SB 1017 — AN ACT CONCERNING ELECTION ADMINISTRATION REGARDING REDISTRICTING.

For any circulator described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, each petition page shall contain a statement signed by the registrar of voters of the municipality in which the circulator is an enrolled party member attesting that the circulator is an enrolled party member in the municipality.

For any circulator described in subdivision (2) of this subsection, each petition page shall contain a statement signed by such circulator that he or she agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of this state in any case or controversy arising out of or related to the circulation of a primary petition, which signed statement shall be attested to by the registrar of voters of the municipality in which such page was circulated.

Unless such a statement by the registrar [of voters] appears on each page so submitted, the Secretary shall reject the page.

Each separate page of the petition shall contain a statement as to the authenticity of the signatures on the page and the number of such signatures, and shall be signed under the [penalties] penalty of false statement by the person who circulated the page, setting forth the circulator's address and the town in which the circulator is an enrolled party member and attesting that each person whose name appears on the page signed the petition in person in the presence of the circulator, that the circulator either knows each such signer or that the signer satisfactorily identified himself or herself to the circulator and that the spaces for candidates supported, offices sought and the political party involved were filled in prior to the obtaining of the signatures.

Each separate page of the petition shall also be acknowledged before an appropriate person as provided in section 1-29.

The Secretary shall reject any page of a petition filed with the Secretary which does not contain such a statement by the circulator as to the authenticity of the signatures on the page, or upon which the statement of the circulator is incomplete in any respect, or which does not contain the certification required under this section by the registrar LCO No.

3542 4 of 25 Raised Bill No.1017 of the town in which the circulator is an enrolled party member.

Any individual proposed as a candidate in any primary petition may serve as a circulator of the pages of the petition, provided the individual's service as circulator does not violate any provision of this section.

Sec.

7.

Subsection (c) of section 9-410 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(c) [Each] Any person qualified to vote under the laws of any state or territory of the United States may be a circulator of a primary petition page [shall be] if such person (1) is an enrolled party member of a municipality in this state, [who is entitled to vote.

Each] or (2) agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of this state in any case or controversy arising out of or related to the circulation of a primary petition.

For any circulator described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, each petition page shall contain a statement signed by the registrar of voters of the municipality in which such circulator is an enrolled party member attesting that the circulator is an enrolled party member in such municipality.

For any circulator described in subdivision (2) of this subsection, each petition page shall contain a statement signed by such circulator that he or she agrees to submit to the jurisdiction of this state in any case or controversy arising out of or related to the circulation of a primary petition, which signed statement shall be attested to by the registrar of voters of the municipality in which such page was circulated.

Unless such a statement by the registrar appears on each page so submitted, the registrar shall reject such page.

No candidate for the nomination of a party for a municipal office or the position of town committee member shall circulate any petition for another candidate or another group of candidates contained in one primary petition for the nomination of such party for the same office or position, and any petition page circulated in violation of this provision shall be rejected by the registrar.

No person shall circulate petitions for more than the maximum number of candidates to be nominated by a party for the same office or position, and any petition page circulated in violation of this provision shall be rejected by the registrar.

Each separate sheet of LCO No.

3542 5 of 25 Raised Bill No.1017 such petition shall contain a statement as to the authenticity of the signatures thereon and the number of such signatures, and shall be signed under the penalties of false statement by the person who circulated the same, setting forth such circulator's address and the town in which such circulator is an enrolled party member and attesting that each person whose name appears on such sheet signed the same in personinthepresenceofsuchcirculator,thatthecirculatoreitherknows each such signer or that the signer satisfactorily identified the signer to the circulator and that the spaces for candidates supported, offices or positions sought and the political party involved were filled in prior to theobtaining ofthesignatures.Eachseparate sheet ofsuchpetitionshall also be acknowledged before an appropriate person as provided in section 1-29.

Any sheet of a petition filed with the registrar which does not contain such a statement by the circulator as to the authenticity of the signatures thereon, or upon which the statement of the circulator is incomplete in any respect, or which does not contain the certification hereinbefore required by the registrar of the town in which the circulator is an enrolled party member, shall be rejected by the registrar.

Any individual proposed as a candidate in any primary petition may serve as a circulator of the pages of such petition, provided such individual's service as circulator does not violate any provision of this section.

Sec.

8.

Section 9-450 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) Nominations by major parties for any state, district or municipal office to be filled under the provisions of any law relating to elections to fill vacancies, unless otherwise provided therein, shall be made in accordance with the provisions of sections 9-382 to 9-450, inclusive.

(b)(1)[(A)]In thecase ofnominationsfor representativesinCongress and judges of probate in probate districts composed of two or more towns, provided for in sections 9-212, as amended by this act, and 9-218, as amended by this act, the delegates to the convention for the last state election shall be the delegates for the purpose of selecting a candidate to LCO No.

3542 6 of 25 Raised Bill No.1017 fill such vacancy.

If a vacancy occurs in the delegation from any town, political subdivision or district, such vacancy may be filled by the town committee of the town in which the delegate resided.

Endorsements by political party conventions pursuant to this subsection may be made and certified at any time after the resignation or death creating such vacancy and not later than the fiftieth day before the day of the election.

No such endorsement shall be effective until the presiding officer or secretary of any district convention has certified the endorsement to the Secretary of the State.

[(B)] (2) If such a vacancy occurs between the one hundred twenty- fifth day and the sixty-third day before the day of a regular state or municipal election in November of any year, no primary shall be held for the nomination of any political party and the party-endorsed candidate so selected shall be deemed, for the purposes of this chapter, the person certified by the Secretary of the State pursuant to section 9- 444 as the nominee of such party.

[(C)] (3) Except as provided in [subparagraph (B) of this] subdivision (2) of this subsection, if a candidacy for nomination is filed by or on behalf of any person other than a party-endorsed candidate not later than [fourteen days] the day after the party endorsement and in conformity with the provisions of section 9-400, as amended by this act, a primary shall be held in each municipality of the district and each part of a municipality which is a component part of the district, to determine the nominee of such party for such office, except as provided in section 9-416a.

Such primary shall be held on the day that the writs of election issued by the Governor, pursuant to section 9-212, as amended by this act, ordered the election to be held, and new writs of election shall be issued by the Governor in accordance with section 9-212, as amended by this act.

[(D)] (4) Unless the provisions of [subparagraph (B) of this] subdivision (2) of this subsection apply, petition forms for candidacies for nomination by a political party pursuant to this subdivision shall be available from the Secretary of the State beginning on the day following LCO No.

3542 7 of 25 Raised Bill No.

1017 the issuance of writs of election by the Governor pursuant to section 9- 212, as amended by this act, except when a primary has already been held, and the provisions of section 9-404a shall otherwise apply to such petitions.

[(E)] (5) The registry lists used pursuant to this subsection shall be the last-completed lists, as provided in sections 9-172a and 9-172b.

[(2)] (c) In the case of judges of probate in probate districts composed of a single town, the day named for the election shall be not earlier than the one hundred fifteenth day following the day on which the writ of election is issued, and the times specified in sections 9-391, 9-405 and 9- 423 shall be applicable.

[(3) (A)] (d) (1) In the case of nominations for senators in Congress provided for in section 9-211, as amended by this act, the delegates to the convention for the last state election shall be the delegates for the purpose of selecting a candidate to fill such vacancy.

If a vacancy occurs in the delegation from any town or political subdivision, such vacancy may be filled by the town committee of the town in which the delegate resided.

Endorsements by political party conventions pursuant to this subsection may be made and certified at any time after the resignation or death creating such vacancy and not later than the fifty-sixth day before the day of the primary.

No such endorsement shall be effective until the presiding officer or secretary of any state convention has certified the endorsement to the Secretary of the State.

[(B)] (2) If such a vacancy occurs between the one hundred twenty- fifth day and the sixty-third day before the day of a regular state or municipal election in November of any year, no primary shall be held for the nomination of any political party and the party-endorsed candidate so selected shall be deemed, for the purposes of this chapter, the person certified by the Secretary of the State, pursuant to section 9- 444, as the nominee of such party.

In such an event, endorsements by political party conventions shall be made not later than sixty days prior to the election.

LCO No.

3542 8 of 25 Raised Bill No.1017 [(C)] (3) Except as provided in [subparagraph (B) of this] subdivision (2) of this subsection, if a candidacy for nomination is filed by or on behalf of any person other than a party-endorsed candidate not later than [fourteen days] the day after the party endorsement and in conformity with the provisions of section 9-400, as amended by this act, a primary shall be held on the fifty-sixth day prior to the day of the election in each municipality to determine thenominee of such party for such office, except as provided in section 9-416a.

[(D)] (4) Unless the provisions of [subparagraph (B) of this] subdivision (2) of this subsection apply, petition forms for candidacies for nomination by a political party pursuant to this subdivision shall be available from the Secretary of the State beginning on the day following the issuance of writs of election by the Governor, pursuant to section 9- 211, as amended by this act, except when a primary has already been held and the provisions of section 9-404a shall otherwise apply to such petitions.

[(E)] (5) The registry lists used pursuant to this subsection shall be the last-completed lists, as provided in sections 9-172a and 9-172b.

[(4)] (e) The times specified in sections 9-391, 9-405 and 9-423 shall be applicable to any special town election held to fill a vacancy in any town office under subsection (b) of section 9-164.

Except as provided under subsection (c) of section 9-164, any election held to fill a vacancy in any municipal office under the provisions of any special act shall be held not earlier than the one hundred twenty-seventh day following the day upon which warning of such election is issued, and the times specified in sections 9-391, 9-405 and 9-423 shall be applicable.

Sec.

9.

Subsection (a) of section 9-212 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) In case of a vacancy in the office of representative in Congress from any district, the Governor, except as otherwise provided by law, shall not more than ten days after the occurrence of such vacancy issue LCO No.

3542 9 of 25 Raised Bill No.1017 writs of election directed to the town clerks or assistant town clerks, in such district, ordering an election to be held on the sixtieth day after the issueofsuch writsona day,otherthanaSaturday or Sunday,to fillsuch vacancy, provided(1)ifsuchavacancy occurs betweentheonehundred twenty-fifth day and the sixty-third day before the day of a regular state or municipal election in November of any year, the Governor shall so issue such writs on the sixtieth day before the day of such regular election, ordering an election to be held on the day of such regular election, (2) if such a vacancy occurs after the sixty-third day before the day of a regular state election but before the regular state election, the Governor shall not issue such writs and no election shall be held under thissection,unlessthepositionvacatedisthatofmember-elect,inwhich case the Governor shall issue such writs and an election shall be held as provided in this section, and (3) if a primary for such office occurs pursuant to [subparagraph (C) of subdivision (1)] subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 9-450, as amended by this act, the Governor shall, within ten days following the filing of a candidacy for nomination by a person other than the party-endorsed candidate, issue new writs of election, in place of those first issued pursuant to this section.

Sec.

10.

(NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) The Secretary of the State shall develop and implement a system or systems through which the Secretary may permit any person to submit an electronic signature for the purpose of signing any form or application to be filed pursuant to chapters 141 to 154, inclusive, of the general statutes.

The Secretary may include in, or exclude from, such system any such form or application.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any such form or application on which any such electronic signature appears shall be deemed to have been signed in the original.

(b) A state agency, upon the request of the Secretary of the State, shall provide any information to the Secretary that the Secretary deems necessary to maintain the system or systems described in subsection (a) ofthissection.The Secretaryshallnotusetheinformationobtainedfrom any state agency except for the purpose of allowing any person to sign any form or application to be filed pursuant to chapters 141 to 154, LCO No.

3542 10 of 25 Raised Bill No.

1017 inclusive, of the general statutes.

Sec.

11.

Subsection (a) of section 9-320f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(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 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, except that, for the purposes of this section, any central location used in a municipality for the counting of absentee 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.

12.

Section 9-159q of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) As used in this section:

(1) "Institution" means a veterans' health care facility, residential care home,healthcarefacilityforthehandicapped,nursinghome,resthome, mental health facility, alcohol or drug treatment facility, an infirmary operatedbyaneducationalinstitutionforthecareofitsstudents,faculty and employees or an assisted living facility;

and (2) "Designee" means an elector of the same town and political party as the appointing registrar of voters, which elector is not an employee of the institution at which supervised voting is conducted.

LCO No.

3542 11 of 25 Raised Bill No.

1017 (b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, [to the contrary,]ifless thantwenty ofthepatientsinany institutioninthe state are electors, absentee ballots voted by such electors shall, upon request of either registrar of voters in the town of such electors' voting residence or the administrator of such institution, be voted under the supervision of such registrars of voters or their designees in accordance with the provisions of this section.

The registrars of voters of a town other than the town in which an institution is located may refuse a request by the administrator of such institution when, in their written opinion, the registrars agree that such request is unnecessary, in which case this section shall not apply.

Such registrars shall inform the administrator and the town clerk of the electors' town of voting residence of their refusal.

(c) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, such request shall be made in writing and filed with the town clerk and registrars of voters of the town of such electors' voting residence, not more than forty-five days prior to an election or thirty-four days prior to a primary and not later than the seventh day prior to an election or primary.

The request shall specify the name and location of the institution and the date and time when the registrars of voters or their designees shall supervise the casting of absentee ballots at the institution.

The request shall also specify one or more alternate dates and times when supervised voting may occur.

No request shall specify a date or an alternate date for supervised voting which is later than the last business day before the election or primary.

(d) The town clerk shall not mail or otherwise deliver an absentee ballot to an applicant who is a patient in any institution if a request for supervision of absentee balloting at that institution has been filed with the clerk during the period set forth in subsection (c) of this section.

The clerk shallinstead deliver suchballot or ballotsto theregistrarsofvoters or their designees who will supervise the voting of such ballots in accordance with this section.

(e) Except in the case of a written refusal as provided in subsection LCO No.

3542 12 of 25 Raised Bill No.

1017 (b) of this section, upon receipt of a request for supervision of absentee balloting during the period set forth in subsection (c) of this section, the registrar or registrars of voters who received the request shall inform the registrar or administrator who made the request and the town clerk as to the date and time when such supervision shall occur, which shall be the date and time contained in the request or the alternate date and time contained in the request.

If the registrar or registrars fail to select either date, the supervision shall take place on the date and time contained in the request.

If a request for supervision of absentee balloting at an institution is filed during the period set forth in subsection (c) of this section and the town clerk receives an application for an absentee ballot from a patient in the institution after the date when supervised balloting occurred, either registrar of voters may request, inwriting,totheappropriatetownclerk andregistrarsofvoters that the supervision of the voting of absentee ballots at such institution in accordance with this section be repeated, and in such case the registrars or their designees shall supervise absentee balloting at such institution on the date and at the time specified in the subsequent request, which shall be not later than the last business day before the election or primary.

(f) On the date when the supervision of absentee balloting at any institution is to occur, the town clerk shall deliver to the registrars or theirdesigneestheabsenteeballotsandenvelopesforallapplicantswho are electors of such clerk's town and patients at such institution.

The ballot and envelopes shall be prepared for delivery to the applicant as provided in sections 9-137 to 9-140a, inclusive.

The registrars or their designees shall furnish the town clerk a written receipt for such ballots.

(g) The registrars or their designees, as the case may be, shall jointly deliver theballotstotherespective applicantsat theinstitutionandshall jointly supervise the voting of such ballots.

The ballots shall be returned to the registrars or their designees by the electors in the envelopes provided and in accordance with the provisions of sections 9-137, 9-139 and 9-140a.

If any elector asks for assistance in voting his ballot, two registrars or their designees of different political parties or, for a LCO No.

3542 13 of 25 Raised Bill No.1017 primary, their designees of different candidates, shall render such assistance as they deem necessary and appropriate to enable such elector to vote his ballot.

The registrars or their designees may reject a ballot when (1) the elector declines to vote a ballot, or (2) the registrars or their designees are unable to determine how the elector who has requested their assistance desires to vote the ballot.

When the registrars or their designees reject a ballot, they shall mark the serially-numbered outer envelope "rejected" and note the reasons for rejection.

Nothing in this section shall limit the right of an elector to vote his ballot in secret.

(h) After all ballots have been voted or marked "rejected" in accordance with subsection (g) of this section, the registrars or their designeesshall jointly deliver or mailthemintheenvelopes,whichshall be sealed, to the appropriate town clerk, who shall retain them until delivered in accordance with section 9-140c.

(i) When an institution is located in a town having a primary, the registrar in that town of the party holding the primary shall appoint for each such institution, one designee of the party-endorsed candidates and one designee of the contestants from the lists, if any, submitted by the party-endorsed candidates and contestants.

Such registrar shall notify all party-endorsed candidates and all contestants of their right to submit a list of potential designees under this section.

Each party- endorsed candidate and each contestant may submit to such registrar in writing a list of names of potential designees, provided any such list shall be submitted not later than ten days before the primary.

If no such lists are submitted within said period, such registrar shall appoint one designee of the party-endorsed candidates and one designee of the contestants.

Each designee appointed pursuant to this section shall be sworn to the faithful performance of his duties, and the registrar shall file a certificate of each designation with his town clerk.

(j) Any registrar of voters who has filed a request that the absentee balloting at an institution be supervised and any registrar required to conduct a supervision of voting under this section, who neglects to perform any of the duties required of him by this section so as to cause LCO No.

3542 14 of 25 Raised Bill No.1017 any elector to lose hisvote shallbeguilty ofa classA misdemeanor.Any registrar from the same town as a registrar who has filed such a request may waive his right to participate in the supervision of absentee balloting.

(k) Notwithstanding any provision of this section, [to the contrary,] if the spouse or a child of a registrar of voters or a dependent relative residing in the registrar's household is a candidate in the election or primary for which supervised absentee voting is to occur, such registrar shall not supervise such absentee voting but may designate the deputy registrar of voters or an assistant registrar of voters, appointed by the registrar pursuant to section 9-192, to supervise the absentee voting in his place.

(l) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, [if a town clerkreceivestwentyormoreabsenteeballotapplicationsfromthesame street address in a town, including, but not limited to, an apartment building or complex, absentee ballots voted by the electors submitting suchapplicationsmay, atthediscretionoftheregistrarsofvotersofsuch town,bevoted underthesupervisionofsuch registrarsofvotersor their designees in accordance with the same procedures set forth in this section for supervised absentee voting at institutions.] the Secretary of the State may suspend the supervision of absentee balloting under this section and section 9-159r, provided the Secretary (1) suspends such supervision of absentee balloting in recognition of a declaration by the Governor of a civil preparedness emergency, pursuant to section 28-9, or a public health emergency, pursuant to section 19a-131, and (2) submits a report, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to elections advising of such suspension and specifying alternative actions to be taken to provide opportunities for absentee voting by electors described in this section and section 9-159r.

Sec.

13.

(NEW) (Effective from passage) As used in this section, "plan of districting" means the plan adopted or determined pursuant to Article XXVI or Article XXX, as applicable, of the Amendments to the LCO No.

3542 15 of 25 Raised Bill No.1017 Constitution of Connecticut.

Sec.sSB1017 / File No.

14.591 1 sSB1017 File No.

(NEW)591 (EffectiveThis fromact passage)shall Intake theeffect caseas offollows anand electorshall unableamend to appear at such elector's polling place because of a visual impairment, the Secretaryfollowing ofsections: the State shall electronically provide to such elector an absentee ballot in a format capable of being read by a computer-related device and printed.

EachSection such1 ballotfrom signedpassage byNew such elector, returned to the municipal clerk in accordance with section 9-140bStatement of theLegislative generalCommissioners: statutes, as amended by this act, and that otherwise satisfies all requirements for returned absentee ballots shall be counted.

Sec.The title was changed.

15.GAE Joint Favorable Subst.

SubsectionsSB1017 (a)/ ofFile sectionNo. 9-164 of the general statutes is repealedandthefollowingissubstitutedinlieuthereof(EffectiveJanuary 1, 2023):

(a)591 Notwithstanding2 anysSB1017 contraryFile provisionNo. of law, there shall be held in each municipality, biennially, a municipal election [on the first Monday of May or the Tuesday after the first Monday of November, of the odd-numbered years, whichever date the legislative body of such municipality determines, provided, if no action is taken by the legislative body to so designate the date of such election, such election shall be held] on the Tuesday after the first Monday of November of the odd-numbered years.

In591 anyThe municipalityfollowing whereFiscal theImpact termStatement ofand anyBill electedAnalysis officialare wouldprepared expirefor priorthe tobenefit of the nextmembers regularof electionthe heldGeneral underAssembly, thesolely provisionsfor purposes of thisinformation, section,summarization theand termexplanation ofand suchdo officialnot shallrepresent bethe extendedintent toof the dateGeneral ofAssembly suchor election.either chamber thereof for any purpose.

LCOIn No.general, fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional knowledge.

3542Whenever 16applicable, agency data is consulted as part of 25the Raisedanalysis, Billhowever No.1017final Sec.products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

16.OFA Fiscal Note State Impact:

SectionAgency 9-164aAffected ofFund-Effect theFY general22 statutes$ isFY repealed23 and$ theSecretary followingof isthe substitutedState inGF lieu- thereofCost (Effective30,000 fromNone passage):Note:

NotwithstandingGF=General anyFund contraryMunicipal provisionImpact: of law, in any municipality in which the date of the municipal election has been, or will be, changed to the Tuesday after the first Monday of November of the odd- numbered years under section 9-164, as amended by this act, and in which the terms of office of one or more elected municipal officers had not, or will have not, expired at the time of the holding of the first municipal election in accordance with such changed date under said section, the legislative body of such municipality shall, prior to [July 25, 1969] January 1, 2023, provide for a reasonable method of transition for such offices which may include reasonable extension of such terms and provision for interim terms.

ExceptNone asExplanation providedThis inbill sectionsrequires 9-164b, as amended by this act, 9-164d to 9-164f, inclusive, as amended by this act, 9-187 and 9-187a, as amended by this act, in the absenceSecretary of such action by such legislative body, the termsState ofto anyreview suchhow officersmunicipalities whichimplement do not terminatewithinthreemonthsaftersuchfirstorasubsequentmunicipal electionheldunder saidsection9-164 shall be extendedto themunicipal election next held after the expirationstate’s Plan of suchRedistricting terms,following or to such date, withinseventy daysafter suchelection,onwhichthetermsofmunicipal officers generally begin in such municipality, at which election successors shall be elected for the termsdecennial providedU.S. for by law or for such othertransitionaltermsasare necessaryto providetherotationrequired by law.

TheCensus. clerk of the municipality, in preparing the list provided for under section 9-254, shall set forth such terms or transitional terms therein.

Sec.As the Secretary of the State does not have staff expertise in redistricting the office will need to hire a consultant, at an estimated one-time cost of $30,000, to review each town's redistricting plan.

17.The Out Years The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would continue into the future subject to inflation.

SectionsSB1017 9-164b/ ofFile theNo. general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

As591 to3 anysSB1017 boardFile or commission with a rotating membership, some of the members of which, prior to the change to a uniform municipal election date to the Tuesday after the first Monday of November of the odd-numbered years under section 9-164, as amended by this act, were elected for terms beginning approximately one year after the date of LCO No.

3542591 17OLR of 25 Raised Bill No.1017Analysis theirsSB election,1017 theAN legislativeACT bodyCONCERNING mayELECTION provideADMINISTRATION forREGARDING suchREDISTRICTING. conforming changes in the beginning date of the terms of office as are designed to continue therotationwithregardto suchoffice asit existedpriorto such change, and in the absence of such action by such legislative body, the beginning date of the terms of such office shall be so changed by the clerk of themunicipality in preparing the list provided for under section 9-254.

WithSUMMARY respectGenerally, tothis anybill boardrequires or commission with a rotating membership established under sections 8-1, 8-4a, 8-5 and 8-19, the authoritysecretary empowered to prescribe the term of office of the membersstate of such board or commission, if it is authorized under said sections to providereview forhow anmunicipalities odd-numberedimplement year term, may further provide for deferred terms by prescribing which terms are to begin approximately one year from the datestate’s onPlan which the terms of municipalRedistricting officers(i.e., generallyredistricting beginplan) infollowing suchthe municipality.decennial U.S.

Sec.Census, and for municipalities to correct any errors.

18.Specifically, once registrars in each municipality finish implementing the redistricting plan, the secretary must review their actions to ensure that the plan has been properly implemented and interpreted.

SectionIf 9-187athere ofis thean generalimplementation statuteserror, isthe repealedsecretary andmust notify the followingapplicable isregistrars substitutedof invoters lieuand thereofrequire (Effectivethem Januaryto 1,correct 2023):it.

(a)The (1)registrars Exceptmust asimmediately providedcorrect in sections 9-164a, as amended by this act, 9-164b, as amended by this act, 9-164d to 9-164f, inclusive, as amended by this act, and subdivision (2) of this subsection, (A) the termerror of each [elected] municipal official elected at a municipal election, other than town clerk and treasurer,certify shall begin [within seventy days after the municipal election at which such official is elected, on the day within such period prescribed by special act or charter provision, or, in thewriting absenceto of such special act or charter provision, on the daysecretary withinwhen suchit period as is prescribeddone. by action of the legislative body of such municipality, provided (1) in each municipality which holds its municipal election on the first Monday of May in the odd-numbered years, in the absence of such special act or charter provision, or action of the legislative body, such terms shall begin on the first day of July following the municipal election at which such official is elected, and (2) in each municipality which holds its municipal election on the Tuesday after the first Monday of November in the odd-numbered years, with theexceptionofthetermofthetown clerk,in theabsence ofsuch special act,orcharterprovision,oractionof thelegislativebody,suchtermshall LCO No.

3542(The 18bill ofdoes 25not Raisedestablish Billdeadlines No.1017by begin on the second Tuesday next] (i) December first next following the day of [the municipal election at which suchregistrars officialmust isfinish elected,]implementing such municipalelection,or (ii)suchother day asmay beprescribedby special act for a municipal election held on the Tuesdayplans after the first Monday of November of the odd-numbered years, and [(3) in each municipality whichholdsitsmunicipalelectionontheTuesdayafterthefirstMonday in November in the odd-numbered years,] (B) the term of the town clerk [shall be two years from] or theby treasurer,which as applicable, elected at a municipal election shall begin on the firstsecretary Mondaymust ofreview Januarythem.) nextEFFECTIVE [succeedingDATE: his election,unlessotherwise providedby charter or special act] following the day of such municipal election.

WheneverUpon thepassage beginningBACKGROUND dateRedistricting ofAuthority theThe termsConnecticut ofConstitution electedestablishes municipal officials is so determined or changed, within the limitsstate’s hereinaboveredistricting specified,process. the authority providing therefor may provide for the conforming diminution or extension of terms of incumbents.

(2)Generally, Thethe legislativeprocess bodyrequires of(1) a municipalitybipartisan maylegislative providecommittee forto aprepare deferredthe beginningPlan date,of notRedistricting tofor exceedstate oneSenate, yearstate fromHouse, theand applicableCongressional datedistricts, setand forth(2) inthe subdivisionGeneral (1)Assembly ofto thisapprove subsection,it ofby theSeptember term15 of anythe officeyear tofollowing bethe electeddecennial atcensus. a municipal election.

(b)If In the caseGeneral ofAssembly adoes specialnot electiontimely toapprove fillthe aplan, vacancy in an elected municipal office, which special election is combined with a regularnine- electionmember pursuantReapportionment toCommission, subsectionconsisting (b) of sectionlegislator- 9-164,sSB1017 the/ personFile electedNo. to fill such vacancy shall begin to serve the unexpired portion of his or her predecessor's term on the applicable date provided in subsection (a) of this section.

Sec.591 4 sSB1017 File No.

19.591 designated members and one state elector, is formed to do the job and has until November 30 to do so (i.e., approve by a vote of at least five members).

SectionIf 9-189athe ofcommission fails to meet the generalNovember statutes30 isdeadline, repealedthe andConnecticut Supreme Court has the followingauthority isto substitutedcompel inthe lieucommission thereofto (Effectivecomplete Januaryits 1,task 2023):or the court can draw the district boundaries itself by the following February 15.

NotwithstandingIn these cases, the provisionsPlan of sectionsRedistricting 9-189has andthe 9-190a,full anyforce townof orlaw municipalitywhen may, by charter or ordinance, provide that the treasurercommission or the towncourt, clerkas ofapplicable, [said]submits suchit townto or municipality, or the registrarssecretary of votersthe ofstate [said]and such town, or any of such officers, shall, at the nextsecretary [succeeding]publishes followingit regular(Conn. election for such office and LCO No.

3542Const. 19 of 25 Raised Bill No.

1017Art. thereafter, be elected for a term of four years.

InIII., such§ event,6). such four- year term shall begin on the first Monday of January [succeeding] next following an election for treasurer or town clerk, [except as provided in section 9-187a, and from] and on the Wednesday following the first Monday of January succeeding an election for registrars of voters.

[,COMMITTEE provided,ACTION ifGovernment anyAdministration suchand townElections orCommittee municipalityJoint holdsFavorable itsSubstitute townYea or19 municipalNay election0 on(04/05/2021) thesSB1017 first/ MondayFile ofNo. May of the odd-numbered years, the term of such treasurer or town clerk shall begin on the first day of July following the election, except as provided in section 9-187a.] Sec.

20.591 5

Subsection (a) of section 9-32 of the general statutes is repealedandthefollowingissubstitutedinlieuthereof(EffectiveJanuary 1, 2023):

(a) In each municipality theregistrars, between January first andMay first, annually, shall cause either (1) a complete house to house canvass to be made in person of each residence on each street, avenue or road within such municipality, (2) a complete canvass to be made by mail of each residence located on each street, avenue or road within such municipality, provided, upon agreement of both registrars,the National Change of Address System of the United States Postal Service may be used instead of such mailing, (3) a complete canvass to be made by telephone of each residence located on each street, avenue or road within such municipality, or (4) a complete canvass of each residence within such municipality by any combination of such methods, for the purpose of ascertaining the name of any elector formerly residing on such street, avenue or road who has removed therefrom.

[;

provided in the odd-numbered years, no canvass need be conducted by the registrars in a town which holds its regular municipal election on the first Monday of May in odd-numbered years.] The Secretary of the State shall adopt regulations in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 setting forth the procedure to be followed in conducting any such canvass by either mail or telephone.

Sec.

21.

Section 9-164e of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2023):

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1017 Before any action is taken under sections 9-164a, as amended by this act, 9-164b to 9-164f, inclusive, as amended by this act, 9-187 and 9-187a, as amended by this act, such proposed action shall be submitted by the legislative body to the municipal attorney of the municipality taking such action for approval as to conforming to law.

Sec.

22.

Section 9-164f of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2023):

Nothing in sections 9-164a, [to] as amended by this act, 9-164b, as amended by this act, 9-164d, 9-164e, as amended by this act, [inclusive,] 9-187 and 9-187a, as amended by this act, shall affect the election of registrars of voters.

Sec.

23.

Subsection (b) of section 9-211 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(b) The Governor shall cause writs of election issued pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to be (1) conveyed to a state marshal, who shall forthwith transmit an attested copy thereof to such clerks or assistant clerks, or (2) delivered electronically to such clerks or assistant clerks.

Suchclerksor assistant clerks,onreceiving suchwrits,shallwarn elections to be held on the day appointed therein in the same manner as state elections are warned, which elections shall be organized and conducted as are state elections, and the vote shall be declared, certified, directed, deposited, returned and transmitted in the same manner as at a state election.

Sec.

24.

Subsection (b) of section 9-212 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(b) The Governor shall cause writs of election issued pursuant to subsection (a) of this section to be (1) conveyed to a state marshal, who shall forthwith transmit an attested copy thereof to such clerks or assistant clerks, or (2) delivered electronically to such clerks or assistant LCO No.

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1017 clerks.

Suchclerksor assistant clerks,onreceiving suchwrits,shallwarn elections to be held on the day appointed therein in the same manner as state elections are warned, which elections shall be organized and conducted as are state elections, and the vote shall be declared, certified, directed, deposited, returned and transmitted in the same manner as at a state election.

Sec.

25.

Subsection (b) of section 9-215 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(b) When any such vacancy occurs, except as provided in this section, the Governor shall, within ten days after its occurrence, issue writs of election, directed to the town clerks or assistant town clerks in the several towns in the district in which the vacancy exists, ordering an election to be held therein on the forty-sixth day after the issue of such writs to fill such vacancy, and cause them to be (1) conveyed to such town clerks or assistant town clerks, [.

No such election shall be held on a Saturday or Sunday] or (2) delivered electronically or by any other means the Governor deems necessary to ensure such writs are received by such town clerks or assistant town clerks on the day such writs are issued, providedno suchelectionshall beheldonaSaturday or Sunday.

If such a vacancy occurs between the one hundred twenty-fifth day and the forty-ninth day before the day of a regular state or municipal election in November of any year,the Governor shall so issue such writs on the forty-sixth day before the day of such regular election, ordering an election to be held on the day of such regular election.

If such a vacancy occurs after the forty-ninth day before the day of a regular state election but before the Wednesday following the first Monday of January of the next-succeeding year, the Governor shall not issue such writsandno electionshallbe held under this section,unlessthe position vacated is that of member-elect, in which case the Governor shall issue such writs and an election shall be held as provided in this section.

Sec.

26.

Section 9-218 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

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1017 When there is no election of probate judge in any district by reason of two or more having an equal and the highest number of votes, or when a new probate district is created and no provision made for the election of a judge thereof, or whenever it is shown to the Governor that a vacancy is about to exist in said office by reason of the resignation of the incumbent to take effect at a future time or by reason of constitutional limitation, or when there is a vacancy in said office, the Governor may issue writs of election directed to the town clerk or clerks or assistant town clerk or clerks within such district [,] ordering an election to be held on a day named therein, other than a Saturday or Sunday, to fill such vacancy or impending vacancy, and (1) transmit the same to a state marshal [.

Such state marshal] who shall forthwith transmit them to such clerk or clerks, [who] or (2) deliver electronically the same to such clerk or clerks.

Such clerk or clerks, on receiving the same, shall warn elections to beheld onthe day appointedin such writs, in the same manner as state elections are warned.

Such elections shall be organized and conducted, and the vote shall be declared and returns made, certified, directed, deposited and transmitted, in the same manner as at a state election.

The Secretary of the State, Treasurer and Comptroller shall, within thirty days after any such election, count and declare the votes so returned, and notice shall be given to the person declared elected, in the same manner as is provided in the election of probate judges at state elections.

The Secretary of the State shall enter the returns in tabular form in books kept by [him] the Secretary for that purpose and present a copy of the same, with the name of, and the total number of votes received by, each of the candidates for said office, to the Governor within ten days thereafter.

The Probate Court Administrator shall cite a probate judge to act as a judge in the district during any vacancy in said office in accordance with section 45a-120.

Sec.

27.

Section 9-164c of the general statutes is repealed.

(Effective January 1, 2023) This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:

LCO No.

3542 23 of 25 Raised Bill No.

1017 Section 1 July 1, 2021 9-140b(c) Sec.

2 from passage 9-453e Sec.

3 from passage 9-453j Sec.

4 from passage 9-453k(a) from passage Sec.

5 9-453o(a) Sec.

6 from passage 9-404b(d) Sec.

7 from passage 9-410(c) Sec.

8 from passage 9-450 Sec.

9 from passage 9-212(a) Sec.

10 from passage New section Sec.

11 from passage 9-320f(a) from passage Sec.

12 9-159q Sec.

13 from passage New section Sec.

14 from passage New section Sec.

15 January 1, 2023 9-164(a) Sec.

16 from passage 9-164a Sec.

17 from passage 9-164b Sec.

18 January 1, 2023 9-187a January 1, 2023 Sec.

19 9-189a Sec.

20 January 1, 2023 9-32(a) Sec.

21 January 1, 2023 9-164e Sec.

22 January 1, 2023 9-164f Sec.

23 from passage 9-211(b) Sec.

24 from passage 9-212(b) Sec.

25 from passage 9-215(b) Sec.

26 from passage 9-218 Sec.

27 January 1, 2023 Repealer section Statement of Purpose:

To (1) make permanent the use of absentee ballot drop boxes initially used during the 2020 election cycle, (2) bring certain state laws relating to the circulation of nominating and primary petitions into compliance withfederalcaselaw,(3)inthecaseofnominationsforjudgesofprobate andmembersofCongress,reduce thetime by whichapersonother than a party-endorsed candidate can file a candidacy for nomination in order for a primary to be held, (4) require the Secretary of the State to develop a system through which election-related forms can be signed electronically, (5) include absentee ballot central counting locations in post-election audits of voting districts, (6) allow the Secretary to suspend supervised absentee voting during certain emergencies, (7) require the Secretary to review local election officials' implementation LCO No.

3542 24 of 25 Raised Bill No.

1017 of redistricting plans, (8) require the Secretary to provide accessible absentee ballots to certain visually impaired electors, (9) require all municipal elections to be held in November, and (10) allow the Governor to issue writs of election electronically.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets.

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

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