot shall be identical with the size and style of the type 1116
used to print the names of all other political parties appearing on such 1117
ballot. The name of each major party candidate for a municipal office, as 1118
defined in section 9-372, except for the municipal offices of state senator 1119
and state representative, shall appear on the ballot as authorized by each 1120
candidate. The name of each major party candidate for a state or district 1121
office, as defined in section 9 -372, or for the municipal office of state 1122
senator or state representative shall appear on the ballot as it appears on 1123
the certificate or statement of consent filed under section 9 -388, as 1124
amended by this act, subsection (b) of section 9-391, or section 9-400, as 1125
amended by this act, or 9-409. The name of each minor party candidate 1126
shall appear on the ballot as authorized by each candidate. The name of 1127
each nominating petition candidate shall appear on the ballot as it is 1128
verified by the town clerk on the application filed under section 9-453b. 1129
The size and style of the type used to print the name of a candidate on a 1130
ballot shall be identical with the size and style of the type used to print 1131
the names of all other candidates appearing on such ballot. Such ballot 1132
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shall contain the names of the offices and the names of the candidates 1133
arranged thereon. The names of the political parties and party 1134
designations shall be arranged on the ballots and followed by the word 1135
"party", either in columns or horizontal rows as set forth in section 9 -1136
249a, immediately adjacent to the column or row occupied by the 1137
candidate or candidates of such political party or organization. The 1138
ballot shall be printed in such manner as to indicate how many 1139
candidates the elector may vote for each office, provided in the case of a 1140
town adopting the provisions of section 9-204a, such ballot shall indicate 1141
the maximum number of candidates who may be elected to such office 1142
from any party. If two or more candidates are to be elected to the same 1143
office for different terms, the term for which each is nominated shall be 1144
printed on the official ballot as a part of the title of the office. If, at any 1145
election, one candidate is to be elected for a full term and another to fill 1146
a vacancy, the official ballot containing the names of the candidates in 1147
the foregoing order shall, as a part of the title of the office, designate the 1148
term which such candidates are severally nominated to fill. No column, 1149
under the name of any political party or independent organization, shall 1150
be printed on any official ballot, which contains more candidates for any 1151
office than the number for which an elector may vote for that office. 1152
(b) Not later than ten days prior to the commencement of the period 1153
of early voting at an election, the registrars of voters of each 1154
municipality shall file with the Secretary of the State, for each voting 1155
district in such municipality, the official ballot to be used for such voting 1156
district. No such official ballot shall be used at any election unless it has 1157
been approved by the Secretary of the State. 1158
Sec. 15. Subsection (j) of section 9 -437 of the general statutes is 1159
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1160
2026): 1161
(j) (1) All ballots used at a primary shall be prepared by the clerk of 1162
the municipality in which such primary is held and shall be printed at 1163
the expense of the municipality. Not later than ten days prior to the 1164
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commencement of the period of early voting at a primary, such clerk 1165
shall file with the Secretary of the State, for each voting district in such 1166
municipality at which such primary is held, the ballot to be used for 1167
such voting district. No such ballot shall be used at any primary unless 1168
it has been approved by the Secretary of the State. 1169
(2) Each municipality shall provide for all polling places: 1170
[(1)] (A) At least forty -eight hours before the primary, [such clerk 1171
shall have] sample ballots for general distribution by such clerk, which 1172
shall contain the offices or positions and names of candidates to be voted 1173
upon. Each such sample ballot shall also include printed instructions 1174
approved by the Secretary of the State concerning the use of the voting 1175
tabulator and information concerning the date of the primary and the 1176
hours during which polling places will be open. Such clerk shall have 1177
available for distribution such number of sample ballots as such clerk 1178
deems advisable, but in no event less than three which shall be posted 1179
inside the polling place so as to be visible to those within the polling 1180
place during the whole day of the primary. At least one of such sample 1181
ballots shall be posted so as to be visible to an elector being instructed 1182
on the demonstrator device, pursuant to section 9 -260. If paper ballots 1183
are used in any primary, such sample paper ballots shall be overprinted 1184
with the word "Sample"; 1185
[(2)] (B) Instructions on how to cast a provisional ballot, as prescribed 1186
by the Secretary of the State; 1187
[(3)] (C) Instructions for mail-in registrants and first-time voters who 1188
register to vote by mail on or after January 1, 2003, as prescribed by the 1189
Secretary of the State; 1190
[(4)] (D) General information concerning voting rights under federal 1191
and Connecticut laws, including information on the right of an 1192
individual to cast a provisional ballot and instructions on how to contact 1193
the appropriate officials if such rights are alleged to have been violated, 1194
as prescribed by the Secretary of the State; and 1195
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[(5)] (E) General information on federal and state laws concerning 1196
prohibitions on acts of fraud and misrepresentation, as prescribed by 1197
the Secretary of the State. 1198
Sec. 16. Subsection (a) of section 9 -135a of the general statutes is 1199
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof ( Effective from 1200
passage): 1201
(a) Each absentee ballot shall be arranged to resemble the appropriate 1202
ballot and sample ballot as prescribed by law, and shall include, as 1203
applicable, the offices, party designations, names of candidates and 1204
questions to be voted upon and spaces for write -in votes. A replica of 1205
the state seal shall be printed on the ballot. The size, type, form, 1206
instructions, specifications for paper and printing and other 1207
specifications shall be prescribed by the Secretary of the State. Prior to 1208
printing such absentee ballots pursuant to this section, the clerk of the 1209
municipality shall file with the Secretary of the State, for each voting 1210
district in such municipality, the absentee ballot to be used for such 1211
voting district. No such absentee ballot shall be used at any election or 1212
primary unless it has been approved by the Secretary of the State. 1213
Sec. 17. Section 9 -135b of the general statutes is repealed and the 1214
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 1215
(a) Immediately after the deadline for certification of all candidates 1216
whose names are to appear on the ballot, and in sufficient time to begin 1217
issuing absentee ballots on the day prescribed by law, the municipal 1218
clerk shall prepare the absentee ballots and have them printed. Prior to 1219
printing such ballots, the registrars of voters of the municipality may 1220
provide comments concerning the content and form of such ballots to 1221
the clerk, provided no such ballot shall be printed unless the Secretary 1222
of the State has approved of such ballot in accordance with section 9 -1223
135a, as amended by this act. 1224
(b) A layout model of each different absentee ballot shall be available 1225
for public inspection at the clerk's office prior to printing. The model 1226
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shall indicate the type face to be used, the spelling and placement of 1227
names and other information to be printed on the ballots. 1228
(c) Immediately upon receiving the printed absentee ballots, the 1229
municipal clerk shall file one with the Secretary of the State or, if there 1230
are different ballots for different political subdivisions, one ballot for 1231
each subdivision. The clerk shall also file his affidavit with the Secretary, 1232
stating the number of ballots printed. The form of affidavit shall be 1233
prescribed by the Secretary. If any correction or alteration is 1234
subsequently made on any absentee ballot the clerk shall immediately 1235
file a corrected or altered ballot and, using the prescribed form, his 1236
affidavit stating the number of such ballots printed, with the Secretary. 1237
(d) If a vacancy in candidacy occurs after the ballots have been 1238
printed, the clerk may either reprint the ballots or cause printed stickers 1239
to be affixed to them so that the name of any candidate who has vacated 1240
his candidacy is deleted and the name of any candidate chosen to fill the 1241
vacancy as provided in section 9 -428 or section 9 -460 appears in the 1242
same position as that in which the vacated candidacy appeared except 1243
as provided in section 9 -426 or 9 -453s. If no candidate is chosen to fill 1244
such vacancy as so provided, the clerk shall cause the name of the 1245
candidate whose candidacy has been vacated to be obscured in such 1246
manner that such name is no longer visible. 1247
(e) [The] Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the 1248
Secretary of the State [shall examine each absentee ballot required to be 1249
filed pursuant to this section and if a ballot contains an omission or 1250
error, the Secretary shall order ] from ordering the municipal clerk to 1251
reprint a corrected absentee ballot or to take such other action as the 1252
Secretary may deem appropriate in the case of an absentee ballot that 1253
contains an omission or error. 1254
Sec. 18. Section 9 -256 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1255
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 1256
[The registrars of voters of each municipality shall, not less than ten 1257
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days prior to the commencement of the period of early voting at an 1258
election, file with the Secretary of the State a sample ballot identical with 1259
those to be provided for each polling place under section 9 -255. The 1260
Secretary of the State shall examine the sample ballot required to be filed 1261
under this section, and if such sample ballot contains an error, the 1262
Secretary of the State shall order ] Notwithstanding the provisions of 1263
subsection (b) of section 9-250, as amended by this act, the Secretary of 1264
the State may order the registrars of voters to reprint a corrected 1265
[sample] ballot or to take other such action as the Secretary may deem 1266
appropriate in the case of any ballot that contains an omission or error. 1267
Sec. 19. Subsection (a) of section 9 -140b of the general statutes is 1268
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof ( Effective from 1269
passage): 1270
(a) An absentee ballot shall be cast at a primary, election or 1271
referendum only if: (1) It is mailed by (A) the ballot applicant, (B) a 1272
designee of a person who applies for an absentee ballot because of 1273
illness or physical disability, or (C) a member of the immediate family 1274
of an applicant who is a student, so that it is received by the clerk of the 1275
municipality in which the applicant is qualified to vote not later than the 1276
close of the polls; (2) it is returned by the applicant in person to the clerk 1277
by the day before [a regular election, special] the election or primary or 1278
prior to the opening of the polls on the day of [a] the referendum; (3) it 1279
is returned by a designee of an ill or physically disabled ballot applicant, 1280
in person, to said clerk not later than the close of the polls on the day of 1281
the election, primary or referendum; (4) it is returned by a member of 1282
the immediate family of the absentee voter, in person, to said clerk not 1283
later than the close of the polls on the day of the election, primary or 1284
referendum; (5) in the case of a presidential or overseas ballot, it is 1285
mailed or otherwise returned pursuant to the provisions of section 9 -1286
158g; or (6) it is returned with the proper identification as required by 1287
the Help America Vote Act, P.L. 107-252, as amended from time to time, 1288
if applicable, inserted in the outer envelope so such identification can be 1289
viewed without opening the inner envelope. A person returning an 1290
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absentee ballot to the municipal clerk pursuant to subdivision (3) or (4) 1291
of this subsection shall present identification and, on the outer envelope 1292
of the absentee ballot, sign his name in the presence of the municipal 1293
clerk, and indicate his address, his relationship to the voter or his 1294
position, and the date and time of such return. As used in this section, 1295
"immediate family" means a dependent relative who resides in the 1296
individual's household or any spouse, child, parent or sibling of the 1297
individual. 1298
Sec. 2 0. Section 9 -3 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1299
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 1300
(a) The Secretary of the State, by virtue of the office, shall be the 1301
Commissioner of Elections of the state, with such powers and duties 1302
relating to the conduct of elections as are prescribed by law and, unless 1303
otherwise provided by state statute, the Secretary's regulations, 1304
declaratory rulings, instructions and opinions, if in written form, and 1305
any order issued under subsection (b) of this section, shall be presumed 1306
as correctly interpreting and effectuating the administration of elections 1307
and primaries under this title, except for chapters 155 to 158, inclusive, 1308
and shall be executed, carried out or implemented, as the case may be , 1309
provided nothing in this section shall be construed to alter the right of 1310
appeal provided under the provisions of chapter 54. Any such written 1311
instruction or opinion shall be labeled as an instruction or opinion 1312
issued pursuant to this section, as applicable, and any such instruction 1313
or opinion shall cite any authority that is discussed in such instruction 1314
or opinion. 1315
(b) During any municipal, state or federal election, primary or 1316
recanvass, or any audit conducted pursuant to section 9 -320f, the 1317
Secretary of the State may issue an order, whether orally or in writing, 1318
to any registrar of voters or moderator to correct any irregularity or 1319
impropriety in the conduct of such election, primary or recanvass or 1320
audit. Any such order shall be effective upon issuance. As soon as 1321
practicable after issuance of an oral order pursuant to this subsection, 1322
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the Secretary shall reduce such order to writing, cite within such order 1323
any applicable provision of law authorizing such order and cause a copy 1324
of such written order to be delivered to the individual who is the subject 1325
of such order or, in the case that such order was originally issued in 1326
writing, issue a subsequent written order that conforms to such 1327
requirements. The Superior Court, on application of the Secretary or the 1328
Attorney General, may enforce by appropriate decree or process any 1329
such order issued pursuant to this subsection. 1330
(c) Whenever, during the ninety days preceding the day of an election 1331
or primary, one or more electors have alleged aggrievement under this 1332
title, the Secretary of the State may commence a declaratory judgment 1333
action under section 52-29 for a determination as to whether such elector 1334
or electors have been so aggrieved and for an order to ensure election 1335
administration procedures are properly executed and electors' rights are 1336
adequately protected under this title. 1337
Sec. 2 1. Subsection (d) of section 9 -150a of the general statutes is 1338
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 1339
2026): 1340
(d) (1) If the statement on the inner envelope has not been signed as 1341
required by section 9 -140a, such inner envelope shall not be opened or 1342
the ballot removed therefrom, and such inner envelope shall be replaced 1343
in the opened outer envelope which shall be marked "Rejected" and the 1344
reason therefor endorsed thereon by the counters. The moderator shall 1345
maintain a log of each absentee ballot applicant whose ballot was 1346
marked "Rejected" under this subdivision and include thereon for each 1347
such applicant the reason for the rejection. The moderator shall transmit 1348
such log to the Secretary of the State at the same time and in the same 1349
manner as the duplicate list to be transmitted to the Secretary by 1350
electronic means in accordance with section 9-314. 1351
(2) If such statement is signed but the individual completing the 1352
ballot is an individual described in subsection (a) of section 9 -23r and 1353
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has not met the requirements of subsection (e) of section 9 -23r, the 1354
counters shall replace the ballot in the opened inner envelope, replace 1355
the inner envelope in the opened outer envelope and mark "Rejected as 1356
an Absentee Ballot" and endorse the reason for such rejection on the 1357
outer envelope, and the ballot shall be treated as a provisional ballot for 1358
federal offices only, pursuant to sections 9-232i to 9-232o, inclusive. The 1359
moderator shall maintain a log of each absentee ballot applicant whose 1360
ballot was marked "Rejected as an Absentee Ballot" under this 1361
subdivision and include thereon for each such applicant the reason for 1362
the rejection. The moderator shall transmit such log to the Secretary of 1363
the State at the same time and in the same manner as the duplicate list 1364
to be transmitted to the Secretary by electronic means in accordance 1365
with section 9-314. 1366
Sec. 22. Subsection (a) of section 9 -311 of the 2026 supplement to the 1367
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1368
thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1369
(a) If, within three days after an election, it appears to the moderator 1370
that there is a discrepancy in the returns of any voting district, such 1371
moderator shall forthwith within said period summon, by written 1372
notice delivered personally, the recanvass officials, consisting of at least 1373
two checkers of different political parties and at least two absentee ballot 1374
counters of different political parties who served at such election, and 1375
the registrars of voters of the municipality in which the election was 1376
held and such other officials as may be required to conduct such 1377
recanvass. Such written notice shall require the clerk or registrars of 1378
voters, as the case may be, to bring with them the depository envelopes 1379
required by section 9-150a, as amended by this act, the package of write-1380
in ballots provided for in section 9-310, the absentee ballot applications, 1381
the list of absentee ballot applications, the registry list and the 1382
moderators' returns and shall require such recanvass officials to meet at 1383
a specified time not later than the fifth business day after such election 1384
to recanvass the returns of [a] each voting tabulator [or voting tabulators 1385
or] and all absentee ballots [or] and write-in ballots used in [such 1386
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district] the municipality in such election. If any of such recanvass 1387
officials are unavailable at the time of the recanvass, the registrar of 1388
voters of the same political party as that of the recanvass official unable 1389
to attend shall designate another elector having previous training and 1390
experience in the conduct of elections to take such recanvass official's 1391
place. Before such recanvass is made, such moderator shall give notice, 1392
in writing, to the chairperson of the town committee of each political 1393
party which nominated candidates for the election, and, in the case of a 1394
state election, not later than twenty -four hours after a determination is 1395
made regarding the need for a recanvass to the Secretary of the State, of 1396
the time and place where such recanvass is to be made; and each such 1397
chairperson may send party representatives to be present at such 1398
recanvass. Such party representatives may observe, but no one other 1399
than a recanvass official may take part in the recanvass. If a party 1400
representative notes any irregularity in the recanvass procedure, such 1401
party representative shall be permitted to present evidence of such 1402
irregularity in any contest relating to the election. 1403
Sec. 23. Subsection (d) of section 9-311 of the 2026 supplement to the 1404
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1405
thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 1406
(d) (1) The moderator may, when any disorder arises that interferes 1407
with the conduct of a recanvass, including any attempt by a person other 1408
than a recanvass official to take part in such recanvass or by such a 1409
person to communicate with a recanvass official , [other than the 1410
moderator,] and the offender refuses to submit to the moderator's lawful 1411
authority, order that the offender be removed by the recanvass officials 1412
from such recanvass until the offender conforms to order or, if need be, 1413
until such recanvass is completed. 1414
(2) Each political party or, in the case of an office subject to recanvass 1415
for which there is more than one candidate from a political party, each 1416
candidate may appoint one representative to communicate directly with 1417
the moderator during a recanvass. 1418
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Sec. 24. (NEW) (Effective from passage) Each ballot that has been cast at 1419
an election, primary or referendum, including any write-in ballot, shall 1420
be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act. 1421
Nothing in this section shall be construed to impair the ability to 1422
conduct any recanvass or audit under chapter 147, 148, 152 or 153 of the 1423
general statutes. As used in this section, "ballot", "election", 1424
"referendum" and "write-in ballot" have the same meanings as provided 1425
in section 9-1 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, "primary" 1426
has the same meaning as provided in section 9 -372 of the general 1427
statutes and "Freedom of Information Act" has the same meaning as 1428
provided in section 1-200 of the general statutes. 1429
Sec. 25. Subsection (n) of section 9-1 of the general statutes is repealed 1430
and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 1431
(n) "Referendum" means (1) a question or proposal which is 1432
submitted to a vote of the electors or voters of a municipality at any 1433
regular or special state or municipal election, as defined in this section, 1434
(2) a question or proposal which is submitted to a vote of the electors or 1435
voters, as the case may be, of a municipality at a meeting of such electors 1436
or voters, which meeting is not an election, as defined in subsection (d) 1437
of this section, and is not a town meeting, or (3) a question or proposal 1438
which is submitted to a vote of the electors or voters, as the case may be, 1439
of a municipality at a meeting of such electors or voters pursuant to 1440
section 7-7 or pursuant to charter, home rule ordinance or special act; 1441
Sec. 26. Section 9 -50d of the general statutes is repealed and the 1442
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 1443
(a) (1) Whenever voter registration information maintained under 1444
this title by the Secretary of the State or any registrar of voters is 1445
provided pursuant to any provision of the general statutes, disclosure 1446
of a voter's date of birth shall be limited to only the [month and] year of 1447
birth, unless such voter registration information is requested and used 1448
for a state governmental purpose, as determined by the Secretary, in 1449
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which case the voter's complete date of birth shall be provided. As used 1450
in this [section, a ] subdivision, a state governmental purpose shall 1451
include, but not be limited to, jury administration. 1452
(2) (A) Voter registration information described in subdivision (1) of 1453
this subsection (i) may only be used for election -related, scholarly, 1454
journalistic, political or governmental purposes, and (ii) shall not be 1455
used for any personal, private or commercial purpose, including, but 1456
not limited to, (I) harassment of any voter or voter's household in a 1457
manner likely to cause terror, intimidation or alarm, (II) advertising, 1458
solicitation, sale or marketing of products or services to any voter or 1459
voter's household, and (III) reproduction in print, digital or broadcast 1460
visual or audio, or display in any other format, of such information. 1461
(B) Any person who violates the provisions of subparagraph (A) of 1462
this subdivision shall be fined a minimum of five hundred dollars for 1463
such violation and up to a maximum of two thousand dollars for each 1464
voter's registration information used in such violation. 1465
(3) The Secretary of the State may adopt regulations, in accordance 1466
with the provisions of chapter 54, concerning the use of voter 1467
registration information. 1468
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, any motor 1469
vehicle operator's license number, identity card number or Social 1470
Security number on a voter registration record shall be confidential and 1471
shall not be disclosed to any person. 1472
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, if a voter 1473
submits to the Secretary of the State a signed statement that 1474
nondisclosure of such voter's name from the official registry list is 1475
necessary for the safety of such voter or the voter's family, the name and 1476
address of such voter on his or her voter registration record shall be 1477
confidential and shall not be disclosed, except that an election, primary 1478
or referendum official may view such information on the official registry 1479
list when such list is used by any such official at a polling place on the 1480
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day of an election, primary or referendum. Such signed statement shall 1481
be sworn under penalty of false statement, as provided in section 53a -1482
157b. 1483
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2026 9-163aa
Sec. 2 July 1, 2026 9-163bb
Sec. 3 July 1, 2026 9-19j
Sec. 4 July 1, 2026 9-228a
Sec. 5 July 1, 2026 9-56
Sec. 6 July 1, 2026 9-229(d)
Sec. 7 July 1, 2026 9-169
Sec. 8 from passage 9-322a
Sec. 9 from passage New section
Sec. 10 from passage 9-388
Sec. 11 from passage 9-391(c)
Sec. 12 from passage 9-400
Sec. 13 from passage 9-452
Sec. 14 July 1, 2026 9-250
Sec. 15 July 1, 2026 9-437(j)
Sec. 16 from passage 9-135a(a)
Sec. 17 from passage 9-135b
Sec. 18 from passage 9-256
Sec. 19 from passage 9-140b(a)
Sec. 20 from passage 9-3
Sec. 21 July 1, 2026 9-150a(d)
Sec. 22 July 1, 2026 9-311(a)
Sec. 23 July 1, 2026 9-311(d)
Sec. 24 from passage New section
Sec. 25 from passage 9-1(n)
Sec. 26 from passage 9-50d
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
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LCO No. 1561 49 of 49
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) require registrars of voters to submit
to the Secretary information regardin g early voting and same -day
election registration moderators, (5) prohibit early voting and same-day
election registration officials from engaging in certain partisan activities
on days for which they are appointed to serve, (6) align the provisions
for ap pointment of same -day election registration officials with those
for appointment of early voting officials, (7) amend a provision
regarding the attachment of party enrollment privileges for consistency
with prior changes, (8) prohibit registrars of voters from appointing as
moderators certain persons with criminal backgrounds, (9) expand
certain post-election procedures for the correction of returns to all towns
rather than just those divided into voting districts, (10) provide for
notice to the Secretary i n certain matters relating to state or federal
voting rights, (11) allow for the correction of errors or omissions of
timely filed endorsement, nominating or other candidacy -related
certificates that would operate to invalidate such certificates if not
corrected, (12) provide for the Secretary's preapproval of town's ballots
and authority to order corrections in case of omissions or errors, (13)
during the ninety days prior to an election or primary, allow the
Secretary to go to Superior Court to seek a dec laratory judgment on
behalf of electors alleging aggrievement, (14) require absentee ballot
counters to maintain a log of rejected absentee ballots, (15) for
discrepancy recanvasses, (A) require that all districts in a municipality
be examined and not just the district in which the discrepancy was
found, and (B) allow one party representative to communicate directly
with the moderator, (16) exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of
Information Act all ballots cast at elections, primaries and referenda,
and (17) for voter registration information, (A) limit disclosure of birth
date information to just the year, and (B) limit use of such information
to election -related, scholarly, journalistic, political or governmental
purposes.
[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.]