SB 1057 — AN ACT CONCERNING THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE AND EARLY VOTING.

(h)(g) Except as provided in section 2 of this act, the provisions of title 9 of the general statutes and any regulation adopted under said title concerning procedures relating to the custody, control and counting of absenteesSB1057 ballotsshallapply,asnearly/ aspossible,toFile thecustody,No. control and counting of early voting ballots under this section.

(i)386 No5 personsSB1057 shallFile solicitNo. on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate or on behalf of or in opposition to any question being submitted at the election or primary, or loiter or peddle or offer any advertising matter, ballot or circular to another person within a radius of seventy-five feet of any outside entrance in use as an entry to any location designated by the registrars of voters for early voting or in any corridor, passageway or other approach leading from any such outside entrance to any such location or in any room opening upon any such corridor, passageway or approach.

(j)386 Theabsentee provisionsballotsshallapply,asnearly ofaspossible, subsections (a) to (i),thecustody,control inclusive,and counting of thisearly sectionvoting shallballots notunder applythis tosection. any primary held for the purpose of choosing town committee members.

(h) No person shall solicit on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate or on behalf of or in opposition to any question being submitted at the election or primary, or loiter or peddle or offer any advertising matter, ballot or circular to another person within a radius of seventy-five feet of any outside entrance in use as an entry to any location designated by the registrars of voters for early voting or in any corridor, passageway or other approach leading from any such outside entrance to any such location or in any room opening upon any such corridor, passageway or approach.

(i) The provisions of subsections (a) to (h), inclusive, of this section shall not apply to any primary held for the purpose of choosing town committee members.

(NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) Early voting ballots andreceived same-by the municipal clerk prior to the day of an election or primary, and same-day election or same-day primary registration ballots received by the municipal clerk prior to the day of thea regular election or primaryprimary, shall be delivered by the municipal clerk to the registrars between six o'clock a.m.

(b) The ballot counters for such early voting ballots and same-day election or same-day primary registration ballots shall proceed to the LCOcentral No.counting location or to the respective polling places when counting is to take place pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a of the general statutes at the time, between six o'clock a.m.

4425 5 of 32 Raised Bill No.1057 central counting location or to the respective polling places when counting is to take place pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a of the general statutes at the time, between six o'clock a.m.

(a)sSB1057 Notwithstanding/ [theFile provisionsNo. of any general statute,] any provision of the general statutes or any special act or municipal charter, at any regular election, or at any special election held to fill a vacancy in a state, district or municipal office, the polls on the day of such election shallremainopenforvotingfromsixo'clocka.m.untileighto'clockp.m.

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386 (a) Notwithstanding [the provisions of any general statute,] any provision of the general statutes or any special act or municipal charter, at any regular election, or at any special election held to fill a vacancy in a state, district or municipal office, the polls on the day of such election shallremainopenforvotingfromsixo'clocka.m.untileighto'clockp.m.

(b) Notwithstanding [the provisions of any general statute,] any provision of the general statutes or any special act or municipal charter, at any regular election,election,each each location designated for election[election day] same- day election or same-day primary registration pursuant to subsection (c) of section 9-19j, as amended by this act, shallshall, on election day or primary day, as those terms are defined in said section, remain open for election[election dayday] registration and voting from six o'clock a.m.

No applicant for [election day] same-day election or same- day primary registration shall be admitted as an elector or permitted to cast such applicant's vote after the hour prescribed for the closing of the location designated for such purposes in[in any regularregular] on election day or primary day unless such applicant is in line at eight o'clock p.m.

An election or primary official or a police officer of the municipality, who is appointed by the registrars of voters, LCOshall No.be placed at the end of the line at eight o'clock p.m.

4425 6 of 32 Raised Bill No.

1057 shall be placed at the end of the line at eight o'clock p.m.

(c) (1) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes or any special act or municipal charter, at any regular election held on or after July 1, 2023, and at any primary held on or after January 1, 2024, each location designated for the conduct of early voting pursuant to subsection (c)(b) of section 1 of this act shall,or duringfor thesame-day earlyelection votingor period,same- remainsSB1057 open/ fromFile tenNo. o'clock a.m.

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386 day primary registration pursuant to subsection (c) of section 9-19j, as amended by this act, shall, during the early voting period, remain open from ten o'clock a.m.

No(2) electorNotwithstanding shallany beprovision permittedof tothe castgeneral suchstatutes elector'sor voteany afterspecial theact houror prescribedmunicipal forcharter, theat closingany ofspecial theelection held on or after January 1, 2024, each location designated for the conduct of early voting atpursuant suchto electionsubsection or(b) primaryof unlesssection such1 electorof isthis inact lineshall, atduring suchthe prescribedearly hour.voting period, remain open from ten o'clock a.m.

to six o'clock p.m.

(3) No elector shall be permitted to cast such elector's vote after the hour prescribed for the closing of the location designated for early voting at such election or primary unless such elector is in line at such prescribed hour.

(a)Foreachmunicipality,theregistrarsofvoters,inconsultationwith the municipal clerk, shall create an emergency contingency plan for elections, primaries and referenda to be held within such municipality, including the conduct of early voting, as provided in section 1 of this act, at such regular elections held on or after July 1, 2023, and at such primaries and special elections held on or after January 1, 2024.

Such plan shall include, but not be limited to, (1) solutions for ballot or envelope shortages, and (2) strategies to implement in the event of (A) a shortage or absence of [poll workers] election, primary or referendum officials at the polling place or the location designated for early voting, as applicable, (B) a loss of power, (C) a fire or the sounding of an alarm within a polling place or a location designated for early voting, (D) votingsSB1057 machine/ malfunctions,File LCO No.

4425386 78 ofsSB1057 32File RaisedNo. Bill No.1057 (E) a weather or other natural disaster, (F) the need to remove [a poll worker or moderator] an election, primary or referendum official and to replace such [worker or moderator] official, and (G) disorder in and around the polling place or the location designated for early voting.

386 voting machine malfunctions, (E) a weather or other natural disaster,(F) the need to remove [a poll worker or moderator] an election, primary or referendum official and to replace such [worker or moderator] official, and (G) disorder in and around the polling place or the location designated for early voting.

(3) "Same-day election registration" means admission as an elector during the period of early voting at ana regular election, as provided in section 1 of this act, or on election day;

(c) (1) The registrars of voters shall designate a location for the completionsSB1057 and/ processingFile of [election day registration applications on LCO No.

4425386 89 ofsSB1057 32File RaisedNo. Bill No.1057 election day] same-day election registrations and same-day primary registrations, provided (A) the registrars of voters [shall] have access to the state-wide centralized voter registration system from such location, and (B) such location [shall be] is certified in writing to the Secretary of the State not later than [thirty-one] forty-one days before election day or primary day.

The386 writtencompletion certificationand underprocessing subparagraph (B) of this[election subdivisionday shallregistration (i)applications includeon theelection name,day] streetsame-day addresselection registrations and relevantsame-day contactprimary informationregistrations, associatedprovided with(A) suchthe location,registrars (ii)of listvoters the[shall] namehave andaccess addressto ofthe eachstate-wide electioncentralized officialvoter orregistration primarysystem officialfrom appointedsuch tolocation, serveand at(B) such location,location if[shall any,be] andis (iii)certified providein awriting descriptionto of the designSecretary of suchthe locationState andnot alater planthan for[thirty-one] effectiveforty-one completiondays andbefore processingelection ofday suchor applications.primary day.

The written certification under subparagraph (B) of this subdivision shall (i) include the name, street address and relevant contact information associated with such location, (ii) list the name and address of each election official or primary official who shall be appointed by theregistrarsofvoters to serve at suchlocation,ifany, and (iii) provide a description of the design of such location and a plan for effective completion and processing of such applications.

(3) The registrars of voters may delegate to each election official or primary official appointed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection [, if any,] any of the responsibilities assigned to the registrars of voters.

The registrars of voters shall supervise each such election official or primary official and train each such [election] official to be [an election day registration election] a same-day election or same-day primary registrationsSB1057 official./ File No.

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4425386 9 of 32 Raised Bill No.1057 (d) Any person applying [to register on election day] for same-day election or same-day primary registration underofficial. the provisions [of subsections (a) to (i), inclusive,] of this section shall make application in accordance with the provisions of section 9-20, provided (1) (A) on election day or primary day, the applicant shall appear in person not later than eight o'clock p.m., in accordance with subsection (b) of section 9-174,asamendedbythisact,atthelocationdesignatedbytheregistrars of voters for [election day] same-day election or same-day primary registration, and (B) during the period of early voting prior to election day or primary day, the applicant shall appear in person at such time as provided in subsection (c) of section 9-174, as amended by this act, at such location, (2) an applicant who is a student enrolled at an institution of higher education may submit a current photo identification card issued by such institutioninlieuoftheidentificationrequiredby section 9-20, and (3) the applicant shall declare under oath that the applicant has not previously voted in the election or primary, as provided in subsection (f) of this section.

(d) Any person applying [to register on election day] for same-day election or same-day primary registration under the provisions [of subsections (a) to (i), inclusive,] of this section shall make application in accordance with the provisions of section 9-20, provided (1) (A) on election day or primary day, the applicant shall appear in person not later than eight o'clock p.m., in accordance with subsection (b) of section 9-174,asamendedbythisact,atthelocationdesignatedbytheregistrars of voters for [election day registration] same-day election or same-day primary registration, and (B) during the period of early voting prior to electionday or primary day,theapplicant shallappear in person at such times as provided in subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 9-174, as amended by this act, at such location, (2) an applicant who is a student enrolled at an institution of higher education may submit a current photo identification card issued by such institution in lieu of the identification required by section 9-20, and (3) the applicant shall declare under oath that the applicant has not previously voted in the election or primary, as provided in subsection (f) of this section.

(1)sSB1057 If/ theFile registrars of voters determine that the applicant is not already an elector, the registrars of voters shall admit the applicant as LCO No.

4425386 1011 ofsSB1057 32File RaisedNo. Bill No.1057 an elector and the privileges of an elector shall attach immediately.

386 (1) If the registrars of voters determine that the applicant is not already an elector, the registrars of voters shall admit the applicant as an elector and the privileges of an elector shall attach immediately.

(2) If the registrars of voters determine that such applicant is an elector in another municipality and [suchsuch applicant states[states that he or she] such applicant wants to change the municipality in which the applicant is an elector, notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-21, the registrars of voters of the municipality in which such elector now seeks to register shall immediately notify the registrars of voters in such other municipality that such elector is changing the municipality in which the applicant is ananelector.Theregistrarsofvotersinsuchothermunicipalityshallnotify elector.the election officials or primary officials in such municipality to remove such elector from the official voter list and, if applicable, any enrollment list of such municipality.

TheSuch registrarselection ofofficials votersor inprimary suchofficials other municipality shall notifycross through the electionelector's officialsname inon such municipality to remove such elector from the official voter list and, if applicable, any enrollment list ofand mark "off" next to such municipality.elector's name on any such [official voter] list.

Such election officials shall cross through the elector's name on such official voter list and, if applicable, enrollment list and mark "off" next to such elector's name on any such [official voter] list.

After completion of such review, if a resolution of the matter [can not] cannot besSB1057 made,/ suchFile matter shall be reported to the State Elections Enforcement Commission which shall conduct an investigation of the LCO No.

4425386 1112 ofsSB1057 32File RaisedNo. Bill No.1057 matter.

386 be made, such matter shall be reported to the State Elections Enforcement Commission which shall conduct an investigation of the matter.

If previously registered at another location, I have provided such addresssSB1057 to/ theFile registrarsNo. of voters and hereby request cancellation of such prior registration.

LCO386 13 sSB1057 File No.

4425386 12address to the registrars of 32voters Raisedand Billhereby No.1057request 6.cancellation of such prior registration.

6.

The elector shall place the [electionday]same-dayelectionorsame-dayprimaryregistrationballot inthe[electionday]same-day electionelectionor or same-day primaryregistration ballot envelope provided, and deposit such envelope in a secured [electionday]same-dayelectionorsame-dayprimaryregistrationballot depository receptacle.

At the conclusion of each day during the early voting period, the registrars of voters shall transport such receptacle containing such day's same-day election or same-day primary registration ballots to the municipal clerk, who shall retain such ballotsballots, if necessary, in the fire-resistive vault or safe provided for in section 7- 27, until delivery of such ballots to the registrars of voters on election day or primary day forforthepurpose thepurpose ofcounting suchballots.Onelectionsuch ballots.Onelection day or primary day, at the time designated by the registrars of voters and noticed to election officials or primary officials, the registrars of voters shall transport such receptacle containing the [election day] same-day election or same-day primary registration ballots received on such election day or primary day to the central location or polling place, pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, where absentee ballots are counted andsuch [electionday]same-day electionelectionor or same-day primary registration ballots shall be counted by the election officials or primary officialssSB1057 present/ atFile suchNo. central location or polling place.

A386 section14 ofsSB1057 theFile head moderator's return shall show the number of [election day] same- day election or same-day primary registration ballots received from LCO No.

4425386 13officials ofpresent 32at Raisedsuch Billcentral No.1057location electors.or polling place.

A section of the head moderator's return shall show the number of [election day] same- day election or same-day primary registration ballots received from electors.

(h) [The] Except as provided in section 2 of this act, the provisions of title 9 [the general statutes and regulations] title 9 and any regulation adopted under said title concerning procedures relating to the custody, control and counting of absentee ballots shall apply, as nearly as possible, to the custody, control and counting of [election day] same-day election or same-day primary registration ballots under [subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of] this section.

(i) After the acceptance of [an election day] a same-day election or same-day primary registration, the registrars of voters shall forthwith send a registration confirmation notice to the residential address of each applicant who [is] was admitted as an elector on election day [under subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of] or during the period of early voting prior to election day, or who was enrolled in a political party holding a primary on primary day or during the period of early voting prior to primary day, under [subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of] this section.

(j)sSB1057 No/ personFile shall solicit [in] on behalf of or in opposition to [the candidacy of another or himself or herself] any candidate or [in] on behalf of or in opposition to any question being submitted at the LCO No.

4425386 1415 ofsSB1057 32File RaisedNo. Bill No.1057 election, or loiter or peddle or offer any advertising matter, ballot or circular to another person within a radius of seventy-five feet of any outside entrance in use as an entry to any location designated by the registrars of voters for [election day] same-day election or same-day primary registration balloting or in any corridor, passageway or other approach leading from any such outside entrance to any such location or in any room opening upon any such corridor, passageway or approach.

386 (j) No person shall solicit [in] on behalf of or in opposition to [the candidacy of another or himself or herself or in] any candidate or on behalf of or in opposition to any question being submitted at the election, or loiter or peddle or offer any advertising matter, ballot or circular to another person within a radius of seventy-five feet of any outside entrance in use as an entry to any location designated by the registrars of voters for [election day] same-day election or same-day primary registration balloting or in any corridor, passageway or other approach leading from any such outside entrance to any such location or in any room opening upon any such corridor, passageway or approach.

(2)sSB1057 For/ theFile state election in 2020, and any election held pursuant to section 9-211, 9-212, 9-215 or 9-218 on or after June 23, 2021, but prior to November 3, 2021, the warning under subsection (a) of this section shall LCO No.

4425386 1516 ofsSB1057 32File RaisedNo. Bill No.1057 be given not more than seven nor less than four days previous to holding such election.

386 (2) For the state election in 2020, and any election held pursuant to section 9-211, 9-212, 9-215 or 9-218 on or after June 23, 2021, but prior to November 3, 2021, the warning under subsection (a) of this section shall be given not more than seven nor less than four days previous to holding such election.

Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, notice of an election of a city or borough shall be given by publishing a warning (i) in a newspaper published within the limits of such city or borough or having a general circulation therein, not more than fifteen nor less than five days previous to [holding] the commencement of the period of early voting at the election, and (ii) on the Internet web site of such city or borough, or the town having such city or borough within suchtown's limits, not more thanfifteennor lessthanfive daysprevious to [holding] the commencement of the period of early voting at the election,sSB1057 which/ warningFile shall include notice of (I) the time and the location of each polling place in such city or borough, (II) in cities and boroughs divided into voting districts, the time and the location of each LCO No.

4425386 1617 ofsSB1057 32File RaisedNo. Bill No.1057 polling place in each district, [and] (III) the time and the [location] site of each location designated for [election day] same-day election registration, and (IV) the time and the site of each location designated for the conduct of early voting, in such city or borough.

386 election, which warning shall include notice of (I) the time and the location of each polling place in such city or borough, (II) in cities and boroughs divided into voting districts, the time and the location of each polling place in each district, [and] (III) the time and the [location] site of each location designated for [election day registration] same-day election registration in such city or borough, and (IV) the time and the site of each location designated for the conduct of early voting in such city or borough.

Such registrars and clerk shall also so certify the number of ballots for each location designated for the conduct of early voting in the municipality that have been ordered for each regular election held on or after July 1, 2023, and for each primary or special election held on or after January 1, 2024.

Such certification shall be provided to the Secretary not later than thirty-one days prior to the commencement of the period of early voting at an election or twenty-onetwenty- one days prior to the commencement of the period of early voting at a primary.

(b) If the registrars of voters and municipal clerk of a municipality do not jointly submit the certification as set forth in subsection (a) of this section,sSB1057 such/ registrarsFile ofNo. voters and municipal clerk shall order a number of ballots equal to the total number of registered voters in their municipality for such election or primary.

(c)386 The18 registrarssSB1057 ofFile voters and municipal clerk may jointly apply to LCO No.

4425386 17section, such registrars of 32voters Raisedand Billmunicipal No.1057clerk theshall Secretaryorder a number of theballots Stateequal forto athe waivertotal number of theregistered requirementsvoters ofin subsectionstheir (a)municipality andfor (b)such ofelection thisor section.primary.

(c) The registrars of voters and municipal clerk may jointly apply to the Secretary of the State for a waiver of the requirements of subsections (a) and (b) of this section.

In the case of a write-in candidacy for the office of Governor or Lieutenant Governor, the registration shall include a candidate for eacheachofthose ofthose offices,or shallbevoid.The registrationshall not include a designation of any political party.

Notwithstanding any provision of thissSB1057 section/ toFile theNo. contrary, any person desiring to be a write-in candidate for the municipal office of town meeting member in any town having a representative town meeting which has seventy-five or more members shall register his candidacy with the town clerk of such town not later than the last business day preceding such election.

A386 person19 LCOsSB1057 File No.

4425386 18this ofsection 32to Raisedthe Billcontrary, No.1057any mayperson registerdesiring asto be a write-in candidate for athe district or municipal office ifof suchtown person'smeeting namemember appearsin onany thetown last-completedhaving registrya listrepresentative oftown themeeting districtwhich has seventy-five or municipalitymore representedmembers byshall register his candidacy with the town clerk of such office,town asnot later than the caselast maybusiness be.day preceding the commencement of the period of early voting at such election.

A person may register as a write- in candidate for a district or municipal office if such person's name appears on the last-completed registry list of the district or municipality represented by such office, as the case may be.

Section 9-329b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective Julyfrom 1,passage): 2023):

(a) At any time prior to the commencement of the period of early voting at a primary held onbefore or after January 1, 2024, and pursuant to sections 9-423, 9-425 and 9-464, or a special act, or prior to thesSB1057 commencement/ ofFile theNo. period of early voting at any regular election held on or after July 1, 2023, the Superior Court may issue an order removing a candidate from aballotwhereitisshownthatsaidcandidate isimproperlyontheballot.

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386 any regular election held before July 1, 2023, or any special election held before January 1, 2024, the Superior Court may issue an order removing a candidate from a ballot where it is shown that [said] such candidate is improperly on the ballot.

(b) At any time prior to the commencement of the period of early voting at a primary held on or after January 1, 2024, and pursuant to sections 9-423, 9-425 and 9-464, or a special act, or prior to the commencement of the periodofearly voting at any regular electionheld on or after July 1, 2023, or at any special election held on or after January 1, 2024, the Superior Court may issue an order removing a candidate from a ballot where it is shown that such candidate is improperly on the ballot.

Section 9-460 of the general statutes is repealed and the LCOfollowing No.is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023):

4425 19 of 32 Raised Bill No.1057 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023):

No withdrawal, and no nomination to replace a candidate who has withdrawn, under this section shall be valid unless the candidate who has withdrawn has filed a letter ofwithdrawalsignedby suchcandidate withtheSecretaryofthe State in the case of a state or district office or the office of state senator or state representative from any district, or with the municipal clerk in thesSB1057 case/ ofFile aNo. municipal office other than state senator or state representative.

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386 the case of a municipal office other than state senator or state representative.

If a nominee dies within forty-six days,days before the election, but prior to twenty-four hours,hours before the [opening of the polls on the day of] commencement of the periodperiodof of early voting at the election for which such nomination has been made, the vacancy may be filled in the manner prescribed in this LCOsection No.by two o'clock p.m.

4425 20 of 32 Raised Bill No.1057 section by two o'clock p.m.

If at the time such nomination is certified to the Secretary of the State or to the municipal clerk, as the case may be, the ballots have alreadybeenprinted,theSecretaryoftheStateshalldirectthemunicipalalready been printed, the Secretary of the State shall direct the municipal clerk in each municipality affected to (A) have the ballots reprinted with the nomination thus made included thereon, (B) cause printed stickers to be affixed to the ballots so that the name of any candidate who has died, withdrawn or been disqualified is deleted and the name of any candidatesSB1057 chosen/ toFile fillNo. such vacancy appears in the same position as that in which the vacated candidacy appeared, or (C) cause blank stickers to be so affixed if the vacancy is not filled.

386 22 sSB1057 File No.

386 candidate chosen to fill such vacancy appears in the same position as that in which the vacated candidacy appeared, or (C) cause blank stickers to be so affixed if the vacancy is not filled.

If only one candidacy has been filed by a person other than a party- endorsed candidate for the nomination by a political party to a particular office and the candidate whose candidacy has been so filed thereafter, but prior to the [opening of the polls] commencement of the period of early voting at such primary, dies, withdraws his name from nomination or for any reason becomes disqualified to hold the office for which he is a candidate, no primary shall be held for the nomination of such party to that office and the party-endorsed candidate for such office shall be deemed to have been lawfully chosen in the same manner LCOand No.to the same extent as is provided in sections 9-382 to 9-450, inclusive, in the case where no candidacy other than a party-endorsed candidacy has been filed.

4425If 21candidacies have been filed by only one group of 32persons Raisedother Billthan No.1057party-endorsed candidates for election to a town committee, and the candidates whose candidacies have been so filed thereafter, but prior to the [opening of the polls] commencement of the period of early voting at such primary, die, withdraw their names from nomination or for any reason become disqualified to hold the positions for which they are candidates, so as to render the number of candidaciesso filedlessthantwenty-five per cent ofthenumber of town committee members to be elected by such party either in the municipality or in the political subdivision, as the case may be, no primary shall be held for those positions and the party-endorsed candidates for such positions shall be deemed to have been lawfully chosen in the same manner and to the same extent as is provided in sections 9-382 to 9-450, inclusive, in the case where no candidacycandidacies other than a party-endorsed candidacycandidacies hashave been filed.

If candidaciesany haveperson beenon filed by only one group of persons other than party-endorsed candidates for election to a townslate, committee, and the candidates whose candidacies have been so filed thereafter, but prior to the [opening of the polls] commencement of the period of early voting at such primary, die,dies, withdrawwithdraws theirhis namesname from nomination or for any reason becomebecomes disqualified to hold the positionsposition forsSB1057 which/ theyFile areNo. candidates, so as to render the number of candidaciesso filedlessthantwenty-five per cent ofthenumber oftown committee members to be elected by such party either in the municipality or in the political subdivision, as the case may be, no primary shall be held for those positions and the party-endorsed candidates for such positions shall be deemed to have been lawfully chosen in the same manner and to the same extent as is provided in sections 9-382 to 9-450, inclusive, in the case where no candidacies other than party-endorsed candidacies have been filed.

If386 any23 personsSB1057 onFile aNo. slate, prior to the [opening of the polls] commencement of the period of early voting at such primary, dies, withdraws his name from nomination or for any reason becomes disqualified to hold the position for which he is a candidate, such partial slate shall appear on the ballot at the primary and, if such partial slate wins, then the remaining members may fill the vacancy.

386 for which he is a candidate, such partial slate shall appear on the ballot at the primary and, if such partial slate wins, then the remaining members may fill the vacancy.

If a party-endorsed candidate for nomination to an office or for LCOelectionto No.thepositionoftowncommittee member,prior to twenty-four hours before the [opening of the polls] commencement of the period of early voting at the primary, dies or, prior to ten days before the first day of such [primary] period of early voting, withdraws his name from nomination or for any reason becomes disqualified to hold the office or position for which he is a candidate, the state central committee, the town committee or other authority of the party which endorsed such candidate may make an endorsement to fill such vacancy or provide for the making of such endorsement, in such manner as is prescribed in the rules of such party, and certify to the registrar and municipal clerk or to the Secretary of the State, as the case may be, the name of the person so endorsed.

4425 22 of 32 Raised Bill No.1057 electionto thepositionoftowncommittee member,prior to twenty-four hours before the [opening of the polls] commencement of the period of early voting at the primary, dies or, prior to ten days before the first day of such [primary] period of early voting, withdraws his name from nomination or for any reason becomes disqualified to hold the office or position for which he is a candidate, the state central committee, the town committee or other authority of the party which endorsed such candidate may make an endorsement to fill such vacancy or provide for the making of such endorsement, in such manner as is prescribed in the rules of such party, and certify to the registrar and municipal clerk or to the Secretary of the State, as the case may be, the name of the person so endorsed.

If such certification of another party-endorsed candidate has been made within thesSB1057 time/ specifiedFile inNo. this section, and if the ballots have already been printed and the names of the candidates for such office or position appear on the ballots, the Secretary of the State or the registrar, as the case may be, shall direct the clerk of each municipality holding such primary to have the ballots reprinted with the name of the person so certifiedincludedthereon;provided,inthecase ofsuchanendorsement to replace a candidate who has died, if such certification has been made less than ninety-six hours but at least twenty-four hours prior to the [opening of the polls] commencement of the period of early voting at the primary, such Secretary or registrar shall direct such clerk to have stickers printed and inserted upon the ballots, having the name of the personsocertifiedappearingthereon,andthemoderatorineachpolling place shall cause such stickers to be pasted on the ballots before the opening of the polls at such primary.

LCO386 24 sSB1057 File No.

4425386 23the time specified in this section, and if the ballots have already been printed and the names of 32the Raisedcandidates Billfor No.1057such Sec.office or position appear on the ballots, the Secretary of the State or the registrar, as the case may be, shall direct the clerk of each municipality holding such primary to have the ballots reprinted with the name of the person so certifiedincludedthereon;provided,inthecase ofsuchanendorsement to replace a candidate who has died, if such certification has been made less than ninety-six hours but at least twenty-four hours prior to the [opening of the polls] commencement of the period of early voting at the primary, such Secretary or registrar shall direct such clerk to have stickers printed and inserted upon the ballots, having the name of the personsocertifiedappearingthereon,andthemoderatorineachpolling place shall cause such stickers to be pasted on the ballots before the opening of the polls at such primary.

Sec.

(b) If a political party authorizes unaffiliated electors to vote in a primary, under section 9-431, and a notice of primary is published, the registrars shall cause a list of all unaffiliated electors eligible to vote in the primary to be printed before the commencement of the period of earlysSB1057 voting/ atFile suchNo. primary.

386 25 sSB1057 File No.

386 early voting at such primary.

Section 9-217 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2024):

The Secretary of the State shall provide to the clerk of the municipality in which such election is to be held a list of the candidates of each party for such office by the thirty-fourth day before the commencement of the period of early voting at such special election.

Sec.

18.

(1) The date of the state election and the hours the polls will be open, and the dates of the period of early voting at such state election and the hours the locations designated for the conduct of early voting will be LCOopen; No.

4425 24 of 32 Raised Bill No.1057 open;

The voter guide may provide contact information for a candidatesSB1057 for/ theFile officeNo. of President of the United States, Vice-President of the United States, senator in Congress or representative in Congress by an electronic link to such information on the Federal Election Commission's web site;

386 26 sSB1057 File No.

386 candidate for the office of President of the United States, Vice-President of the United States, senator in Congress or representative in Congress by an electronic link to such information on the Federal Election Commission's web site;

LCO(10) No.The explanatory text as to the content and purpose of each such proposed constitutional amendment, which is prepared by the Office of Legislative Research pursuant to section 2-30a;

4425 25 of 32 Raised Bill No.1057 (10) The explanatory text as to the content and purpose of each such proposed constitutional amendment, which is prepared by the Office of Legislative Research pursuant to section 2-30a;

18.

(NEW) (Effective from passage) The Secretary of the State shall develop and conduct a state-wide public awareness campaign to educate the public regarding the availability of early voting at regular elections and primaries and provide information to the public concerning such early voting, including, but not limited to, the number ofdaysofearlyvotingpriortoanelectionorprimary,thehoursforearly voting during such days and the procedures for casting a ballot at locations designated for the conduct of early voting.

Sec.

Section(NEW) 9-235e(Effective from passage) (a) The Secretary of the generalState statutesshall isdevelop repealedand conduct a state-wide public awareness campaign to educate the public regarding the availability of early voting at regular elections and primaries and provide information to the followingpublic isconcerning substitutedsuch inearly lieuvoting, thereofincluding, (Effectivebut Julynot 1,limited 2023):to, the number ofdaysofearlyvotingpriortoanelectionorprimary,thehoursforearly voting during such days and the procedures for casting a ballot at locations designated for the conduct of early voting.

ExceptsSB1057 as/ otherwiseFile providedNo. in this section, the Secretary of the State, or the Secretary's designee, shall be allowed access to each polling place or location designated for the conduct of early voting within the state during any municipal, state or federal election, primary or recanvass for the purpose of reviewing [each] any such polling place or location and any recanvass for compliance with state and federal law.

If386 the27 SecretarysSB1057 isFile aNo. candidate on the ballot for any election or primary at a polling place, only the Secretary's designee may access such polling place pursuant to the provisions of this section.

386 (b) The Secretary of the State shall develop an early voting procedure manual, which shall include, but need not be limited to, a model plan for the designation and staffing of locations for the conduct of early voting, and shall revise such procedure manual as necessary in accordance with changes in the law relating to the conduct of early voting.

The Secretary shall distribute such procedure manual, and any revision to such procedure manual, to each registrar of voters and municipal clerk and shall publish such procedure manual, and any such revision, on the Internet web site of the office of the Secretary of the State.

Section 9-235e of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023):

Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Secretary of the State, or the Secretary's designee, shall be allowed access to each polling place or location designated for the conduct of early voting within the state during any municipal, state or federal election, primary or recanvass for the purpose of reviewing [each] any such polling place or location and any such recanvass for compliance with state and federal law.

If the Secretary is a candidate on the ballot for any election or primary at a polling place or locationdesignatedfor theconduct ofearly voting, only the Secretary's designee may access such polling place or location pursuant to the provisions of this section.

Sec.

21.

(a) Two or more municipalities may jointly perform any function that each municipality is required to perform individually under this title, except conduct early voting,voting pursuant to section 1 of this act, by entering into an agreement pursuant to this section.

Any LCOsuch No.agreement shall establish a process for amendment of, termination of and withdrawal from such agreement.

4425Any 26proposed ofagreement 32shall Raisedbe Billsubmitted to the sSB1057 / File No.

1057386 such28 agreementsSB1057 shallFile establishNo. a process for amendment of, termination ofandwithdrawalfromsuchagreement.Anyproposedagreementshall be submitted to the legislative body of each participating municipality for a vote to ratify or reject such agreement.

386 legislative body of each participating municipality for a vote to ratify or reject such agreement.

21.22.

22.23.

23.24.

Such LCOsessions No.shall be held on the following days during the hours indicated, except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection:

4425sSB1057 27/ ofFile 32No. Raised Bill No.1057 sessions shall be held on the following days during the hours indicated, except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection:

T1386 Day29 HourssSB1057 T2File FourteenthNo. day T3 before primary day ……………….

386 T1 Day Hours T2 Fourteenth day T3 before primary day ……………….

24.25.

25.26.

(c) Forthwith upon receipt of a registration application in the office of the registrars of voters, the registrar shall mark such date on the LCOapplication No.and review the application to determine whether the applicant has properly completed it and is legally qualified to register.

4425Forthwith 28upon ofcompleting 32his Raisedreview, Bill No.1057 application and review the applicationregistrar toshall determine(1) whetherindicate theon applicantsSB1057 has/ properlyFile completedNo. it and is legally qualified to register.

Forthwith386 upon30 completingsSB1057 hisFile review,No. the registrar shall (1) indicate on the application whether the application has been accepted or rejected, (2) mail a notice to the applicant, (3) indicate on the application the date on which such notice is mailed, and (4) provide a copy of such notice to the other registrar.

386 the application whether the application has been accepted or rejected, (2) mail a notice to the applicant, (3) indicate on the application the date on which such notice is mailed, and (4) provide a copy of such notice to the other registrar.

A notice of acceptance or a notice of rejection shall be sent (A) not later than four days after receipt of an application during the period beginning on the forty-ninth day before an election and ending on the twenty-first day before such election, (B) on the day of receipt of an application if it is received (i) during the period beginning on the twentieth[twentieth] twenty-seventh day before such election and ending on the [seventh] fourteenth day before such election, (ii) during the period beginning on the [sixth] thirteenth day before an election and ending on election day if the application has been received by the [seventh] fourteenth day before an election by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles or by a voter registration agency, (iii) during the period beginning on the twenty-first[twenty-first] thirtieth day before a primary and ending on the [fifth] fourteenth day before a primary, or (iv) during the period beginning on the [fourth] thirteenth day before a primary and ending at twelve o'clock noon on the last weekday before a primary, if the application has been postmarked by the [fifth] fourteenth day before thetheprimaryandisreceivedintheoffice primaryoftheregistrars andofvotersduring is received in the office of the registrars of voters during such period or if the application is received by the [fifth] fourteenth day before a primary by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles or by a voter registration agency, and (C) within ten days of receipt of an application at any other time.

A notice of acceptance shall indicate the effective date LCOof the applicant's registration and enrollment, thedate ofthenext regularly scheduled electionor primary inwhich the applicant shall be eligible to vote and the applicant's precinct and sSB1057 / File No.

4425386 2931 ofsSB1057 32File Raised Bill No.

1057386 of the applicant's registration and enrollment, the date of the next regularly scheduled election or primary in which the applicant shall be eligible to vote and the applicant's precinct and polling place.

An applicant for admissionasanelectoradmission as an elector pursuant tothissectionandsectionto this section and section 9-23h may only be admitted as an elector by a registrar of voters of the town of his residence.

LCO(4) If on the day of an election or primary, the name of an applicant does not appear on the official check list, such applicant may present to the moderator at the polls either a notice of acceptance received through sSB1057 / File No.

4425386 30 of 32 RaisedsSB1057 BillFile No.

1057386 (4) If on the day of an election or primary, the name of an applicant does not appear on the official check list, such applicant may present to the moderator at the polls either a notice of acceptance received through the mail or an application receipt that was previously provided to the applicant pursuant to section 9-19e, subsection (b) of section 9-19h, subsection (b) of this section or section 9-23n.

26.27.

Sec.

28.

Subsection (a) of section 9-320f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023):

(a) Not earlier than thefifteenth day after anyelection or primary and not later than two business days before the canvass of votes by the Secretary of the State, Treasurer and Comptroller, for any federal or state electionor primary, or by thetown clerkfor any municipal election or primary, the registrars of voters shall conduct a manual audit or, for sSB1057 / File No.

386 33 sSB1057 File No.

386 an election or primary held on or after January 1, 2016, an electronic audit authorized under section 9-320g of the votes recorded in not less than five per cent of the voting districts in the state, district or municipality, whichever is applicable.

For the purposes of this section, any central location used in a municipality for the counting of absentee ballots, early voting ballots or same-day election or same-day primary registration ballots shall be deemed a voting district.

Such manual or electronic audit shall be noticed in advance and be open to public observation.

Any election official who participates in the administration and conduct of an audit pursuant to this section shall be compensated by the municipality at the standard rate of pay established by such municipality for elections or primaries, as the case may be.

Sec.

29.

Subsection (a) of section 9-229 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023):

(a) The registrars of voters in the several towns and, in towns where there are different registrars for different voting districts, the registrars of voters in such districts shall appoint the moderators of regular and special state and municipal elections in their respective towns or districts.

For the purpose of providing a reserve group of persons who may serve as moderators, the registrars shall designate alternate moderators from among those persons chosen as official checkers, or tabulator tenders, in the following minimum numbers:

In towns with one or more but not exceeding three voting districts, one alternate moderator;

in towns with four or more but not exceeding eight voting districts, two alternate moderators;

in towns with more than eight voting districts, a number of alternate moderators equal to one-fourth of the number of voting districts rounded off to the nearest multiple of four.

In case the registrars fail to agree in the choice of a moderator or alternate moderator, the choice shall be determined between such registrars by lot.

In the case of a primary, the registrar, as defined in section 9-372, shall so appoint such moderators and alternate moderators.

Moderators and alternate moderators shall be appointed at least twenty days before the commencement of the period of early sSB1057 / File No.

386 34 sSB1057 File No.

386 voting at such election or primary.

The registrars shall submit a list of the names of such moderators and alternate moderators to the municipal clerk, which list shall be made available for public inspection by such clerk.

Each person appointed to serve as moderator or alternate moderator shall be certified by the Secretary of the State in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, except as provided in subsection (d) of this section or section 9-436.

Sec.

30.

Section 9-256 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023):

The registrars of voters of each municipality shall, not less than ten days prior to the commencement of the period of early voting at an election,file with theSecretary oftheState asampleballot identical with those to be provided for each polling place under section 9-255.

The SecretaryoftheState shallexamine thesampleballot requiredto befiled under this section, and if such sample ballot contains an error, the Secretary of the State shall order the registrars of voters to reprint a corrected sample ballot or to take other such action as the Secretary may deem appropriate.

3 July 1, 2023 9-174 LCOSec. No.

4425 31 of 32 Raised Bill No.

1057 Sec.

11 Julyfrom 1,passage 2023 9-329b Sec.

13 January 1, 2024 9-426 January 1, 2024 Sec.

14 January 1, 2024 9-428 Sec.

15 January 1, 2024 9-429 Sec.sSB1057 / File No.

386 35 sSB1057 File No.

386 Sec.

17 JulyJanuary 1, 20232024 9-4a(b)9-217 Sec.

18 fromJuly passage1, New2023 section9-4a(b) Sec.

19 from passage New section July 1, 2023 9-235e Sec.

20 July9-235e 1, 2023 9-6c(a) Sec.

21 July 1, 2023 9-50b(c)9-6c(a) Sec.

22 July 1, 2023 9-1(y)9-50b(c) Sec.

23 July 1, 2023 9-17(a)9-1(y) Sec.

24 July 1, 2023 9-19k(f)9-17(a) Sec.

25 July 1, 2023 9-23g(c)9-19k(f) and (d) Sec.

26 July 1, 2023 9-192a(a)(3)9-23g(c) Statementand of(d) Purpose:July 1, 2023 Sec.

To27 (1)9-192a(a)(3) establishSec. early voting beginning in 2023 for certain elections and beginning in 2024 for certain primaries, (2) establish the number of days and hours of, and implement procedures for the conduct of, such early voting, (3) provide for same-day election and same-day primary registrations during periods of early voting, (4) make conforming changes to deadlines for the performance of certain duties prior to an election or primary, and (5) require the Secretary of the State to undertake efforts to educate the public about early voting and train registrars of voters regarding the administration of early voting.

[Proposed28 deletionsJuly are1, enclosed2023 in9-320f(a) brackets.Sec.

Proposed29 additionsJuly are1, indicated2023 by9-229(a) underline,Sec. 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.

442530 32July 1, 2023 9-256 Statement of 32Legislative Commissioners:

In Section 1(a)(1)(B), "subdivision (1) of" was added for accuracy;

in Section 1(a)(2), "voter" was changed to "elector" for consistency, and "subdivision (2) of" was added in Subpara.

(B) for accuracy;

in Section 1(b)(1), "before" was changed to "prior to" for consistency, and Subpara.

(B)(ii) was rewritten for internal consistency and clarity;

in Section 1(b)(3), "section" was changed to "subsection" for accuracy;

Section 2(a) was rewritten for internal consistency;

in Section 3, references to "same- day election or same-day primary registration" were added in Subsecs.

(b)and(c)(1)forinternalconsistency;inSection5(a)(3),"anelection"was changed to "a regular election" for internal consistency;

Section 5(c)(1)(B)(ii)wasrewrittenforinternalconsistencyandclarity;inSection 5(d), "subsection (c) of section 9-174" was changed to "subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 9-174" for accuracy;

in Section 5(e)(2), "or primary officials" was added for consistency;

in Section 5(g), "if necessary, in the fire-resistive vault or safe provided for in section 7-27" was added for internal consistency;

in Section 7(a)(2)(D)(ii)(III), "in such city or borough" was added for consistency;

in Section 20, references to "location designated for the conduct of early voting" were added for consistency;

in Section 21, "pursuant to section 1 of this act" was added for accuracy;

and in Section 28, "same-day registration" was changed to "same-day election or same-day primary registration" for consistency.

GAE Joint Favorable Subst.

sSB1057 / File No.

386 36 sSB1057 File No.

386 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 24 $ FY 25 $ FY 26 $ Secretary of the GF - Cost Between Between Between State $1.8 and 2.3 $0.8-1.3 $0.7-1.2 million million million Note:

GF=General Fund Municipal Impact:

Municipalities Effect FY 24 $ FY 25 $ FY 26 $ All STATE About About About Municipalities MANDATE $700,000 $2,200,000 $700,000 - Cost Explanation The bill would result in significant labor cost for both municipalities, as well as the state.

Additionally, to implement the bill as described the state would need to acquire additional technology such as CVRS software updates and to install new lines in any secondary location for early voting.

It is anticipated that roughly additional sites would be opened across the state generally in 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.

2This calculation assumes that no town less than 45,000 will have a second location, half of all locations between 45,001-75,000;

all locations between 75,001-100,000 will have two locations;

all locations between 101,001-125,000 will have three locations;

and any greater than 125,001 will have four.

Each town may not meet this criterion, but we estimate this will roughly be the number of additional polling locations.

sSB1057 / File No.

386 37 sSB1057 File No.

386 proportion to the population of the town.

The costs would also be borne by the state in addition to the cost for the public information campaign specifically for early voting and registrar's training materials.

The bill places the onus of all labor costs on the municipalities individually, so the state's share of the costs mostly take effect in FY 24 as one-time expenses of roughly $1,000,000 in year one and are reduced from year two onward.

The largest differential in the range is the cost of the public information campaign for early voting.

The Secretary of State's Office has indicated there would be about a $500,000 range in costs depending upon implementation decisions.

Municipal costs would see the largest periodic fluctuation with the cost of municipal elections being significantly less expensive than those of primary and general state elections.

This leaves the weight heavily on even FYs for municipalities.

The net cost per municipality will also not be evenly distributed depending heavily on the number of polling places each town chooses to utilize.

The initial polling place is assumed to bea centrallocation withexisting CVRS accessand staffed by existing registrar and town staff.

If a municipality were to only use this location, they could expect a rough increase on odd fiscal years of $9,500 and on even years of $4,700 when no state general and primary elections are held.

Any municipal increasing beyond one location would require additional staff at that location with poll workers instead of overtime, which would drastically increasing the estimated total cost for that municipality.

Any town planning three additional poll locations (the Specific cost information for this section has come from data provided by the Secretary of State's Office in the form of estimates from existing vendors to provide the services rendered.

4Municipal elections as a figure were estimated based on the % of towns expected to hold schoolboard elections in CT in 2023 and extrapolated with the remainder from that point in future years.

Municipal elections are presumed to have only one EV polling place per town for each town.

This estimate does not include municipal primaries.

5The staffing for this location being existing employees mitigates cost for towns and leaves the differential to overtime hours varying depending on the number of EV hours and whether that day falls on a weekend.

This estimate assumes an average overtime hour is valued at $29.12 per hour.

sSB1057 / File No.

386 38 sSB1057 File No.

386 maximum number in the estimate) would see an odd fiscal year price increase ofaround$70,000.Thisislargely due to theincreasedlabor cost of poll workers and the need to fully staff early voting locations that may be potentially added because of the bill.

Costs will vary on a town- by-town basis.

The bill varies from the other two early voting proposals (SB-1064, and HB-5004) in the length of early voting 10 days in this proposal and days in the others;

as well as the inclusion of town referendums in early voting in the other two.

The difference between costs for all three relates to the length of early voting and the elections covered on the municipal side.

There is no distinction in state costs.

The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to inflation, participation, and number of polling places utilized across the state.

sSB1057 / File No.

386 39 sSB1057 File No.

386 OLR Bill Analysis sSB 1057 AN ACT CONCERNING THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE AND EARLY VOTING.

SUMMARY:

This bill establishes a framework for early, in-person voting for all general elections held on or after July 1, 2023, and primaries and special elections held on or after January 1, 2024.

Specifically, it requires a 10- day early voting period for general elections and primaries and a four- day early voting period for special elections.

Under the bill, every municipality must establish one early voting locationandmayestablishadditionallocations.Thebillalso setsvarious requirementsandproceduresforearlyvotingincluding votereligibility, ballot custody, staffing and training, and materials.

The bill replaces the current election day registration (EDR) option with same-day registration (SDR), which covers the entire early voting period and the election.

Additionally, the bill authorizes SDR for primaries and allows a voter who is not already registered to vote with any political party to register with a party and immediately vote in that party’s primary.

To accommodate the early voting period, the bill generally modifies several election-related deadlines by either (1) moving the deadline 10daysearlieror(2)movingthedeadlinetotherequirednumberofdays before the early voting period begins instead of before the election begins.

The bill also establishes specific deadlines for special elections.

The bill also makes technical and conforming changes.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

July 1, 2023, except that provisions (1) that sSB1057 / File No.

386 40 sSB1057 File No.

386 modify deadlines for (a) registering write-in candidates, (b) automatic nomination of certain candidates, (c) replacing town committee candidates, (d) canceling a primary due to candidate vacancy, (e) printing unaffiliated voter lists, and (f) giving the clerk party candidate lists for special elections for vacancies are effective on January 1, 2024, and (2) on a statewide early voting awareness campaign, the early voting procedure manual, and modifying a deadline for removing a candidate by judicial order are effective upon passage.

COVERED ELECTIONS (§ 1) The bill requires implementation of early voting for (1) general elections held on or after July 1, 2023, and (2) primaries and special elections held on or after January 1, 2024.

The bill exempts primaries for town committee members from these requirements.

EARLY VOTING PERIOD (§§ 1 & 3) For general elections and primaries, the early voting period must be 10days long, beginning 11 days before the election and ending two days prior.

Early voting locations must be open from 10:00 a.m.

to 6:00 p.m., including weekends, except that on the last Wednesday and Thursday before the election, the locations must be open from 8:00 a.m.

to 8:00 p.m.

For special elections, the bill adopts a four-day early voting period and establishes alternative timelines for the elections.

Specifically, the early voting period for special elections must begin five days before the election and end two days prior.

Early voting locations must be open from 10:00 a.m.

to 6:00 p.m.

for these elections.

Each day, a location official or a municipal police officer, appointed by the registrar, must be placed at the end of the line at the designated closing time.

The official or officer must prevent any voter from getting in line to cast a ballot after the designated closing time.

EARLY VOTING PREPARATION Staffing and Training (§ 1) sSB1057 / File No.

386 41 sSB1057 File No.

386 Under the bill, the registrars may delegate any responsibility to an election or primary official designated in the municipality’s early voting certification to the secretary (see below).

The registrars must supervise and train these officials.

Ballot Designation (§ 8) The bill requires registrars and clerks to certify the number of ballots designated as early voting ballots for each early voting location.

It also moves the deadline for certifying all ballots (both early voting and election day ballots) to 31 days before the early voting period (21 days for a primary) instead of the same number of days before the election or primary itself.

Similarly, the bill moves up the deadline to request a waiver from this provision to 45 days before the early voting period (30 days for a primary) instead of the same number of days before the election or primary itself.

The bill also requires registrars and clerks to certify the number of ballots designated as early voting ballots in special elections, but the bill does not set separate deadlines specific to special elections.

VOTER REGISTRATION General Voter Registration (§§ 23-26) The bill moves up the regular voter registration deadline to 14 days before an election or primary (rather than the seventh day before the election and the fifth day before the primary).

It also makes several conforming changes including moving up several related deadlines.

For example, the bill correspondingly shifts the time frames during which registrarsmust send notice ofanapplication’sacceptance or rejectionon the day it is received, as shown in the table below.

Table:

Periods When Registrars Must Send Notice of Acceptance or Rejection on the Day an Application Is Received Under Current Law Under the Bill From 20 days to seven days From 27 days to 14 days before an election before an election Regular Applications From 21 days to five days From 30 days to 14 days before a primary before a primary Applications first For applications received by For applications received by 14 sSB1057 / File No.

386 42 sSB1057 File No.

386 Under Current Law Under the Bill received by the seven days before an electiodays before an election, from Department of Motor from six days before an 13 days before an election to Vehicles election to election day election day commissioner or voter registration agency For applications postmarked For applications postmarked or received five days before a received 14 days before a primary, from four days befoprimary, from 13 days before a a primary to noon the last primary to noon the last weekday before a primary weekday before a primary Same-Day Registration (§ 5) Under current law, electors may register to vote on election day through EDR during regular state and municipal elections.

Under EDR, a person may register to vote and cast a ballot on election day if he or she meets the eligibility requirements for voting in Connecticut and is (1) not already an elector or (2) registered in one municipality but wants to change his or her registration because he or she currently resides in another municipality (CGS § 9-19j).

The bill expands this opportunity to the entire early voting period by establishing two types of SDR and generally applying the existing EDR provisions to SDR:

(1) same-day election registration (i.e., voter registration during the early voting period for a general or special election or on election day) and (2) same-day primary registration (i.e., voter registration and enrollment in a political party during a primary’s early voting period or on a primary day).

Additionally, the bill allows a voter to enroll in a political party through same-day primary registration if the voter is not currently enrolled in any party and is not subject to a three-month waiting period due to recently removing his or herself from a political party enrollment list (CGS § 9-59).

Enrollment during same-day primary registration becomes effective immediately for voting in that primary.

The bill also makes conforming changes.

Deadlines for Same-Day Registration (§ 5) To accommodate the increased window of SDR, the bill moves up sSB1057 / File No.

386 43 sSB1057 File No.

386 several deadlines by 10 days to include the early voting period for regular elections and primaries.

This applies to deadlines for the following actions:

1.

certifying the location for SDR (changed from 31 days to 41 days before the election), 2.

the Secretary of the State’s (SOTS) response to a certification request (changed from 15 days to 25 days before the election), 3.

certifying additional locations for SDR (changed from 60 days to days before the election), and 4.

SOTS response to a certification request for additional locations (changed from 45 days to 55 days before the election).

EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS Main Location (§ 1) The bill requires that the registrars of voters of each municipality certify one location within the town to serve as an early voting location.

The location must (1) be used for the entire early voting period, (2) have access to the centralized voter registration system (CVRS), (3) be certified by SOTS, (4) be accessible to voters with physical disabilities, and (5) have parking spaces for handicapped and elderly persons.

A municipality’s certification must include:

1.

the location’s name, address, and contact information;

2.

the number of officials appointed to serve and their roles;

3.

the location’s design;

and 4.

a plan to conduct early voting effectively.

A municipality must certify its chosen location to SOTS no later than days before a general election or primary.

The secretary must approve or deny certification no later than 90 days before a general election or primary.

If SOTS denies the certification, she must give the sSB1057 / File No.

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386 municipality a written reason for the disapproval and an order for corrective action.

Once a municipality has received SOTS approval or complied with any corrective action to the secretary’s satisfaction, the registrars must make a final determination on the main early voting location no later than 31 days before a general election or primary.

After this determination, the location may not be changed unless all registrars and the municipal clerk unanimously agree that the location is unusable.

If such a decision is made, the registrars and clerk must designate a new location and provide adequate notice.

The bill implements alternative timelines for special elections.

The certification of an early voting location for special elections must be submitted no later than 20 days prior and the secretary must respond no later than 15 days before the election.

The location must be finalized days before.

Additional Locations (§ 1) Under the bill, a municipality with a population of at least 20,000 must hold a public hearing on increasing the number of early voting locations at least 15 days before designating them.

At least 10 days’ notice must be given through a newspaper with general circulation in the town and on the municipality’s website.

For this requirement, “population” means the estimated number of people according to the most recent version of the State Register and Manual.

Within three days after the hearing, the municipality’s registrars must notify SOTS about theirdeterminationonany additionallocations.

If the registrars decide not to designate additional locations, they must include a detailed explanation for their determination.

Adoption of additional locations is subject to the same requirements as the main location.

SOTS Access (§ 20) Current law requires that the secretary, or her designee, have access to each polling place during elections to review for consistency with sSB1057 / File No.

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386 state and federal law.

The bill extends this provision to any early voting location.

ELECTION WARNING (§§ 6-7) The bill moves up the warning for state and municipal elections to five to 15 days before the early voting period starts rather than before election day.

Additionally, the warning must announce the times and locations designated for early voting.

CASTING AN EARLY VOTE Voter Eligibility (§ 1) Under the bill, an elector must do the following to vote early:

1.

appear in person at an early voting location within the designated times, 2.

comply with election day identification requirements by either (a) showing adequate identification or (b) signing an affidavit attesting to his or her identity, and 3.

swear an oath that he or she has not previously voted in the election.

If a voter has established his or her eligibility, the registrars must check the CVRS to see if the elector has already voted.

If not, the voter mustbegivenanearlyvotingballotandenvelopeandthe registrarmust record the issuance.

If thevoter has alreadyvotedin theelection, his or her request to vote must be denied and the registrars must review the matter.

If the registrars cannot resolve the matter, they must report the incident to the State Elections Enforcement Commission, which must investigate.

Casting a Ballot (§ 1) Under the bill, if a voter is eligible, they must mark the ballot in the registrars’ presence, but not in a way that reveals how the ballot was marked.

After completing the ballot, the voter must (1) secure it within sSB1057 / File No.

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386 an early voting envelope, (2) sign an affirmation printed on the back of the envelope, and (3) deposit the envelope into a secured early voting ballot depository receptacle.

The signed affirmation attests that the voter:

1.

is an elector appearing in person to vote early, 2.

is eligible to vote in the election or primary, 3.

has sufficiently identified themselves to the registrars, 4.

has not otherwise voted in the election and will not otherwise do so, and 5.

received an early voting ballot.

BALLOT CHAIN OF CUSTODY (§§ 1-2 & 5) Under the bill, when each day ends, the registrars must transport the receptacles for SDR and early voting ballots to the municipal clerk for storage, if necessary, in a fire-resistive vault or safe.

The clerk must keep the ballots until they are delivered to the registrars on election day.

A section of the head moderator’s return must show the number of early voting and SDR ballots received, separately.

The registrarsofvotersmust also seala copy ofthevote tally for early voting ballots and a copy of thevote tally for SDR ballots in a depository envelope with their respective ballots and store them with the other election or primary results materials.

The depository envelopes must be preserved for the same amount of time as required by law to keep counted ballots.

Ballot counters must proceed to the location where the early voting and SDR ballots will be counted, as designated by the registrars, between 6:00 a.m.

and 10:00 a.m.

on election day.

The bill requires the municipal clerk to deliver all early voting and SDR ballots received before election day to the registrars within the same timeframe.

Once the clerks deliver the ballots, the bill requires that the ballot counters sSB1057 / File No.

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386 process these ballots as nearly as possible in the same way as required under existing law for absentee ballots.

Except as otherwise required by the bill, SDR and early voting ballots are subject to all procedures relating to absentee ballot custody, control, and counting under existing elections law, as nearly as possible.

ELECTION DEADLINES (§§ 9-17 & 29-30) Current law sets several election-related deadlines in preparation for election day.

The bill sets these deadlines in relation to the early voting period instead of the election, generally making them earlier.

The table below summarizes deadlines that are subject to this change.

Table:

Certain Election-Related Deadlines Affected by the Bill Bill Applicable Description Deadline Section Statutes Registration as a write-in candidate for a 14 days prior regular election § 9 CGS § 9-373a Registration as a write-in candidate for town meeting member in certain towns at Last business a regular election day prior Registration as a write-in candidate for a 14 days prior special election § 10 CGS § 9-224b Registration as a write-in candidate for Last business town meeting member in certain towns at day prior a special election Before the § 11 CGS § 9-329b Removal of a candidate by judicial order period/election day begins Replacement of a vacant candidacy 2:00 pm the day prior § 12 CGS § 9-460 Period during which a candidate’s death may result in the candidate being 24 hours prior replaced Automatic nomination of party-endorsed candidate, group, or slate for a primary if Before the the only other candidate, group, or slate period/election § 13 CGS § 9-426 of candidates in that primary die, day begins withdraw, or are disqualified Partial slate appearing on the ballot when Before the a slate member dies, withdraws, or is period/election disqualified day begins sSB1057 / File No.

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386 Bill Applicable Description Deadline Section Statutes Replacement of candidacy for town § 14 CGS § 9-428 committee members Various Cancellation of a primary when due to Before the § 15 CGS § 9-429 candidate death, withdrawal, or period/election disqualification day begins Printing a list of unaffiliated voters ifBefore the § 16 CGS § 9-55 voters become authorized to vote in a period/election political party’s primary day begins Giving the municipal clerk a list of § 17 CGS § 9-217 candidates for each party by the office f34 days prior special elections for vacancies § 29 CGS § 9-229 Appointing moderators and alternate 20 days prior moderators At least 10 days § 30 CGS § 9-256 Filing a sample ballot with the secretaryprior EARLY VOTING MATERIALS Emergency Contingency Plan (§ 4) Under existing law, registrars must consult with the town clerk and create an emergency contingency plan for elections, primaries, and referenda in the municipality.

The bill adds a requirement that the plan consider early voting and related logistics including (1) solutions for envelope shortages, (2) strategies to address staffing shortages for early voting, (3) a fire or alarm within an early voting location, and (4) disorder in or around an early voting location.

Secretary Materials and Duties (§§ 18-19 & 27) The bill requires the secretary to:

1.

include early voting daysandtimesfor state electionsinthevoter guide published by her office;

2.

conduct a state-wide public awareness campaign on early voting availability at regular elections and primaries, including the dates, hours, and voting procedures;

and 3.

update the existing annual registrar training by July 1, 2023, to include early voting procedures.

sSB1057 / File No.

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386 The secretary must also develop and distribute an early voting procedure manual including a model plan for designating and staffing locations.

The manual must be (1) revised as needed to reflect changes in state law and (2) distributed through the SOTS website as well as to all registrars of voters and town clerks.

UPDATING CVRS (§ 22) Current law requires registrars of voters, when updating the CVRS after an election or primary, to indicate whether someone voted in- person or by absentee ballot.

The bill also requires them to indicate whether an in-person elector voted on election day or during the early voting period.

POST-ELECTION AUDITS AND RECANVASS PROCEDURES (§ 28) The bill subjects early voting and SDR central counting locations to existing post-election audit requirements.

These requirements generally establish a process to select locations to participate in a manual or electronic audit that compares vote totals to results reported by voting tabulators.

PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES Solicitation and Related Activities (§ 1) Similar to existing requirements for polling locations, the bill prohibits anyone from soliciting, peddling, loitering, or offering certain materials within 75 feet of an entrance to an early voting location, an indoor path leading to the location, or any room along the path.

Joint Municipal Agreements (§ 21) Existing law generally allows two or more municipalities to jointly perform election-related functions.

The bill prohibits municipalities from entering into joint agreements to conduct early voting.

BACKGROUND Related Bills sSB 1064 and sHB 5004, favorably reported by the Government Administration and Elections committee, contain nearly identical sSB1057 / File No.

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386 provisions to this bill.

Both bills, which are identical to each other, differ from this bill in that they (1) authorize a 14-day early voting instead of a 10-day period and adjust the related deadlines accordingly and (2) additionally require early voting for referenda.

COMMITTEE ACTION Government Administration and Elections Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 14 Nay 5 (03/15/2023) sSB1057 / File No.

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