HB 5529 — AN ACT CONCERNING POLL BOOKS FOR THE CHECKING OF ELECTORS AT ELECTIONS, PRIMARIES AND REFERENDA.

House of Representatives General Assembly RaisedFile Bill No.

5529546 February Session, 2026 LCOSubstitute House Bill No.

25645529 ReferredHouse toof Representatives, April 9, 2026 The Committee on GOVERNMENTGovernment ADMINISTRATIONAdministration ANDand ELECTIONSElections Introducedreported by:through REP.

(GAE)BLUMENTHAL ANof ACTthe CONCERNING147th POLLDist., BOOKSChairperson FORof THEthe CHECKINGCommittee OFon ELECTORSthe ATpart ELECTIONS,of PRIMARIESthe ANDHouse, REFERENDA.that the substitute bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING POLL BOOKS FOR THE CHECKING OF ELECTORS AT ELECTIONS, PRIMARIES AND REFERENDA.

and "party committee", "political committee" and "candidate committee" have the same meanings as provided in section 9-601 of the general statutes.

(b) Not later than fourteen days prior to any election, primary or referendum held in a municipality, the registrars of voters of such municipality shall provide notice to each party(1) committee,town committee within such municipality, (2) political committee formed solely to aid or promote the success or defeat of a referendum question andthat candidateis committeeto ofappear whetheron the pollballot booksat containingsuch thereferendum, officialand checklist(3) tocandidate becommittee usedof ata suchcandidate election,whose primaryname oris referendumto forappear on the checkingballot ofat anysuch electorelection appearingor atsHB5529 the/ LCOFile No.

2564546 1 ofsHB5529 2File Raised Bill No.

5529546 primary, of whether the poll books containing the official checklist to be used at such election, primary or referendum for the checking of any elector appearing at the polling place or location designated for the conduct of early voting will beinclude paper-basedan orelectronic electronic.version.

Section 1 January 1, 2027 New section Statement of Purpose:Legislative Commissioners:

ToIn requireSubsec. registrars of voters to provide to certain committees notice of at least fourteen days prior to any election, primary or referendum of whether electors on the official checklist to be used at such election, primary or referendum will be checked manually on paper or electronically.

[Proposed(b)(2),"that deletionsisto areappear enclosedontheballot inat brackets.suchreferendum" was added for clarity;

Proposedand additionsin areSubsec. indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] LCO No.

2564(b)(3), 2"such ofelection, 2primary or referendum" was changed to "such election or primary" for accuracy.

GAE Joint Favorable Subst.

sHB5529 / File No.

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546 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 $ Resources of the General Fund GF - Potential Minimal Minimal Revenue Gain Note:

GF=General Fund Municipal Impact:

None Explanation The bill requires registrars to notify electors at least 14 days prior to an election what kind of poll book will be used in that election or referendum, and establishes a $50 minimum penalty for each registrar whofailstoprovidethatnotice,resultinginapotentialminimalrevenue gain to the General Fund beginning in FY 27.

The exact revenue gain will depend on the number and amount of fines imposed due to the legislation.

The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future, subject to inflation and the number of penalties imposed.

1The Secretary of the State (SOTS) is required to approve any electronic poll book prior to it being used by towns.

SOTS has not approved any electronic poll book at this time.

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546 3 sHB5529 File No.

546 OLR Bill Analysis sHB 5529 AN ACT CONCERNING POLL BOOKS FOR THE CHECKING OF ELECTORS AT ELECTIONS, PRIMARIES AND REFERENDA.

SUMMARY This bill requires each registrar of voters, at least 14 days before any election, primary, or referendum in a municipality, to notify certain entities whether electronic polls books containing the official checklist will be used to check in voters on election day or for early voting (under current practice, these can only be used as a backup to paper-based poll books).

The registrars must notify all (1) town committees in the municipality, (2) political committees formed solely to aid or promote the success or defeat of a referendum question, and (3) candidate committees for candidates on the ballot.

The bill subjects any registrar who fails to provide the notice to a fine of at least $50.

(The bill does not specify a maximum allowable amount for the fine nor how it will be imposed or enforced.) EFFECTIVE DATE:

January 1, 2027 COMMITTEE ACTION Government Administration and Elections Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 19 Nay 0 (03/20/2026) sHB5529 / File No.

546 4