Connecticut 2026 Session Status: In Committee 1 D cosponsors

SB 459 — AN ACT CONCERNING THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE CIRCULATION OF PRIMARY AND NOMINATING PETITIONS AND DISTRIBUTION OF ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS.

Last action — FILE NO. 500

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 06, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.

Next likely step: a committee vote, then a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Low chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a low chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Stalled 16% · moderate confidence

  • In Committee

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Single-party support

    Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 D).

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

231 added · 77 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent update to Bill SB 459 includes the addition of a requirement for maintaining a list of prospective absentee ballot applicants' names and addresses. This change is important because it ensures better tracking and management of absentee voting, enhancing the election process's transparency and security. By keeping an accurate record, this measure aims to improve voter access and help prevent potential fraud.

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Previous
Latest
General Assembly Raised Bill No.
Senate General Assembly File No.
459 February Session, 2026 LCO No.
500 February Session, 2026 Substitute Senate Bill No.
2656 Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND ELECTIONS Introduced by:
459 Senate, April 8, 2026 The Committee on Government Administration and Elections reported through SEN.
(GAE) AN ACT CONCERNING THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE CIRCULATION OF PRIMARY AND NOMINATING PETITIONS AND DISTRIBUTION OF ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS.
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 REGARDING THE CIRCULATION OF PRIMARY AND NOMINATING PETITIONS AND DISTRIBUTION OF ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS.
Each separate page of the petition shall contain a statement as to the authenticity of the signatures on the page and the number of such signatures, and shall be signed under the penalties of false statement by the person who circulated the page, LCO No.
Each separate page of the petition shall contain a statement as to the authenticity of the signatures on the page sSB459 / File No.
2656 1 of 7 Raised Bill No.459 setting forth the circulator's address and the town in which the circulator is an enrolled party member and attesting that each person whose name appears on the page signed the petition in person in the presence of the circulator, that the circulator either knows each such signer or that the signer satisfactorily identified himself or herself to the circulator and that the spaces for candidates supported, offices sought and the political party involved were filled in prior to the obtaining of the signatures.
500 1 sSB459 File No.
500 and the number of such signatures, and shall be signed under the penalties of false statement by the person who circulated the page, setting forth the circulator's address and the town in which the circulator is an enrolled party member and attesting that each person whose name appears on the page signed the petition in person in the presence of the circulator, that the circulator either knows each such signer or that the signer satisfactorily identified himself or herself to the circulator and that the spaces for candidates supported, offices sought and the political party involved were filled in prior to the obtaining of the signatures.
(c) Each circulator of a primary petition page shall be an enrolled party member ofa municipality inthis state who isentitledto vote.Each petition page shall contain a statement signed by the registrar of the LCO No.
(c) Each circulator of a primary petition page shall be an enrolled party member ofa municipality inthis state who isentitledto vote.Each sSB459 / File No.
2656 2 of 7 Raised Bill No.459 municipality in which such circulator is an enrolled party member attesting that the circulator is an enrolled party member in such municipality.
500 2 sSB459 File No.
500 petition page shall contain a statement signed by the registrar of the municipality in which such circulator is an enrolled party member attesting that the circulator is an enrolled party member in such municipality.
No person who has been convicted of a crime under this title shall circulate any page of a primary petition during such person's period of probation or parole, and for a period of twelve years after such person's LCO No.
No person who has been convicted of a crime under this title shall circulate any page of a primary petition during such person's period of probation or parole, and for a period of twelve years after such person's sSB459 / File No.
2656 3 of 7 Raised Bill No.459 release from confinement, probation or parole, and the registrar shall reject for filing any such page that was circulated in violation of such prohibition.
500 3 sSB459 File No.
500 release from confinement, probation or parole, and the registrar shall reject for filing any such page that was circulated in violation of such prohibition.
Each page of a nominating petition submitted to the town clerk or the Secretary of the State and filed with the Secretary of the State under the LCO No.
Each page of a nominating petition submitted to the town clerk or the Secretary of the State and filed with the Secretary of the State under the provisions of sections 9-453a to 9-453s, inclusive, or section 9-216 shall sSB459 / File No.
2656 4 of 7 Raised Bill No.459 provisions of sections 9-453a to 9-453s, inclusive, or section 9-216 shall contain a statement as to the residency in this state and eligibility of the circulator and authenticity of the signatures thereon, signed under penaltiesoffalse statement,bythepersonwhocirculatedthesame.Such statement shall set forth (1) such circulator's residence address, including the town in this state in which such circulator is a resident, (2) the circulator's date of birth and that the circulator is at least eighteen years of age, (3) that the circulator is a United States citizen and [not] neither (A) on parole for conviction of a felony, nor (B) on probation or parole for conviction of a crime under this title or within twelve years of release from confinement, probation or parole due to such a conviction under this subparagraph, and (4) that each person whose name appears on such page signed the same in person in the presence of such circulator and that either the circulator knows each such signer or that the signer satisfactorily identified himself to the circulator.
500 4 sSB459 File No.
500 contain a statement as to the residency in this state and eligibility of the circulator and authenticity of the signatures thereon, signed under penaltiesoffalse statement,bythepersonwhocirculatedthesame.Such statement shall set forth (1) such circulator's residence address, including the town in this state in which such circulator is a resident, (2) the circulator's date of birth and that the circulator is at least eighteen years of age, (3) that the circulator is a United States citizen and [not] neither (A) on parole for conviction of a felony, nor (B) on probation or parole for conviction of a crime under this title or within the period that is twelve years after release from confinement, probation or parole due to conviction of a crime under this title, and (4) that each person whose name appears on such page signed the same in person in the presence of such circulator and that either the circulator knows each such signer or that the signer satisfactorily identified himself to the circulator.
Subsection (k) of section 9-140 of the 2026 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
Subsections (j) to (o), inclusive, of section 9-140 of the 2026 supplement to the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(k) (1) (A) A person shall register with the municipal clerk before distributing five or more absentee ballot applications for an election, primary or referendum, not including applications distributed to such person'simmediatefamily.Suchrequirementshallnotapplytoaperson who is the designee of an applicant or to any employee of the Department of Correction who provides the application for absentee ballot form prescribed under subsection (c) of section 9-139a to incarcerated absentee ballot applicants.
(j) No person shall pay or give any compensation to another, and no person shall accept any compensation, solely for (1) [distributing absentee ballot applications obtained from a municipal clerk or the Secretary of the State or (2)] obtaining an absentee ballot application from a municipal clerk, as the designee of an absentee ballot applicant, (2)obtainingfewerthanfiveabsenteeballotapplicationsforthepurpose of distributing such applications to members of such person's immediate family, pursuant to subparagraph (C) of subdivision (1) of subsection (k) of this section, or (3) assisting any other person in the execution of an absentee ballot application.
(B) Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, no person who has been convicted of a crime under this titleshalldistributeanyabsenteeballotapplicationduringsuchperson's periodof probation or parole, and for aperiod of twelve years after such LCO No.
(k) (1) [A person shall register with the municipal clerk before distributing five or more absentee ballot applications for an election, primary or referendum, not including applications distributed to such sSB459 / File No.
2656 5 of 7 Raised Bill No.
500 5 sSB459 File No.
459 person's release from confinement, probation or parole.
500 person's immediate family.
The municipal clerk shall reject for filing any absentee ballot application that was distributed in violation of such prohibition.
Such requirement shall not apply to] No person shall receive any absentee ballot application for the purpose of distributing such application to another person, except for (A) a person who is the designee of an applicant, [or to] (B) any employee of the Department of Correction who provides the application for absentee ballot form prescribed under subsection (c) of section 9-139a to one or more incarcerated absentee ballot applicants, and (C) a person who receives fewer than five absentee ballot applications for the purpose of distributing such applications to members of such person's immediate family.
For the purpose of complying with such rejection requirement, the municipal clerk shall order the performance of a nation-wide criminal background check on each distributor of one or more absentee ballot applications.
(3) Any person who distributes absentee ballot applications shall maintaina list ofthenamesandaddressesofprospective absentee ballot applicants who receive such applications, and shall file such list with the municipal clerk prior to the date of the primary, election or referendum for which the applications were so distributed, except that such requirements shall not apply to any employee of the Department of Correction who provides the application for absentee ballot form prescribed under subsection (c) of section 9-139a to incarcerated absentee ballot applicants.
[(3) Any person who distributes absentee ballot applications shall maintaina list of thenamesandaddressesofprospective absentee ballot applicants who receive such applications, and shall file such list with the municipal clerk prior to the date of the primary, election or referendum for which the applications were so distributed, except that such requirements shall not apply to any employee of the Department of Correction who provides the application for absentee ballot form prescribed under subsection (c) of section 9-139a to incarcerated absentee ballot applicants.
Any person who distributes absentee ballot applicationsandreceivesanexecuted applicationshallforthwithfilethe application with the municipal clerk.
Any person who distributes absentee ballot applicationsandreceivesanexecuted applicationshallforthwithfilethe application with the municipal clerk.] (l) No candidate, party or political committee, or agent of such candidate or committee, shall mail unsolicited applications for absentee ballots to any person.
[, unless such mailing includes:
(1) A written sSB459 / File No.
500 6 sSB459 File No.
500 explanation of the eligibility requirements for voting by absentee ballot asprescribedinsubsection(a)ofsection9-135,and(2)awrittenwarning thatvotingor attempting tovoteby absenteeballot without meetingone or more of such eligibility requirements subjects the elector or applicant to potential civil and criminal penalties.] As used in this subsection, "agent" means any person authorized to act on behalf of another person.
(m) The Secretary of the State shall conspicuously post on the Secretary of the State's web site, adjacent to the absentee ballot application form available for downloading, a notice that the application may be downloaded by a person only for (1) the person's own use, (2) the use of a member of the person's immediate family, or (3) the use of a designee of the applicant.
The notice shall also contain an advisory statement concerning the requirements of subsection (k) of this section.
(n) The State Elections Enforcement Commission, in consultation with the Secretary of the State, shall prepare a summary of the requirements and prohibitions of the absentee voting laws, which shall be posted on said agencies' web sites.
Candidates and political party chairpersons shall provide such summary to campaign and party employees and volunteers.
(o) As used in this section, (1) "immediate family" has the same meaning as provided in subsection (a) of section 9-140b, and (2) "designee" has the same meaning as provided in subsection (b) of section 9-140b.
2 from passage 9-410(c) Sec.
2 from passage 9-410(c) from passage Sec.
3 from passage 9-453e from passage Sec.
3 9-453e Sec.
4 9-453j LCO No.
4 from passage 9-453j Sec.
2656 6 of 7 Raised Bill No.
5 from passage 9-140(j) to (o) sSB459 / File No.
459 Sec.
500 7 sSB459 File No.
Show all 90 changed rows (50 more)
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5 from passage 9-140(k) Statement of Purpose:
500 Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
To prohibit for a period of time certain individuals convicted of crimes under title 9 of the general statutes from circulating primary and nominating petitions and distributing absentee ballot applications.
In Section 4(3)(B), "within twelve years of release" was changed to "within the period that is twelve years after release" and "due to such a conviction under this subparagraph" was changed to "due to conviction of a crime under this title", for clarity and consistency.
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.
GAE Joint Favorable Subst.
2656 7 of 7
sSB459 / File No.
500 8 sSB459 File No.
500 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 $ Secretary of the State GF - Cost See Below See Below Note:
GF=General Fund Municipal Impact:
Municipalities Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $ Various Municipalities STATE See Below See Below MANDATE 1 - Cost Explanation The bill (1) prohibits certain individuals from circulating nominating petitions and requires a background check for circulators, (2) limits the distribution of absentee ballots for others, and (3) prohibits the mailing of unsolicited absentee ballots.
The bill's background check requirement results in a cost to the Secretary of the State (SOTS) and various municipalities beginning in FY 27.
The bill requires that SOTS, a municipal registrar of voters, or a town clerk order a background check for each circulator.
Different officials must order the background check for circulators depending on the type of election for which the circulator is petitioning, although one portion of the bill (Section 3) indicates that either the town clerk or SOTS must order the background check for any circulator.
The exact cost of the 1State mandate is defined in Sec.
2-32b(2) of the Connecticut General Statutes, "state mandate" means any state initiated constitutional, statutory or executive action that requires a local government to establish, expand or modify its activities in such a way as to necessitate additional expenditures from local revenues.
sSB459 / File No.
500 9 sSB459 File No.
500 backgroundcheckswilldependonthenumber ofapplicablecirculators.
A basic national background check is estimated to cost $20 to $100 per report, depending on the depth of the search.
The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future, subject to inflation, and the number of circulators subject to a background check under the bill's provisions.
sSB459 / File No.
500 10 sSB459 File No.
500 OLR Bill Analysis sSB 459 AN ACT CONCERNING THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE CIRCULATION OF PRIMARY AND NOMINATING PETITIONS AND DISTRIBUTION OF ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS.
SUMMARY This bill prohibits people from (1) circulating certain election petitions for a specified period if they have been convicted of an election crime and (2) requesting or distributing absentee ballot applications for others, with certain exceptions.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Upon passage §§ 1-4 — PETITION PROHIBITION The petition prohibition lasts (1) while the person is on probation or parole and (2) for 12 years after a person’s release from confinement, probation, or parole.
The secretary of the state, registrar of voters, or town clerk, as applicable, must (1) order a nationwide criminal background check on each circulator and (2) reject any petition page filed by an ineligible person under these provisions.
An ineligible person may not circulate (1) nominating petitions on behalf of petitioning candidates seeking congressional, statewide, legislative, or municipal office, or the office of presidential elector, at a regular or special election or (2) primary petitions on behalf of major party candidates for congressional, statewide, legislative, or municipal office.
For nominating petitions, the bill adds a related stipulation to the statement that the circulator must sign on each petition page.
§ 5 — ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATION PROHIBITION The bill generally prohibits any person from requesting or distributing absentee ballot applications for others unless (1) acting as a sSB459 / File No.
500 11 sSB459 File No.
500 voter’s designee (see BACKGROUND);
(2) by a Department of Correction employee on an incarcerated voter’s behalf as allowed by law;
or (3) requesting less than five applications for use by the person’s immediate family (spouse, child, parent, or sibling, or any dependent relative residing in the person’s home).
Additionally,currentlawprohibitsapersonfrompayingorreceiving compensation solely to distribute absentee ballot applications.
The bill instead prohibits paying or receiving compensation solely to obtain applications (1) by designees or (2) on behalf of a person’s immediate family.
Correspondingly, the bill eliminates provisions generally requiring individualsto (1)register withthetownclerk ifdistributing five or more applications for a specific election contest and (2) keep a log of who received applications they distributed and file it with the town clerk.
Similarly, the bill also prohibits candidates, parties, and political committees (and agents of candidates or committees) from mailing unsolicited absentee ballot applications to any person.
Under current law, they may do so if they include a written (1) explanation of the eligibility requirements and (2) warning concerning the penalties for violating these requirements.
BACKGROUND Voters’ Designees By law, a designee must be (1) a person caring for the applicant because of the applicant’s illness or physical disability (for example, a licensed physician or a registered or practical nurse);
(2) the applicant’s family member;
or (3) a police officer, registrar of voters, or deputy or assistant registrar of voters in the municipality where the applicant resides (CGS § 9-140b).
Related Bills sHB 5001, reported favorably by the Government Administration and Elections (GAE) Committee, generally amends the state’s absentee balloting laws, including changes concerning absentee ballot sSB459 / File No.
500 12 sSB459 File No.
500 distribution by third parties.
sSB 491, reported favorably the GAE committee, contains substantially similar absentee balloting provisions as sHB 5001.
COMMITTEE ACTION Government Administration and Elections Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 19 Nay 0 (03/23/2026) sSB459 / File No.
500 13
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Action History

  1. FILE NO. 500

  2. SENATE CALENDAR NUMBER 312

  3. FAV. RPT., TAB. FOR CAL., SEN.

  4. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  5. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/07/26

  6. FILED WITH LCO

  7. Joint Favorable Substitute

  8. PUBLIC HEARING 0313

  9. REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Government Administration and Elections

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 186 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (186)

186 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

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elections
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 459?
SB 459 is sponsored by Derek Slap (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 459?
This bill is in committee in the Senate. Introduced March 06, 2026. It must pass committee before a floor vote.
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