HB 5528 — AN ACT CONCERNING CERTAIN CANDIDATES FOR THE OFFICE OF REGISTRAR OF VOTERS AT REGULAR ELECTIONS.

AN ACT CONCERNING UNOPPOSEDCERTAIN CANDIDATES FOR THE OFFICE OF REGISTRAR OF VOTERS.VOTERS AT REGULAR ELECTIONS.

General Assembly   ProposedCommittee Bill No.

5528   January Session, 2017   LCO No.

4385603   *00438**05603HB05528GAE* Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND ELECTIONS   Introduced by:

  REP.(GAE)   AN ACT CONCERNING CERTAIN CANDIDATES FOR THE OFFICE OF REGISTRAR OF VOTERS AT REGULAR ELECTIONS.

DEVLIN, 134th Dist.

  AN ACT CONCERNING UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES FOR REGISTRAR OF VOTERS.

ThatSection title1. 9 of the general statutes be amended to permit any deputy registrar of voters in a municipality who is a candidate for registrar of voters in such municipality to perform the duties of a deputy registrar, including, but not limited to, entering polling places and central counting locations for such purpose, during any regular election, provided such deputy registrar is unopposed in his or her candidacy for registrar of voters.

StatementSection 9-258 of Purpose:the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

To(a) permitFor amunicipalities deputywith registrarmore than one voting district, the election officials of each polling place shall be electors of the state and shall consist of one moderator, at least one, but not more than two official checkers, two assistant registrars of voters runningof unopposedopposite forpolitical registrarparties, each of whom shall be residents of the town, not more than two challengers if the registrars of voters have appointed challengers pursuant to performsection his9-232, orand herat dutiesleast duringone aand regularnot election.more than two ballot clerks and at least one but not more than two voting tabulator tenders for each voting tabulator in use at the polling place.

A known candidate for any office shall not serve as an election official on election day or serve at the polls in any capacity, except that (1) a municipal clerk or a registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the same office, may perform his or her official duties, and (2) a deputy registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the office of registrar of voters, may perform his or her official duties.

If, in the opinion of the registrar of voters, the public convenience of the electors in any voting district so requires, provision shall be made for an additional line or lines of electors at the polling place and, if more than one line of electors is established, at least one but not more than two additional official checkers and at least one but not more than two ballot clerks for each line of electors shall be appointed and, if more than one tabulator is used in a polling place, at least one and not more than two additional voting tabulator tenders shall be appointed for each additional machine so used.

Head moderators, central counting moderators and absentee ballot counters appointed pursuant to law shall also be deemed election officials.

(b) For municipalities with one voting district, the election officials of such polling place shall be electors of the state and shall consist of one moderator, at least one, but not more than two official checkers, not more than two challengers if the registrars of voters have appointed challengers pursuant to section 9-232, at least one and not more than two voting tabulator tenders for each voting tabulator in use at the polling place and at least one but not more than two ballot clerks.

Additionally, such election officials may consist of two registrars of voters of opposite political parties, or two assistant registrars of voters of opposite political parties, as the case may be, subject to the requirements of sections 9-259 and 9-439, provided if the registrars of voters are present in the polling place, they shall appoint at least one designee to be present in their office.

A known candidate for any office shall not serve as an election official on election day or serve at the polls in any capacity, except that (1) a municipal clerk or a registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the same office, may perform his or her official duties, and (2) a deputy registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the office of registrar of voters, may perform his or her official duties.

If, in the opinion of the registrar of voters, the public convenience of the electors in any voting district so requires, provision shall be made for an additional line or lines of electors at the polling place and, if more than one line of electors is established, at least one, but not more than two, additional official checkers for each line of electors shall be appointed and, if more than one tabulator is used in a polling place, at least one and not more than two additional voting tabulator tenders shall be appointed for each additional tabulator so used.

Head moderators, central counting moderators and absentee ballot counters appointed pursuant to law shall be deemed to be election officials.

(c) No election official shall perform services for any party or candidate on election day nor appear at any political party headquarters prior to eight o'clock p.m.

on election day.

Sec.

2.

Subsection (c) of section 9-236 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(c) No person shall be allowed within any polling place for any purpose other than casting his or her vote, except (1) those permitted or exempt under this section or section 9-236a, [and] (2) primary [or election officials and party checkers appointed under section 9-235 shall be allowed within any polling place except for the purpose of casting his vote] officials under section 9-436, (3) election officials under section 9-258, as amended by this act, including (A) a municipal clerk or registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the same office, performing his or her official duties, and (B) a deputy registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the office of registrar of voters, performing his or her official duties, or (4) party checkers under section 9-235.

Representatives of the news media shall be allowed to enter, remain within and leave any polling place or restricted area surrounding any polling place to observe the election, provided any such representative who in any way interferes with the orderly process of voting shall be evicted by the moderator.

A number of students in grades four to twelve, inclusive, not to exceed four at any one time in any one polling place, may enter any polling place between twelve o'clock noon and three o'clock p.m.

for the purpose of observing the activities taking place in the polling place, provided there is proper parental or teacher supervision present, and provided further, any such student who in any way interferes with the orderly process of voting shall be evicted by the moderator.

An elector may be accompanied into any polling place by one or more children who are fifteen years of age or younger and supervised by the elector if the elector is the parent or legal guardian of such children.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:

Section 1 from passage 9-258 Sec.

2 from passage 9-236(c) Statement of Purpose:

To permit a deputy registrar of voters who is running for the office of registrar of voters to perform his or her official duties in a polling place at a regular election.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets.

Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] Co-Sponsors:

REP.

DEVLIN, 134th Dist.

H.B.

5528