Bill
Bill > SB00226
summary
Introduced
02/18/2026
02/18/2026
In Committee
02/18/2026
02/18/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 General Assembly
Bill Summary
To (1) provide a mechanism for determining early voting locations when registrars of voters are unable to agree thereon, (2) modify the deadlines by which registrars of voters certify information regarding early voting and same-day election registration locations to the Secretary of the State and allow amendments to such certifications with notice to the Secretary, (3) eliminate the use of envelopes for early voting ballots and allow such ballots to be deposited directly into voting tabulators after being marked, (4) require registrars of voters to submit to the Secretary information regarding early voting and same-day election registration moderators, (5) prohibit early voting and same-day election registration officials from engaging in certain partisan activities on days for which they are appointed to serve, (6) align the provisions for appointment of same-day election registration officials with those for appointment of early voting officials, (7) amend a provision regarding the attachment of party enrollment privileges for consistency with prior changes, (8) prohibit registrars of voters from appointing as moderators certain persons with criminal backgrounds, (9) expand certain post-election procedures for the correction of returns to all towns rather than just those divided into voting districts, (10) provide for notice to the Secretary in certain matters relating to state or federal voting rights, (11) allow for the correction of errors or omissions of timely filed endorsement, nominating or other candidacy-related certificates that would operate to invalidate such certificates if not corrected, (12) provide for the Secretary's preapproval of town's ballots and authority to order corrections in case of omissions or errors, (13) during the ninety days prior to an election or primary, allow the Secretary to go to Superior Court to seek a declaratory judgment on behalf of electors alleging aggrievement, (14) require absentee ballot counters to maintain a log of rejected absentee ballots, (15) for discrepancy recanvasses, (A) require that all districts in a municipality be examined and not just the district in which the discrepancy was found, and (B) allow one party representative to communicate directly with the moderator, (16) exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act all ballots cast at elections, primaries and referenda, and (17) for voter registration information, (A) limit disclosure of birth date information to just the year, and (B) limit use of such information to election-related, scholarly, journalistic, political or governmental purposes.
AI Summary
This bill makes numerous changes to election processes, including establishing a mechanism for resolving disagreements on early voting locations, modifying deadlines for reporting early voting and same-day registration information to the Secretary of the State, and allowing amendments to these reports with notice. It also eliminates the use of envelopes for early voting ballots, allowing them to be deposited directly into voting tabulators, and requires registrars of voters to submit information about early voting and same-day registration moderators to the Secretary of the State. Furthermore, officials involved in early voting and same-day registration are prohibited from engaging in certain partisan activities on days they are appointed to serve, and provisions for appointing same-day registration officials are aligned with those for early voting officials. The bill also addresses the attachment of party enrollment privileges for consistency, prohibits registrars from appointing moderators with certain criminal backgrounds, and expands post-election procedures for correcting returns to all towns. It mandates notice to the Secretary of the State in matters concerning voting rights, allows for the correction of errors or omissions in candidacy-related certificates, and grants the Secretary preapproval authority for town ballots and the power to order corrections. Additionally, the Secretary can seek court judgments on behalf of electors alleging harm within ninety days of an election or primary, absentee ballot counters must maintain logs of rejected ballots, and discrepancy recanvasses will now examine all districts within a municipality, allowing one party representative to communicate directly with the moderator. Finally, all ballots cast in elections, primaries, and referenda are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, and voter registration information will limit the disclosure of birth dates to the year only, restricting its use to election-related, scholarly, journalistic, political, or governmental purposes.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (0)
No sponsors listed
Other Sponsors (1)
Government Administration and Elections Committee (Joint)
Last Action
Government Administration and Elections Public Hearing (00:00:00 2/23/2026 ) (on 02/23/2026)
bill text
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
Loading...
bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=SB00226&which_year=2026 |
| BillText | https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TOB/S/PDF/2026SB-00226-R00-SB.PDF |
Loading...