AN ACT CONCERNING THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NO-EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING.

Senate
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General Assembly File No. 581
February Session, 2026 Substitute Senate Bill No. 491

Senate, April 9, 2026

The Committee on Government Administration and Elections
reported through SEN. FLEXER of the 29th Dist., Chairperson
of the Committee on the part of the Senate, that the substitute
bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE'S
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NO-EXCUSE
ABSENTEE VOTING.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 9 -135 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 2
[(a)] Any elector eligible to vote at a primary or an election and any 3
person eligible to vote at a referendum may vote by absentee ballot , [if 4
such elector or person is unable to appear at such elector's or person's 5
polling place on the day of such primary, election or referendum for any 6
of the following reasons: (1) Such elector's or person's active service with 7
the armed forces of the United States; (2) such elector's or person's 8
absence from the town of such elector's or person's voting residence; (3) 9
sickness; (4) physical disability; (5) the tenets of such elector's or person's 10
religion forbid secular activity on the day of such primary, election or 11
referendum; or (6) the required performance of such elector's or person's 12
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duties as a primary, election or referendum official, including as a town 13
clerk or registrar of voters or as staff of the clerk or registrar, at a polling 14
place other than such elector's or person's own during all of the hours 15
of voting at such primary, election or referendum] provided such elector 16
properly completes and submits an absentee ballot application in 17
accordance with the provisions of this chapter. 18
[(b) No person shall misrepresent the eligibility requirements for 19
voting by absentee ballot prescribed in subsection (a) of this section, to 20
any elector or prospective absentee ballot applicant.] 21
Sec. 2. Section 9 -137 of the general statutes is repealed and the 22
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 23
(a) Each absentee ballot shall be returned to the municipal clerk, 24
inserted in [an inner] a return envelope which shall be capable of being 25
sealed and which shall have printed on its face a form containing the 26
following [statements] statement: 27
"I hereby state under the penalties of false statement in absentee 28
balloting that I am eligible to vote at the primary, election or referendum 29
in the municipality in which this absentee ballot is to be cast. [and that I 30
expect to be unable to appear at my polling place on the day of such 31
primary, election or referendum for one or more of the following 32
reasons: (1) My active service in the armed forces; (2) my absence from 33
the town in which I am eligible to vote; (3) sickness; (4) physical 34
disability; (5) the tenets of my religion which forbid secular activity on 35
the day of such primary, election or referendum; or (6) my duties as a 36
primary, election or referendum official.] 37
Date .... 38
.... (Signature) 39
.... (Printed name)" 40
(b) Each such return envelope shall also be endorsed on the outside 41
with the words "OFFICIAL ABSENTEE BALLOT" and bear a label 42
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generated by the state -wide centralized voter registration system 43
described in section 9-50b. Such label shall include (1) (A) the name and 44
return address of the sender, (B) the applicant's name and voting 45
residence by street and number, (C) the applicant's voting district, (D) 46
the ballot style, (E) the unique ballot identification number, appearing 47
both in a text format and as a scannable barcode, and (F) the date of the 48
primary, election or referendum at which the ballot is to be cast and, if 49
the absentee ballot is to be cast at a primary, the name of the party 50
holding the primary, and (2) a notice, sufficient to warn any person 51
handling the ballot, of the restrictions set forth in section 9 -140b, as 52
amended by this act, concerning who may possess or return the ballot 53
and the restrictions and penalties set forth in section 9 -359 concerning 54
the completion or execution of absentee ballots. The clerk shall also 55
inscribe such clerk's official address for the return of the ballot on the 56
return envelope prior to issuance of the ballot and return envelope. 57
Sec. 3. Section 9 -139a of the 2026 supplement to the general statutes 58
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 59
passage): 60
(a) The Secretary of the State shall prescribe and furnish the following 61
materials to municipal clerks: The absentee ballot facsimile, the 62
application for absentee ballot authorized for use at each election or 63
primary, the [inner envelope, the outer ] envelope provided for the 64
return of the ballot to the municipal clerk, the instructions for the use of 65
the absentee ballot and the envelope for mailing of such forms by the 66
clerk to the absentee ballot applicant. 67
(b) The application for absentee ballot shall be in the form of a 68
statement signed under the penalties of false statement in absentee 69
balloting. Each application shall contain (1) spaces for the signature 70
under the penalties of false statement in absentee balloting of any person 71
who assists the applicant in the completion of an application together 72
with the information required in section 9 -140, as amended by this act , 73
(2) spaces for the signature and the printed or typed name of the 74
applicant, and (3) a clear and conspicuous notation of the year for which 75
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such application's use is authorized. 76
(c) The Secretary of the State shall prescribe and furnish to the 77
Department of Correction an application for absentee ballot form for use 78
within Department of Correction facilities. Such form shall contain 79
spaces for all information required under subsection (b) of this section. 80
Each such form shall be consecutively numbered and shall indicate that 81
such form is only for use by an absentee ballot applicant who is 82
incarcerated in a Department of Correction facility and that such 83
applicant is required to provide in the appropriate space on such form 84
a mailing address at the Department of Correction facility in order for 85
an absentee ballot to be mailed to such applicant. 86
(d) The instructions for the use of the absentee ballot shall be in plain 87
language and shall include the steps to be taken if a vote is to be 88
cancelled or changed, and shall also contain a simple and concise 89
restatement of the provisions of subsection [(l)] (k) of section 9-150a, as 90
amended by this act, [and section 9-159o] concerning rejection of ballots 91
marked in such manner as to identify the voters casting them . [, and 92
withdrawal of ballots by persons who find they are able to vote at the 93
polls.] 94
(e) A sufficient supply of such instructions and envelopes shall be 95
printed to supply the number which the municipal clerk requests or the 96
Secretary of the State deems sufficient. 97
Sec. 4. Section 9-140 of the 2026 supplement to the general statutes is 98
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 99
passage): 100
(a) (1) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, application 101
for an absentee ballot shall be made to the clerk of the municipality in 102
which the applicant is eligible to vote or has applied for such eligibility. 103
Any person who assists another person in the completion of an 104
application shall, in the space provided, sign the application and print 105
or type [his] such person's name, residence address and telephone 106
number, except that any employee of the Department of Correction who 107
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so assists an incarcerated applicant shall provide the address and 108
telephone number of the department facility to which such employee is 109
assigned in lieu of such employee's residence address and telephone 110
number. Such signature shall be made under the penalties of false 111
statement in absentee balloting. The municipal clerk shall not invalidate 112
the application solely because it does not contain the name of a person 113
who assisted the applicant in the completion of the application. The 114
municipal clerk shall not distribute with an absentee ballot application 115
any material which promotes the success or defeat of any candidate or 116
referendum question. The municipal clerk shall maintain a log of all 117
absentee ballot applications provided under this subsection, including 118
the name and address of each person to whom applications are 119
provided and the number of applications provided to each such person. 120
Each absentee ballot application provided by the municipal clerk shall 121
[be consecutively numbered ] display a unique ballot identification 122
number and be stamped or marked with the name of the municipality 123
issuing the application. The application shall be signed by the applicant 124
under the penalties of false statement in absentee balloting on (A) the 125
form prescribed by the Secretary of the State pursuant to section 9-139a, 126
as amended by this act, (B) a form provided by any federal department 127
or agency if applicable pursuant to section 9-153a, or (C) any of the 128
special forms of application prescribed pursuant to section 9 -150c, 9 -129
153a, 9-153b, as amended by this act, 9-153d, 9-153e, 9-153f or 9-158d, if 130
applicable. Any such absentee ballot applicant who is unable to write 131
may cause the application to be completed by an authorized agent who 132
shall, in the spaces provided for the date and signature, write the date 133
and name of the absentee ballot applicant followed by the word "by" 134
and [his] such authorized agent's own signature. If the ballot is to be 135
mailed to the applicant, the applicant shall list the bona fide personal 136
mailing address of the applicant in the appropriate space on the 137
application. 138
(2) A municipal clerk may transmit an application to a person under 139
this subsection by facsimile machine or other electronic means, if so 140
requested by the applicant. If a municipal clerk has a facsimile machine 141
or other electronic means, an applicant may return a completed 142
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application to the clerk by such a machine or device, provided the 143
applicant shall also mail the original of the completed application to the 144
clerk, either separately or with the absentee ballot that is issued to the 145
applicant. If the clerk does not receive such original application by the 146
close of the polls on the day of the election, primary or referendum, the 147
absentee ballot shall not be counted. 148
(3) No municipal clerk shall provide, for an election, primary or 149
referendum, five or more absentee ballot applications to any person 150
earlier than ninety days prior to the first day of issuance of absentee 151
voting sets, as provided in subsection (f) of this section, for such election, 152
primary or referendum. 153
(4) No municipal clerk shall provide or accept for return, and no 154
person shall [distribute or otherwise ] use, any absentee ballot 155
application in a given year unless such application contains the notation 156
described in subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 9 -139a, as 157
amended by this act, authorizing such application's use in such year. 158
(b) On and after July 1, 2021: 159
(1) Application for an absentee ballot may also be made to the 160
Secretary of the State through an online system established and 161
maintained by the Secretary for such purpose if an applicant's signature 162
is in a database described in subsection (b) of section 9-19k, or the system 163
described in section 9-4c, and such signature may be imported into such 164
online application system. 165
(2) In order for an application for an absentee ballot to be submitted 166
through the online system described in subdivision (1) of this 167
subsection, the applicant's signature shall be obtained from a database 168
described in subsection (b) of section 9 -19k, or the system described in 169
section 9-4c, and the applicant shall, on an online form prescribed by the 170
Secretary, (A) type [his or her ] such applicant's name, (B) indicate the 171
municipality in which such applicant is eligible to vote or has applied 172
for such eligibility, and (C) mark a box associated with the following 173
statement: 174
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"By clicking on the box below, I swear or affirm all of the following 175
under penalty of false statement in absentee balloting: 176
1. I am the person whose name is provided on this form, and I desire 177
to apply for an absentee ballot. 178
2. I am eligible to vote in the municipality provided on this form or 179
have applied for such eligibility. 180
3. I authorize the Department of Motor Vehicles or other Connecticut 181
state agency to transmit to the Connecticut Secretary of the State my 182
signature that is on file with such agency and understand that such 183
signature will be used by the Secretary on this online application for an 184
absentee ballot as if I had signed this form personally." 185
(3) Not later than twenty -four hours after receipt of any submitted 186
application for an absentee ballot through the online system described 187
in subdivision (1) of this subsection, the Secretary shall transmit such 188
application to the clerk of the municipality indicated in such application. 189
(c) The municipal clerk shall check the name of each absentee ballot 190
applicant against the last -completed registry list and any updated 191
registry lists on file in the municipal clerk's office. If the name of such 192
applicant does not appear on any of such lists, the clerk shall send such 193
applicant a notice, in a form prescribed by the Secretary of the State, to 194
the effect that (1) the applicant's name did not appear on the list of 195
electors of the municipality at the time the application was processed, 196
and (2) unless the applicant is admitted or restored as an elector of the 197
municipality by the applicable cutoff dates , an absentee ballot will not 198
be mailed to [him] such applicant. Such notice shall not be so mailed if, 199
prior to the mailing of the notice, the registrars provide the clerk with 200
reliable information showing the absentee ballot applicant to be an 201
elector of the municipality. 202
(d) (1) An absentee voting set shall consist of (A) the mailing envelope 203
containing all other items of such set and used to issue such set to the 204
applicant, (B) an absentee ballot, [inner and outer envelopes ] (C) an 205
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envelope for [its] the ballot's return, (D) instructions for [its] the ballot's 206
use, and (E) if applicable, explanatory texts concerning ballot questions, 207
as provided for in sections 2-30a and 9-369b, as amended by this act. 208
(2) No other material shall be included with an absentee voting set 209
issued to an applicant, except (A) as provided in sections 9-153e and 9-210
153f, [or] (B) where necessary to correct an error or omission as provided 211
in section 9-153c, as amended by this act, or (C) any voting information 212
as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the State, provided no such 213
voting information shall promote the success or defeat of any candidate 214
or question. 215
(e) Upon receipt of an application, the municipal clerk shall, unless a 216
notice is mailed to the applicant pursuant to subsection (c) of this 217
section, [write the serial number of the outer ] ensure the unique ballot 218
identification number appearing on the return envelope included in the 219
absentee voting set to be issued to the applicant matches the unique 220
identification number displayed on the application form in the space 221
provided for [that purpose on the application form. Sets shall be issued 222
to applicants in consecutive ascending numerical order of the envelope 223
serial numbers, and] such purpose. As absentee voting sets are issued to 224
applicants, the clerk shall keep a list of the unique ballot identification 225
numbers [indicating beside each number] and shall indicate beside each 226
unique ballot identification number on the list the name of the applicant 227
to whom [that set ] the absentee voting set corresponding with such 228
unique ballot identification number was issued. The list shall be 229
preserved as a public record as required by section 9-150b, as amended 230
by this act. 231
(f) Absentee voting sets shall be issued beginning on the thirty -first 232
day before an election and the twenty -first day before a primary or, if 233
such day is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, beginning on the next 234
preceding business day. 235
(g) On the first day of issuance of absentee voting sets, the municipal 236
clerk shall mail an absentee voting set to each applicant whose 237
application was received by the clerk prior to that day. When the clerk 238
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receives an application during the time period in which absentee voting 239
sets are to be issued , [he] the clerk shall mail an absentee voting set to 240
the applicant [,] within twenty-four hours, unless the applicant submits 241
[his] such applicant's application in person at the office of the clerk and 242
[asks] requests to be given [his] such applicant's absentee voting set 243
immediately, in which case the clerk shall comply with the request. Any 244
absentee voting set to be mailed to an applicant shall be mailed to the 245
bona fide personal mailing address shown on the application. If an 246
applicant has provided a mailing address at a Department of Correction 247
facility and such applicant is subsequently transferred to another 248
Department of Correction facility, the Commissioner of Correction shall 249
ensure delivery of the absentee voting set to such applicant. Issuance of 250
absentee voting sets shall also be subject to the provisions of subsection 251
(c) of this section, section 9-150c [and section 9-159q] concerning persons 252
designated to deliver or return ballots in cases involving unforeseen 253
illness or disability and section 9 -159q, as amended by this act, 254
concerning supervised voting at certain health care institutions. 255
(h) No absentee ballot shall be issued on the day of an election or 256
primary, or after the opening of the polls on the day of a referendum, 257
except in cases involving unforeseen illness or disability [or presidential 258
or overseas ballots ] as provided in section 9 -150c and presidential or 259
overseas ballots as provided in sections 9-158a to 9-158m, inclusive. 260
(i) The municipal clerk shall file executed applications in alphabetical 261
order according to the applicants' surnames. Such applications shall be 262
preserved as a public record as required by section 9-150b, as amended 263
by this act. 264
(j) No person shall pay or give any compensation to another , and no 265
person shall accept any compensation , solely for (1) distributing 266
absentee ballot applications obtained from a municipal clerk or the 267
Secretary of the State, or (2) assisting any other person in the execution 268
of an absentee ballot. 269
(k) (1) A person shall register with the municipal clerk before 270
distributing five or more absentee ballot applications for an election, 271
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primary or referendum, not including applications distributed to such 272
person's immediate family. Such requirement shall not apply to a person 273
who is the designee of an applicant or to any employee of the 274
Department of Correction who provides the application for absentee 275
ballot form prescribed under subsection (c) of section 9 -139a, as 276
amended by this act, to one or more incarcerated absentee ballot 277
applicants. 278
(2) The municipal clerk shall reject the application of any absentee 279
ballot applicant made upon the form prescribed under subsection (c) of 280
section 9 -139a, as amended by this act, if such form indicates any 281
address other than an address at a Department of Correction facility. 282
The municipal clerk shall maintain a log of all applications of 283
incarcerated absentee ballot applicants received by such municipal 284
clerk, which log shall indicate the name and address of each applicant, 285
the date of receipt of each application and the date such municipal clerk 286
mailed the absentee ballot to such applicant or the reason why such 287
application was rejected. 288
(3) Any person who distributes absentee ballot applications shall 289
maintain a list of the names and addresses of prospective absentee ballot 290
applicants who receive such applications, and shall file such list with 291
the municipal clerk prior to the date of the primary, election or 292
referendum for which the applications were so distributed, except that 293
such requirements shall not apply to any employee of the Department 294
of Correction who provides the application for absentee ballot form 295
prescribed under subsection (c) of section 9 -139a, as amended by this 296
act, to incarcerated absentee ballot applicants. Any person who 297
distributes absentee ballot applications and receives an executed 298
application shall forthwith file the application with the municipal clerk. 299
(l) No candidate, party or political committee, or agent of such 300
candidate or committee shall mail or deliver unsolicited applications for 301
absentee ballots to any person, unless such [mailing includes] 302
committee or agent includes with such mailing or delivery: (1) A written 303
[explanation of the eligibility requirements for voting by absentee ballot 304
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as prescribed in subsection (a) of section 9 -135] disclaimer that such 305
mailing or delivery was (A) paid for by such committee or agent, and 306
(B) in the case of a candidate committee, approved by the applicable 307
candidate, and (2) a written [warning that voting or attempting to vote 308
by absentee ballot without meeting one or more of such eligibility 309
requirements subjects the elector or applicant to potential civil and 310
criminal penalties] explanation of the various ways an absentee ballot 311
may be returned, as provided in subsection (a) of section 9 -140b, as 312
amended by this act . As used in this subsection, "agent" means any 313
person authorized to act on behalf of another person. 314
(m) The Secretary of the State shall conspicuously post on the 315
Secretary of the State's web site, adjacent to the absentee ballot 316
application form available for downloading, a notice that the 317
application may be downloaded by a person only for (1) the person's 318
own use, (2) the use of a member of the person's immediate family, or 319
(3) the use of a designee of the applicant. The notice shall also contain 320
an advisory statement concerning the requirements of subsection (k) of 321
this section. 322
(n) The State Elections Enforcement Commission, in consultation 323
with the Secretary of the State, shall prepare a summary of the 324
requirements and prohibitions of the absentee voting laws, which shall 325
be posted on said agencies' web sites. Candidates and political party 326
chairpersons shall provide such summary to campaign and party 327
employees and volunteers. 328
(o) As used in this section, (1) "immediate family" has the same 329
meaning as provided in subsection (a) of section 9-140b, as amended by 330
this act , and (2) "designee" has the same meaning as provided in 331
subsection (b) of section 9-140b, as amended by this act. 332
Sec. 5. Section 9 -140a of the general statutes is repealed and the 333
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 334
Each absentee ballot applicant shall sign the form on the [inner] 335
return envelope provided for in section 9 -137, as amended by this act , 336
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which shall constitute a statement under the penalties of false statement 337
in absentee balloting. Any absentee ballot applicant who is unable to 338
write may cause [his] such applicant's name to be signed on the form by 339
an authorized agent who shall, in the space provided for the signature, 340
write the name of the applicant followed by the word "by" and [his] such 341
authorized agent's own signature. The failure of the applicant or 342
authorized agent to date the form shall not invalidate the ballot. The 343
ballot shall be inserted in the [inner envelope, and the inner envelope 344
shall be inserted in the outer ] return envelope [,] prior to the return of 345
the ballot to the municipal clerk. If an applicant is required to return 346
identification with the ballot pursuant to the Help America Vote Act, 347
P.L. 107-252, as amended from time to time, the municipal clerk shall 348
provide to the applicant an additional envelope preaddressed to the 349
municipal clerk for the return of such applicant's identification, which 350
envelope may be postage prepaid, and the applicant shall return such 351
identification [shall be inserted in the outer envelope so such 352
identification can be viewed without opening the inner envelope] to the 353
municipal clerk in such additional envelope. 354
Sec. 6. Section 9 -140b of the general statutes, as amended by section 355
88 of public act 26-1, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 356
thereof (Effective from passage): 357
(a) An absentee ballot shall be cast at a primary, election or 358
referendum only if: (1) [It] Such ballot is mailed by (A) the ballot 359
applicant, (B) a designee of a person who applies for an absentee ballot 360
because of illness or physical disability, or (C) a member of the 361
immediate family of an applicant who is a student, so that [it] the ballot 362
is received by the clerk of the municipality in which the applicant is 363
qualified to vote not later than the close of the polls; (2) [it] such ballot 364
is returned by the applicant in person to [the] such clerk by the day 365
before the election or primary or prior to the opening of the polls on the 366
day of the referendum; (3) [it] such ballot is returned by a designee of 367
an ill or physically disabled ballot applicant, in person, to [said] such 368
clerk not later than the close of the polls on the day of the election, 369
primary or referendum; (4) [it] such ballot is returned by a member of 370
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the immediate family of the [absentee voter ] applicant, in person, to 371
[said] such clerk not later than the close of the polls on the day of the 372
election, primary or referendum; (5) in the case of a presidential or 373
overseas ballot, [it] such ballot is mailed or otherwise returned pursuant 374
to the provisions of section 9-158g, as amended by this act; or (6) [it] such 375
ballot is returned with the proper identification as required by the Help 376
America Vote Act, P.L. 107 -252, as amended from time to time, if 377
applicable, [inserted in the outer envelope so such identification can be 378
viewed without opening the inner envelope ] in accordance with the 379
provisions of section 9-140a, as amended by this act. A person returning 380
an absentee ballot to the municipal clerk pursuant to subdivision (3) or 381
(4) of this subsection shall present identification and, on the [outer] 382
return envelope of the absentee ballot, sign [his] such person's name in 383
the presence of the municipal clerk [,] and indicate [his] such person's 384
address [, his] and relationship to the voter or [his] position [,] and the 385
date and time of such return. An absentee ballot shall be deemed cast 386
when it is received and accepted by the municipal clerk in accordance 387
with the provisions of this subsection, provided the statement on the 388
return envelope for such absentee ballot is signed by the applicant. As 389
used in this section, "immediate family" means a dependent relative 390
who resides in the individual's household or any spouse, child, parent 391
or sibling of the individual. 392
(b) As used in this section and section 9-150c, "designee" means (1) a 393
person who is caring for the applicant because of the applicant's illness 394
or physical disability, including, but not limited to, a licensed physician 395
or a registered or practical nurse, (2) a member of the applicant's family, 396
who is designated by an absentee ballot applicant and who consents to 397
such designation, or (3) a police officer, registrar of voters, deputy 398
registrar of voters or assistant registrar of voters in the municipality in 399
which the applicant resides. 400
(c) (1) For purposes of this section, "mailed" means (A) sent by the 401
United States Postal Service or any commercial carrier, courier or 402
messenger service recognized and approved by the Secretary of the 403
State, or (B) deposited in a secure drop box designated by the municipal 404
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clerk for such purpose, in accordance with instructions prescribed by 405
the Secretary. 406
(2) (A) In the case of absentee ballots mailed under subparagraph (B) 407
of subdivision (1) of this subsection, beginning on the first day of 408
issuance of absentee voting sets, as provided in subsection (f) of section 409
9-140, as amended by this act , and on each [weekday] business day 410
thereafter until the close of the polls at the election, primary or 411
referendum, including at the close of the polls at such election, primary 412
or referendum, the municipal clerk shall retrieve from the secure drop 413
box described in said subparagraph each such ballot deposited in such 414
drop box. 415
(B) On and after July 1, 2025, each municipality shall provide a video 416
recording device for each secure drop box described in subparagraph 417
(B) of subdivision (1) of this subsection within such municipality, which 418
device's recordings shall capture the location of such drop box and 419
evidence the date and time of each such recording beginning on the first 420
day of issuance of absentee voting sets, as provided in subsection (f) of 421
section 9 -140, as amended by this act , and until the last retrieval of 422
absentee ballots from such drop box at the close of the polls at the 423
election or primary. Each such recording shall, as soon as practicable, be 424
made publicly available from the date of recording, but in no case later 425
than five days after such last retrieval. Each such recording shall be 426
retained by the municipality for a period of twelve months and may be 427
destroyed at the end of such period, except that the State Elections 428
Enforcement Commission or a court of competent jurisdiction may 429
order that such period be extended until the conclusion of any 430
investigation related to such recording. 431
(3) The Secretary of the State may adopt regulations, in accordance 432
with the provisions of chapter 54, concerning the use of secure drop 433
boxes for the deposit of absentee ballots, including, but not limited to, 434
the placement and positioning of any such drop box and the video 435
recording of any such drop box and retention of any such recording. 436
(d) No person shall have in [his] such person's possession any official 437
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absentee ballot or ballot envelope for use at any primary, election or 438
referendum except the applicant to whom it was issued, the Secretary of 439
the State or [his or her ] the Secretary's authorized agents, any official 440
printer of absentee ballot forms and [his] such printer's designated 441
carriers, the United States Postal Service, any other carrier, courier or 442
messenger service recognized and approved by the Secretary of the 443
State, any person authorized by a municipal clerk to receive and process 444
official absentee ballot forms on behalf of the municipal clerk, any 445
authorized primary, election or referendum official or any other person 446
authorized by any provision of the general statutes to possess a ballot or 447
ballot envelope. 448
(e) No (1) candidate, or (2) agent of a candidate, political party or 449
committee, as defined in section 9-601, shall knowingly be present when 450
an absentee ballot applicant executes an absentee ballot, except when 451
(A) [when] the candidate or agent is (i) a member of the immediate 452
family of the applicant , or (ii) authorized by law to be present , or (B) 453
[when] the absentee ballot is executed in the office of the municipal clerk 454
and the municipal clerk or an employee of the municipal clerk is a 455
candidate or agent. 456
Sec. 7. Section 9 -140c of the general statutes is repealed and the 457
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 458
(a) (1) The municipal clerk shall retain the return envelopes 459
containing absentee ballots received by [him] such clerk under section 460
9-140b, as amended by this act, and shall not open such return 461
envelopes. [The] As the municipal clerk receives each absentee ballot, 462
such clerk shall first make a record, for the purposes of subdivision (3) 463
of this subsection, of each return envelope on which the applicant did 464
not sign the statement and shall then endorse over [his] such clerk's 465
signature [,] upon each [outer] return envelope [as he receives it,] (A) 466
the date and precise time of its receipt, and (B) the method of its receipt, 467
in accordance with the provisions of subdivision (2) of this subsection. 468
The clerk shall make an affidavit attesting to the accuracy of all such 469
endorsements [, and at the close of the polls ] and shall deliver such 470
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affidavit at the close of the polls to the head moderator, who shall 471
endorse the time of its receipt and return it to the clerk after all counting 472
is complete. The clerk shall preserve the affidavit for one hundred eighty 473
days in accordance with the requirements of section 9-150b, as amended 474
by this act. The clerk shall keep a list of the names of the applicants who 475
return absentee ballots to the clerk under section 9-140b, as amended by 476
this act . The list shall be preserved as a public record as required by 477
section 9-150b, as amended by this act. 478
(2) The municipal clerk shall record on the [outer] return envelope of 479
each absentee ballot [returned] received by such clerk under section 9-480
140b, as amended by this act, whether such absentee ballot was (A) sent 481
by the United States Postal Service or any commercial carrier, courier or 482
messenger service, (B) deposited in a secure drop box, in which case the 483
location of such drop box shall also be so recorded, (C) returned in 484
person by an elector, or (D) returned in person by the designee or 485
immediate family member of an elector. As soon as reasonably 486
practicable after the close of the polls at an election or primary, the 487
municipal clerk shall submit to the Secretary of the State a report 488
detailing the total count of all absentee ballots returned for such election 489
or primary, broken down by each method described in subparagraphs 490
(A) to (D), inclusive, of this subdivision. 491
(3) (A) If the municipal clerk receives an absentee ballot without the 492
statement on the return envelope signed by the applicant, such absentee 493
ballot may be cured in person at the municipal clerk's office beginning 494
on the first day of issuance of absentee voting sets, as provided in 495
subsection (f) of section 9-140, as amended by this act, and until the close 496
of the polls on the day of the election, primary or referendum. After such 497
close of the polls, no such absentee ballot may be cured. 498
(B) In the case of any absentee ballot described in subparagraph (A) 499
of this subdivision, the municipal clerk shall use best efforts to contact 500
the affected voter as soon as possible, but in no case later than twenty -501
four hours after receiving the absentee ballot, for the purpose of curing 502
such ballot pursuant to said subparagraph. During the period beginning 503
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twenty-four hours prior to the closing of the polls and until such closing 504
of the polls, the municipal clerk shall use best efforts to contact the 505
affected voter for such purpose immediately upon receiving the 506
absentee ballot. The municipal clerk's best efforts shall include, but need 507
not be limited to, contacting the affected voter by (i) calling the 508
telephone number or numbers listed on the voter's absentee ballot 509
application and voter registration, if the voter has provided any, and (ii) 510
sending an electronic mail to the electronic mail address listed on the 511
voter's absentee ballot application and voter registration, if the voter has 512
provided any. If the voter has provided neither a telephone number nor 513
an electronic mail address, the municipal clerk shall exercise discretion 514
in attempting to contact the voter by other means. 515
(b) (1) Beginning [not earlier than the seventh day before the election, 516
primary or referendum ] the day after the first day of issuance of 517
absentee voting sets, as provided in subsection (f) of section 9 -140, as 518
amended by this act, and on any weekday thereafter, all absentee ballots 519
received by the municipal clerk at or prior to eleven o'clock a.m. of [such 520
day] the day of the election, primary or referendum may be sorted into 521
voting districts by the municipal clerk and checked as provided in this 522
subsection. On any such day, beginning as soon as the ballots have been 523
sorted, the registrars of voters, without opening the [outer] return 524
envelopes, may check the names of the applicants returning ballots on 525
the official checklist to be used at the election, primary or referendum 526
by indicating "absentee" or "A" preceding each such name and, if 527
unaffiliated electors are authorized under section 9 -431 to vote in the 528
primary of either of two parties, the designation of the party in which 529
the applicants are voting preceding each such name. Unless absentee 530
ballots are to be counted in the respective polling places, pursuant to 531
subsection (b) of section 9 -147a, the registrars shall also place such 532
indication on a duplicate checklist to be retained by the municipal clerk 533
until the municipal clerk delivers such duplicate checklist to the 534
registrars, in accordance with subsection (e) of this section, for the use 535
of the absentee ballot counters pursuant to subsection (i) of this section. 536
(2) All absentee ballots received at or prior to eleven o'clock a.m. of 537
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the last day before the election, primary or referendum which is not a 538
Sunday or legal holiday, shall be sorted into voting districts by the 539
municipal clerk and checked as provided in subdivision (1) of this 540
subsection not later than such last day. 541
(c) If the name of the applicant returning the ballot is not on the 542
official checklist for any polling place in such municipality, the 543
registrars shall endorse on the face of [such outer] the return envelope 544
the word "rejected", followed by a statement of the reasons for rejection, 545
and [the outer] such return envelope shall not be opened [or the ballot] 546
nor shall such ballot be counted. 547
(d) After such checking has been completed on any such day, the 548
municipal clerk shall seal the unopened ballots in a package and retain 549
them in a safe place. 550
(e) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, ballots 551
received at or prior to eleven o'clock a.m. on the last day before the 552
election, primary or referendum shall be delivered by the municipal 553
clerk to the registrars [between ten o'clock a.m. and twelve o'clock noon] 554
not later than seven o'clock a.m. on the day of the election, [or] primary 555
[and at twelve o'clock noon on the day of a ] or referendum. Unless 556
absentee ballots are to be counted in the respective polling places, 557
pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9 -147a, the municipal clerk shall 558
also deliver to the registrars at this time the duplicate checklist provided 559
for in subsection (b) of this section, for the use of the absentee ballot 560
counters pursuant to subsection (i) of this section. 561
(2) [The] In the case of a special election or referendum, the municipal 562
clerk may deliver [the] such ballots at a time that is later than [the time 563
provided in subdivision (1) of this subsection] seven o'clock a.m. on the 564
day of such special election or referendum , provided such time is 565
mutually agreed upon by the municipal clerk and registrars and is not 566
later than [eight] four o'clock p.m. on the day of [the election, primary] 567
such special election or referendum. 568
(f) Absentee ballots timely received by the municipal clerk after 569
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eleven o'clock a.m. of such last day before an election, primary or 570
referendum shall be sorted into voting districts by the clerk and retained 571
by the clerk separately until delivered to the registrars of voters for 572
checking. 573
(g) Any or all of such ballots received after eleven o'clock a.m. of such 574
last day before an election, primary or referendum and before six o'clock 575
p.m. on the day of the election, primary or referendum shall, upon 576
request of the registrars, be delivered to the registrars by the municipal 577
clerk at six o'clock p.m. on the day of the election, primary or 578
referendum for checking, or at a later time mutually agreed upon by the 579
clerk and registrars, provided such time is not later than eight o'clock 580
p.m. on the day of the election, primary or referendum. 581
(h) Absentee ballots received after six o'clock p.m. on the day of the 582
election, primary or referendum and any ballots received prior to six 583
o'clock p.m. of such day which were not delivered earlier shall be 584
delivered to the registrars at the close of the polls for checking. Although 585
absentee ballots shall be checked by the registrars [of voters] at various 586
times throughout the election, primary or referendum day, absentee 587
ballots may be counted at one single time during such day. 588
(i) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the absentee 589
ballot counters, upon receipt of the ballots delivered by the municipal 590
clerk to the registrars at six o'clock p.m. on the day of the election, 591
primary or referendum and at the close of the polls pursuant to 592
subsections (g) and (h) of this section, shall check the names of the 593
applicants returning ballots on the duplicate checklist in the same 594
manner as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section. 595
(2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, 596
the names of applicants whose ballots were delivered at six o'clock p.m. 597
on the day of the election, primary or referendum shall be called in to 598
the appropriate polling places where they shall be checked by the 599
checkers on the official checklists, and they shall also be checked by the 600
absentee ballot counters on the duplicate checklist required under 601
subsection (b) of this section. 602
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(B) Whenever absentee ballots are counted in any polling place 603
pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9 -147a, the names of applicants 604
whose ballots were delivered at six o'clock p.m. on the day of the 605
election, primary or referendum shall be checked by the absentee ballot 606
counters and checkers at such polling place on the official checklist used 607
at such polling place. 608
(3) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision , 609
the names of applicants whose ballots were delivered at the close of the 610
polls shall be checked by the absentee ballot counters on the official 611
checklists used at the polling places and such official checklists, bearing 612
the certifications required by section 9 -307, shall be delivered by the 613
registrars or assistant registrars to the central counting moderator for 614
that purpose. 615
(B) Whenever absentee ballots are counted in any polling place 616
pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, the official checklist used at 617
such polling place shall remain in such polling place for checking by the 618
absentee ballot counters at such polling place. 619
(4) If the name of an applicant returning a ballot has been checked on 620
the official checklist as having voted in person , the absentee ballot 621
counters shall, in checking the ballots, endorse on the face of the [outer] 622
return envelope the word "rejected" followed by a statement of the 623
reason for rejection, and [the outer] such return envelope shall not be 624
opened [or the ballot] nor shall such ballot be counted. 625
(5) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, 626
when central counting is completed and the result is announced, the 627
central counting moderator shall deliver the duplicate checklist, the 628
official checklists and the returns required by section 9 -150b, as 629
amended by this act, to the head moderator. 630
(B) Whenever absentee ballots are counted in any polling place 631
pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9 -147a, and such counting is 632
completed and the result for such polling place is announced, the 633
moderator for such polling place shall deliver the official checklist used 634
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sSB491 / File No. 581 21

at such polling place and the return required by section 9 -150b, as 635
amended by this act, to the head moderator. 636
(j) Each time absentee ballots are delivered by the clerk to the 637
registrars pursuant to this section, the clerk and registrars shall execute 638
an affidavit of delivery and receipt stating the number of ballots 639
delivered. The clerk shall preserve the affidavit for the period prescribed 640
in section 9-150b, as amended by this act. 641
(k) The absentee ballot counters shall count, in the manner provided 642
in section 9-150a, as amended by this act, each group of absentee ballots 643
upon receipt from the registrars. 644
(l) The municipal clerk shall retain all [outer] return envelopes 645
containing absentee ballots received by [him] such clerk after the close 646
of the polls, unopened, for the period prescribed in section 9 -150b, as 647
amended by this act. 648
Sec. 8. (NEW) (Effective from passage) The office of the Secretary of the 649
State shall develop and install integrated ballot -tracking software with 650
the state-wide centralized voter registration system described in section 651
9-50b of the general statutes, for use by electors who vote by absentee 652
ballot. Such software shall, at a minimum, permit the elector to track (1) 653
when the municipal clerk has received and accepted the elector's 654
absentee ballot application, (2) when the municipal clerk's office has 655
mailed the absentee ballot set to the elector, (3) when the absentee ballot 656
set has been delivered to the elector, (4) when the absentee ballot being 657
returned by the elector has been delivered to the municipal clerk, and 658
(5) whether the elector's returned absentee ballot has been accepted, 659
requires curing pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 660
9-140c of the general statutes, as amended by this act, or has been 661
rejected. 662
Sec. 9. Section 9 -140e of the general statutes is repealed and the 663
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 664
(a) Any elector who [is permanently physically disabled or suffering 665
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sSB491 / File No. 581 22

from a long -term illness and who files an application for an absentee 666
ballot with a certification from a primary care provider, indicating that 667
such elector is permanently physically disabled or suffering from a long-668
term illness and unable to appear in person at such elector's designated 669
polling location, shall be eligible for] files an application for an absentee 670
ballot may simultaneously request permanent absentee ballot status, in 671
a space provided on such application for such purpose. Each elector 672
granted permanent absentee ballot status [and shall receive ] shall be 673
issued an absentee ballot for each election, primary or referendum 674
conducted in such elector's municipality for which such elector is 675
eligible to vote. Such elector's permanent absentee ballot status shall 676
remain in effect until such elector: (1) Is removed from the official 677
registry list of the municipality, (2) is removed from permanent absentee 678
ballot status [pursuant to ] in accordance with the provisions of 679
subsection (b) of this section, or (3) requests [that he or she ] in writing 680
to the registrar of voters that such elector no longer receive such 681
permanent absentee ballot status. 682
(b) [The registrars of voters shall send written notice to each such 683
elector with permanent absentee ballot status in January of each year, 684
on a form prescribed by the Secretary of the State, for the purpose of 685
determining if such elector continues to reside at the address indicated 686
on the elector's permanent absentee ballot application. If such written 687
notice is returned as undeliverable, the elector in question shall be 688
removed from permanent absentee ballot status. If such elector indicates 689
on such notice that the elector no longer resides at such address and the 690
elector's new address is within the same municipality, the registrars of 691
voters shall change the elector's address pursuant to section 9 -35 and 692
such elector shall retain permanent absentee ballot status. If the elector 693
indicates on such notice that the elector no longer resides in the 694
municipality, the registrars of voters shall remove such individual from 695
the registry list of the municipality and send such individual an 696
application for voter registration. Failure to return such written notice 697
shall not result in the removal of an elector from the official registry list 698
of the municipality or from permanent absentee ballot status. ] An 699
elector granted permanent absentee ballot status shall be removed from 700
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sSB491 / File No. 581 23

such status whenever (1) such elector's absentee ballot is returned as 701
undeliverable, (2) such elector submits a change of address form for a 702
move outside the state with the National Change of Address System of 703
the United States Postal Service, (3) a registrar of voters of the 704
municipality in which such elector previously resided receives 705
information or data, used to maintain the state -wide centralized voter 706
registration system under section 9 -50c, that such elector has moved 707
outside the state, (4) the Secretary of the State or a registrar of voters of 708
the municipality in which such elector previously resided receives 709
information under section 9 -21 that such elector has registered to vote 710
outside the state, or (5) such elector's name is placed on the inactive 711
registry list compiled under section 9-35. 712
(c) The Secretary of the State shall develop and conduct a state -wide 713
public awareness mailing, beginning as soon as practicable after the 714
effective date of this section, to educate the public regarding changes to 715
the absentee voting process and the availability of permanent absentee 716
ballot status. The Secretary shall make available to each municipal clerk 717
the materials comprising such mailing and, on and after the day such 718
materials are so made available, each municipal clerk shall include such 719
materials with each absentee ballot application provided by such 720
municipal clerk in 2026. 721
Sec. 10. Section 9-150a of the general statutes, as amended by section 722
90 of public act 26-1, is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 723
thereof (Effective from passage): 724
(a) [The] Immediately after the opening of the polls on the day of an 725
election, primary or referendum, the absentee ballot counters shall 726
proceed to the central counting location or to the respective polling 727
places when counting is to take place pursuant to subsection (b) of 728
section 9-147a. [at the times designated by the registrars of voters.] 729
(b) At the time each group of ballots is delivered to them pursuant to 730
section 9-140c, as amended by this act , the counters shall perform any 731
checking of such ballots required by subsection (i) of said section and 732
shall then proceed as hereinafter provided. 733
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sSB491 / File No. 581 24

(c) Except with respect to ballots marked "Rejected" pursuant to 734
section 9 -140c, as amended by this act, or other applicable law, the 735
counters shall remove the [inner envelopes] absentee ballots from the 736
[outer] return envelopes, shall note the total number of absentee ballots 737
received and shall report such total to the moderator. They shall 738
similarly note and separately so report the total numbers of presidential 739
ballots and overseas ballots received pursuant to sections 9 -158a to 9 -740
158m, inclusive. 741
(d) (1) (A) If the statement on the [inner] return envelope has not been 742
signed as required by section 9 -140a, as amended by this act , such 743
[inner] return envelope shall not be opened [or] nor shall the ballot be 744
removed therefrom. [, and such inner envelope shall be replaced in the 745
opened outer envelope which shall be marked "Rejected" and the reason 746
therefor endorsed thereon by the counters. ] The return envelope shall 747
be marked "Rejected" and the reason for such rejection shall be endorsed 748
on such return envelope by the counters. 749
(B) The moderator shall maintain a log of each absentee ballot 750
applicant whose ballot was marked "Rejected" under subparagraph (A) 751
of this subdivision and include thereon for each such applicant the 752
reason for the rejection. The moderator shall transmit such log to the 753
Secretary of the State at the same time and in the same manner as the 754
duplicate list to be transmitted to the Secretary by electronic means in 755
accordance with section 9-314. 756
(2) (A) If such statement is signed but the individual completing the 757
ballot is an individual described in subsection (a) of section 9 -23r and 758
has not met the requirements of subsection (e) of section 9 -23r, as 759
amended by this act, the counters shall replace the ballot in the opened 760
[inner envelope, replace the inner envelope in the opened outer ] return 761
envelope and shall mark "Rejected as an Absentee Ballot" and endorse 762
the reason for such rejection on [the outer] such return envelope, and 763
the ballot shall be treated as a provisional ballot for federal offices only, 764
pursuant to sections 9-232i to 9-232o, inclusive. 765
(B) The moderator shall maintain a log of each absentee ballot 766
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applicant whose ballot was marked "Rejected as an Absentee Ballot" 767
under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision and include thereon for 768
each such applicant the reason for the rejection. The moderator shall 769
transmit such log to the Secretary of the State at the same time and in 770
the same manner as the duplicate list to be transmitted to the Secretary 771
by electronic means in accordance with section 9-314. 772
[(e) The counters shall then remove the absentee ballots from the 773
remaining inner envelopes.] 774
[(f)] (e) Before the ballots are counted, all opened [outer and inner ] 775
envelopes from which such ballots have been removed, and all [outer] 776
envelopes marked "Rejected" as required by law, shall be placed and 777
sealed by the counters, separately by voting district, in depository 778
envelopes prescribed by the Secretary of the State and provided by the 779
municipal clerk. The counters shall seal such depository envelopes by 780
wrapping them lengthwise and sideways with nonreusable tape, 781
endorse on each such envelope their names, the voting district and the 782
time of the count, and deliver such envelopes to the moderator. 783
[(g)] (f) The counters shall then count such ballots as provided in this 784
section. The moderator shall supervise the counting. 785
[(h)] (g) The Secretary of the State shall provide a procedure manual 786
for counting absentee ballots. The manual shall include a description of 787
the steps to be followed in receiving, handling, counting and preserving 788
absentee ballots. Facsimile ballots shall be printed in the manual, 789
illustrating potential variations in ballot markings along with the correct 790
interpretation to be given in each situation illustrated. 791
[(i)] (h) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section the provisions 792
of section 9 -265 shall apply to write -in votes on absentee ballots at 793
elections. 794
(2) Votes cast by absentee ballot at a primary may be counted only for 795
candidates whose names appear on the ballot on primary day, and no 796
write-in vote shall be counted except as provided in subdivision (3) of 797
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this subsection. 798
(3) If a write-in vote on an absentee ballot is cast for a candidate for 799
any office whose name appears on the ballot for that office on election 800
or primary day, such candidate's name shall be deemed to have been 801
checked on such ballot and, except as otherwise provided in subsection 802
[(j)] (i) of this section, one vote shall be counted and recorded for such 803
candidate for such office. 804
(4) Except as otherwise provided in section 9 -265, if the name of a 805
registered write-in candidate for an office is written in for such office on 806
an absentee ballot it shall be deemed validly written in for purposes of 807
subsection [(j)] (i) of this section. 808
[(j)] (i) In the counting of absentee ballots the intent of the voter shall 809
govern, provided the following conclusive presumptions, where 810
applicable, shall prevail in determining such intent: 811
(1) If the names of more candidates for an office than the voter is 812
entitled to vote for are checked or validly written in, then the vote cast 813
for that office shall be deemed an invalid overvote. 814
(2) If the name of a candidate who has vacated [his] such candidate's 815
candidacy is checked, such vote shall not be counted. 816
(3) On an absentee ballot on which candidates' names are printed, a 817
vote shall be deemed cast only for each candidate whose name is 818
individually checked or validly written in, except as otherwise provided 819
in this subsection. If a party designation is circled, checked, underscored 820
or similarly marked in any manner, or written in, no vote shall be 821
deemed cast or cancelled for any candidate by virtue of such marking 822
or writing. 823
[(k)] (j) If the intent of an absentee voter is difficult to ascertain due to 824
uncertain, conflicting or incorrect ballot markings which are not clearly 825
addressed in this section or in the procedure manual for counting 826
absentee ballots provided by the Secretary of the State, the absentee 827
ballot counters shall submit the ballot and their question to the 828
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sSB491 / File No. 581 27

moderator. They shall then count the ballot in accordance with the 829
moderator's decision as to the voter's intent, if such intent is 830
ascertainable. A ballot or part of a ballot on which the intent is 831
determined by the moderator to be not ascertainable, shall not be 832
counted. The moderator shall endorse on the ballot the question and 833
[his] such moderator's decision. 834
[(l)] (k) No absentee ballot shall be rejected as a marked ballot unless, 835
in the opinion of the moderator, it was marked for the purpose of 836
providing a means of identifying the voter who cast it. 837
[(m)] (l) After the absentee ballots have been so counted they shall be 838
placed by the counters, separately by voting district, in depository 839
envelopes prescribed by the Secretary of the State and provided by the 840
municipal clerk. Any notes, worksheets, or other written materials used 841
by the counters in counting such ballots shall be endorsed by them with 842
their names, the date and the time of the count and shall also be placed 843
in such depository envelopes together with the ballots, and with the 844
separate record of the number of votes cast on such ballots for each 845
candidate as required by section 9 -150b, as amended by this act . Such 846
depository envelopes shall then be sealed, endorsed and delivered to 847
the moderator by the counters in the same manner as provided in 848
subsection [(f)] (e) of this section. 849
Sec. 11. Subsections (e) to (i), inclusive, of section 9-150b of the general 850
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 851
(Effective from passage): 852
(e) The sealed depository envelopes required by subsections [(f) and 853
(m)] (e) and (l) of section 9 -150a, as amended by this act, shall be 854
returned by the moderator to the municipal clerk as soon as practicable 855
on or before the day following the election, primary or referendum. 856
(f) The municipal clerk shall preserve for sixty days after the election, 857
primary or referendum the depository envelopes containing opened 858
envelopes and rejected ballots required by subsection [(f)] (e) of section 859
9-150a, as amended by this act , and shall so preserve for one hundred 860
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eighty days the depository envelopes containing counted ballots and 861
related materials required by subsection [(m)] (l) of section 9 -150a, as 862
amended by this act. 863
(g) No such depository envelope shall be opened except by order of 864
a court of competent jurisdiction, by the State Elections Enforcement 865
Commission pursuant to a subpoena issued under subdivision (1) of 866
subsection (a) of section 9 -7b, as amended by this act, or within five 867
business days after an election, primary or referendum for the purpose 868
of a recanvass conducted pursuant to law. After such a recanvass the 869
depository envelopes and their contents shall be returned to the 870
municipal clerk and preserved for the stated period. 871
(h) For sixty days after the election, primary or referendum the 872
following shall be preserved by the municipal clerk as a public record 873
open to public inspection: (1) All executed absentee ballot application 874
forms and direction by registrar forms, as required by subsection (i) of 875
section 9-140, as amended by this act; (2) the list and index of applicants 876
for presidential or overseas ballots as required by section 9 -158h, as 877
amended by this act ; (3) the [numerical] list of unique ballot 878
identification numbers corresponding to absentee voting sets issued as 879
required by subsection (e) of section 9 -140, as amended by this act ; (4) 880
the list of the names of persons whose absentee ballots are received by 881
the municipal clerk, as required by subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of 882
section 9-140c, as amended by this act ; (5) all unused absentee ballots; 883
and (6) all envelopes containing ballots received by the municipal clerk 884
after the close of the polls, which shall remain unopened. 885
(i) For one hundred eighty days after the election, primary or 886
referendum the following shall be preserved by the municipal clerk as a 887
public record open to public inspection: (1) The affidavit regarding the 888
municipal clerk's endorsement of [inner] return envelopes, as required 889
by subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 9-140c, as amended by this 890
act; and (2) the affidavit regarding delivery and receipt of ballots, as 891
required by subsection (j) of [said] section 9-140c, as amended by this 892
act. 893
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sSB491 / File No. 581 29

Sec. 12. Section 9 -153b of the general statutes is repealed and the 894
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 895
(a) If any absentee ballot applicant applies for an additional absentee 896
ballot, such applicant shall note on the application the reason for 897
applying for an additional absentee ballot and shall return the absentee 898
voting set formerly issued to such applicant before another set is issued, 899
provided, if such applicant is unable to return such formerly issued set, 900
such application for an additional ballot shall be accompanied by a 901
statement signed under the penalties of false statement in absentee 902
balloting in which such applicant shall note the reason for such 903
applicant's inability to return such formerly issued set. If such applicant 904
fails to file such a statement, no additional set shall be issued to such 905
applicant. An application for an additional absentee ballot shall only be 906
made by an absentee ballot applicant. Any additional absentee voting 907
set issued under this subsection shall only be either provided in person 908
to the applicant or mailed directly to the applicant at the bona fide 909
mailing address designated by such applicant. 910
(b) For all absentee voting sets or portions thereof returned under 911
subsection (a) of this section, the municipal clerk shall mark the [serially-912
numbered outer ] return envelope "rejected" and note the reasons for 913
rejection on all absentee ballots and envelopes so returned and shall seal 914
all such absentee voting sets or portions thereof in a package and retain 915
them in a safe place until delivered in accordance with section 9-140c, as 916
amended by this act. The municipal clerk shall keep a list of the names 917
of each absentee ballot applicant who has applied for more than one 918
absentee ballot, as provided in section 9 -140, as amended by this act , 919
together with the [serial] unique ballot identification number appearing 920
on the [outer] return envelope of each absentee voting set issued to each 921
such applicant. 922
(c) If more than one absentee ballot is received from any elector, the 923
ballot of such elector last received by the municipal clerk shall be 924
counted if no absentee ballot of such elector has already been counted. 925
For all absentee ballots of such elector that are not counted, the 926
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sSB491 / File No. 581 30

municipal clerk shall mark the [serially-numbered outer ] return 927
envelopes "rejected" and note the reasons for rejection and shall deliver 928
such ballots in accordance with section 9-140c, as amended by this act. 929
Sec. 13. Section 9 -153c of the general statutes is repealed and the 930
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 931
(a) If a municipal clerk has omitted the name of a candidate, party or 932
office designation, inserted an incorrect or misspelled name of a 933
candidate, party or office designation, provided an absentee ballot 934
applicant with a ballot which is not the correct ballot for [his] such 935
applicant's voting district, or incorrectly imprinted or failed to imprint 936
the designation of a state or local question on an absentee ballot in the 937
appropriate space, and if any such omission or error is likely to mislead 938
any voter, [he] the clerk shall, as soon as [he] such clerk becomes aware 939
of such omission or error, promptly mail to each applicant to whom 940
such an absentee ballot has been issued, a correct absentee ballot, the 941
necessary envelopes for its return and instructions, a statement 942
explaining the error or omission including the correct name or question 943
and a copy of this section. The municipal clerk shall inform the Secretary 944
of the State when [he] such clerk proceeds under this subsection. 945
(b) Any additional absentee voting sets issued to applicants under 946
this section shall be issued [in consecutive ascending numerical order 947
based upon the serial number appearing on the outer] bearing a unique 948
ballot identification number on the envelope for return of ballots to the 949
municipal clerk, and the clerk shall keep a record of such unique ballot 950
identification numbers by making a notation on, or attaching a 951
memorandum to, the applicant's original application for an absentee 952
ballot. 953
(c) The municipal clerk shall keep a list containing the name, address 954
and voting district of each absentee ballot applicant who has been issued 955
more than one absentee ballot under this section and the [serial] unique 956
ballot identification number appearing on the [outer] return envelope of 957
each absentee voting set so issued. The list shall be kept with the list 958
required under section 9-140, as amended by this act. 959
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(d) If more than one ballot is received from an applicant who has been 960
sent a correct ballot under subsection (a) of this section, the ballot last 961
received by the municipal clerk shall be counted if no ballot of such 962
applicant has already been counted. For all ballots of such applicant that 963
are not counted, the municipal clerk shall inscribe the word "rejected" 964
and note the reasons for rejection on the [outer] return envelope and 965
shall seal them, unopened, in a package and retain them in a safe place 966
until delivered in accordance with section 9 -140c, as amended by this 967
act. 968
Sec. 14. Section 9 -158f of the general statutes is repealed and the 969
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 970
(a) The voter, after marking [his] such voter's presidential ballot so as 971
to express [his] such voter's choice, shall fold it so as to conceal the 972
markings, and enclose it in [an inner] a return envelope furnished by the 973
town clerk for such purpose. The envelope shall have imprinted upon 974
its back a statement which shall be signed by the voter. The failure of 975
the voter to date the statement shall not invalidate the ballot. Such 976
statement shall be substantially as follows: 977
Certification of Presidential Voter 978
I, the undersigned, do hereby state under the penalties of false 979
statement in absentee balloting that: 980
(1) I am qualified to vote for Presidential and Vice -Presidential 981
electors in the town of .... Connecticut, at the presidential election to be 982
held on November ...., 20... 983
(2) I have not applied, nor do I intend to apply, for a ballot to vote for 984
Presidential and Vice -Presidential electors at said election from any 985
other town, city, county or state, and 986
(3) I have not voted, and I will not vote otherwise than by this ballot 987
in said presidential election. 988
Dated at ...., this .... day of .... 20... 989
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sSB491 / File No. 581 32

.... (Signature of voter) 990
.... (Printed name of voter) 991
(b) The overseas elector, after marking [his] such elector's overseas 992
ballot so as to express [his] such elector's choice, shall fold it so as to 993
conceal the markings and enclose it in [an inner ] a return envelope 994
furnished by the town clerk for such purpose. The envelope shall have 995
imprinted upon its back a statement which shall be signed by the elector. 996
The failure of the elector to date the statement shall not invalidate the 997
ballot. The statement shall be substantially as follows: 998
Certification of Overseas Elector 999
I, the undersigned, do hereby state under the penalties of false 1000
statement in absentee balloting that: 1001
(1) I am qualified to vote for candidates for federal office in the town 1002
of ...., Connecticut, at the federal election to be held on ...., 20... 1003
(2) I have not applied, nor do I intend to apply, for a ballot to vote for 1004
candidates for federal office at said election from any other town, city or 1005
county in Connecticut or in any other state or election district of any 1006
state or territory or any territory or possession of the United States. 1007
(3) I have not voted, and I will not vote otherwise than by this ballot 1008
in said federal election. 1009
Dated at ...., this .... day of ...., 20... 1010
.... (Signature of overseas elector) 1011
.... (Printed name of overseas elector) 1012
Sec. 15. Section 9 -158g of the general statutes is repealed and the 1013
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 1014
The voter shall sign the certification upon the [inner] return envelope, 1015
[securely seal it, enclose it in an outer serially -numbered envelope ] 1016
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sSB491 / File No. 581 33

insert the completed ballot in such return envelope, which shall bear a 1017
return label displaying the unique ballot identification number both in 1018
text format and as a scannable barcode , and return it to the municipal 1019
clerk of the town in which [he] such voter is qualified to vote. The clerk 1020
shall keep it in [his] the clerk's office until delivered by [him] such clerk 1021
to the registrars of voters at the same time and in the same manner as [is 1022
provided for absentee ballots ] provided in section 9 -140c, as amended 1023
by this act. If the ballot is returned by a person other than the voter or 1024
the United States Postal Service, the person delivering the ballot shall 1025
sign [his] such person's name and address and indicate the date and 1026
time of [its] such ballot's delivery on the [outer] return envelope in the 1027
clerk's presence. The ballot, to be cast, shall be returned so that [it] such 1028
ballot is received by the [town] clerk not later than the close of the polls 1029
on the day of the election. 1030
Sec. 16. Section 9 -158h of the general statutes is repealed and the 1031
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 1032
The clerk shall prepare and keep open to public inspection a list of all 1033
persons who have applied under sections 9-158a to 9-158m, inclusive, to 1034
vote as presidential voters or overseas electors with their names, voting 1035
addresses and application dates together with the [serial number] 1036
unique ballot identification numbers of the return envelopes issued, and 1037
shall maintain an alphabetical index of the list for a period of one 1038
hundred eighty days after the election or primary. 1039
Sec. 17. Section 9 -159p of the general statutes is repealed and the 1040
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 1041
(a) Any elector may challenge the right of any person offering to vote 1042
by absentee ballot based upon false identity, disenfranchisement for 1043
conviction of a felony or lack of bona fide residence. The failure of an 1044
elector to challenge, pursuant to this section, the right of a person to vote 1045
by absentee ballot shall not bar such elector from bringing an action to 1046
contest the primary or election under section 9 -323, 9-324, 9-328 or 9 -1047
329a, based on the alleged invalidity of the absentee ballot cast at such 1048
primary or election. 1049
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(b) Challenges shall not be made indiscriminately and may only be 1050
made if the challenger knows or reasonably believes that the right of the 1051
person offering to vote by absentee ballot should be denied on one or 1052
more of the grounds specified in subsection (a) of this section. 1053
(c) Challenges made concerning ballots that the municipal clerk has 1054
not delivered to the registrars of voters for counting pursuant to sections 1055
9-140c, as amended by this act, and 9-147a shall be made in writing to 1056
the municipal clerk. Challenges made concerning ballots that the 1057
municipal clerk has delivered to the registrars of voters for counting 1058
pursuant to sections 9-140c, as amended by this act, and 9-147a shall be 1059
made in writing to the central counting moderator or the moderator of 1060
the polling place at which the ballot is to be counted pursuant to 1061
subsection (b) of section 9-147a. All challenges shall be made under oath. 1062
(d) Immediately upon receipt of a challenge, the municipal clerk shall 1063
send copies of the challenge to each registrar of voters and to the person 1064
offering to vote by absentee ballot. The municipal clerk shall send the 1065
copy of the challenge to the person offering to vote by first class certified 1066
mail to the mailing address shown on the application for the absentee 1067
ballot. The municipal clerk shall furnish copies of any written response 1068
to the challenge to each registrar of voters. The municipal clerk shall 1069
deliver the ballot in the [inner] return envelope, which shall not be 1070
opened, [the serially -numbered envelope ] and any other evidence 1071
relevant to the challenge, to the registrars, who shall sign a receipt for 1072
the same. 1073
(e) Immediately upon receipt of a challenge, the moderator shall 1074
deliver copies of the challenge to each registrar of voters. The moderator 1075
shall also deliver, or designate another election, primary or referendum 1076
official to deliver, the ballot in the [inner] return envelope, which shall 1077
not be opened, [the serially -numbered envelope ] and any other 1078
evidence relevant to the challenge to the registrars, who shall sign a 1079
receipt for the same. 1080
(f) The registrars of voters shall examine the challenge, any written 1081
response to the challenge and any other evidence or information they 1082
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sSB491 / File No. 581 35

deem relevant to the challenge, including the [inner] return envelope, 1083
which shall not be opened, and shall determine whether the challenge 1084
should be upheld. If the registrars fail to agree that the challenge should 1085
be upheld, it shall be deemed to have been denied. 1086
(g) The registrars of voters shall make the determination not earlier 1087
than noon of the day of the election, primary or referendum at which 1088
the ballot is submitted and not later than the time when the counting of 1089
all other absentee ballots at the election, primary or referendum has 1090
been completed. 1091
(h) The registrars of voters shall notify, in writing, the municipal clerk 1092
and the central counting moderator, or the moderator of the polling 1093
place at which the ballot is to be counted pursuant to subsection (b) of 1094
section 9 -147a, of their determination. If the challenge is denied, the 1095
absentee ballot shall be delivered by the registrars to the appropriate 1096
location for counting pursuant to law. If the challenge is upheld, the 1097
registrars shall mark the word "rejected" on the [serially-numbered 1098
outer] return envelope and note the reasons for rejection, and shall 1099
return it together with all other evidence received in connection with the 1100
challenge to the municipal clerk who shall retain the same until 1101
delivered in accordance with section 9 -140c, as amended by this act , 1102
except that a challenge to a ballot which the municipal clerk has 1103
delivered to the registrars of voters for counting pursuant to sections 9-1104
140c, as amended by this act, and 9 -147a shall be returned to the 1105
moderator to whom the challenge was made. 1106
(i) Within five days after the election, primary or referendum the 1107
municipal clerk shall send to the person whose offer to vote was 1108
challenged a copy of the written determination of the registrars and a 1109
statement as to the disposition of the absentee ballot. 1110
Sec. 18. Subsection (g) of section 9 -159q of the general statutes is 1111
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof ( Effective from 1112
passage): 1113
(g) The registrars or their designees, as the case may be, shall jointly 1114
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sSB491 / File No. 581 36

deliver the ballots to the respective applicants at the institution and shall 1115
jointly supervise the voting of such ballots. The ballots shall be returned 1116
to the registrars or their designees by the electors in the envelopes 1117
provided and in accordance with the provisions of sections 9 -137, as 1118
amended by this act, [9-139] and 9-140a, as amended by this act . If any 1119
elector asks for assistance in voting his ballot, two registrars or their 1120
designees of different political parties or, for a primary, their designees 1121
of different candidates, shall render such assistance as they deem 1122
necessary and appropriate to enable such elector to vote his ballot. The 1123
registrars or their designees may reject a ballot when (1) the elector 1124
declines to vote a ballot, or (2) the registrars or their designees are unable 1125
to determine how the elector who has requested their assistance desires 1126
to vote the ballot. When the registrars or their designees reject a ballot, 1127
they shall mark the [serially-numbered outer] return envelope "rejected" 1128
and note the reasons for rejection. Nothing in this section shall limit the 1129
right of an elector to vote his ballot in secret. 1130
Sec. 19. Subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 9 -7b of the 2026 1131
supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is 1132
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 1133
(1) To make investigations on its own initiative or with respect to 1134
statements filed with the commission by the Secretary of the State, any 1135
town clerk or any registrar of voters or upon written complaint under 1136
oath by any individual, with respect to alleged violations of any 1137
provision of the general statutes relating to any election or referendum, 1138
any primary held pursuant to section 9 -423, 9 -425 or 9 -464 or any 1139
primary held pursuant to a special act, and to hold hearings when the 1140
commission deems necessary to investigate violations of any provisions 1141
of the general statutes relating to any such election, primary or 1142
referendum, and for the purpose of such hearings the commission may 1143
administer oaths, examine witnesses and receive oral and documentary 1144
evidence, and shall have the power to subpoena witnesses under 1145
procedural rules the commission shall adopt, to compel their attendance 1146
and to require the production for examination of any books and papers 1147
which the commission deems relevant to any matter under investigation 1148
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sSB491 / File No. 581 37

or in question. Until the commission determines that it is necessary to 1149
investigate a violation, commission members and staff shall keep 1150
confidential any information concerning a complaint or preliminary 1151
investigation, except upon request of the treasurer, deputy treasurer, 1152
chairperson or candidate affiliated with a committee that is the subject 1153
of the complaint or preliminary investigation. In connection with its 1154
investigation of any alleged violation of any provision of chapter 145, or 1155
of any provision of section 9 -359 or section 9 -359a, as amended by this 1156
act, the commission shall also have the power to subpoena any 1157
municipal clerk and to require the production for examination of any 1158
absentee ballot, [inner and outer] return envelope from which any such 1159
ballot has been removed, depository envelope containing any such 1160
ballot or [inner or outer] return envelope as provided in sections 9-150a, 1161
as amended by this act, and 9-150b, as amended by this act, and any 1162
other record, form or document as provided in section 9 -150b, as 1163
amended by this act , in connection with the election, primary or 1164
referendum to which the investigation relates. In case of a refusal to 1165
comply with any subpoena issued pursuant to this subsection or to 1166
testify with respect to any matter upon which that person may be 1167
lawfully interrogated, the superior court for the judicial district of 1168
Hartford, on application of the commission, may issue an order 1169
requiring such person to comply with such subpoena and to testify; 1170
failure to obey any such order of the court may be punished by the court 1171
as a contempt thereof. In any matter under investigation which concerns 1172
the operation or inspection of or outcome recorded on any voting 1173
tabulator, the commission may issue an order to the registrars of voters 1174
to impound such tabulator until the investigation is completed; 1175
Sec. 20. Subsection (e) of section 9 -23r of the general statutes is 1176
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof ( Effective from 1177
passage): 1178
(e) If an individual described in subsection (a) of this section does not 1179
submit the identification described in subsection (a) of this section as 1180
part of the individual's application for admission as an elector, and if the 1181
individual votes by absentee ballot in an election for federal office, the 1182
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sSB491 / File No. 581 38

individual shall enclose in the [outer absentee ballot envelope, and not 1183
in the inner envelope with the ballot ] additional envelope provided by 1184
the municipal clerk pursuant to section 9 -140a, as amended by this act, 1185
for the return of such applicant's identification : (1) A copy of a current 1186
and valid photo identification, or (2) a copy of a current utility bill, bank 1187
statement, government check, paycheck, or other government 1188
document that shows the name and address of the voter. If an individual 1189
does not meet the requirements of this subsection in an election for 1190
federal office, such [individual’s] individual's absentee ballot shall be 1191
processed in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (A) of 1192
subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of section 9 -150a, as amended by this 1193
act, and treated as a provisional ballot for federal office only, pursuant 1194
to sections 9-232i to 9-232o, inclusive. 1195
Sec. 21. Subsection (b) of section 9 -311 of the 2026 supplement to the 1196
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1197
thereof (Effective from passage): 1198
(b) The moderator shall determine the place or places where the 1199
recanvass shall be conducted and, if such recanvass is held before the 1200
tabulators are boxed and collected in the manner required by section 9-1201
266, the moderator may require that such recanvass of such tabulators 1202
be conducted in each place where the tabulators are located, or the 1203
moderator may require that such tabulators be removed to one central 1204
place where such recanvass shall be conducted. All recanvassing 1205
procedures shall be open to public observation, subject to the provisions 1206
of subsection (d) of this section. Such recanvass officials shall, in the 1207
presence of such moderator and registrars of voters, make a record of 1208
the number on the seal and the number on the protective counter, if one 1209
is provided, on each voting tabulator specified by such moderator. Such 1210
registrars of voters in the presence of such moderator shall turn over the 1211
keys of each such tabulator to such recanvass officials, and such 1212
recanvass officials, in the presence of such registrars of voters and 1213
moderator, shall immediately proceed to recanvass the vote cast 1214
thereon, and shall then open the package of absentee ballots and 1215
recanvass the vote cast thereon. In the course of the recanvass of the 1216
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sSB491 / File No. 581 39

absentee ballot vote the recanvass officials shall check all [outer] return 1217
envelopes for absentee ballots [against the inner envelopes for such 1218
ballots and] against the registry list to verify postmarks, addresses and 1219
registry list markings and also to determine whether the number of 1220
envelopes from which absentee ballots have been removed is the same 1221
as the number of persons checked as having voted by absentee ballot. 1222
The write-in ballots shall also be recanvassed at this time. Any party 1223
representative present shall have a right to view each ballot as it is being 1224
recanvassed by the recanvass officials, so as to be able to discern the 1225
markings on such ballot. All of the recanvass officials shall use the same 1226
forms for tallies and returns as were used at the original canvass and the 1227
absentee ballot counters shall also sign the tallies. 1228
Sec. 22. Section 9 -359a of the general statutes is repealed and the 1229
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 1230
(a) A person is guilty of false statement in absentee balloting when 1231
[he] such person intentionally makes a false written statement in or on , 1232
or signs the name of another person to , the application for an absentee 1233
ballot or the [inner] return envelope accompanying any such ballot, 1234
which [he] such person does not believe to be true and which statement 1235
or signature is intended to mislead a public servant in the performance 1236
of [his] such public servant's official function. 1237
(b) False statement in absentee balloting is a class D felony. 1238
Sec. 23. Subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of 1239
section 9-369b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is 1240
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 1241
(B) Each such explanatory text shall be prepared by the municipal 1242
clerk and shall specify the intent and purpose of each such proposal or 1243
question. Such explanatory text shall not advocate either the approval 1244
or disapproval of the proposal or question. The municipal clerk shall 1245
cause such question or proposal and such explanatory text to be printed 1246
in sufficient supply for public dissemination and shall also provide for 1247
the printing of such explanations of proposals or questions on posters 1248
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sSB491 / File No. 581 40

of a size to be determined by said clerk. At least three such posters shall 1249
be posted at each polling place at which electors will be voting on such 1250
proposals or questions. Any posters printed in excess of the number 1251
required by this section to be posted may be displayed by said clerk at 1252
the clerk's discretion at locations which are frequented by the public. 1253
The explanatory text shall also be furnished to each absentee ballot 1254
applicant pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (d) of section 9-140, 1255
as amended by this act . Each such explanatory text shall be subject to 1256
the approval of the municipal attorney. 1257
Sec. 24. Sections 9-139 and 9-159o of the general statutes are repealed. 1258
(Effective from passage) 1259
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 from passage 9-135
Sec. 2 from passage 9-137
Sec. 3 from passage 9-139a
Sec. 4 from passage 9-140
Sec. 5 from passage 9-140a
Sec. 6 from passage 9-140b
Sec. 7 from passage 9-140c
Sec. 8 from passage New section
Sec. 9 from passage 9-140e
Sec. 10 from passage 9-150a
Sec. 11 from passage 9-150b(e) to (i)
Sec. 12 from passage 9-153b
Sec. 13 from passage 9-153c
Sec. 14 from passage 9-158f
Sec. 15 from passage 9-158g
Sec. 16 from passage 9-158h
Sec. 17 from passage 9-159p
Sec. 18 from passage 9-159q(g)
Sec. 19 from passage 9-7b(a)(1)
Sec. 20 from passage 9-23r(e)
Sec. 21 from passage 9-311(b)
Sec. 22 from passage 9-359a
Sec. 23 from passage 9-369b(a)(1)(B)
Sec. 24 from passage Repealer section
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sSB491 / File No. 581 41

Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section 4(d)(1)(C) and (D), "its" was changed to " [its] the ballot's" for
clarity; in Section 9(b), " state, and (5)" was changed to " state, or (5)" for
accuracy and " Pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this
section" was deleted for clarity; and in Section 9(c), "beginning the day"
was changed to " on and after the day " for consistency with standard
drafting conventions.

GAE Joint Favorable Subst.

sSB491 File No. 581

sSB491 / File No. 581 42

The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of
the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not
represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general,
fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional
knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final
products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $ FY 29 $
Secretary of the
State
GF - Cost 1.55 million
to 1.7
million
136,000 to
254,000
146,000 to
286,000
Secretary of the
State
GF - Potential
Savings
70,000 to
150,000
60,000 to
125,000
70,000 to
150,000
Elections
Enforcement
Commission
GF - Cost 68,000 87,500 87,500
State
Comptroller -
Fringe Benefits1
GF - Cost 27,000 36,000 36,000
Note: GF=General Fund

Municipal Impact:
Municipalities Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $ FY 29 $
All
Municipalities
Cost 822,000 to 2.5
million
650,000 to 1.9
million
770,000 to 2.3
million
All
Municipalities
Cost Minimal Minimal Minimal

Explanation
The bill authorizes all eligible voters to apply for and participate in
elections via absentee voting, and alters existing absentee ballot
provisions, among other changes, beginning in FY 27. The bill results in
General Fund costs of approximately $1.65 million to $1.8 million in FY

1The fringe benefit costs for most state employees are budgeted centrally in accounts
administered by the Comptroller. The estimated active employee fringe benefit cost
associated with most personnel changes is 41.82% of payroll in FY 27.
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sSB491 / File No. 581 43

27, $ 259,500 to $ 377,500 in FY 28, and $ 269,500 to $ 409,500 in FY 29.
There are additionally General Fund savings anticipated of
approximately $60,000 to $150,000 annually beginning in FY 27.
The bill also results in a n aggregate total cost to municipalities of
$822,000 to $2.5 million in FY 27, $650,000 to $1.9 million in FY 28, and
$770,000 to $2.3 million in FY 29. Costs continue in the out years.
State Fiscal Impacts
The bill's state costs are primarily to the Secretary of the State (SOTS),
with SOTS costs totaling approximately $1.55 million to $1.7 million in
FY 27, $136,000 to $254,000 in FY 28, and $ 146,000 to $286,000 in FY 29,
with costs continuing into the out years. These costs are associated with
supporting the anticipated increase in absentee voting, 2 reprinting
current forms, updating the current ballot tracking system, and a public
awareness mailing, as described below.
The bill additionally results in aggregate savings to the state of
$70,000 to $150,000 in FY 27, $60,000 to $125,000 in FY 28, and $70,000 to
$150,000 in FY 29, with ongoing savings in the out years. This savings is
associated with the elimination of the absentee ballot outer envelope.
The total state costs and savings may vary from the ranges provided
above if absentee voting participation is significantly higher or lower
than projected.
Expanded Absentee Voting. The bill's expanded absentee voting
provisions (Section 1 ) result in a cost to the state of $292,000 to $433,000
in FY 27, $184,500 to $302,500 in FY 28, and $194,500 to $334,500 in FY
29, with costs continuing in the out years. The majority of these costs are

2 This estimate assumes: (1) on the lower end, an increase of 10% of the participating
electorate shifting to absentee voting in each town in response to the legislation; and
(2) on the higher end, a shift in line with Massachusetts patterns (ranging from 2 4.7%
to 30.9%) depending on a town's number of registered voters.
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to SOTS, associated with providing additional forms.3
SOTS will need to print additional absentee ballot materials to
support the expected increase in absentee voting participation, resulting
in a cost of $72,000 to $213,000 in FY 27, $61,000 to $179,000 in FY 28, and
$71,000 to $211,000 in FY 29, with costs continuing in the out years. This
cost is expected to vary annually depending on the number of electors
who choose to participate via absentee ballot and the types of elections
held.
The bill allows an elector to choose to permanently participate via
absentee voting (Section 9), beginning in FY 27. This provision may
increase the SOTS absentee ballot materials costs beyond the estimates
described above. The extent of the cost increase depends on the number
of electors who choose this option but in the absence of the provision,
would not have opted for absentee voting for every election.
In FY 27, there is a one -time cost of $125,000 to SOTS to reprint
approximately 1.35 million forms. Reprinting is necessary to remove
existing references to the requirement to provide an excuse to
participate via absentee voting.
The expansion of absentee voting also results in a cost to the State
Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) of $68,000 4 and one
position5 in FY 27, with an associated fringe cost of $27,000, before
increasing to an annual salary of $86,000 beginning in FY 28, with
ongoing other expenses of $1,500 and an associated fringe cost of
$36,000. The position is necessary because the bill's expansio n of
absentee voting is anticipated to result in an increase in SEEC
investigations.
Absentee Voting Ballot Tracking. The bill requires SOTS to develop

3 Expanded absentee voting, excluding the public information campaign and ballot
tracking, results in costs to SOTS of $197,000 to $338,000 in FY 27, $61,000 to $179,000
in FY 28, and $71,000 to $211,000 in FY 29.
4 This represents 0.75 FTE in FY 27. Costs include a salary of $64,500 and other expenses
of $3,500.
5 The position is a Legal Investigator.
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and install ballot -tracking software (Section 8), resulting in an annual
cost of approximately $75,000 beginning in FY 27. This estimate is based
on a private vendor cost from another state. If SOTS chooses to integrate
the United States Postal Service (US PS) tracking into the state's
Centralized Voter Registration System (CVRS), costs may vary.
Absentee Voting and the Elimination of the Outer Envelope. The
bill eliminates the requirement for a second envelope to be used by
electors participating via absentee voting (Section 2), resulting in
savings to SOTS of $70,000 to $150,000 6 in FY 27, $60,000 to $125,000 in
FY 28, and $70,000 to $150,000 in FY 29, with savings continued into the
out years. The exact savings will depend on the number of electors who
choose to participate via absentee voting.
Public Awareness Mailing . The bill requires SOTS to conduct a
statewide public awareness mailing to educate the public regarding the
bill's absentee voting provisions (Section 9). This results in a one -time
cost to SOTS of $1.3 million7 in FY 27.
Municipal Fiscal Impacts
The bill results in an estimated total cost8 to municipalities of $822,000
to $2.5 million in FY 27,9 $650,000 to $1.9 million in FY 28,10 and $770,000
to $2.3 million in FY 29, 11 with costs continuing in the out years. These
costs are primarily associated with the additional labor and materials

6 This estimate assumes: (1) on the lower end, an increase of 10% of the participating
electorate shifting to absentee voting in each town in response to the legislation; and
(2) on the higher end, a shift in line with Massachusetts patterns (ranging from 2 4.7%
to 30.9%) depending on a town's number of registered voters.
7 This figure is based on the USPS standard media mail rate. This cost also includes the
initial printing of the mailing, postage, and printing additional copies for town clerks
to include with absentee ballot applications.
8 This estimate was calculated using vote by mail town costs from the Massachusetts
certified cost data. The Massachusetts cost data comes from the 2024 election and has
been adjusted to account for size, participation, and voting patterns within each town
in Connecticut.
9 FY 27 includes the 2026 State Election Primary and the 2026 State Election.
10 FY 28 includes the 2027 Municipal Primary, 2027 Municipal Election and the 2028
Presidential Preference Primary.
11 FY 29 includes the 2028 State Election Primary and the 2028 Presidential Election.
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required to support the expected increase in absentee voting. The
statewide total municipal costs may vary from the ranges provided
above if absentee voting participation is significantly higher or lower
than projected.
Expanded Absentee Voting. The bill's expanded absentee voting
provisions (Section 1) result in a cost to municipalities of $800,000 to $2.5
million in FY 27, $650,000 to $1.9 million in FY 28, and $770,000 to $2.3
million in FY 29, with costs continuing in the out years. This cost is
associated with the additional labor, storage, printin g, and postage
needed to facilitate and process additional absentee ballots. 12 The
estimate is based on municipal costs incurred in Massachusetts under a
similar policy, applied to Connecticut towns with comparable
electorates.
The exact cost will vary substantially by town, depending on the
number of registered voters, as well as on election participation and
absentee-voting rates. Towns with smaller numbers 13 of registered
voters will generally see a significantly lower cost than towns with
higher numbers14 of registered voters.
Absentee Voting and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA). As part
of the absentee voting changes, the bill additionally requires
municipalities to provide a secondary envelope, and, optionally,
prepaid postage to support ballot access for certain electors (Section 5),
resulting in a statewide cost of up to $22,0 00 in FY 27 (if municipalities
choose to prepay postage). Connecticut has an estimated 31,570 electors
who have not previously complied with HAVA requirements to
provide required identification to partic ipate in federal elections. The

12 This estimate assumes: (1) on the lower end, an increase of 10% of the participating
electorate shifting to absentee voting in each town in response to the legislation; and
(2) on the higher end, a shift in line with Massachusetts patterns (ranging from 2 4.7%
to 30.9%) depending on a town's number of registered voters.
13 Towns with fewer than 5,000 registered voters are expected to see a cost increase of
$500 to $1,300 in FY 27, $500 to $1,100 in FY 28, and $500 to $1,200 in FY 29.
14 Towns with greater than 50,000 registered voters are expected to see a cost increase
of $21,000 to $59,000 in FY 27, $15,000 to $43,000 in FY 28, and $22,000 to $63,000 in FY
29.
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exact cost will vary by town and depend on the number of such voters
who choose to participate by absentee ballot.
The Out Years
State Impact:
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact above will continue into the
future subject to inflation and the number of electors who participate
via absentee.
Municipal Impact:
Costs in the out years will vary depending on: (1) the annual number
and types of elections conducted; (2) the proportion of the electorate
who newly decide to participate via absentee voting; and (3) inflation in
postage and labor costs.

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OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 491

AN ACT CONCERNING THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE'S
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NO -
EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING.

SUMMARY
This bill expands absentee voting to all eligible voters who will not
appear at their designated polling place on the day of an election,
primary, or referendum (election contest), instead of just to voters who
had a specified reason (§ 1).
The bill also requires the secretary of the state (SOTS) to develop and
install absentee ballot-tracking software that is integrated with the
Centralized Voter Registration System (CVRS). At a minimum, the
software must track (1) when an absentee ballot application is received
and accepted by the town clerk; (2) when the ballot is (a) mailed out by
the clerk, (b) delivered to the applicant, or (c) delivered to the clerk; and
(3) whether the ballot was accepted, requires curing, or is rejected (§ 8).
The bill also makes several changes to the absentee balloting
procedures, including the following:
1. implements use of a singular “return envelope” for ballot return
and in doing so combines the inner and outer envelop es used
under current law, and makes corresponding changes;
2. replaces the required serial numbers on the envelope with unique
ballot identification numbers, and makes corresponding changes;
3. eliminates the prohibition on misrepresenting absentee ballot
eligibility requirements to any elector or prospective applicant (§
1);
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4. amends the information that Department of Correction (DOC)
employees must provide on absentee ballot applications for
incarcerated applicants they assist (§ 4);
5. adjusts requirements for certain entities that send out unsolicited
absentee ballot applications (§ 4);
6. modifies how absentee ballots are cast and collected (§ 6);
7. creates procedures for voters to cure certain rejected absentee
ballots (§ 7);
8. modifies certain deadlines for delivering absentee ballots to town
clerks and when absentee ballot counters must report to the
counting location (§§ 7 & 10);
9. extends permanent absentee voting eligibility to all eligible
voters (§ 9);
10. expands the ways in which a person’s permanent absentee ballot
status loses effect and correspondingly eliminates the registrar’s
annual verification requirement (§ 9); and
11. requires voters , including those overseas, casting presidential
ballots to print their name on the return envelope in addition to
signing it as under current law (§ 14).
The bill also requires SOTS to create and conduct a statewide mailing,
as soon as possible after the bill is enacted, to inform all voters of the
changes to the state’s absentee balloting and permanent absentee ballot
status eligibility laws. SOTS must also make the mailing materials
available to town clerks and , once provided, the clerks must include
them with all absentee ballot applications that they distribute in 2026 (§
9).
The bill also makes technical and conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
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NO-EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING
Under current law, in order to apply for and cast an absentee ballot,
a voter must be unable to appear at his or her designated polling place
on election day due to (1) active service in the U.S. armed forces; (2)
absence from their city or town; (3) sickn ess or physical disability; (4)
their religious beliefs prohibiting secular activity on that day; or (5)
service as an election, primary, or referendum official at a polling place
other than his or her own during all voting hours. The bill eliminates
these requirements and, instead, allows any eligible voter who
completes and submit s an absentee ballot application to attain
permanent absentee ballot status.
ABSENTEE BALLOT MATERIALS
Absentee Ballot Applications
The bill requires an absentee ballot application to display a unique
ballot ID number instead of being consecutively numbered.
Return Envelopes
Under current law, absentee ballot sets consist of a ballot, an outer
envelope with information about the elector ( such as their name and
address), and an inner envelope with a statement signed by the elector
under penalty of false statement in absentee balloting. Once the elector
has filled out the ballot, he or she must insert the ballot into the inner
envelope, seal it inside, and then insert the inner envelope into the outer
one.
The bill instead consolidates the information on the inner and outer
envelopes into one absentee balloting envelope (a return envelope).
Further, the bill modifies the information that must be on the return
envelope by removing language regarding excuses to vote absentee
from the statement the voter signs, and by requiring:
1. the voter to also print their name on the face of the envelope,
which, under existing law and the bill , must be signed and
capable of being sealed;
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2. the envelope be endorsed with the words “OFFICIAL
ABSENTEE BALLOT”;
3. a label with specified information generated by the Centralized
Voter Registration System (CVRS; see below)
4. a return label displaying a unique ballot identification number
(see below);
5. a notice regarding certain state absentee ballot handling laws (see
below); and
6. the clerk’s official address to be inscribed before the absentee
ballot set is issued.
Additionally, the bill requires town clerks to provide an additional
envelope that is pre -addressed to the clerk if the voter is required by
federal law to mail back their identification (see BACKGROUND).
Currently, any required identification must be placed in th e outer
envelope.
Required Labels. The CVRS label must include (1) the sender’s name
and return address ; (2) the applicant’s name, address, and voting
district; (3) the ballot style; (4) a unique ballot identification number; (5)
the date of the election contest; and (6) if for a primary, the name of the
political party holding that primary.
The bill requires the ballot ID number on the return labels to be in a
text format and as a scannable barcode (instead of requiring all outer
envelopes to be serially and consecutively numbered as under current
law).
Absentee Ballot Restrictions Notice. The return envelope’s notice
must warn any one handling the absentee ballot about state law’s (1)
restrictions on who may possess and return absentee ballots and (2)
restrictions and penalties regarding completing or executing absentee
ballots.
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Ballot Identification Numbers
Regarding the change from serial numbers to unique ID numbers, the
bill corresponding ly requires clerks to ensure the unique ballot ID
number that appears on the return envelope matches the one on the
application form. As under current law, clerks must keep a list of unique
ballot ID numbers and the name of the applicant receiving the
corresponding absentee ballot set. They must also do so for any
additional absentee voting sets they issue ( for example, replacements)
and ballots of presidential voters and overseas electors.
Relatedly, the bill eliminates the requirement for the clerk to issue
absentee ballot sets in consecutive ascending numerical order based on
the envelope’s serial numbers.
Other Materials
State law generally prohibits including anything else with an
absentee voting set except (1) for alternate applications for certain
military personnel and overseas voters and (2) when necessary to
correct errors and omissions as allowed by state law. The bill
additionally allows any voting information SOTS requires to be
included, but explicitly prohibits including voting information
promoting a question’s success or defeat.
§ 4 — ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION DISTRIBUTION
State law generally requires individuals requesting or distributing
absentee ballot applications for other people to (1) register with the town
clerk if distributing five or more applications, excluding those for family
members, for a specific election contest and (2) keep a log of who
received their applications , including specified details, and file it with
the town clerk.
The bill eliminates a prohibition against distributing absentee ballot
applications unless the application specifies the year in which the
application may be used . However, the bill maintains the provision in
current law that prohibits clerks from accepting and people from using
ballot applications without the correct year noted.
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Similarly, candidate s, part ies, and political committees ( or
candidates’ or committees’ agents) may mail unsolicited applications to
voters if they include a written (1) explanation of the eligibility
requirements for voting absentee (including the reasons needed) and (2)
warning about the penalties for violating these requirements.
The bill expands these requirements by (1) applying them to
delivered ballots, in addition to mailed ballots, and (2) requiring a
disclaimer noting the individual or committee that paid for the mailing
or delivery. If the mailing or delivery was paid for by a candidate, the
disclaimer must also note that the candidate approved it. Additionally,
the bill eliminates the requirement under current law for the mailing to
explain the eligibility criteria and warn the person that voting by
absentee ballot without being eligible may result in civil or criminal
penalties. Instead, it requires a written explanation of the options for
returning absentee ballots under state law.
§ 4 — ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS FOR INCARCERATED
VOTERS
By law, anyone assisting a voter in completing their absentee ballot
must sign the application and print their name, residential address, and
telephone number on it. Additionally, the law outlines procedures for
DOC employees to distribute, collect, and return absentee ballots for
incarcerated voters who have retained their voting rights.
The bill specifies that DOC employees who assist these voters with
their absentee ballot applications must instead provide the address and
telephone number of the facility where they are employed and provided
the assistance, instead of their residential address and personal
telephone number.
§§ 6 & 24 — RETURN OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS
The bill deems an absentee ballot cast when it is ( 1) received, ( 2)
signed by the voter on the return envelope’s affirmation, and ( 3)
accepted by the town clerk. Correspondingly, the bill repeals a provision
allowing a voter to withdraw their absentee ballot.
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The bill also requires town clerks to retrieve ballots from absentee
ballot drop boxes on each business day instead of each weekday as
under current law.
§ 7 — ABSENTEE BALLOT CURING
The bill establishes procedures for voters to “cure” their absentee
ballots if they failed to sign the required statement on the return
envelope. Under the bill, voters may cure their ballots from the
beginning of the absentee voting period until the close of the polls on
election day.
The bill requires town clerks to make their best efforts to contact a
voter who failed to sign the envelope , but generally not later than 24
hours after receiving the voter’s ballot . For ballots received within 24
hours before the polls close, the town clerk must start using best efforts
immediately after receiving the ballot.
Under the bill, “best efforts” must at least include contacting voters
through the phone number s and email address es they provide on the
absentee ballot application and voter registration. If this information
was not provided, the clerk may exercise discretion in contacting the
voter through other means.
§§ 7 & 10 — ABSENTEE BALLOT PROCESSING
Town Clerk’s Sorting and Delivery of Absentee Ballots to
Registrars (§ 7)
The bill allows town clerks to begin sorting absentee ballot s into
voting districts on the first day absentee ballot sets are issued, instead of
starting seven days before the election as under current law.
By law, the clerk must then deliver the absentee ballots to the
registrars to be checked. Once the checking is complete, the registrars
return the unopened ballots to the clerk, who must seal and hold them
until the election day. The clerk follows this procedure for all ballots
received by 11:00 a.m. on the weekday before the election.
For ballots received before this time, the law establishes deadlines by
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which the clerk must deliver the stored absentee ballots to the registrars.
The bill changes these deadlines as described in the table below.
Table: Deadlines for Delivering Absentee Ballots on Election Day
Type of Election Contest Current Law’s Deadline The Bill’s Deadline
Election 10:00 am – 12:00 pm or a
mutually agreed upon time
before 8:00 pm 7:00 am
Primary
Referendum
12:00 pm or a mutually
agreed upon time before
8:00 pm
Special election or
referendum
As above for regular
contests
7:00 am or a mutually
agreed upon time before
4:00 pm

State law also, unchanged by the bill, sets deadlines for delivering
absentee ballots to the registrars that are received by the town clerk after
11:00 a.m. on the weekday before the election.
Absentee Ballot Counting (§ 10)
The bill requires absentee ballot counters to go to the counting
location immediately when the polls open on election day, instead of at
the time the registrar designates as under current law.
§ 9 — PERMANENT ABSENTEE VOTING
State law allows certain voters to request that registrars automatically
send an absentee ballot to them for each election they are eligible for.
The bill allows any eligible voter to request permanent absentee ballot
status, instead of just voters who are permanently physically disabled
or suffering from a long-term illness.
Current law also requires that registrars annually verify that each
permanent absentee ballot voter still resides at their address by sending
them a written notice. Electors may lose permanent absentee ballot
status if (1) they are removed from the municipality’s registration list,
(2) the notice is returned undeliverable, or (3) the voter requests
removal.
The bill eliminates the notice requirement and the related reason for
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removal and instead additionally requires a voter be removed for other
specified reasons, including if the ballot is returned as undeliverable.
Removal is also required if the voter is placed on the inactive registry
list. Voters may be placed on the list for a variety of reasons under state
law, including if registrars are notified of a person’s death or
disenfranchisement. A voter may also be placed on the inactive list if the
registrar (1) has reason to believe that the voter moved, (2) sent notice
as required by state law, and (3) did not receive a return card within 30
days of mailing it or it was returned undeliverable. State law establishes
procedures for reactivating a person’s registration if he or she has been
placed on the inactive registry list.
Under the bill, the voter must also be removed from the permanent
absentee ballot list if he or she submits a change of address form to the
U.S. Postal Service’s National Change of Address System indicating a
new out-of-state address. The bill also requires removal if SOTS or the
applicable registrar receives information from an out-of-state admitting
official that the voter has registered to vote there.
Similarly, a voter may also be removed if t he applicable registrar
receives certain i nformation that the voter moved out of state.
Specifically, the information must come from another state or the federal
government as part of an agreement to share information to help
mutually update voter registration systems.
BACKGROUND
Identification Under Federal Law
By law, if a voter registers to vote by mail and does not meet federal
identification requirements at the time of registration, the voter must
give sufficient identification the first time they seek to vote absentee. If
a voter fails to do so, the absentee ballot cannot be counted. Acceptable
forms of identification include certain documents with the voter’s name
and address (such as bank statements or utility bills) or valid photo
identification with the voter’s name and address (CGS § 9-23r).
Related Bills
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sSB 495, reported favorably by the Government Administration and
Elections (GAE) Committee, restricts persons with certain convictions
from distributing absentee ballot applications.
sHB 5001, reported favorably by the GAE Committee, among other
things, includes identical provisions as this bill.
HB 5530, reported favorably by the GAE Committee, requires a study
of absentee ballot access in unconsolidated cities and boroughs within a
town.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 13 Nay 5 (03/20/2026)