AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE RISK-LIMITING AUDITS WORKING GROUP.

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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 394
February Session, 2026

AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE RISK-
LIMITING AUDITS WORKING GROUP.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) ( Effective January 1, 2027 ) (a) Not earlier than the 1
fifteenth day after any state election and not later than two business 2
days before the canvass of votes by the Secretary of the State, Treasurer 3
and Comptroller, commencing on a day designated by the Secretary, the 4
registrars of voters shall conduct a risk -limiting audit of such election. 5
Each such audit shall be noticed in advance and be open to public 6
observation. Any election official who participates in the administration 7
and conduct of an audit pursuant to this section shall be compensated 8
by the municipality at the standard rate of pay established by such 9
municipality for elections. 10
(b) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the 11
offices subject to a risk -limiting audit pursuant to this section shall be 12
(A) the office of presidential elector, if applicable, (B) all applicable state 13
offices, as defined in section 9-372 of the general statutes, (C) at least one 14
representative in Congress, selected in a random drawing by the 15
Secretary of the State, (D) at least five per cent, in the aggregate, of the 16
offices of state senator and state representative, selected in a random 17
drawing by the Secretary, and (E) any other office required to be audited 18
by federal law. Whenever an office is randomly selected by the Secretary 19
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under this subsection, the selection process shall be open to the public. 20
(2) (A) If an office of representative in Congress is subject to 21
recanvass, other than under section 9 -311a or 9 -311b of the general 22
statutes, or to an election contest pursuant to any provision of the 23
general statutes, the Secretary of the State shall ensure such office is 24
included in the office or offices selected under subparagraph (C) of 25
subdivision (1) of this subsection. 26
(B) If an office of state senator or state representative is subject to 27
recanvass, other than under section 9 -311a or 9 -311b of the general 28
statutes, or to an election contest pursuant to any provision of the 29
general statutes, the Secretary of the State shall ensure such office is 30
included in the offices selected under subparagraph (D) of subdivision 31
(1) of this subsection. 32
(C) If any office is subject to recanvass under section 9-311a or 9-311b 33
of the general statutes, or if a candidate was elected to an office without 34
opposition by another candidate for such office, the Secretary of the 35
State shall ensure such office is excluded from the offices selected under 36
subdivision (1) of this subsection. 37
(c) Prior to the day designated by the Secretary of the State for the 38
commencement of the risk-limiting audit described in subsection (a) of 39
this section, the registrars of voters shall submit to the Secretary the 40
ballot manifests created under section 4 of this act. 41
(d) The risk-limiting audit described in subsection (a) of this section 42
shall be conducted in accordance with instructions and procedures 43
prescribed by the Secretary of the State not later than January 1, 2027, 44
which instructions and procedures shall be consistent across all offices 45
subject to such audit. The risk limit for each such audit shall be not more 46
than five per cent. The results of each audit conducted pursuant to this 47
section, including any such audit that produces an outcome of 48
"INCONCLUSIVE" as described in subsection (e) of this section, shall be 49
reported on a form and in a manner prescribed by the Secretary. Such 50
reported results shall be filed with the Secretary, who shall immediately 51
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forward such reported results to The University of Connecticut for 52
analysis. The University of Connecticut shall submit to the Secretary a 53
written report regarding such analysis that describes any concerns 54
identified. After receipt of such written report, the Secretary shall 55
transmit a copy of such written report to the State Elections Enforcement 56
Commission. 57
(e) In the event a risk -limiting audit conducted pursuant to this 58
section for a particular office produces an outcome of 59
"INCONCLUSIVE", the Secretary of the State shall order a manual 60
recount of all ballots cast for such office. 61
(f) If the written report submitted by The University of Connecticut 62
under subsection (d) of this section indicates that a voting tabulator 63
failed to record votes accurately and in the manner provided by title 9 64
of the general statutes, the Secretary of the State shall require that the 65
voting tabulator be examined and recertified by the Secretary or the 66
Secretary's designee. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to 67
prohibit the Secretary from requiring that a voting tabulator be 68
examined and recertified. 69
(g) The audit results reported to the Secretary of the State pursuant to 70
subsection (d) of this section shall be open to public inspection and may 71
be used as prima facie evidence of an irregularity in any contest arising 72
pursuant to chapter 149 of the general statutes or for any other cause of 73
action arising from such election. 74
(h) If the audit officials are unable to reconcile the results from an 75
audit described in subsection (a) of this section with the outcome of the 76
person declared elected by virtue of having received the greatest 77
number of votes, as determined by the paper ballots, the Secretary of the 78
State shall conduct such further investigation of the voting tabulator as 79
may be necessary for the purpose of reviewing whether or not to 80
decertify the voting tabulator or tabulators in question or to order the 81
voting tabulator to be examined and recertified in accordance with 82
subsection (f) of this section. Any report produced by the Secretary as a 83
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result of such investigation shall be filed with the State Elections 84
Enforcement Commission, and the commission may initiate such 85
further investigation in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection 86
(a) of section 9 -7b of the general statutes, as may be required to 87
determine if any violations of the general statutes concerning election 88
law have been committed. 89
(i) The individual paper ballots used at an election shall be carefully 90
preserved and returned in their designated receptacle in accordance 91
with the requirements of section 9 -266 or 9 -310 of the general statutes, 92
as applicable. 93
(j) Nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude any 94
candidate or elector from seeking additional remedies pursuant to 95
chapter 149 of the general statutes. 96
(k) After a state election, any voting tabulator may be kept locked for 97
a period longer than that prescribed by sections 9 -266, 9-310 and 9-447 98
of the general statutes, if such an extended period is ordered by a court 99
of competent jurisdiction, the Secretary of the State or the State Elections 100
Enforcement Commission. Such court or the Secretary of the State may 101
order an audit of such voting tabulator to be conducted by such persons 102
as the court or the Secretary may designate, provided the State Elections 103
Enforcement Commission may order such an audit where the particular 104
office in question is that of the Secretary of the State. If the machine 105
utilized in such election is an optical scan voting system, such order to 106
lock such machine shall include the tabulator, memory card and all 107
other components and processes utilized in the programming of such 108
machine. 109
(l) The Secretary of the State may adopt regulations, in accordance 110
with the provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, for the conduct 111
of risk-limiting audits described in subsection (a) of this section and to 112
establish guidelines for expanded audits when the results from such a 113
risk-limiting audit cannot be reconciled with the outcome of the person 114
declared elected by virtue of having received the greatest number of 115
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votes, as determined by the paper ballots. 116
(m) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, the 117
Secretary of the State shall have access to the code in any voting machine 118
whenever any problem is discovered as a result of an audit described in 119
subsection (a) of this section. 120
(n) As used in this section: 121
(1) "Risk -limiting audit" means a publicly verifiable auditing 122
procedure that (A) manually examines a statistical sample of paper 123
ballots that reflect the intents of the voters having cast such ballots, (B) 124
produces an outcome of either "ACCEPTABLE" or "INCONCLUSIVE", 125
and (C) guarantees a specified risk limit; 126
(2) "Risk limit" means the maximum probability that an audit would 127
produce an outcome of "ACCEPTABLE" when there is a disagreement 128
between the person declared elected and the person who received the 129
greatest number of votes as determined by the paper ballots; and 130
(3) "State election" has the same meaning as provided in section 9 -1 131
of the general statutes. 132
Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 9 -320 of the general statutes is 133
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 134
1, 2027): 135
(a) The clerk of each municipality shall, [within ten days after the 136
municipal election] not later than the last day of the month in which the 137
municipal election was held , return to the Secretary of the State a 138
statement of the name, post -office address and term of each person 139
elected to office in such election. If an elected [town] municipal clerk is 140
registrar of vital statistics, ex officio, such return shall so indicate. Each 141
municipal clerk neglecting to make such return shall be fined not more 142
than twenty-five dollars. 143
Sec. 3. Section 9 -320f of the general statutes is repealed and the 144
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2027): 145
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(a) [(1)] Not earlier than the fifteenth day after any federal or state 146
[election or] primary or any municipal election or primary and not later 147
than two business days before the canvass of votes by the Secretary of 148
the State, Treasurer and Comptroller, [and (2) not earlier than the fifth 149
day after any municipal election or primary and not later than two 150
business days before the canvass of votes ] or by the town clerk , as 151
applicable, the registrars of voters shall conduct a manual audit, or an 152
electronic audit authorized under section 9 -320g, as amended by this 153
act, of the votes recorded in not less than five per cent of the voting 154
districts in the state, district or municipality, whichever is applicable. 155
For the purposes of this section, any central location used in a 156
municipality for the counting of absentee ballots, early voting ballots or 157
same-day election registration ballots shall be deemed a voting district. 158
Such manual or electronic audit shall be noticed in advance and be open 159
to public observation. Any election official who participates in the 160
administration and conduct of an audit pursuant to this section shall be 161
compensated by the municipality at the standard rate of pay established 162
by such municipality for elections or primaries, as the case may be. 163
(b) The voting districts subject to an audit described in subsection (a) 164
of this section shall be selected in a random drawing by the Secretary of 165
the State and such selection process shall be open to the public. The 166
offices subject to an audit pursuant to this section shall be, (1) [in the 167
case of an election where the office of presidential elector is on the ballot, 168
all offices required to be audited by federal law, plus one additional 169
office selected in a random drawing by the Secretary of the State, but in 170
no case less than three offices, (2) in the case of an election where the 171
office of Governor is on the ballot, all offices required to be audited by 172
federal law, plus one additional office selected in a random drawing by 173
the Secretary of the State, but in no case less than three offices, (3)] in the 174
case of a municipal election, three offices or twenty per cent of the 175
number of offices on the ballot, whichever is greater, selected at random 176
by the municipal clerk, and [(4)] (2) in the case of a primary , [election,] 177
all offices required to be audited by federal law, plus one additional 178
office, if any, but in no event less than twenty per cent of the offices on 179
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the ballot, selected in a random drawing by the municipal clerk. 180
(c) If a selected voting district has an office that is subject to recanvass 181
or an election or primary contest pursuant to any provision of the 182
general statutes, the Secretary of the State shall select an alternative 183
district, pursuant to the process described in subsection (b) of this 184
section. 185
(d) The manual or electronic audit described in subsection (a) of this 186
section shall consist of the manual or electronic tabulation of the paper 187
ballots cast and counted by each voting tabulator subject to such audit. 188
Once complete, the vote totals established pursuant to such manual or 189
electronic tabulation shall be compared to the results reported by the 190
voting tabulator on the day of the election or primary. The results of 191
such manual or electronic tabulation shall be reported on a form 192
prescribed by the Secretary of the State which shall include the total 193
number of ballots counted, the total votes received by each candidate in 194
question, the total votes received by each candidate in question on 195
ballots that were properly completed by each voter and the total votes 196
received by each candidate in question on ballots that were not properly 197
completed by each voter. Such [report] reported results shall be filed 198
with the Secretary , [of the State ] who shall immediately forward such 199
[report] reported results to The University of Connecticut for analysis. 200
The University of Connecticut shall [file] submit to the Secretary a 201
written report [with the Secretary of the State ] regarding such analysis 202
that describes any discrepancies identified. After receipt of such written 203
report, the Secretary [of the State shall file such report with ] shall 204
transmit a copy of such written report to the State Elections Enforcement 205
Commission. 206
(e) For the purposes of this section, a ballot that has not been properly 207
completed will be deemed to be a ballot on which (1) votes have been 208
marked by the voter outside the vote targets, (2) votes have been marked 209
by the voter using a manual marking device that cannot be read by the 210
voting tabulator, or (3) in the judgment of the registrars of voters, the 211
voter marked the ballot in such a manner that the voting tabulator may 212
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not have read the marks as votes cast. 213
(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 9 -311, the Secretary of 214
the State shall order a discrepancy recanvass of the returns of an election 215
or primary for any office if a discrepancy, as defined in subsection (o) of 216
this section, exists where the margin of victory in the race for such office 217
is less than the amount of the discrepancy multiplied by the total 218
number of voting districts where such race appeared on the ballot, 219
provided in a year in which the Secretary of the State is a candidate for 220
an office on the ballot and that office is subject to an audit as provided 221
by this section, the State Elections Enforcement Commission shall order 222
a discrepancy recanvass if a discrepancy, as defined by subsection (o) of 223
this section, has occurred that could affect the outcome of the election or 224
primary for such office. 225
(g) If the written report submitted by The University of Connecticut 226
[report described in] under subsection (d) of this section indicates that a 227
voting tabulator failed to record votes accurately and in the manner 228
provided by [the general statutes ] this title , the Secretary of the State 229
shall require that the voting tabulator be examined and recertified by 230
the Secretary, [of the State,] or the Secretary's designee. Nothing in this 231
subsection shall be construed to prohibit the Secretary [of the State] from 232
requiring that a voting tabulator be examined and recertified. 233
(h) The audit [report filed ] results reported to the Secretary of the 234
State pursuant to subsection (d) of this section shall be open to public 235
inspection and may be used as prima facie evidence of a discrepancy in 236
any contest arising pursuant to chapter 149 or for any other cause of 237
action arising from such election or primary. 238
(i) If the audit officials are unable to reconcile the manual or electronic 239
count from an audit described in subsection (a) of this section with the 240
electronic vote tabulation and discrepancies from the election or 241
primary, the Secretary of the State shall conduct such further 242
investigation of the voting tabulator malfunction as may be necessary 243
for the purpose of reviewing whether or not to decertify the voting 244
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tabulator or tabulators in question or to order the voting tabulator to be 245
examined and recertified [pursuant to] in accordance with subsection 246
(g) of this section. Any report produced by the Secretary [of the State] as 247
a result of such investigation shall be filed with the State Elections 248
Enforcement Commission and the commission may initiate such further 249
investigation in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of 250
section 9-7b, as may be required to determine if any violations of the 251
general statutes concerning election law have been committed. 252
(j) The individual paper ballots used at an election or primary shall 253
be carefully preserved and returned in their designated receptacle in 254
accordance with the requirements of section 9-266 or 9-310, [whichever 255
is] as applicable. 256
(k) Nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude any 257
candidate or elector from seeking additional remedies pursuant to 258
chapter 149. 259
(l) After an election or primary, any voting tabulator may be kept 260
locked for a period longer than that prescribed by sections 9 -266, 9-310 261
and 9-447, if such an extended period is ordered by [either] a court of 262
competent jurisdiction, the Secretary of the State or the State Elections 263
Enforcement Commission. [Either the] Such court or the Secretary of the 264
State may order an audit of such voting tabulator to be conducted by 265
such persons as the court or the Secretary [of the State] may designate, 266
provided the State Elections Enforcement Commission may order such 267
an audit under the circumstances prescribed in subsection (f) of this 268
section. If the machine utilized in such election or primary is an optical 269
scan voting system, such order to lock such machine shall include the 270
tabulator, memory card and all other components and processes utilized 271
in the programming of such machine. 272
(m) The Secretary of the State may adopt regulations, in accordance 273
with the provisions of chapter 54, [as may be necessary] for the conduct 274
of the manual or electronic tabulation of the paper ballots described in 275
subsection (a) of this section and to establish guidelines for expanded 276
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audits when there are differences between the manual or electronic 277
counts from the audit described in subsection (a) of this section and 278
tabulator counts from the election or primary. 279
(n) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, the 280
Secretary of the State shall have access to the code in any voting machine 281
whenever any problem is discovered as a result of an audit described in 282
subsection (a) of this section. 283
(o) As used in this section: [, "discrepancy"] 284
(1) "Discrepancy" means any difference in vote totals between 285
tabulator counts from an election or primary and manual or electronic 286
counts from an audit described in subsection (a) of this section in a 287
voting district that exceeds one-half of one per cent of the lesser amount 288
of the vote totals between such tabulator counts and such manual or 289
electronic counts where such differences cannot be resolved through an 290
accounting of ballots that were not marked properly in accordance with 291
subsection (e) of this section; [, "state election" means "state election", as 292
defined in section 9-1, "municipal election"] 293
(2) "Municipal election" means a municipal election held pursuant to 294
section 9-164; [, "manual"] 295
(3) "Manual" means by hand and without the assistance of electronic 296
equipment; and ["electronic"] 297
(4) "Electronic" means through the use of equipment described in 298
section 9-320g, as amended by this act. 299
Sec. 4. (NEW) ( Effective January 1, 2027 ) (a) Except in the case of a 300
recanvass subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, not 301
later than seventy -two hours after the close of the polls at each state 302
election, as defined in section 9-1 of the general statutes: 303
(1) The election officials in each polling place shall create a ballot 304
manifest for such polling place in accordance with procedures 305
prescribed by the Secretary of the State; and 306
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(2) The absentee ballot counters in each central counting location shall 307
create a ballot manifest for such central counting location in accordance 308
with procedures prescribed by the Secretary of the State. 309
(b) Not later than twenty -four hours after the completion of any 310
recanvass conducted at a state election in a voting district, the recanvass 311
officials shall create a ballot manifest for such district in accordance with 312
procedures prescribed by the Secretary of the State. 313
(c) All ballot manifest creation procedures shall be open to public 314
observation. 315
(d) Immediately after a ballot manifest has been created pursuant to 316
this section, the moderator shall submit such ballot manifest to the 317
registrars of voters. 318
Sec. 5. Section 9 -323 of the general statutes is repealed and the 319
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2027): 320
Any elector or candidate who claims that he or she is aggrieved by 321
any ruling of any election official in connection with any election for 322
presidential electors and for a senator in Congress and for 323
representative in Congress or any of them, held in his or her town, or 324
that there was a mistake in the count of the votes cast at such election 325
for candidates for such electors, senator in Congress and representative 326
in Congress, or any of them, at any voting district in his or her town, or 327
any candidate for such an office who claims that he or she is aggrieved 328
by a violation of any provision of section 9-355, 9-357 to 9-361, inclusive, 329
9-364, 9-364a, or 9-365 in the casting of absentee ballots at such election, 330
may bring his or her complaint to any judge of the Supreme Court, in 331
which he or she shall set out the claimed errors of such election official, 332
the claimed errors in the count or the claimed violations of said sections. 333
In any action brought pursuant to the provisions of this section, the 334
complainant shall file a certification attached to the complaint indicating 335
that a copy of the complaint has been sent by first-class mail or delivered 336
to the State Elections Enforcement Commission. If such complaint is 337
made prior to such election, such judge shall proceed expeditiously to 338
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render judgment on the complaint and shall cause notice of the hearing 339
to be given to the Secretary of the State and the State Elections 340
Enforcement Commission. If such complaint is made subsequent to the 341
election, it shall be brought not later than fourteen days after the election 342
or, if such complaint is brought in response to [the manual tabulation of 343
paper ballots authorized] an audit conducted pursuant to section 9-320f, 344
as amended by this act, or section 1 of this act , such complaint shall be 345
brought not later than seven days after the close of any such [manual 346
tabulation] audit, and in either such circumstance, the judge shall 347
forthwith order a hearing to be had upon such complaint, upon a day 348
not more than five or less than three days from the making of such order, 349
and shall cause notice of not less than three or more than five days to be 350
given to any candidate or candidates whose election may be affected by 351
the decision upon such hearing, to such election official, to the Secretary 352
of the State, to the State Elections Enforcement Commission and to any 353
other party or parties whom such judge deems proper parties thereto, 354
of the time and place for the hearing upon such complaint. Such judge, 355
with two other judges of the Supreme Court to be designated by the 356
Chief Court Administrator, shall, on the day fixed for such hearing and 357
without unnecessary delay, proceed to hear the parties. If sufficient 358
reason is shown, such judges may order any voting tabulators to be 359
unlocked or any ballot boxes to be opened and a recount of the votes 360
cast, including absentee ballots, to be made. Such judges shall 361
thereupon, in the case they, or any two of them, find any error in the 362
rulings of the election official, any mistake in the count of such votes or 363
any violation of said sections, certify the result of their finding or 364
decision, or the finding or decision of a majority of them, to the Secretary 365
of the State before the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in 366
December. Such judges may order a new election or a change in the 367
existing election schedule, provided such order complies with Section 368
302 of the Help America Vote Act, P.L. 107 -252, as amended from time 369
to time. Such certificate of such judges, or a majority of them, shall be 370
final upon all questions relating to the rulings of such election officials, 371
to the correctness of such count and, for the purposes of this section 372
only, such claimed violations, and shall operate to correct the returns of 373
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the moderators or presiding officers so as to conform to such finding or 374
decision. 375
Sec. 6. Section 9 -324 of the general statutes is repealed and the 376
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2027): 377
Any elector or candidate who claims that such elector or candidate is 378
aggrieved by any ruling of any election official in connection with any 379
election for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, State 380
Treasurer, Attorney General, State Comptroller or judge of probate, held 381
in such elector's or candidate's town, or that there has been a mistake in 382
the count of the votes cast at such election for candidates for said offices 383
or any of them, at any voting district in such elector's or candidate's 384
town, or any candidate for such an office who claims that such candidate 385
is aggrieved by a violation of any provision of section 9 -355, 9-357 to 9-386
361, inclusive, 9-364, 9-364a, or 9-365 in the casting of absentee ballots at 387
such election or any candidate for the office of Governor, Lieutenant 388
Governor, Secretary of the State, State Treasurer, Attorney General or 389
State Comptroller, who claims that such candidate is aggrieved by a 390
violation of any provision of sections 9-700 to 9-716, inclusive, may bring 391
such elector's or candidate's complaint to any judge of the Superior 392
Court, in which such elector or candidate shall set out the claimed errors 393
of such election official, the claimed errors in the count or the claimed 394
violations of said sections. In any action brought pursuant to the 395
provisions of this section, the complainant shall send a copy of the 396
complaint by first-class mail, or deliver a copy of the complaint by hand, 397
to the State Elections Enforcement Commission. If such complaint is 398
made prior to such election, such judge shall proceed expeditiously to 399
render judgment on the complaint and shall cause notice of the hearing 400
to be given to the Secretary of the State and the State Elections 401
Enforcement Commission. If such complaint is made subsequent to the 402
election, it shall be brought not later than fourteen days after the election 403
or, if such complaint is brought in response to [the manual tabulation of 404
paper ballots authorized] an audit conducted pursuant to section 9-320f, 405
as amended by this act, or section 1 of this act , such complaint shall be 406
brought not later than seven days after the close of any such [manual 407
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tabulation] audit and, in either such circumstance, such judge shall 408
forthwith order a hearing to be had upon such complaint, upon a day 409
not more than five nor less than three days from the making of such 410
order, and shall cause notice of not less than three nor more than five 411
days to be given to any candidate or candidates whose election may be 412
affected by the decision upon such hearing, to such election official, the 413
Secretary of the State, the State Elections Enforcement Commission and 414
to any other party or parties whom such judge deems proper parties 415
thereto, of the time and place for the hearing upon such complaint. Such 416
judge shall, on the day fixed for such hearing and without unnecessary 417
delay, proceed to hear the parties. If sufficient reason is shown, such 418
judge may order any voting tabulators to be unlocked or any ballot 419
boxes to be opened and a recount of the votes cast, including absentee 420
ballots, to be made. Such judge shall thereupon, in case such judge finds 421
any error in the rulings of the election official, any mistake in the count 422
of the votes or any violation of said sections, certify the result of such 423
judge's finding or decision to the Secretary of the State before the 424
fifteenth day of the next succeeding December. Such judge may order a 425
new election or a change in the existing election schedule. Such 426
certificate of such judge of such judge's finding or decision shall be final 427
and conclusive upon all questions relating to errors in the rulings of 428
such election officials, to the correctness of such count, and, for the 429
purposes of this section only, such claimed violations, and shall operate 430
to correct the returns of the moderators or presiding officers, so as to 431
conform to such finding or decision, unless the same is appealed from 432
as provided in section 9-325. 433
Sec. 7. Section 9 -328 of the general statutes is repealed and the 434
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2027): 435
Any elector or candidate claiming to have been aggrieved by any 436
ruling of any election official in connection with an election for any 437
municipal office or a primary for justice of the peace, or any elector or 438
candidate claiming that there has been a mistake in the count of votes 439
cast for any such office at such election or primary, or any candidate in 440
such an election or primary claiming that he is aggrieved by a violation 441
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of any provision of sections 9-355, 9-357 to 9-361, inclusive, 9-364, 9-364a, 442
or 9-365 in the casting of absentee ballots at such election or primary, 443
may bring a complaint to any judge of the Superior Court for relief 444
therefrom. In any action brought pursuant to the provisions of this 445
section, the complainant shall send a copy of the complaint by first-class 446
mail, or deliver a copy of the complaint by hand, to the State Elections 447
Enforcement Commission. If such complaint is made prior to such 448
election or primary, such judge shall proceed expeditiously to render 449
judgment on the complaint and shall cause notice of the hearing to be 450
given to the Secretary of the State and the State Elections Enforcement 451
Commission. If such complaint is made subsequent to such election or 452
primary, it shall be brought not later than fourteen days after such 453
election or primary, except that if such complaint is brought in response 454
to [the manual tabulation of paper ballots, authorized ] an audit 455
conducted pursuant to section 9-320f, as amended by this act, or section 456
1 of this act, such complaint shall be brought not later than seven days 457
after the close of any such [manual tabulation] audit, to any judge of the 458
Superior Court, in which he shall set out the claimed errors of the 459
election official, the claimed errors in the count or the claimed violations 460
of said sections. Such judge shall forthwith order a hearing to be had 461
upon such complaint, upon a day not more than five nor less than three 462
days from the making of such order, and shall cause notice of not less 463
than three nor more than five days to be given to any candidate or 464
candidates whose election or nomination may be affected by the 465
decision upon such hearing, to such election official, the Secretary of the 466
State, the State Elections Enforcement Commission and to any other 467
party or parties whom such judge deems proper parties thereto, of the 468
time and place for the hearing upon such complaint. Such judge shall, 469
on the day fixed for such hearing and without unnecessary delay, 470
proceed to hear the parties. If sufficient reason is shown, he may order 471
any voting tabulators to be unlocked or any ballot boxes to be opened 472
and a recount of the votes cast, including absentee ballots, to be made. 473
Such judge shall thereupon, if he finds any error in the rulings of the 474
election official or any mistake in the count of the votes, certify the result 475
of his finding or decision to the Secretary of the State before the tenth 476
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day succeeding the conclusion of the hearing. Such judge may order a 477
new election or primary or a change in the existing election schedule. 478
Such certificate of such judge of his finding or decision shall be final and 479
conclusive upon all questions relating to errors in the ruling of such 480
election officials, to the correctness of such count, and, for the purposes 481
of this section only, such claimed violations, and shall operate to correct 482
the returns of the moderators or presiding officers, so as to conform to 483
such finding or decision, except that this section shall not affect the right 484
of appeal to the Supreme Court and it shall not prevent such judge from 485
reserving such questions of law for the advice of the Supreme Court as 486
provided in section 9-325. Such judge may, if necessary, issue his writ of 487
mandamus, requiring the adverse party and those under him to deliver 488
to the complainant the appurtenances of such office, and shall cause his 489
finding and decree to be entered on the records of the Superior Court in 490
the proper judicial district. 491
Sec. 8. Subsection (a) of section 9 -329a of the general statutes is 492
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 493
1, 2027): 494
(a) Any (1) elector or candidate aggrieved by a ruling of an election 495
official in connection with any primary held pursuant to (A) section 9 -496
423, 9 -425 or 9 -464, or (B) a special act, (2) elector or candidate who 497
alleges that there has been a mistake in the count of the votes cast at such 498
primary, or (3) candidate in such a primary who alleges that he is 499
aggrieved by a violation of any provision of sections 9 -355, 9-357 to 9 -500
361, inclusive, 9-364, 9-364a, or 9-365 in the casting of absentee ballots at 501
such primary, may bring his complaint to any judge of the Superior 502
Court for appropriate action. In any action brought pursuant to the 503
provisions of this section, the complainant shall file a certification 504
attached to the complaint indicating that a copy of the complaint has 505
been sent by first -class mail or delivered to the State Elections 506
Enforcement Commission. If such complaint is made prior to such 507
primary such judge shall proceed expeditiously to render judgment on 508
the complaint and shall cause notice of the hearing to be given to the 509
Secretary of the State and the State Elections Enforcement Commission. 510
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If such complaint is made subsequent to such primary it shall be 511
brought, not later than fourteen days after such primary, or if such 512
complaint is brought in response to [the manual tabulation of paper 513
ballots, described in] an audit conducted pursuant to section 9-320f, as 514
amended by this act, or section 1 of this act , such complaint shall be 515
brought, not later than seven days after the close of any such [manual 516
tabulation] audit, to any judge of the Superior Court. 517
Sec. 9. Subsection (b) of section 9-3 of the general statutes, as amended 518
by section 89 of public act 26 -1, is repealed and the following is 519
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2027): 520
(b) During any municipal, state or federal election, primary or 521
recanvass, or any audit conducted pursuant to section 9 -320f, as 522
amended by this act, or section 1 of this act , the Secretary of the State 523
may issue an order, whether orally or in writing, to any registrar of 524
voters or moderator to correct any irregularity or impropriety in the 525
conduct of such election, primary or recanvass or audit. Any such order 526
shall be effective upon issuance. As soon as practicable after issuance of 527
an oral order pursuant to this subsection, the Secretary shall reduce such 528
order to writing, cite within such order any applicable provision of law 529
authorizing such order and cause a copy of such written order to be 530
delivered to the individual who is the subject of such order or, in the 531
case that such order was originally issued in writing, issue a subsequent 532
written order that conforms to such requirements. The Superior Court, 533
on application of the Secretary or the Attorney General, may enforce by 534
appropriate decree or process any such order issued pursuant to this 535
subsection. 536
Sec. 10. Subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 9-229 of the general 537
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 538
(Effective January 1, 2027): 539
(3) The duties of each regional election advisor shall include, but not 540
be limited to: (A) Holding the instructional sessions described in 541
subdivision (2) of this subsection; (B) communicating with registrars of 542
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voters to assist, to the extent permitted under law, in preparations for 543
and operations of any election, primary or recanvass, or any audit 544
conducted pursuant to section 9-320f, as amended by this act, or section 545
1 of this act ; and (C) transmitting any order issued by the Secretary of 546
the State, pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9 -3, as amended by this 547
act. 548
Sec. 11. Subsection (a) of section 9 -229b of the general statutes is 549
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 550
1, 2027): 551
(a) Any regional council of governments organized under the 552
provisions of sections 4-124i to 4-124p, inclusive, may appoint a regional 553
election advisor, who shall represent, consult with and act on behalf of 554
such regional council of governments and any combination of regional 555
councils of governments or member towns of regional councils of 556
governments that may seek the assistance of such regional election 557
advisor. A regional election advisor shall consult and coordinate with 558
the Secretary of the State to provide such assistance in preparations for 559
and operations of any election, primary or recanvass, or any audit 560
conducted pursuant to section 9-320f, as amended by this act, or section 561
1 of this act. 562
Sec. 12. Section 9 -320g of the general statutes is repealed and the 563
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2027): 564
Notwithstanding any provision of this title, the Secretary of the State, 565
in consultation and coordination with The University of Connecticut, 566
may authorize the use of electronic equipment for the purpose of 567
conducting any audit required pursuant to section 9 -320f, as amended 568
by this act, [for any primary or general election held on or after January 569
1, 2016] or section 1 of this act , provided (1) the Secretary of the State 570
prescribes specifications for (A) the testing, set-up and operation of such 571
equipment, and (B) the training of election officials in the use of such 572
equipment; and (2) the Secretary of the State and The University of 573
Connecticut agree that such equipment is sufficient in quantity to 574
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accommodate the total number of audits to be conducted. Nothing in 575
this section shall preclude any candidate or elector from seeking 576
additional remedies pursuant to chapter 149 as a result of any 577
information revealed by such process. 578
Sec. 13. (Effective from passage) The Secretary of the State shall establish 579
a pilot program for the conduct of risk -limiting audits at state elections 580
in 2026. The Secretary shall randomly select three municipalities for 581
participation in such pilot program, provided the Secretary shall select: 582
(1) One municipality with a population of less than twenty thousand; 583
(2) one municipality with a population of twenty thousand or greater, 584
but less than ninety thousand; and (3) one municipality with a 585
population of ninety thousand or greater. For the purposes of this 586
section, "risk -limiting audit" has the same meaning as provided in 587
section 1 of this act and "population" means the estimated number of 588
people according to the most recent version of the State Register and 589
Manual prepared pursuant to section 3-90 of the general statutes. 590
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 January 1, 2027 New section
Sec. 2 January 1, 2027 9-320(a)
Sec. 3 January 1, 2027 9-320f
Sec. 4 January 1, 2027 New section
Sec. 5 January 1, 2027 9-323
Sec. 6 January 1, 2027 9-324
Sec. 7 January 1, 2027 9-328
Sec. 8 January 1, 2027 9-329a(a)
Sec. 9 January 1, 2027 9-3(b)
Sec. 10 January 1, 2027 9-229(b)(3)
Sec. 11 January 1, 2027 9-229b(a)
Sec. 12 January 1, 2027 9-320g
Sec. 13 from passage New section

GAE Joint Favorable Subst.
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APP Joint Favorable