Connecticut 2024 Regular Session Status: In Committee 1 D cosponsors

SB 386 — AN ACT CONCERNING DESIGNATION OF POLLING PLACES, EARLY VOTING AND REGIONAL ELECTION ADVISORS.

Last action — FILE NO. 392

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

This bill died with 2024 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

393 added · 185 removed

393 line(s) added, 185 removed.

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General Assembly Raised Bill No.
Senate General Assembly File No.
386 February Session, 2024 LCO No.
392 February Session, 2024 Substitute Senate Bill No.
2738 Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND ELECTIONS Introduced by:
386 Senate, April 10, 2024 The Committee on Government Administration and Elections reported through SEN.
(GAE) AN ACT CONCERNING DESIGNATION OF POLLING PLACES AND IMPLEMENTATION OF EARLY VOTING AT PRIMARIES AND ELECTIONS.
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 DESIGNATION OF POLLING PLACES, EARLY VOTING AND REGIONAL ELECTION ADVISORS.
(NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) In any municipality where the registrars of voters or the legislative body of such municipality, as applicable, propose that the location of any polling place to be used at such election or primary be moved from the location of such polling placeattheimmediatelyprecedingelectionorprimary,(1)notlaterthan one hundred twenty days before such election or primary, the registrars of voters or legislative body, as applicable, shall so propose any such move at a regular meeting of such legislative body, (2) not later thanone hundred ten days before such election or primary, the legislative body shall conduct a public hearing on such proposed move, and (3) not later than one hundred days before such election or primary, the legislative body shall approve or disapprove such proposed move.
(NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) In any municipality where the registrars of voters or the legislative body of such municipality, as applicable, propose that the location of any polling place to be used at an election or primary be moved from the location of such polling place at the immediately preceding election or primary, (1) not later than one hundred twenty days before the election or primary at which such polling place is to be used, the registrars of voters or legislative body, as applicable, shall so propose any such move at a regular meeting of such legislative body, (2) not later than one hundred ten days before the election or primary at which such polling place is to be used, the legislative body shall conduct a public hearing on such proposed move, and (3) not later than one hundred days before the election or primary at which such polling place is to be used, the legislative body shall approve or disapprove such proposed move.
In the case of any such proposed move that is approved, the registrars of voters or the legislative body, as applicable, shall designate such new polling place LCO No.
In the case of any such sSB386 / File No.
2738 1 of 6 Raised Bill No.
392 1 sSB386 File No.
386 location in accordance with the provisions of applicable law.
392 proposed move that is approved, the registrars of voters or the legislative body, as applicable, shall designate such new polling place location in accordance with the provisions of applicable law.
(a) Any provision of the general statutes to the contrary notwithstanding, in any municipality in which, at any election, or primary, as a result of the assembly, senatorial or congressional district LCO No.
(a) Any provision of the general statutes to the contrary notwithstanding, in any municipality in which, at any election, or sSB386 / File No.
2738 2 of 6 Raised Bill No.386 lines in effect, there is a voting district or apart of avoting district which differs geographically from the district lines as constituted in a municipal election year, the [registrars of voters may] legislative body of the municipality may, in accordance with the provisions of section 1 of this act, either provide a suitable polling place therein or, [may,] in lieu thereof, [with the approval of the legislative body of the municipality,] provide separate voting tabulators in the polling place of another voting district in said municipality for use by such electors.
392 2 sSB386 File No.
392 primary, as a result of the assembly, senatorial or congressional district lines in effect, there is a voting district or apart of avoting district which differs geographically from the district lines as constituted in a municipal election year, the [registrars of voters may] legislative body of the municipality may, in accordance with the provisions of section 1 of this act, either provide a suitable polling place therein or, [may,] in lieu thereof, [with the approval of the legislative body of the municipality,] provide separate voting tabulators in the polling place of another voting district in said municipality for use by such electors.
(c) In any election or primary where electors in more than one voting district vote in the same building and vote for all the same officers, and the law does not require separate returns, the registrars of voters may combine the voting districts and polling places into one voting district LCO No.
(c) In any election or primary where electors in more than one voting district vote in the same building and vote for all the same officers, and the law does not require separate returns, the registrars of voters may sSB386 / File No.
2738 3 of 6 Raised Bill No.
392 3 sSB386 File No.
386 and polling place, with or without integrating the voting districts on the check lists used at the election or primary.
392 combine the voting districts and polling places into one voting district and polling place, with or without integrating the voting districts on the check lists used at the election or primary.
[The] Subject to the LCO No.
[The] Subject to the sSB386 / File No.
2738 4 of 6 Raised Bill No.386 provisions of section 1 of this act, the registrars of voters of any municipality taking such action shall provide a suitable polling place in each district but, if the registrars fail to agree as to the location of any polling place or places, the legislative body shall determine the location thereof.
392 4 sSB386 File No.
Polling places to be used in an election shall be determined at least thirty-one days before such election, and such polling places shall not be changed within said period of thirty-one days except that, if the municipal clerk and registrars of voters of a municipality unanimously find that any such polling place within such municipality has been rendered unusable within such period, they shall forthwith designate anotherpollingplacetobeusedinplaceof theonesorenderedunusable and shall give adequate notice that such polling place has been so changed.
392 provisions of section 1 of this act, the registrars of voters of any municipality taking such action shall provide a suitable polling place in each district but, if the registrars fail to agree as to the location of any polling place or places, the legislative body shall determine the location thereof.
Polling places to be used in an election shall be determined at least thirty-one days before such election, and such polling places shall not be changed within [said] such period of thirty-one days except that, if the municipal clerk and registrars of voters of a municipality unanimously find that any such polling place within such municipality has been rendered unusable within such period, they shall forthwith designate another polling place to be used in place of the one so rendered unusable and shall give adequate notice that such polling place has been so changed.
The registrars may also designate a deputy head moderator to assist the head moderator in the performance of his duties provided the deputy head moderator and the head moderator shall not be enrolled in the same major party, as defined in subdivision (5) of section 9-372.
The registrars may also designate a deputy head moderator to assist the head moderator in the performance of his duties provided the deputy head moderator and the headmoderator shallnot beenrolledinthesame major party,asdefined in subdivision (5) of section 9-372.
Voting district lines shall not be drawn by a municipality so as to conflict with the lines of congressional districts, senate districts or assembly districts as established by law, except (1) as provided in section 9-169d, and (2) that as to municipal elections, any part of a split voting district containing less than two hundred electorsmay becombined withanother voting district adjacent thereto from which all and the same officers are elected at such municipal election in accordance with the provisions of section 1 of this act.
Voting district lines shall not be drawn by a municipality so as to conflict with the lines of congressional districts, senate districts or assembly districts as established by law, except (1) as provided in section 9-169d, and (2) that, as to municipal elections, any part of a split voting district containing less than two hundred electors may be combined with another voting district adjacent thereto from which all and the same officers are elected at such municipal election in accordance with the provisions of section 1 of this act.
Any change intheboundariesofvoting districtsmadewithinninety dayspriortoanyelectionorprimaryshallnotapplywithrespecttosuch LCO No.
Any change in the boundaries of voting districts made within ninety days prior to any election or primary shall not apply with sSB386 / File No.
2738 5 of 6 Raised Bill No.
392 5 sSB386 File No.
386 election or primary.
392 respect to such election or primary.
Sec.
7.
Subsection (c) of section 9-229b of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(c) [Not later than March first of the year of each regular election, each] Each regional council of governments that has appointed a regional election advisor shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Secretary of the State concerning the assistance to be provided by such regional election advisor, and shall confirm within such memorandum of understanding that (1) each requirement described in subsection (b) of this section is satisfied and the individual who shall serve as regional election advisor has been informed, in writing, of the minimum expectations of performance for the position, and (2) revocation by the Secretary of such regional election advisor's certification constitutes breach of such memorandum of understanding, which may result in termination of such memorandum of understanding if the regional council of governments is not able to appoint a replacement regional election advisor within thirty days after such revocation.
Sec.
8.
Subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of section 9-163aa of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is sSB386 / File No.
392 6 sSB386 File No.
392 substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):
(4) (A) The registrars of voters shall appoint, for each day on which early voting is conducted, a moderator and such other election or primary officials to serve at each location designated for such conduct.
The moderator so appointed shall perform any duty required, and may exercise any power authorized, under this title related to the conduct of early voting at such location.
On any such day and solely for purposes related to the conduct of early voting, the registrars of voters of a municipality may, upon agreement, appoint one of the registrars from such municipality as moderator in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (B) of this subdivision.
The registrars of voters may delegate to each other election or primary official so appointed any of the responsibilities assigned to the registrars of voters.
The registrars of voters shall supervise each such official and train each such official to be an early voting election or primary official.
(B) Whenever the registrars of voters of a municipality appoint, pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, one of the registrars of such municipality as moderator to serve at a location designated for the conduct of early voting, such registrars of voters shall jointly submit to the Secretary of the State (i) a certification that the registrars of voters of such municipality are in agreement as to such appointment, and (ii) a written plan detailing alternative coverage of the duties normally carried out by the registrar so appointed to ensure that such registrar abstains, on each day in which such registrar serves as moderator, from any such duties that conflict with those of the moderator.
6 from passage New section Statement of Purpose:
6 from passage New section Sec.
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To (1) require a public hearing and a vote of the legislative body prior to any move of polling places from one election to the next, and (2) require the Secretary of the State to review the implementation of early voting at the 2024 presidential preference primary and make recommendations for potential improvements.
7 from passage 9-229b(c) sSB386 / File No.
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.
392 7 sSB386 File No.
2738 6 of 6
392 Sec.
8 from passage 9-163aa(b)(4) Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section 1(1) to (3), "such election or primary" was changed to "the election or primary at which such polling place is to be used" for clarity;
and in Section 5, "said period of thirty-one days" was changed to "[said] such period of thirty-one days" for consistency with standard drafting conventions.
GAE Joint Favorable Subst.
sSB386 / File No.
392 8 sSB386 File No.
392 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:
None Municipal Impact:
None Explanation The bill (1) establishes various procedural requirements around early voting and relocating polling places;
(2) eliminating some existing requirements of agreements between regional election advisors and councils of government;
and (3) requires the Secretary of the State (SOTS) to conduct a statewide review of early voting procedures and results in no fiscal impact to the state or municipalities.
The Out Years State Impact:
None Municipal Impact:
None sSB386 / File No.
392 9 sSB386 File No.
392 OLR Bill Analysis sSB 386 AN ACT CONCERNING DESIGNATION OF POLLING PLACES, EARLY VOTING AND REGIONAL ELECTION ADVISORS.
SUMMARY This bill establishes procedural requirements for moving the location of a polling place between one election or primary and the next, including requiring the municipal legislative body’s approval and a public hearing.
Under current law, the registrars of voters are generally authorized to change a polling place’s location.
(The bill states the new procedure applies specifically to proposals to move polling places, but the bill applies the new procedure to existing provisions that appear to contemplate other changes (e.g., creating a new polling location in an adjacent district), as well.) The bill also requires the secretary of the state to conduct a statewide review of the early voting procedures used for the most recent presidential preference primary.
The secretary must review them for any inconsistencies, insufficiencies, or deficiencies.
By May 1, 2024, she must submit a report to the Government Administration and Elections Committee that includes her findings and recommendations to improve the procedures for future elections and primaries (§ 6).
Additionally, the bill eliminates the requirements that regional councils of governments (COG) enter into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a regional election advisor by a specified deadline (§ 7).
Finally, the bill establishes procedures for appointing a registrar of voters as a moderator for an early voting location (§ 8).
sSB386 / File No.
392 10 sSB386 File No.
392 EFFECTIVE DATE:
Upon passage, except that provisions regarding the relocation of polling places are effective July 1, 2024.
§§ 1-5 — AUTHORITY FOR DESIGNATION OR RELOCATION OF POLLING PLACES Procedure to Move a Polling Place Before a polling place may be moved from the location used for the prior election or primary the:
1.
registrars of voters or municipal legislative body, as applicable, must propose the move (a) at a regular meeting of the legislative body and (b) at least 120 days before the election or primary at which the polling location will be used;
2.
legislative body must hold a public hearing at least 110 days before the election or primary;
and 3.
legislative body must approve or reject themove at least 100 days before the election or primary.
By law, a polling place must be set at least 31 days before an election and cannot be changed unless the registrars of voters and town clerk unanimously determine a polling location is unusable.
The bill does not explicitly change this requirement or exempt it from this procedure.
The polling place must also meet any other requirements that apply specifically when a polling place is moved before a state election (1) due to differing voting district lines or (2) to an adjacent voting district, as described below.
Proposal to Move Polling Location (§§ 2 & 5) Under current law, polling locations are generally determined by a municipality’s (1) legislative body if the town is not divided into voting districts(i.e., hasonly onedistrict) and (2)registrarsof votersifthetown is divided into multiple districts, unless a special act requires otherwise.
If the registrars cannot agree on a location, the legislative body must select it.
sSB386 / File No.
392 11 sSB386 File No.
392 The bill subjects these determinations by the legislative body or registrars, as applicable, to the procedure described above.
Presumably, in towns with only one voting district, the legislative body may propose moving a polling location at its regularly scheduled meeting and, in towns with multiple districts, the registrars may do so.
In either case, the proposal is subject to the legislative body’s approval or rejection under the bill.
Moving a Polling Place Before a State Election (§ 2) Under current law, state elections must generally be held at their usual locations, but the registrars of voters may designate a different location if they comply with the law’s requirements (i.e., in writing to the town clerk at least 31 days before the election).
The bill retains the law’s requirement that state elections be held at their usual locations.
However, it allows the municipality’s legislative body, rather than registrars, to designate a different location and additionally requires it to follow the approval procedure described above (i.e., a public hearing and approval by the legislative body).
For towns with multiple voting districts, it is unclear whether the registrars or the legislative body may propose moving the location (subject to the bill’s procedure, as described above).
Municipal Boundaries Differ From State Legislative and Congressional District Lines (§ 3) Current law authorizes registrars to determine whether certain votingdistrictsshouldhaveadesignatedpollingplaceorshould instead share a place withanother voting district but have a separate designated voting tabulator.
The bill transfers the power from the registrars to the municipality’s legislative body.
Specifically, these provisions apply for polling locations in situations where (1) the voting district boundaries for municipal elections differ from assembly, senatorial, or congressional district lines or (2) a voting district has less than 1,500 electors voting for a specific combination of officers.
sSB386 / File No.
392 12 sSB386 File No.
392 Adjacent Voting Districts (§ 4) If the registrars determine, in a written opinion, that a voting district lacks an existing convenient or suitable polling place, current law authorizes them to designate a new polling location in an adjacent voting district (or in a separate room in the adjacent district’s existing polling place).
The bill instead requires the registrars to submit their written opinion, along with a proposal, to the municipality’s legislative body for the body to designate.
Under existing law and the bill, the registrars’ written opinion and the subsequent designation must be filed with the town clerk 90 days before a regular election or primary.
Within 10 days of the filing, the town clerk must publish the determination.
§ 7 — REGIONAL ELECTION ADVISOR DEADLINE Under existing law, COGs may appoint a regional election advisor to consult and coordinate with the secretary of the state regarding election administration in the participating towns.
Current law allows the COG to enter into a MOU with an advisor, but if they wish to do so, it must occur before March 1 of each regular election year.
COGs may receive a grant for appointing an election advisor, but only if they have filed the MOU by this deadline.
The bill eliminates the (1) March 1 deadline for entering into the MOU and (2) requirement that the MOU be filed each regular election year.
§ 8 — PROCEDURES FOR REGISTRARS TO SERVE AS EARLY VOTING MODERATORS Existing law allows registrars of voters to appoint moderators to oversee early voting locations.
The bill specifies that the municipality’s registrars of voters may agree to appoint one of them to serve as the moderator instead.
If they choose to do so, they must submit a certification of their agreement to the secretary of the state as well as a written coverage plan for the registrar’s normal duties, to ensure the registrar abstains from any that conflict with its role as moderator.
COMMITTEE ACTION sSB386 / File No.
392 13 sSB386 File No.
392 Government Administration and Elections Committee Joint Favorable Substitute Yea 19 Nay 0 (03/22/2024) sSB386 / File No.
392 14
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Action History

  1. FILE NO. 392

  2. SENATE CALENDAR NUMBER 254

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

  4. RPTD. OUT OF LCO

  5. REFERRED TO Office of Legislative Research AND Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/09/24

  6. FILED WITH LCO

  7. Joint Favorable Substitute

  8. PUBLIC HEARING 0313

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

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186 members have not signed on to this bill.

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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 386?
SB 386 is sponsored by Martin M. Looney (Democratic).
What is the current status of SB 386?
This bill died with 2024 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
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