Sec. 9-19c. Application for admission at place of employment, residence or
study. (a) Upon the presentation to the town clerk or either registrar of voters of any
town of the signed application of twenty-five or more persons who are employed by the
same employer at the same place of employment in such town, or twenty-five or more
persons who attend the same school, college or university which is located in such town,
or who reside at the same hospital, residential care home, rest home, nursing home or
convalescent home located in such town and who believe that they possess the qualifications for admission as electors, which application may be made at any time except during
the period between seven days before the last session for the admission of electors prior
to an election and the day following such election, and shall be in form substantially as
provided in section 9-19d; an admitting official, within the time hereinafter specified,
shall go to such place of employment, school, college, or university or hospital, residential care home, rest home, nursing home or convalescent home for the purpose of taking
and acting upon applications for admission as electors of any persons who reside in any
Connecticut town and who are authorized to be on the premises. No application need
be accepted by such town clerk or registrars from persons working at any such place of
employment, attending any such school, college or university or residing at any such
hospital, residential care home, rest home, nursing home or convalescent home if a
session for the admission of electors has been held on such premises within one hundred
twenty days prior to the making of such petition. Such official to whom such application
is presented shall, within seven days after the receipt of such application, inform each
registrar of voters and the employer, or chief administrative officer of the school, college
or university or hospital, residential care home, rest home, nursing home or convalescent
home of the date and time at which he will go to such place for such purpose, which
date shall be not less than seven days nor more than ten days after the sending of the
notice by such official to such employer or chief administrative officer, except that no
session shall be held after the last session for admission of electors prior to an election.
The official with whom the application is filed may request any other admitting official
to go in his stead.
(b) Such employer, or chief administrative officer, upon receipt of such notice, shall
provide a suitable place for the taking of applications for admission as electors and shall
forthwith cause a prominent notice to be posted on the bulletin board or other place
where general notices to employees, students or residents are customarily posted, which
notice shall specify the date, place and hour at which such official will receive such
applications, and such notice shall remain posted through the day of such taking of
applications. Procedures under this section shall conform as nearly as may be to the
procedures for applications for admission submitted pursuant to sections 9-19b, 9-19e,
9-20 and 9-23a. No employer shall penalize or refuse to pay an employee who proceeds
under this section and section 9-19d, and any employee proceeding under said sections
shall be entitled to be paid at his regular rate for up to one-half hour for the purpose of
making application to become an elector.
(1969, P.A. 412, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 768, S. 5; P.A. 75-17, S. 1; 75-565, S. 3, 5; P.A. 76-128, S. 4, 11; P.A. 77-330, S. 3;
77-604, S. 83, 84; P.A. 79-363, S. 7, 38; P.A. 87-382, S. 3, 55; P.A. 97-112, S. 2.)
History: 1971 act in Subsec. (a) changed enumeration of town clerk, assistant, either registrar of voters or their deputies
to "an admitting official", deleted reference to "all members of the board for admission as electors", deleted reference to
enumerated officials to go to the place of employment and provided that the officer with whom application is filed may
request any other admitting official to go in his stead; P.A. 75-17 in Subsec. (a) to signed request of twenty-five added
attendance at same school, college or university, residence at same hospital, home for aged, rest home, nursing home,
convalescent home all of which located in same town where admission as elector desired, also these terms added to other
appropriate references, changed the period during which a request may not be made from sixty to forty-five days prior to
a regular election, changed limiting date of notice from no more than fourteen to ten days and in Subsec. (b) added "or
chief administrative officer" following "employer" and "students or residents" following "employee"; P.A. 75-565 in
Subsec. (a) provided for taking and acting upon applications of employees, students or residents whether residents of that
or any other Connecticut town, effective January 1, 1976; P.A. 76-128 removed language restricting the request signed
by twenty-five to residents of such town and also restriction for admission only in that same town, changed the time during
which request may not be made to the period between the last regular session and the day following the election, changed
limitation to applications of employees, students or residents to any persons authorized to be on the premises and residing
in any Connecticut town and provided that requests need not be accepted where session has been held on premises within
four months prior to making of the petition; P.A. 77-330 changed period during which request may not be made to between
seven days before the last session and the day following the election and added exception that no session shall be held
after the last session; P.A. 77-604 made technical changes; P.A. 79-363 changed "request" to "application" throughout
Subsec. (a), in Subsec. (b) where word "applications" first appears "for admission as electors" was added and where
"applications" next appears "for admission as electors" was deleted; P.A. 87-382 substituted "one hundred twenty days"
for "four months" in Subsec. (a); P.A. 97-112 replaced "home for the aged" with "residential care home".
Sec. 9-19d. Form of application. The application provided for in section 9-19c
shall be in form substantially as follows:
| To .... (name), Town Clerk, | of the Town of |
| Registrar of Voters, | ...., Connecticut, |
We the undersigned, being citizens of the United States of voting age, are
[ ] employed, and all being employees of .... (name of employer)
or
[ ] students attending .... (name of school, college or university)
or
[ ] residing at the (name of hospital, residential care home, rest home, nursing home
or convalescent home) .... in said town and each of us believing that he or she possesses
the qualifications for admission as an elector, do hereby request you to come to our
place of employment, or school, college or university or residence, as the case may be,
at .... (address), in said town, for the purpose of receiving applications for admission as
an elector.
| .... (signatures) | .... (addresses) |
Dated at ...., Connecticut, this .... day of ...., 20...
(1969, P.A. 412, S. 2; P.A. 73-630, S. 4, 19; P.A. 75-17, S. 2; P.A. 76-128, S. 5, 11; P.A. 97-112, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 73-630 removed the words "now reside, and for at least six months have resided, in" and substituted "are
bona fide residents of" in the application; P.A. 75-17 changed format of application to provide three alternatives, one to
be indicated, of categories including employees, students of institutions of higher learning or residents of certain health
care facilities; P.A. 76-128 removed recital of residency in town in which as employees, students or residents the signers
request a voter-making session and deleted recital of possession of qualification for admission as an elector "in said town";
P.A. 97-112 replaced "home for the aged" with "residential care home"; (Revisor's note: In 2001 the reference in this
section to the date "19.." was changed editorially by the Revisors to "20.." to reflect the new millennium).
Sec. 9-19e. Cross-town application for admission. Except during the period between the last session for the admission of electors prior to an election and the day
following that election, an admitting official of any town, as defined in section 9-17a,
may, at the times and places prescribed by law, accept applications for admission as an
elector from persons who reside in any Connecticut town and examine their qualifications. Each such application for admission shall be made on a form prescribed by the
secretary of the state and shall provide a space for application for enrollment in a political
party as provided in section 9-23a. Such admitting official shall hand a receipt to the
applicant and immediately mail the application to the town clerk or registrars of voters
of the town of residence of the applicant. The town clerk or registrars of voters of the
town of residence of such applicant shall act upon such application, upon its receipt,
and shall note on such copy his or their action and the date thereof, and if disapproved,
his or their reasons therefor. If the town clerk acts on the application, he shall deliver
such copy to the registrars as provided in section 9-20 and whoever acts upon the application shall immediately send written notification to the applicant, and if the application
is disapproved, he or they shall send such notification by certified mail. No person shall
be admitted as an elector under this section unless his application has been approved
by the town clerk or registrars of voters of his town of residence. Nothing in this section
shall be construed to permit an admitting official to approve applications for admission
as an elector in places located outside the boundaries of the municipality or district of
which he is an official. Appeals may be taken from the action of such town clerk or
registrars of voters under this section in accordance with section 9-31l. Any person
making application for registration under this section shall be entitled to the privileges
of an elector and party enrollment, if applicable, from the time such application for
admission as an elector is approved by the town clerk or registrars of voters of his voting
residence, provided if such application is made after twelve o'clock noon on the last
business day before a primary, such applicant shall be entitled to the privileges of party
enrollment immediately after the primary and provided if such application is made on
the day of a caucus or convention, such applicant shall be entitled to the privileges of
party enrollment immediately after the caucus or convention.
(P.A. 75-565, S. 1, 5; P.A. 77-216, S. 1; 77-298, S. 12; 77-330, S. 4; 77-604, S. 83, 84; P.A. 78-87, S. 1, 2; P.A. 80-281, S. 4, 31; P.A. 81-350, S. 13, 17; P.A. 83-213, S. 2; P.A. 84-118, S. 1, 5; P.A. 94-121, S. 12, 33.)
History: P.A. 77-216 deleted requirement that application be in quadruplicate, provided for retention of a copy by
admitting official, mailing of one copy to town clerk or registrars of voters of town of residence of applicant and furnishing
of a receipt to applicant, allowed either town clerk or registrar of voters of residence of applicant to act on the application,
inserted provision that no application be approved after last session for admission before election, provided that official
acting on application send written notification to applicant and, if disapproved, send it by certified mail and that if action
taken by town clerk, copy to be delivered to the registrars, inserted "registrars of voters" to follow "town clerk" except in
the preceding context; P.A. 77-298 made "fourteenth day" rather than "third Saturday" before a primary the date after
which enrollment does not become effective until immediately after the primary; P.A. 77-330 changed "last regular session"
to "last session" in delineating period before day following election during which admitting officials may not accept
applications; P.A. 77-604 made technical changes; P.A. 78-87 deleted provision forbidding approval of applications after
last session for admission of electors; P.A. 80-281 substituted "registration" for "enrollment" and simplified wording in
provision re effective dates of electoral privileges; P.A. 81-350 made technical changes; P.A. 83-213 amended section to
provide that admitting official may accept but not approve applications for admission as an elector in places located outside
of his district or municipality; P.A. 84-118 changed time limit for enrollment from fourteenth day to noon of last business
day before primary; P.A. 94-121 deleted provisions authorizing admitting official to administer elector's oath and requiring
such official to retain copy of application and required such official to mail application, instead of copy of application, to
clerk or registrars of town of residence of applicant, effective January 1, 1995.
Sec. 9-19f. Out-of-town assistance permitted at admission sessions. The registrar of voters or the deputy or any assistant registrar of voters of any town may, upon
the request of the registrar of voters of any other town, assist such registrar or deputy
or assistant registrar at any session for the admission of electors held pursuant to section
9-19b or subsection (a) of section 9-19c in the town in which the requesting registrar
resides.
(P.A. 76-128, S. 2, 11.)
Sec. 9-19g. Application for admission after established cutoff date. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-19b, during the period between the last session for
the admission of electors prior to an election and the opening of the limited session for
such admission held on the last weekday before the election, the town clerk or assistant
town clerk during office hours and at the office of such official, and either registrar of
voters or a deputy or assistant registrar at the office of such official, may examine the
qualifications of any person applying in person to be admitted as an elector in such town
and act on such application, except the privileges of an elector shall not attach to any
such applicant until written approval is sent to him by such official no earlier than two
days following the election. If the application is disapproved, such official shall send
notification thereof by certified mail no earlier than two days following the election. At
the time of application, the official examining the applicant shall retain a copy of the
application and shall hand a receipt thereof to the applicant.
(P.A. 79-357, S. 1; P.A. 94-121, S. 13, 33.)
History: P.A. 94-121 applied provisions of section to any person applying "in person" and substituted "in such town
and act on such application" for "and administer the elector's oath to any person found qualified", effective January 1, 1995.
Sec. 9-19h. Availability of admissions information and materials at certain
state agencies and libraries. Application for admission through Department of
Motor Vehicles. (a) The Department of Social Services, the Labor Department and the
Department of Motor Vehicles shall make voter registration information and materials
available to the public. Such information and materials shall be placed in public areas
of the offices of such departments. The State Library and the libraries of the state's
public institutions of higher education shall also make such information and materials
available to users of the libraries. The Secretary of the State shall provide such departments, such libraries and any libraries open to the public with suitable nonpartisan literature, materials and voter registration application forms authorized under sections 9-23g
and 9-23h. The secretary shall also provide to the Department of Social Services, the
Labor Department and the Department of Motor Vehicles any furniture needed to display
such literature, materials and forms.
(b) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, not later than January 1, 1994, shall include an application
for the admission of an elector with each application form provided for a motor vehicle
operator's license and a motor vehicle operator's license renewal, which are issued
under subpart (B) of part III of chapter 246, and with each application form provided
for an identity card issued under section 1-1h. Such application form for the admission
of an elector (1) shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of the State, (2) shall
not include any provisions for the witnessing of the application, and (3) shall contain a
statement that (A) specifies each eligibility requirement, (B) contains an attestation that
the applicant meets each such requirement, and (C) requires the signature of the applicant
under penalty of perjury. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall accept any such
completed application for admission which is submitted in person or by mail. The applicant shall state on such form, under penalty of perjury, the applicant's name, bona fide
residence address, date of birth, whether the applicant is a United States citizen, party
enrollment, if any, prior voting address, if registered previously, and that the applicant's
privileges as an elector are not forfeited by reason of conviction of a felony. No Social
Security number on any such application form for the admission of an elector filed prior
to January 1, 2000, may be disclosed to the public or to any governmental agency. The
commissioner shall indicate on each such form the date of receipt of such application
to ensure that any eligible applicant is registered to vote in an election if it is received
by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles by the last day for registration to vote in an
election. The commissioner shall provide the applicant with an application receipt, on
a form approved by the Secretary of the State and on which the commissioner shall
record the date that the commissioner received the application, using an official date
stamp bearing the words "Department of Motor Vehicles". The commissioner shall
provide such receipt whether the application was submitted in person or by mail. The
commissioner shall forthwith transmit the application to the registrars of voters of the
applicant's town of residence. If a registration application is accepted within five days
before the last day for registration to vote in a regular election, the application shall be
transmitted to the registrars of voters of the town of voting residence of the applicant
not later than five days after the date of acceptance. The procedures in subsections (c),
(d), (f) and (g) of section 9-23g which are not inconsistent with the National Voter
Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time, shall apply to
applications made under this section. The commissioner is not an admitting official and
may not restore, under the provisions of section 9-46a, electoral privileges of persons
convicted of a felony.
(P.A. 88-347, S. 1, 4; P.A. 92-238; P.A. 93-262, S. 32, 87; 93-384, S. 27; P.A. 94-121, S. 14, 33; P.A. 99-268, S. 39,
46; P.A. 00-169, S. 22; P.A. 01-26, S. 6; P.A. 02-83, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 88-347, S. 1 effective April 1, 1989; P.A. 92-238 designated existing section as Subsec. (a) and added
Subsec. (b) requiring commissioner to include application for admission of an elector with each operator's license and
license renewal application and identity card application; P.A. 93-262 replaced references to department on aging and
department of income maintenance with references to department of social services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-384
substantially revised application form requirements and procedure under Subsec. (b); P.A. 94-121 amended Subsec. (b)
by requiring application form to contain statement instead of elector's oath, changing penalty of false statement to penalty
of perjury, deleting requirement that applicant submit satisfactory identification to commissioner, requiring commissioner
to indicate date of receipt on application, to "forthwith transmit", instead of "promptly forward", application to registrars,
and to so transmit application within five days if accepted within five days before last day for registration to vote in a
regular election, amending Subsec. references to Sec. 9-23g and inserting provision re consistency with National Voter
Registration Act of 1993, effective January 1, 1995; P.A. 99-268 amended Subsec. (b) by repealing requirement that form
include request for applicant to furnish Social Security number and extending prohibition on disclosure of Social Security
numbers on forms to the public or to any governmental agency, effective January 1, 2000; P.A. 00-169 revised effective
date of P.A. 99-268 but without affecting this section; P.A. 01-26 made technical changes and eliminated an obsolete
reporting requirement in Subsec. (b); P.A. 02-83 amended Subsec. (b) to make a technical change and require Commissioner
of Motor Vehicles to accept completed applications for admission submitted by mail and to provide applicants with
application receipts, effective January 1, 2003.
Sec. 9-19i. Change of address form submitted for purposes of motor vehicle
operator's license to serve as notification of change of address for voter registration
purposes; exception; procedure. Any change of address form submitted by a person
in accordance with law for purposes of a motor vehicle operator's license shall serve
as notification of change of address for voter registration for the person unless the person
states on the form that the change of address is not for voter registration purposes.
The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall forthwith transmit such change of address
information to the registrars of voters of the town of the former address of the person.
If the name of the person appears on the registry list of the town, and if the new address
is also within such town, the registrars shall enter the name of such elector on the registry
list at the place where he then resides. If the name of the person appears on the registry
list of the town and if the new address is outside such town, the registrars shall remove
the name of such elector from the registry list and send the elector the notice, information
and application required by section 9-35.
(P.A. 94-121, S. 5, 33.)
History: P.A. 94-121 effective January 1, 1995.
Sec. 9-20. Admission of electors; procedure. (a) Each person who applies for
admission as an elector in person to an admitting official shall, upon a form prescribed
by the Secretary of the State and signed by the applicant, state under penalties of perjury,
his name, bona fide residence by street and number, date of birth, whether he is a United
States citizen, whether his privileges as an elector are forfeited by reason of conviction
of crime, and whether he has previously been admitted as an elector in any town in this
or any other state. Each such applicant shall present his birth certificate, drivers' license
or Social Security card to the admitting official for inspection at the time of application.
Notwithstanding the provisions of any special act or charter to the contrary, the application form shall also, in a manner prescribed by the Secretary of the State, provide for
application for enrollment in any political party. The form shall indicate that such enrollment is not mandatory.
(b) The applicant's statement shall be delivered to the registrars immediately and
shall be kept by the registrars as a public record in a safe depository, except that no
Social Security number obtained by the registrars prior to January 1, 2000, may be
disclosed to the public or to any governmental agency. Any such statement of an elector
whose name has been removed from the registry list for a period of at least five years
may be placed on microfilm, destroyed or otherwise disposed of by such registrars, in
the manner provided in section 7-109. Upon the request of any elector, or if the applicant
does not present a birth certificate, drivers' license or Social Security card as required
by subsection (a) of this section, at the time an application is made in person to an
admitting official or prior to the approval of such an application, any admitting official
shall require the applicant to prove his identity, place of birth, age and bona fide residence
by the testimony under oath of at least one elector or by the presentation of proof satisfactory to such admitting official. Each person found qualified shall thereupon be admitted
as an elector, except as provided in sections 9-12, 9-19e, 9-19g and 9-30. The registrars
may request an elector whose date of birth is missing from their records to voluntarily
furnish his date of birth. Any admitting official may administer oaths in any matter
coming before him under section 9-12, 9-17, 9-19b, subsection (a) of section 9-19c,
section 9-19e, 9-19g, 9-23, 9-23a, 9-25, 9-31a, 9-31b, 9-31l, 9-40a or this section. Said
admitting official shall prohibit any activity which interferes with the orderly process
of admission of electors.
(c) The application for admission as an elector shall include a statement that (1)
specifies each eligibility requirement, (2) contains an attestation that the applicant meets
each such requirement and (3) requires the signature of the applicant under penalty of
perjury. Each registrar of voters and town clerk shall maintain a copy of such statement
in braille, large print and audio form. The Commission on the Deaf and Hearing Impaired
shall produce a videotape presenting such statement in voice and sign language and
provide the videotape to the Secretary of the State who shall make copies of the videotape
and provide a copy to the registrars of voters of any municipality, upon request and at
a cost equal to the cost of making the copy. If a person applies for admission as an elector
in person to an admitting official, such admitting official shall, upon the request of the
applicant, administer the elector's oath.
(1949 Rev., S. 1017; 1949, S. 251b; 1953, S. 523d; 1957, P.A. 441, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 684, S. 1; 1961, P.A. 74; 266, S.
2; 1963, P.A. 645, S. 2; February, 1965, P.A. 407, S. 2; 1967, P.A. 100; 390, S. 1; 559, S. 2; 831, S. 2; 1969, P.A. 694, S.
2; 1971, P.A. 768, S. 6; P.A. 73-99; 73-630, S. 5, 19; P.A. 75-47, S. 1, 5; 75-174, S. 1, 3; 75-565, S. 4, 5; P.A. 77-216, S.
2; 77-244, S. 2, 4; P.A. 78-153, S. 5, 32; 78-331, S. 5, 58; P.A. 79-357, S. 2; P.A. 81-350, S. 6, 17; P.A. 83-391, S. 5, 24;
P.A. 89-234, S. 1; P.A. 93-230, S. 2, 8; P.A. 94-121, S. 15, 33; P.A. 97-154, S. 26, 27; P.A. 99-268, S. 40, 46; P.A. 00-169, S. 22.)
History: 1959 act provided as an alternative to presenting a certificate of citizenship or a passport issued on or after
1948 to prove citizenship a written statement by a town clerk of previous admission as an elector in some other town; this
was expanded to include such a statement by a registrar of voters by 1961 act which also provided for delivery of applicant's
statement to registrars and retention by them; provisions for proof of citizenship were deleted by 1963 act and placed in
present section 9-20a and 1963 act further deleted requirement married applicant state whether her husband was alien or
native born; 1965 act removed requirement for recital of residency in the state; 1967 acts substituted "member of board"
for "selectmen" in administering oaths, deleted "occupation" from application and added "whether he is a United States
citizen" and where applicant a married woman deleted requirement for date of marriage and birthplace of husband and
added provision for furnishing maiden name, added to the provision re elector's request that board require proof of certain
qualifications of an applicant requirement that this request be made at time of application or prior to its approval and made
permissive selection of lines to be read by applicant, removed reference to three lines in testing literacy of applicant and
provided instead for reading of any article of constitution or section of statutes; 1969 act permitted registrars to administer
oaths in matters concerning Sec. 9-19b and deleted provision empowering board members or town clerk to select materials
to be read in literacy test; 1971 act substituted "admitting official" for "board", "town clerk" or "registrar"; P.A. 73-99
provided that statements on applications of electors whose names have been removed from registry list for at least five
years may be placed on microfilm or destroyed; P.A. 73-630 included provision on application for bona fide residence by
street and number and deleted provision for length of time of continuous residence in town in which he applies; P.A. 75-47 added provision for application form to contain application for optional enrollment in any party, effective January 1,
1976; P.A. 75-174 added reference to disposal of electors' statements under Sec. 7-109; P.A. 75-565 added reference to
quadruplicate statements and made other minor changes; P.A. 77-216 removed requirement for inclusion of marital status
and maiden name; P.A. 77-244 provided for preregistration within a four-month period prior to the election of those
becoming eighteen years of age on or before the day of the election; P.A. 78-153, 78-331 and 79-357 made technical
changes; P.A. 81-350 divided section into Subsecs. and amended provisions to require positive identification by birth
certificate, drivers' license or social security card at time of registration or to provide testimony of an elector under oath
to establish identity of person seeking to become an elector; P.A. 83-391 deleted references to board for admission of
electors; P.A. 89-234 added Subsec. (c) re braille, large print, audio and video forms of elector's oath; P.A. 93-230 added
provisions to Subsec. (a) re request for applicant to furnish his Social Security number, effective January 1, 1994; P.A.
94-121 applied provisions of Subsecs. (a) and (b) to persons applying "in person to an admitting official", amended Subsec.
(a) by substituting "penalties of perjury" for "oath" and deleting requirement that applicant state his birthplace on form,
amended Subsec. (b) by deleting authorization for qualified person to take oath, and amended Subsec. (c) by adding
provision re statement required to be included in application, substituting "such statement" for "the elector's oath" and
requiring official to administer oath upon request of applicant, effective January 1, 1995; P.A. 97-154 authorized registrars
to request elector to voluntarily furnish birthdate when missing from their records, effective June 24, 1997; P.A. 99-268
amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) by repealing requirement that form include request for applicant to furnish Social Security
number and extending prohibition on disclosure of Social Security numbers to the public or to any governmental agency,
effective January 1, 2000; P.A. 00-169 revised effective date of P.A. 99-268 but without affecting this section.
Social custom of woman changing name upon marriage, recognized. 30 CS 385.
Cited. 2 Conn. Cir. Ct. 204.
Sec. 9-20a. Proof of citizenship. If the applicant is a naturalized citizen, or if the
applicant has acquired citizenship by reason of being born abroad to a United States
citizen parent or has derived citizenship through the naturalization of a parent or spouse,
the certificate of his naturalization, under the seal of the court issuing the same, or a
copy thereof issued by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service in lieu
of the original certificate, or a certificate of citizenship issued by the United States
Immigration and Naturalization Service, or a passport issued by the State Department
of the United States on or after January 1, 1948, or a written statement signed by a town
clerk or registrar of voters of a town of this state or by an election official of another
state in the United States or a town or political subdivision of such state that the records
of such state, town or political subdivision show that such applicant has previously been
admitted as an elector therein, shall be conclusive proof of citizenship. Any applicant
submitting documentary evidence of citizenship shall make oath that he is the person
named therein.
(1963, P.A. 645, S. 3; February, 1965, P.A. 548, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 390, S. 2, 6.)
History: 1965 act added provision for a written statement signed by election official of another state, town or subdivision
that their records show applicant previously admitted as an elector as alternative to naturalization papers or passport issued
after January 1, 1948 where citizenship is by naturalization, derived through naturalization of parent or spouse, or applicant
born abroad of a U.S. citizen parent; 1967 act clarified provisions for conclusive proof of citizenship by certificates of
citizenship, passport or statement by election officials from other states or town clerk or registrars of any Connecticut
towns that records show applicant previously admitted as elector, applicant submitting such documentary evidence to
make oath that he is person named therein, effective January 1, 1968.
See historical note to Sec. 9-20.
Sec. 9-21. Removal of elector from registry list. (a) If any applicant for admission
as an elector in any town has previously been admitted as an elector in any other town
in this state, or in any other state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, Guam or the Trust Territory of the Pacific
Islands, he shall, under penalties of perjury, so declare, and shall also declare by what
name and in what town and state, district or territory he was last admitted as an elector
and the street address from which he last voted therein. The admitting official shall
within forty-eight hours thereafter transmit a notice of cancellation of such registration,
upon a form prescribed by the Secretary of the State to the registrars of such other town
or, in the case of a town in another state, district or territory, to the appropriate registration
official or officials in such other town. Upon receipt of such notice of cancellation of
registration, the registrars of the town from which such elector has removed shall forthwith erase the name of such elector from the registry list of the town, if the same has
not been erased therefrom.
(b) When the Secretary of the State receives information from a registration official
of another state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American
Samoa, the Virgin Islands, Guam or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands that an
elector of this state has registered in such other state, district or territory, the Secretary
of the State may transmit a notification of such registration to the registrars of the town
where such individual may be an elector in this state. If the registrars determine that the
individual identified in the notice is an elector in this state, the registrars shall remove
the name of such elector from the registry list.
(1949 Rev., S. 1018; 1953, S. 522d; 1971, P.A. 768, S. 7; P.A. 73-630, S. 6, 19; P.A. 83-213, S. 3; P.A. 84-319, S. 7,
49; P.A. 94-121, S. 16, 33; P.A. 96-134, S. 7, 9.)
History: 1971 act replaced reference to "registrars" with "admitting official"; P.A. 73-630 added provision for notification to election officials in another state as well as any other town in Connecticut of cancellation of previous registration
in such other state or town where applicant was previously admitted as elector elsewhere; P.A. 83-213 amended section
to include references to United States districts and territories; P.A. 84-319 amended section to require cancellation of
registration by admitting official instead of applicant; P.A. 94-121 substituted "penalties of perjury" for "oath" and "transmit" for "mail", effective January 1, 1995; P.A. 96-134 lettered existing section as Subsec. (a) and added new Subsec. (b)
re notification of registration of an elector in another state or voting venue, effective January 1, 1997.
See Sec. 9-31 re inapplicability of this section to electors admitted under provisions of Secs. 9-26 to 9-30, inclusive.
Sec. 9-21a. Search of computerized voter registration records. Duplicate registrations. (a) The Secretary of the State, at such times as he determines, may cause a
search to be made of computerized voter registration records to identify electors who
may be registered in more than one town. The secretary may compile, from such search,
a list of possible duplicate registrations in any town or towns and transmit such list to
the registrars of voters of the appropriate town or towns.
(b) Upon receipt of such list from the secretary, the registrars may make such additional investigation as they deem necessary to determine if any elector in their town
whose name appears on such list has subsequently registered in another town. The registrars shall send to each elector on the registry list in their town, who the registrars
determine to be the same person who subsequently registered in another town, a notice
of duplicate registration in a form prescribed by the Secretary of the State stating that
(1) based on a computer search of voter registration records it appears that the elector
has registered to vote in another town after having registered in the registrars' town, (2)
as the result of such subsequent registration, the elector is no longer entitled to remain
on the registry list in the registrars' town, and (3) unless the elector contacts the registrars
within thirty days to confirm that he is still entitled to be on the registry list in the
registrars' town, his name shall be removed from the list. The notice of duplicate registration shall include a form on which the elector may confirm that he is entitled to be on
an active registry list because he is a bona fide resident of the registrars' town and either
is not the person whose name appears on the registry list of another town, or has registered
in the registrars' town after registering in any other town.
(c) When an elector whose name appears on the inactive list files the confirmation
provided for in this section, his name shall be restored to the active list. No elector shall
be removed from the registry list pursuant to this section unless both registrars agree
that such elector has subsequently registered to vote in another town.
(P.A. 97-154, S. 21, 27.)
History: P.A. 97-154 effective July 1, 1997.
Sec. 9-22. Instruction of electors at sessions for admission. Section 9-22 is repealed.
(1955, S. 521d; P.A. 83-391, S. 23, 24.)
Sec. 9-23. Registrars of voters. Posting of public hours. Maintenance of voter
information. (a) The registrars of voters shall post, at the town hall or municipal building
in the town in which they serve, the hours they are available to the public. Any change
in the regular business hours of the office of the registrars of voters, and any hours for
said office required under the general statutes for a specific day, shall be posted at least
ten days before such change or day.
(b) The registrars shall enter the name, residence, date of birth and date of admission
of each person admitted as an elector in the records of the registrars' office, which shall
be prima facie evidence that each such person possesses the requisite qualifications
of an elector. The registrars shall also enter such voter information in the state-wide
centralized voter registration system and shall maintain such voter information for active
electors in a fire-proof cabinet in the registrars' office. The registrars shall file monthly
in the office of the town clerk an updated list of active electors in the town.
(1949 Rev., S. 1019; 1953, S. 525d; 1971, P.A. 768, S. 8; 1972, P.A. 39, S. 1; P.A. 79-363, S. 8, 38; P.A. 90-156, S.
3; P.A. 04-113, S. 1.)
History: 1971 act following "... persons admitted as electors" deleted "at any session of the board for admission of
electors held for that purpose"; 1972 act provided for application of section by adding "In towns which do not have full-time registrars of voters with regular office hours"; P.A. 79-363 added requirements that information to be recorded by
town clerk to include residence, date and place of birth and date of admission of electors and added provision for towns
having full-time registrars which includes those whose offices maintain daily office hours, such registrars to file that
information in the office of town clerk; P.A. 90-156 added Subsec. (b) re exceptions to Subsec. (a); P.A. 04-113 eliminated
former Subsec. (b) re inapplicability of Subsec. (a) to certain towns, divided existing Subsec. (a) into new Subsecs. (a)
and (b), amended Subsec. (a) to require registrars to post hours they are available to the public and revised Subsec. (b) re
registrars' duties, effective July 1, 2004.
See Sec. 11-8(b) re appointment of Public Records Administrator.
Sec. 9-23a. When person admitted as an elector permitted to vote in primary.
Exception. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, no person admitted
as an elector after twelve o'clock noon on the last business day before a primary shall
be permitted to vote in such primary.
(b) An applicant for admission or enrollment under section 9-26 shall be entitled
to vote in a primary if he files his application for admission or enrollment with the town
clerk before the day of the primary and is otherwise eligible to vote in the primary.
(1967, P.A. 559, S. 3; 1969, P.A. 678; 1971, P.A. 768, S. 9; P.A. 75-47, S. 2, 5; 75-269, S. 1; P.A. 76-128, S. 7, 11;
P.A. 77-298, S. 13; P.A. 78-153, S. 4, 32; P.A. 79-357, S. 3; 79-363, S. 33, 38; P.A. 84-118, S. 2, 5; P.A. 87-509, S. 2, 24;
P.A. 94-121, S. 17, 33; P.A. 97-67, S. 3, 9.)
History: 1967 act, effective January 1, 1968; 1969 act provided for application for enrollment in a political party at any
time before board has acted on applicant's admission thus entitling applicant privileges of party enrollment from time his
admission is approved; 1971 act further provided for offering applications for enrollment upon administration of elector's
oath and for immediate entitlement to the privileges of party enrollment; P.A. 75-47 provided for combined application
for registration and enrollment and further provided that person applying for enrollment is entitled to privileges of party
enrollment upon administration of elector's oath, effective January 1, 1976; P.A. 75-269 provided that if application for
enrollment is made after session held on third Saturday before primary, applicant shall only be entitled to privileges of
party enrollment immediately after primary; P.A. 76-128 provided that where qualification for age or citizenship for
admission is attained following the third Saturday before primary and prior to day of primary such person shall upon being
made an elector and applying for enrollment be immediately entitled to all privileges of party membership; P.A. 77-298
changed "third Saturday" to "fourteenth day" before a primary where appearing; P.A. 78-153 provided that if application
for enrollment made on day of caucus or convention, entitlement to privileges of party enrollment arises immediately after
caucus or convention, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-357 added "residence" to "age" or "citizenship" qualifications
where, if attained after the fourteenth day before a primary and prior to day of primary, admission as elector and application
for enrollment immediately entitles elector to all privileges of party enrollment; P.A. 79-363 made technical changes; P.A.
84-118 changed time limit for enrollment from fourteenth day to noon of last business day before primary, deleting obsolete
proviso entitling certain persons to enroll after fourteenth day before primary; P.A. 87-509 deleted provision requiring
admitting official to initial both copies of application for enrollment, deliver one copy to registrars of voters and return
one copy to elector and added sentence providing that no person admitted after twelve o'clock noon on last business day
before primary shall be permitted to vote in such primary; P.A. 94-121 deleted provision requiring admitting official to notify
applicant re application for enrollment, substituted "on an application for admission as an elector shall upon acquisition of
electoral privileges" for "in such manner shall upon administration of the elector's oath" in second sentence, inserted
reference to Sec. 9-59 and applied Subdivs. (1) and (2) to application for enrollment filed with registrars of applicant's
town of residence instead of application made by applicant, effective January 1, 1995; P.A. 97-67 repealed provisions re
entitlement to privileges of party enrollment for person applying for enrollment on application for admission as an elector,
designated remaining provision as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re exception for an applicant under Sec. 9-26 to vote
in a primary, effective July 1, 1997.
See Sec. 9-57 re application for enrollment by new elector at time of admission and attachment of party privileges.
Secs. 9-23b to 9-23f. Reserved for future use.
Sec. 9-23g. Mail-in application for admission. (a) In addition to the procedures
for admission of electors under sections 9-19b, 9-19c, 9-19e, 9-20 and 9-31, any person
may apply to a registrar of voters of the town of his residence for admission as an elector
in accordance with the provisions of this section and section 9-23h.
(b) The Secretary of the State shall prescribe, and provide to registrars of voters,
town clerks and voter registration agencies, as defined in section 9-23n, application
forms and other materials necessary to complete such application and admission process.
The Secretary of the State, registrars of voters and town clerks shall provide a reasonable
number of such forms and materials to any elector who requests such forms and materials. The secretary shall also, in the course of the secretary's elections duties, prepare
instructions and related materials describing procedures for such application and admission process and shall provide the materials to registrars of voters and town clerks. The
application shall contain the information required under section 9-23h. All statements
of the applicant shall be made under the penalties of perjury. The application for admission as an elector shall include a statement that (1) specifies each eligibility requirement,
(2) contains an attestation that the application meets each such requirement, and (3)
requires the signature of the applicant under penalty of perjury. Nothing in this section
or section 9-23h shall require that the application be executed in the state. An applicant
who is unable to write may cause the applicant's name to be signed on the application
form by an authorized agent who shall, in the space provided for the signature, write
the name of the applicant followed by the word "by" and the agent's own signature.
The completed application may be mailed or returned in person to the office of the
registrars of voters or the office of the town clerk of the applicant's town of residence
or a voter registration agency. If the applicant entrusts the applicant's application to
another person or to such a voter registration agency for mailing or return to the registrars
of voters, such person or agency shall immediately mail or return the application. Any
such voter registration agency shall also provide the applicant with an application receipt, on which the agency shall record (A) the date that the agency received the application, using an official date stamp bearing the name of the agency, and (B) the party
affiliation, if any, of the applicant. The agency shall provide such receipt whether the
application was submitted in person or by mail. The town clerk shall promptly forward
any application which the town clerk receives to the registrars of voters. Such application
form shall be provided by or authorized by the Secretary of the State.
(c) Forthwith upon receipt of a registration application in the office of the registrars
of voters, the registrar shall mark such date on the application and review the application
to determine whether the applicant has properly completed it and is legally qualified to
register. Forthwith upon completing his review, 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. If the registrar determines
that the applicant has not properly completed the application or is not legally qualified
to register, the notice shall indicate that the application has been rejected and shall
state the reason for rejection. If the registrar determines that the applicant has properly
completed the application and is legally qualified to register, the notice shall indicate
that the application has been accepted. A notice of acceptance or a notice of rejection
shall be sent (A) within four days of 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 day before such election and ending on the fourteenth day
before such election, (ii) during the period beginning on the thirteenth day before an
election and ending on election day if the application has been received by the 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 day before a primary and
ending on the fifth day before a primary, or (iv) during the period beginning on the
fourth 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 day before the
primary and is received in the office of the registrars of voters during such period or if
the application is received by the fifth 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 be sent by first-class mail
with instructions on the envelope that it be returned if not deliverable at the address
shown on the envelope. A notice of acceptance shall indicate the effective date 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. If a notice of acceptance of an application is returned undelivered,
the registrars shall forthwith take the necessary action in accordance with section 9-35
or 9-43, notwithstanding the May first deadline in section 9-35. An applicant for admission as an elector pursuant to this section and section 9-23h may only be admitted as
an elector by a registrar of voters of the town of his residence. Not later than December
thirty-first, annually, the Secretary of the State shall establish an official calendar of all
deadlines set forth in this subsection for regularly scheduled elections and primaries to
be held in the following calendar year.
(d) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the privileges of an elector
for any applicant for admission under this section and section 9-23h shall attach immediately upon approval by the registrar, and the registrars shall enter the name of the elector
on the registry list.
(2) Except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection, if a mailed application
is postmarked, or if a delivered application is received in the office of the registrars of
voters, after the fourteenth day before an election or after the fifth day before a primary,
the privileges of an elector shall not attach until the day after such election or primary,
as the case may be.
(3) If an application is received after the fourteenth day before an election or after
the fifth day before a primary by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles or by a voter
registration agency, the privileges of an elector shall not attach until the day after the
election or primary, as the case may be, or on the day the registrar approves it, whichever
is later.
(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. If an applicant presents said notice
or receipt, and either the registrars of voters find the original application or the applicant
submits a new application at the polls, the registrar, or assistant registrar upon notice
to and approval by the registrar, shall add such person's name and address to the official
check list on such day and the person shall be allowed to vote if otherwise eligible to
vote and the person presents to the checkers at the polling place a preprinted form of
identification pursuant to subparagraph (A) of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section
9-261.
(e) A registration application filed under this section shall be rejected if the application (1) has not been signed or dated by the applicant or the authorized agent of the
applicant pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, (2) does not indicate the applicant's
date of birth or bona fide residence, (3) does not indicate United States citizenship,
provided the registrars of voters have contacted such applicant to provide an opportunity
to answer such question, or (4) is determined by the Secretary of the State to be substantially defective. No registration application filed under this section shall be rejected if
the application fails to provide the applicant's Social Security number or the zip code
of the applicant's bona fide residence.
(f) Upon admission of an applicant under subsection (d) of this section, who indicated on his registration application that he changed residence since voting last in Connecticut, the registrar shall notify the registrar who accepted the voter's last registration,
and the registrar in the voter's place of last residence, if different. Notification shall be
made upon a form prescribed by the Secretary of the State. A registrar receiving such
a notification shall delete the elector's name from the registry list.
(g) All provisions of the general statutes relating to electors, which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section, shall apply to electors admitted under the provisions of this section.
(h) The Secretary of the State may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to carry out the purposes of this section and section 9-23h.
(P.A. 87-409, S. 1, 3; P.A. 88-344, S. 1, 5; P.A. 91-351, S. 24, 28; P.A. 93-386, S. 1, 5; P.A. 94-121, S. 18, 33; P.A.
97-67, S. 1, 9; 97-154, S. 20, 27; P.A. 99-112, S. 1; P.A. 02-83, S. 4, 5; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 91; P.A. 04-113,
S. 2.)
History: P.A. 88-344 inserted new Subsec. (a) defining "witnessing official", relettered former Subsec. (a) as Subsec.
(b) and substituted "in accordance with the provisions of this section and sections 9-23h and 9-23i" for "by mail" in Subsec.
(b), relettered former Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c) and amended Subsec. (c) to require each application form to have a receipt
attached and secretary to prepare and provide materials, to substitute "witnessing official" for "notary public, commissioner
of the superior court or justice of the peace", to substantially modify procedure for execution of application, to allow
application to be returned in person instead of by mail only and to office of town clerk instead of to registrar of voters only
and to restrict reproduction of form, inserted new Subsec. (d) re restriction on witnessing and certifying execution of
applications by candidates, relettered former Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (e) and substantially amended procedures in Subsec.
(e) for review of applications and notification of applicants, repealed former Subsec. (d) and substituted new Subsec. (f)
re time of attachment of privileges of an elector, relettered former Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (g) and substantially revised
provisions re when an application shall be rejected, not rejected, relettered former Subsec. (f) as Subsec. (h) and former
Subsec. (g) as Subsec. (i) and added Subsec. (j) re adoption of regulations; P.A. 91-351 added clause (i) to Subpara. (B)
of Subsec. (e) re notice requirement for application received during period beginning on twentieth day before election and
ending on fourteenth day before election and substituted "fourteenth" for "twenty-first" day in Subdiv. (2) of Subsec. (f);
P.A. 93-386 repealed requirement that execution of applications be witnessed, deleting former Subsecs. (a) and (d) and
all other references to witnessing officials and relettering remaining Subsecs. accordingly, amended relettered Subsec. (b)
to require that applicant's statements be made under penalties for false swearing before election officials instead of false
statement and that elector's oath be self-administered by applicant, to provide that this section and Sec. 9-23h do not require
application to be executed in the state and to allow member of immediate family of applicant or designee of ill or disabled
applicant to mail or return application, amended relettered Subsec. (c) by adding "Forthwith" and requiring registrars to
take necessary action in accordance with Sec. 9-35 or 9-43 if notice of acceptance of application is returned undelivered,
instead of requiring registrars to reject if so returned within ten days, amended Subdiv. (1) of relettered Subsec. (d) to
require privileges of an elector to attach immediately upon approval of application by registrar instead of on tenth day
after registrar mails notice of acceptance to applicant and deleted former Subdiv. (3) and amended relettered Subdiv. (3)
for consistency, amended Subdiv. (2) by substituting "If a mailed application is postmarked, or if a delivered application
is received" for "If an application is received" and amended relettered Subsec. (e) to prohibit an application from being
rejected for failure to provide applicant's Social Security number, effective January 1, 1994; P.A. 94-121 amended Subsec.
(b) by adding references to voter registration agencies, repealing requirements that form have receipt attached, be completed
by applicant and be returned by specified persons and that applicant self-administer the oath, substituting "penalties of
perjury" for "penalties for false swearing", adding sentence re statement required to be included in application, and repealing
restrictions on reproduction of form and adding sentence requiring form to be provided by or authorized by secretary of
the state, amended Subsec. (c) by inserting new subclause (ii) re application received by fourteenth day before election by
commissioner of motor vehicles or voter registration agency and requiring registrars to act "forthwith" if notice is returned,
"notwithstanding the May first deadline in section 9-35", and renumbering former subclause (ii) to subclause (iii), amended
Subsec. (d) by inserting new Subdiv. (3) re application received after fourteenth day before an election by commissioner
of motor vehicles or voter registration agency and renumbering former Subdiv. (3) to Subdiv. (4), and amended Subsec.
(e) by deleting references to birthplace and sex, effective January 1, 1995; P.A. 97-67 amended Subsec. (c) by substituting
"on the fifth day before a primary" for "at twelve o'clock noon on the last weekday before a primary" in subclause (B)(iii),
adding new subclause (B)(iv) re postmarked applications, and deleting text for consistency with such changes and amended
Subsec. (d)(2) and (3) by inserting "or after the fifth day before a primary" and "or primary, as the case may be", effective
July 1, 1997; P.A. 97-154 amended Subsec. (b) to require person or agency entrusted to mail or return an application to
d