Sec. 9-12. Who may be admitted. (a) Each citizen of the United States who has
attained the age of eighteen years, and who is a bona fide resident of the town to which
the citizen applies for admission as an elector shall, on approval by the registrars of
voters or town clerk of the town of residence of such citizen, as prescribed by law, be
an elector, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section. For purposes of this
section a person shall be deemed to have attained the age of eighteen years on the day
of the person's eighteenth birthday. No mentally incompetent person shall be admitted
as an elector.
(b) Any citizen who will have attained the age of eighteen years on or before the
day of a regular election may apply for admission as an elector. If such citizen is found
to be qualified the citizen shall become an elector on the day of the citizen's eighteenth
birthday. The registrars shall add the name of any person applying under this subsection,
if found qualified, to the registry list and, if applicable, to the enrollment list, together
with the effective date of his registration. The registrars may place the name of each
such person at the end of the registry and enrollment lists for the voting district.
(1949 Rev., S. 991; 1953, S. 513d; 1963, P.A. 645, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 407, S. 1; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 10; P.A.
73-630, S. 1, 19; P.A. 75-210; 75-565, S. 2, 5; P.A. 77-244, S. 1, 4; P.A. 81-350, S. 4, 17; P.A. 87-382, S. 2, 55; P.A. 94-121, S. 9, 33; P.A. 95-171, S. 2, 14; P.A. 97-67, S. 5, 9; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 103.)
History: 1963 act deleted provision prohibiting imposition of new qualifications on present electors; 1965 act removed
requirement of at least a year's residency in the state; 1972 act changed the qualifying age from twenty-one to eighteen;
P.A. 73-630 removed town residency requirement of six months and substituted therefor "is a bona fide resident of the
town" and removed the reading and character requirements; P.A. 75-210 substituted "mentally incompetent" for "idiot or
mentally ill"; P.A. 75-565, effective January 1, 1976, added exception re Secs. 9-19e and 9-30; P.A. 77-244 added "and
subsection (b) of this section" to the exceptions in P.A. 77-565, designated the previously enacted statute and amendments
as Subsec. (a) and added new Subsec. (b) providing for qualifying and applying for admission as electors within the four-month period prior to an election of those attaining age eighteen on or before the day of a regular election; P.A. 81-350
extended period for preregistration of seventeen-year-olds from four to six months prior to eighteenth birthday and provided
that a person is deemed to be eighteen on the day of his eighteenth birthday; P.A. 87-382 substituted "one hundred eighty
days" for "six months" in Subsec. (b); P.A. 94-121 amended first sentence of Subsec. (a) by substituting "approval by the
registrars of voters or town clerk of the town of residence of such citizen, as" for "taking the oath" and deleting references
to Secs. 9-19e and 9-30 in the exception clause of the same sentence, effective January 1, 1995; P.A. 95-171 amended
Subsec. (b) by deleting provision limiting applicability by seventeen-year-old citizens to a period of one hundred eighty
days prior to election, effective October 1, 1995, and applicable to elections held on or after that date; P.A. 97-67 amended
Subsec. (b) by adding provision re placement of names at end of registry and enrollment lists, effective July 1, 1997; June
30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 made technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality in Subsecs. (a) and (b), and amended
Subsec. (b) by substituting "will have attained the age of eighteen years on or before the day of a regular election" for "has
attained the age of seventeen years", effective January 1, 2004.
Cited. 31 CS 454.
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Sec. 9-12a. Residence of servicemen. Section 9-12a is repealed.
(1969, P.A. 492, S. 1; P.A. 81-350, S. 16, 17.)
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Sec. 9-12b. Admission of electors not prohibited on Sundays. The provisions
of section 53-302a shall not apply to activities conducted for the purpose of admitting
electors.
(P.A. 76-128, S. 1, 11; P.A. 79-363, S. 3, 38.)
History: P.A. 79-363 substituted "sections 53-302a" for "sections 53-300 and 53-302".
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Sec. 9-13. Blind persons. No applicant, otherwise qualified to be an elector in this
state, shall be ineligible by reason of blindness or defective sight.
(1949 Rev., S. 992; 1953, S. 514d; P.A. 76-128, S. 3, 11.)
History: P.A. 76-128 deleted requirements for reading or submission of proof of previous admission as elector in any
Connecticut town.
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Sec. 9-14. Electors residing in state institutions. No person shall be deemed to
have lost his residence in any town by reason of his absence therefrom in any institution
maintained by the state. No person who resides in any institution maintained by the state
shall be admitted as an elector in the town in which such institution is located, unless
he proves to the satisfaction of the admitting official that he is a bona fide resident of
such institution.
(1949 Rev., S. 1000; 1953, S. 515d; P.A. 82-247, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 82-247 changed "board for admission of electors" to "admitting official" and "permanent" resident to
"bona fide" resident.
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Sec. 9-14a. Electors in custody of state. Any person in the custody of the state
being held at a community correctional center or a correctional institution, whose voting
rights have not been denied, shall be deemed to be absent from the town or city of which
he is an inhabitant for purposes of voting, notwithstanding that such center or institution
may be situated within such town or city.
(P.A. 75-595, S. 4, 5.)
See Secs. 9-135, 9-137 re absentee voting, generally.
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Sec. 9-15. Residence of pauper. Section 9-15 is repealed, effective October 1,
2002.
(1949 Rev., S. 1020; 1953, S. 516d; S.A. 02-12, S. 1.)
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Sec. 9-15a. Membership and quorum of board for admission of electors. (a)
The board for admission of electors in each town shall consist of the town clerk and the
selectmen, provided the legislative body of any town may, at any time, except during
the period of eight weeks prior to a regular election, vote to change the membership of
such board to consist of (1) the town clerk, the selectmen and the registrars of voters or
(2) the town clerk and the registrars of voters. For the purposes of this section, the term
"registrars of voters", in a town where there are different registrars of voters for different
voting districts, means the registrars of voters in the voting district in which, at the last-preceding election, the presiding officer for the purpose of declaring the result of the
vote of the whole town was the moderator.
(b) Any member of the board for the admission of electors in any town who finds
that he is unable to attend a meeting of the board shall designate another elected officer
of such town to act for him by filing a statement of such designation in writing in the
office of the town clerk at any time prior to the opening of the meeting, provided, if an
assistant town clerk is available, he shall serve in the absence or inability of the town
clerk and, if the deputy registrar of voters is available, he shall serve in the absence or
inability of his registrar.
(c) A quorum of the board for the admission of electors shall consist of a bare
majority of the members of such board. An assistant town clerk or a deputy registrar or
any other town officer designated by, and acting for, a member of such board pursuant
to the provisions of subsection (b) shall be included as a member of such board for
purposes of ascertaining the existence of a quorum.
(d) This section shall supersede any inconsistent provision of any charter or special act.
(February, 1965, P.A. 471; 1969, P.A. 496; P.A. 79-363, S. 4, 38; P.A. 83-391, S. 1, 24.)
History: 1969 act changed word "municipality" for "town" wherever appearing and in Subsec. (b) inserted the word
"elected" before "officer"; P.A. 79-363 amended Subsec. (a) by inserting "the" before "moderator"; P.A. 83-391 amended
Subsec. (b) to eliminate reference to sessions of board for the admission of electors.
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Sec. 9-16. Notice of sessions of registrars of voters. The registrars of voters in
each town shall give notice of the time and place of each session for the admission of
electors held pursuant to section 9-17 by publication in a newspaper published or circulated in such town not more than fifteen nor less than five days before each such session.
Nothing herein shall require that such publication be in the form of a legal advertisement.
(1953, S. 517d; 1957, P.A. 441, S. 3; 1959, P.A. 684, S. 2; 1961, P.A. 266, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 393, S. 3; February, 1965,
P.A. 275, S. 2; 443, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 352, S. 3; P.A. 83-391, S. 2, 24; P.A. 93-230, S. 5.)
History: 1959 act allowed town clerk's statement that applicant is an elector in lieu of proof of citizenship; 1961 act
added registrar of voters to same provision; 1963 act deleted requirement of posting notice of session on signpost and
changed time for giving notice by publication; 1965 acts required notice be published no more than ten nor less than five
days before each session and deleted provision for notice to include requirements for presentation of naturalization or other
papers; 1967 act amended notice requirement to no more than fifteen days instead of ten days prior to session; P.A. 83-391 amended section to provide for notice of sessions to be given by registrars of voters not board for admission of electors;
P.A. 93-320 specified that publication need not be in form of a legal advertisement.
See Sec. 9-25 re admission of armed forces members as electors.
See Sec. 9-31a re special admission procedure for permanently physically disabled persons.
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Sec. 9-17. Sessions of registrars of voters. (a) For the purposes of this section,
"primary day" means the day that a primary for state, district and municipal offices is
being held in accordance with section 9-423, and "election day" means the day of each
regular election. (1) The registrars of voters of each town shall hold sessions to examine
the qualifications of electors and admit those found qualified on the dates and at the
times set forth in this section. Such sessions shall be held on the following days during
the hours indicated, except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection:
| Day | Hours |
| Fourteenth day before primary day |
any two hours between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. |
| Saturday of third week before election day |
10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. |
| Fourteenth day before election day |
9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. |
The session of the registrars of voters on the seventh day before election day shall be
the last regular session for the admission of electors prior to an election, as defined in
subsection (y) of section 9-1. (2) No town having a population of less than twenty-five
thousand persons shall be required to hold sessions for admission of electors on the
fourteenth day before primary day.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), the registrars of voters shall
hold a limited session on the last week day before each regular election from nine o'clock
a.m. to twelve o'clock noon for the purpose of admitting only those persons whose
qualifications as to age, citizenship or residence in the municipality were attained after
the last session for the admission of electors prior to an election. The registrars shall
enter the names of those electors admitted at such limited session on the proper list,
with their residences by street and numbers, if any, before one o'clock p.m. of such last
week day before the election.
(c) In addition to the sessions held pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this section,
the registrars of voters in each town shall hold one session each year, between the first
of January and the last day of the school year, at each public high school in such town,
for the admission of persons who are eligible for admission under subsection (a) or (b)
of section 9-12, provided, in the case of a public high school in a regional school district,
such session shall be held on a rotating basis by the registrars of voters for each town
which is a member of the regional school district. The registrars of voters need not give
notice of this session by publication in a newspaper.
(1949 Rev., S. 1015; 1953, 1955, S. 518d; 1957, P.A. 441, S. 4; 1963, P.A. 530, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 694, S. 1; 1971, P.A.
708; 768, S. 2; 1972, P.A. 144; P.A. 73-630, S. 2, 19; P.A. 75-12, S. 1, 2; P.A. 77-330, S. 1; 77-604, S. 83, 84; P.A. 79-189, S. 2, 9; P.A. 83-391, S. 3, 24; P.A. 84-319, S. 5, 49; 84-546, S. 18, 173; P.A. 87-210; P.A. 89-297, S. 1; P.A. 91-351,
S. 21, 23, 28; P.A. 93-230, S. 1; P.A. 94-121, S. 10, 33; 94-203, S. 1, 12; P.A. 95-171, S. 3, 14; P.A. 96-134, S. 1, 9; P.A.
97-67, S. 6, 9; P.A. 98-67, S. 4, 10; P.A. 05-235, S. 27.)
History: 1963 act reduced duration of session in sixth week before election from eleven to "at least four" hours, and
deleted variations in length of session according to the towns' sizes; 1969 act deleted provisions for towns holding a
municipal election on the first Monday in October in the even-numbered years; 1971 acts added a session "on the first
Saturday after Labor Day", added clarifying language to the provision of adjournment of session on the Saturday of the
sixth week, deleted reference to the third week as the case may be and added a provision for additional sessions if the
Saturday of the sixth or fourth week before election falls on day on which tenets of religion forbid secular activity; 1972
act added provision for two evening sessions between the Saturdays of the sixth and fourth weeks before election; P.A.
73-630 substituted clarifying language for "rights have matured" as age citizenship or residence attained after the Saturday
of the fourth week before the election; P.A. 75-12 provided for additional session on Saturday of fifth week before election
and for adjournment of that session from time to time instead of provision for adjournment of the session on sixth Saturday,
further provided for one evening session rather than two between the Saturday of fifth week (instead of sixth) and the
Saturday of the fourth week and further substituted fifth week for sixth week in the requirement for additional session
where that Saturday falls on a day on which religious tenets forbid secular activity; P.A. 77-330 provided for evening
session before primary, changed provisions for hours of sessions before elections to "from at least nine o'clock a.m. to
one o'clock p.m.", specified that the evening session between the fifth and fourth week be on Wednesday, provided for a
session on the twenty-first day before election between the hours of nine a.m. and eight p.m., changed the hours for the
session on the last weekday before election to "from at least nine a.m. to eleven a.m.", changed the purpose of that admitting
session to "those persons whose qualifications as to age or citizenship were attained after the twenty-first day before the
election", changed provision for extra session where religious tenet forbids secular activity on Saturday of fifth or fourth
week to twenty-first day and provided that admission of electors on the last weekday before election would be determined
from that next succeeding day; P.A. 77-604 made technical changes; P.A. 79-189 divided statute into three Subsecs. with
Subsec. (a) including information set forth in schedule format; P.A. 83-391 amended section to delete references to board
for admission of electors and eliminated certain mandatory sessions in towns having a population under twenty-five
thousand; P.A. 84-319 and P.A. 84-546 made technical amendment to Subsec. (b), restoring language inadvertently omitted
from 1983 revision; P.A. 87-210 added Subsec. (c) re sessions at public high schools; P.A. 89-297 changed May ninth to
May twelfth in Subsec. (c); P.A. 91-351 amended Subsec. (a) to move all sessions one week closer to election day and
changed ending time for last Saturday session before election day from 8:00 to 5:00 p.m; P.A. 93-230 amended Subsec.
(a) to repeal requirement that session be held on Saturday of fifth week before election day and to change hours for session
to be held on the Wednesday falling between fourth and third Saturdays before election day, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
to "any two hours between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m."; P.A. 94-121 deleted reference to elector's oath in Subdiv. (1) of
Subsec. (a), effective January 1, 1995; P.A. 94-203 amended Subsec. (a) by changing hours of session on fourteenth day
before primary day, from "7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m." to "any two hours between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.", effective July 1,
1994; P.A. 95-171 amended Subsec. (b) by extending session from eleven o'clock a.m. to noon and requiring names be
entered by one o'clock p.m. rather than noon, effective October 1, 1995, and applicable to elections held on or after that
date; P.A. 96-134 amended Subsec. (a) to delete references to mandatory sessions on the Saturday of fourth week before
election day and the Wednesday between fourth and third Saturdays before election day and to change session hours for
Saturday of third week before election day and amended Subsec. (c) to replace "May twelfth" with "the first of January"
and add provision that the registrars of voters need not give notice of session by publication, effective May 29, 1996; P.A.
97-67 amended Subsec. (a) by changing hours of Saturday session from "9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m." to "10:00 a.m. to 2:00
p.m.", effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-67 amended Subsec. (a) to change definition of "primary day" from day scheduled
for primary to day that primary is being held, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 05-235 amended Subsec. (a) by changing
"fourteenth day before election day" to "seventh day before election day", effective January 1, 2006.
Board being, under the constitution, quasi-judicial, its members acting in good faith are not liable in damages. 53 C.
527; having to act under discretion, are not subject to mandamus. 34 C. 415.
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Sec. 9-17a. "Admitting official" defined. As used in sections 9-17, 9-19b, 9-19c(a), 9-20, 9-23a, 9-24, 9-31a, 9-31b and 9-31l, unless otherwise provided, the term
"admitting official" means a town clerk, assistant town clerk, registrar of voters, deputy
registrar of voters, assistant registrar of voters, special assistant registrar of voters or
the board for admission of electors.
(1971, P.A. 768, S. 1; P.A. 79-363, S. 5, 38; P.A. 80-281, S. 2, 31; P.A. 81-350, S. 12, 17.)
History: P.A. 79-363 made technical changes; P.A. 80-281 added "special assistant registrar of voters"; P.A. 81-350
substituted reference to Sec. 9-31l for reference to Sec. 9-31k, repealed by the same act.
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Secs. 9-18, 9-18a and 9-19. Sessions of board during even-numbered years.
Required monthly sessions. Additional sessions. Sections 9-18, 9-18a and 9-19 are
repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 1014, 1016; 1953, S. 519d, 520d; March, 1958, P.A. 27, S. 5; 1963, P.A. 530, S. 2-4; 1971, P.A. 768,
S. 3; P.A. 76-128, S. 10, 11; P.A. 83-391, S. 23, 24.)
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Sec. 9-19a. Inconsistent provisions superseded. The provisions of this chapter
shall supersede any inconsistent provision of any charter or special act.
(1963, P.A. 530, S. 5; P.A. 79-363, S. 6, 38; P.A. 83-391, S. 4, 24; P.A. 84-319, S. 6, 49.)
History: P.A. 79-363 deleted reference to repealed Sec. 9-18a; P.A. 83-391 deleted reference to repealed Sec. 9-19;
P.A. 84-319 amended section to provide that provisions of chapter 143, rather than of Sec. 9-17, supersede inconsistent
provisions in charters and special acts.
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Sec. 9-19b. Applications for admission submitted to town clerk or registrar
of voters. Locations for admission of electors. (a) Except during the period between
the last session for the admission of electors prior to an election and the day following
that election, the town clerk or assistant town clerk, during office hours and at the office
of such official, may examine the qualifications of any person applying in person to be
admitted as an elector and approve such application.
(b) Except during the period between the last session for the admission of electors
prior to an election and the day following that election, either registrar of voters, or a
deputy registrar, assistant registrar or special assistant registrar appointed in accordance
with the provisions of section 9-192, may examine the qualifications of any person
applying to be admitted as an elector in the town and, except for applications submitted
pursuant to subdivision (4) of this subsection, approve such application submitted in
person (1) at the office of such official; (2) at any enrollment session of the registrars
of voters; (3) at any public place; (4) at any time and at any place in the town, other than
a public place; or (5) at any public office of the Department of Motor Vehicles, Labor
Department or Department of Social Services which is located in the town in which
the registrar, deputy registrar, assistant registrar or special assistant registrar serves,
if written notice of the date and time is given seven days in advance thereof to the
commissioner of such department. Upon receipt of a written notice under subdivision
(5) of this subsection, the commissioner of the department may designate a portion of
the public office which shall be used for the admission of electors. The other registrar,
or any deputy, assistant or special assistant registrar, shall be permitted to be present
during the admission of any person pursuant to subdivisions (4) and (5) of this subsection. Applications accepted and examined prior to the last session for admission of
electors prior to an election pursuant to subdivision (4) of this subsection may be approved after such last session. The admission of any person pursuant to subdivision (4)
shall be effective on the date when both registrars approve such application. The registrar
who receives such application from the applicant shall give written notice to the other
registrar within one business day after such receipt and the registrars shall forthwith
act on such applications. No rejection of any application under subdivision (4) of this
subsection shall be effective until the registrar has mailed to the other registrar and the
applicant a notice stating the reasons for the rejection. Any applicant whose application
is rejected may appeal under the provisions of section 9-31l.
(c) Such registrar, deputy, assistant or special assistant registrar accepting applications in accordance with subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of this section shall provide
the applicant with a receipt. Upon approval or disapproval of the application, the registrars shall send a notice thereof by first-class mail with instructions on the envelope that
it be returned if not deliverable at the address shown thereon. If such notice of approval
is returned undeliverable, the registrars shall take the necessary action in accordance
with section 9-35 or 9-43.
(d) During the period between the last session for the admission of electors prior
to an election and the opening of the limited session for the admission of electors held
on the last weekday before such election under section 9-17, 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 in such town and approve
the application of such person whose qualifications as to age, citizenship or residence
in the municipality were attained after such last session and on or before the last weekday
prior to such election.
(1967, P.A. 559, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 491; 677; 1971, P.A. 768, S. 4; P.A. 73-130; 73-430; 73-630, S. 3, 19; P.A. 75-28,
S. 1, 2; P.A. 77-330, S. 2; 77-604, S. 83, 84; P.A. 79-143, S. 1; 79-189, S. 3, 9; P.A. 80-281, S. 3, 31; P.A. 81-350, S. 5,
17; P.A. 82-472, S. 24, 183; P.A. 88-347, S. 2, 4; P.A. 89-297, S. 2, 18; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; P.A. 94-121, S. 11, 33.)
History: 1969 acts added provision for town clerk and registrars of voters, during the period between the last regular
session and the opening of the limited session held on the last weekday before election, to process applications of persons
who attained qualifications as to age, residence or citizenship during that period and added provision for enrollment at any
public place where five days prior notice in newspaper published; 1971 act added assistant town clerk and a deputy or
assistant registrar where appropriate, substituted "any of such admitting officials" for "the town clerk or either registrar
of voters", deleted "accept the application for admission as an elector of" and deleted provisions requiring approval of
application by the board for admission of electors and notification where the board's action is unfavorable; P.A. 73-130
added "with the consent of both registrars of voters" to the provision for enrollment at any public place; P.A. 73-430
defined "during office hours" where the registrars of voters do not maintain regular office hours; P.A. 73-630 deleted
"residence" as qualification, attainment of which during period between last regular session and on or before the last
weekday prior to election makes person eligible for special enrollment and substituted "were attained" for "matured" in
context of when qualifications for enrollment arose; P.A. 75-28 clarified "office hours" and changed provisions concerning
enrollment at any public place to remove requirement for consent of both registrars so that either registrar may conduct
enrollment upon seven days prior notice to other registrar and the five day prior notice by newspaper, such notice to be
signed by each registrar, deputy, or assistant who intends to participate; P.A. 77-330 where appearing deleted the word
"regular" from "last regular session"; P.A. 77-604 made technical changes; P.A. 79-143 divided the section into Subsecs.
(a) to (d), inclusive, additionally provided for enrollment at other than a public place, for admission to be effective on
occurrence of certain conditions or for rejection of application, for provision of receipt to applicant upon administration
of oath, for notice of action taken on application, for application for reexamination where application has been rejected
and deleted references to newspaper notice; P.A. 79-189 added "residency in the municipality" to qualifications as to age
or citizenship to be attained during the period between the last session and the opening of the limited session held on the
last weekday before election in order for person to be registered during that time; P.A. 80-281 made technical changes;
P.A. 81-350 required notice of location and opportunity to be present be given to registrar of other party by registrar
conducting door-to-door registration and allowed rejected applicants to appeal under Sec. 9-31l, replacing provision
allowing them to apply for reexamination under Sec. 9-31j; P.A. 82-472 added the reference to Sec. 9-43 in Subsec. (c);
P.A. 88-347 added Subdiv. (5) to Subsec. (b), re examination of qualifications of applicants for admission at offices of
motor vehicles, labor and income maintenance departments, effective April 1, 1989; P.A. 89-297 amended Subsec. (b) by
providing that the admission of any person pursuant to Subdiv. (4), instead of pursuant to "this subdivision", shall be
effective one week after receipt of application, except as otherwise provided; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of
commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July
1, 1993; P.A. 94-121 applied provisions of Subsec. (a) to any person applying "in person" and substituted "approve such
application" for "administer the elector's oath" in Subsec. (a), amended Subsec. (b) by substituting "in the town and, except
for applications submitted pursuant to subdivision (4) of this subsection, approve such application submitted in person"
for "and administer the elector's oath", deleting requirement of advance notice to other registrar in Subdivs. (3), (4) and
(5), and amending Subdiv. (4) to require place to be "in the town", allow approval of applications received prior to last
session for admission of electors to occur after such last session, make application effective only on date when both
registrars approve it and require registrars to act forthwith on such applications, amended Subsec. (c) by substituting
"accepting applications" for "administering the elector's oath", and applied provisions of Subsec. (d) to any person applying
"in person" and "in such town" and substituted "approve the application" for "administer the elector's oath", effective
January 1, 1995; (Revisor's note: In 1997 a reference in Subsec. (b) to "Department of Labor" was replaced editorially by
the Revisors with "Labor Department" for consistency with customary statutory usage).
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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".
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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).
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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.
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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.)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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, including, on any such form printed
on or after January 1, 2006, a list of the names of the major parties, as defined in section
9-372, as options for the applicant. 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; P.A. 05-235, S. 15.)
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; P.A. 05-235 amended Subsec. (a) to require form to include list of names of major parties, effective January 1, 2006.
Social custom of woman changing name upon marriage, recognized. 30 CS 385.
Cited. 2 Conn. Cir. Ct. 204.
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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.
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Sec. 9-20b. Voter registration services for new citizens at naturalization ceremonies. The Secretary of the State, within available appropriations and in consultation
with registrars of voters and nonprofit organizations promoting voter registration, shall
provide or arrange for voter registration services for new citizens at each naturalization
ceremony held in the state by the federal Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services
for twenty-five or more new citizens.
(P.A. 05-188, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 05-188 effective July 1, 2005.
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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.
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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.
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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.)
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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.
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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.
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Secs. 9-23b to 9-23f. Reserved for future use.
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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
do so immediately, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 99-112 made technical changes; P.A. 02-83 amended Subsec. (b) to make
technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality and to add provisions requiring voter registration agencies to provide
applicants with application receipts, and amended Subsec. (d)(4) to establish procedure under which applicant may submit
receipt to moderator and to revise procedure under which applicant may submit notice of acceptance to moderator, effective
January 1, 2003; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 amended Subsec. (e)(3) by inserting "provided the registrars of voters have
contacted such applicant to provide an opportunity to answer such question", effective January 1, 2004; P.A. 04-113
amended Subsec. (b) to designate existing recording requirement for voter registration agency as Subpara. (A) and add
Subpara. (B) requiring voter registration agency to record any party affiliation of applicant on receipt, effective January
1, 2005.
See Sec. 1-2a re construing of references to "United States mail" or "postmark" to include references to any delivery
service designated by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to Section 7502 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or any
successor to the code, as amended, and to any date recorded or marked as described in said Section 7502 by a designated
delivery service and construing of "registered or certified mail" to include any equivalent designated by the Secretary of
the Treasury pursuant to said Section 7502.
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Sec. 9-23h. Application form. The application provided for in section 9-23g shall
provide spaces for the following information for each applicant: (1) Name, (2) bona
fide residence, including street number, street address, apartment number if applicable,
town and zip code, (3) telephone number, (4) date of birth, (5) whether the applicant is
registered as an elector in any other town in the state of Connecticut or in any other
state, and if so, the applicant's last previous voting residence, (6) whether the applicant
is a United States citizen, (7) whether the applicant will be eighteen years of age on or
before election day, (8) party affiliation, if any, (9) the applicant's signature and date
of signature, and (10) the applicant's Connecticut motor vehicle operator's license number or, if none, the last four digits of the applicant's Social Security number. The spaces
for the applicant's telephone number and party affiliation shall indicate that such information does not have to be provided. On any such application printed on or after January
1, 2006, the space for the applicant's party affiliation shall also include a list of the
names of the major parties, as defined in section 9-372, as options for the applicant. The
spaces regarding United States citizenship and whether the applicant will be eighteen
years of age on or before election day shall indicate that if the applicant answers "No"
to either question, the applicant may not complete the voter registration form. No Social
Security number on any such form filed prior to January 1, 2000, may be disclosed to
the public or to any governmental agency. The application shall contain a notice that if
the applicant does not receive a notice of acceptance or rejection of the application from
the office of the registrars of voters for the municipality in which the applicant resides,
the applicant should contact said office. The application shall also contain any other
information, questions or instructions prescribed by the Secretary of the State.
(P.A. 88-344, S. 2, 5; P.A. 93-386, S. 2, 5; P.A. 94-121, S. 19, 33; P.A. 99-268, S. 41, 46; P.A. 00-169, S. 22; P.A. 02-83, S. 7; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 92; P.A. 05-235, S. 16.)
History: P.A. 93-386 required form to provide space for applicant's Social Security number, required secretary and
registrars to comply with Privacy Act re request for such number and prohibited public disclosure of the number, amended
Subpara. (A) by substituting "until approved by the registrars of voters," for "until he receives a notice of acceptance from
the registrars of voters, which should be within three weeks," amended Subpara. (B) by adding reference to Sec. 9-27, deleted
former Subparas. (C), (E) and (F), re witnessing official, and renumbered remaining Subparas. accordingly, substituted new
Subpara. (D) for former Subpara. (H), requiring summary of applicable penalties to be contained on application instead
of full text and amended relettered Subpara. (E) to provide for applicant to retain receipt, effective January 1, 1994; P.A.
94-121 deleted requirements that application provide spaces for applicant's sex, birthplace and printed or typed name and
address and contain instructions re question re citizenship and information specified in former Subparas. (A) to (E), inclusive, effective January 1, 1995; P.A. 99-268 repealed requirement that application provide space for applicant's Social
Security number and extended 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. 02-83 made a technical change for purposes of gender neutrality and required application to contain
notice that applicant should contact registrars' office if applicant does not receive notice of acceptance or rejection, effective
January 1, 2003; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 added new Subdiv. (7) to require application to provide space for whether
applicant will be eighteen years of age on or before election day, renumbered former Subdivs. (7) and (8) as Subdivs. (8)
and (9), added Subdiv. (10) to require application to provide space for applicant's Connecticut motor vehicle operator's
license number or, if none, the last four digits of applicant's Social Security number, and added provision to require spaces
re citizenship and whether applicant will be eighteen years of age to indicate that if applicant answers "No", applicant may
not complete form, effective January 1, 2004; P.A. 05-235 required application to include list of names of major parties,
effective January 1, 2006.
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Sec. 9-23i. Prohibition on witnessing official charging a fee. Section 9-23i is
repealed, effective January 1, 1994.
(P.A. 88-344, S. 3, 5; P.A. 93-386, S. 4, 5.)
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Sec. 9-23j. Definition. As used in sections 9-7b and 9-12, subsection (a) of section
9-17, sections 9-19b, 9-19e, 9-19g, 9-19h, 9-19i, 9-20, 9-21, 9-23a, 9-23g, 9-23h, 9-23k to 9-23o, inclusive, 9-26, 9-31a, 9-32, 9-35, 9-35b, 9-35c, 9-40a, 9-42, 9-43, 9-50a,
9-56 and 9-59, "public assistance offices" means offices of state agencies that administer
or provide services under the food stamp, Medicaid, Women, Infants and Children, and
temporary family assistance programs.
(P.A. 94-121, S. 1, 33; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 11, 165.)
History: P.A. 94-121 effective January 1, 1995; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 replaced a reference to "Aid to Families
with Dependent Children" with "temporary family assistance", effective July 1, 1997.
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Sec. 9-23k. National Voter Registration Act of 1993. Coordination of state responsibilities. Enforcement. The Secretary of the State shall be the chief state election
official responsible for coordination of state responsibilities under the National Voter
Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time, except that the
State Elections Enforcement Commission shall be responsible for the investigation of
any complaint alleging a violation of sections 9-7b and 9-12, subsection (a) of section
9-17, sections 9-19b, 9-19e, 9-19g, 9-19h, 9-19i, 9-20, 9-21, 9-23a, 9-23g, 9-23h, 9-23j
to 9-23o, inclusive, 9-26, 9-31a, 9-32, 9-35, 9-35b, 9-35c, 9-40a, 9-42, 9-43, 9-50a, 9-56 and 9-59 and shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of said sections by
use of its powers as prescribed in section 9-7b.
(P.A. 94-121, S. 2, 33.)
History: P.A. 94-121 effective January 1, 1995.
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Sec. 9-23l. Mail voter registration application form prescribed by Federal
Election Commission. Registrars of voters shall accept the mail voter registration application form prescribed by the Federal Election Commission pursuant to the National
Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time, as an application for admission as an elector for all elections in Connecticut. 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.
(P.A. 94-121, S. 3, 33.)
History: P.A. 94-121 effective January 1, 1995.
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Sec. 9-23m. Secretary to make form available. Changes to conform to federal
law. The Secretary of the State shall make available for distribution the mail voter
registration application form prescribed by the Federal Election Commission pursuant
to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to
time. The secretary may make any changes in any forms required by this title which, in
the opinion of the secretary, are necessary to cause said forms to conform to the provisions of applicable federal law.
(P.A. 94-121, S. 4, 33.)
History: P.A. 94-121 effective January 1, 1995; (Revisor's note: In 1997 a reference to "title 9" was replaced editorially
by the Revisors with "this title" for consistency with customary statutory usage).
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Sec. 9-23n. Voter registration agencies. Duties. (a) As used in this section, "voter
registration agency" means (1) public assistance offices, (2) all offices in the state that
provide state-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to persons with
disabilities, (3) libraries that are open to the public, and (4) such other appropriate offices
as the Secretary of the State shall designate in accordance with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time.
(b) Voter registration agencies shall (1) distribute mail voter registration application
forms, (2) assist applicants for such assistance or services in completing voter registration application forms, except for applicants who refuse such assistance, (3) accept
completed voter registration application forms and provide each applicant with an application receipt, on which the agency shall record the date that the agency received the
application, using an official date stamp bearing the name of the agency, and (4) immediately transmit all such applications to the registrars of voters of the town of voting
residence of the applicants. The agency shall provide such receipt whether the application was submitted in person or by mail. 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 voter registration
agency shall indicate on the completed mail voter registration application form, without
indicating the identity of the voter registration agency, the date of its acceptance by such
agency, to ensure that any eligible applicant is registered to vote in an election if it is
received by the registration agency by the last day for registration to vote in an election.
If a state-funded program primarily engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities provides services to a person with a disability at the person's home, the agency
shall provide such voter registration services at the person's home. The procedures in
subsections (c), (d), (f) and (g) of section 9-23g that 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. Officials and employees of such voter registration
agencies are not admitting officials, as defined in section 9-17a, and may not restore,
under the provisions of section 9-46a, electoral privileges of persons convicted of a
felony.
(P.A. 94-121, S. 6, 33; P.A. 99-112, S. 2; P.A. 02-83, S. 6.)
History: P.A. 94-121 effective January 1, 1995; P.A. 99-112 divided existing provisions into Subsec. (a) which defines
"voter registration agency" and Subsec. (b) which sets out the duties of voter registration agencies; P.A. 02-83 amended
Subsec. (b) to make technical changes and to require voter registration agencies to provide applicants with application
receipts, effective January 1, 2003.
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Sec. 9-23o. Distribution of form by voter registration agencies. Declinations.
Assistance. A voter registration agency, as defined in section 9-23n shall comply with
the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to
time, and shall distribute with each application for service or assistance provided by the
agency, and with each recertification, renewal or change of address form relating to
such service or assistance a mail voter registration application form approved by the
Secretary of the State unless the applicant declines to register to vote pursuant to the
provisions of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended
from time to time. Such declination shall be in writing, except in the case of an application
for service or assistance provided by a library, or a recertification, renewal or change
of address form relating to such library service or assistance. Such voter registration
agency shall provide each applicant to register to vote the same degree of assistance
with regard to the completion of the registration application form as is provided by the
agency with regard to the completion of its own forms, unless the applicant refuses such
assistance.
(P.A. 94-121, S. 7, 33; P.A. 99-112, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 94-121 effective January 1, 1995; P.A. 99-112 made technical changes.
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Sec. 9-23p. Public institutions of higher education to distribute voter registration application forms and provide assistance. Each public institution of higher education shall (1) distribute mail voter registration application forms, and (2) assist applicants who request assistance in completing voter registration application forms.
(P.A. 99-112, S. 4.)
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Sec. 9-23q. State-wide student voter registration drive. The Secretary of the
State shall annually designate, after consultation with registrars of voters, a period of
time between January first and May thirty-first for a state-wide student voter registration
drive and shall coordinate and publicize such drive.
(P.A. 03-54, S. 1.)
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Sec. 9-23r. Submission of identifying information with mail voter registration
application. (a) On or after January 1, 2003, any person who is applying, by mail, to
register to vote for the first time in this state may submit as part of such voter registration
application: (1) A copy of a current and valid photo identification, (2) a copy of a current
utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or government document that
shows the name and address of the voter, (3) a valid Connecticut motor vehicle operator's
license number, or (4) the last four digits of the individual's Social Security number.
Members of the armed forces and persons entitled to use the federal post card application
for absentee ballots under section 9-153a are not required to provide identification when
registering by mail. No information submitted as part of a voter registration application
under this subsection shall be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information
Act pursuant to chapter 14, except for the name, address, date of birth and telephone
number of the applicant.
(b) If an individual submits such information pursuant to this section as part of the
individual's voter registration application and, with respect to subdivision (3) or (4) of
subsection (a) of this section, the registrars of voters are able to match the information
submitted with an existing Connecticut identification record bearing the same number,
name and date of birth as provided, such individual shall not be required to produce
identification when voting in person or by absentee ballot and may sign a statement as
described in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 9-261 in
lieu of presenting identification when voting in person.
(c) Any additional documentation submitted as part of the voter registration application pursuant to this section may be destroyed by the registrars of voters after verification
pursuant to the Help America Vote Act, P.L. 107-252, as amended from time to time.
(d) If an individual described in subsection (a) of this section does not submit the
identification described in subsection (a) of this section as part of the individual's application for admission as an elector, when the individual has entered the polling place in
an election for federal office, the individual shall present: (1) A current and valid photo
identification, or (2) a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check,
paycheck or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter.
If an individual does not meet the requirements of this subsection in an election for
federal office, such individual may cast a provisional ballot prescribed under sections
9-232i to 9-232o, inclusive.
(e) If an individual described in subsection (a) of this section does not submit the
identification described in subsection (a) of this section as part of the individual's application for admission as an elector, and if the individual votes by absentee ballot in
an election for federal office, the individual shall enclose in the outer absentee ballot
envelope, and not in the inner envelope with the ballot: (1) A copy of a current and valid
photo identification, or (2) a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government
check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of
the voter. If an individual does not meet the requirements of this subsection in an election
for federal office, such individual's absentee ballot shall be processed in accordance
with the provisions of subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of section 9-150a and treated
as a provisional ballot for federal office only, pursuant to sections 9-232i to 9-232o,
inclusive.
(June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 90; P.A. 05-188, S. 2.)
History: June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 effective January 1, 2004; P.A. 05-188 amended Subsec. (a) to prohibit disclosure
of information submitted as part of application, except for name, address, date of birth and telephone number of applicant,
effective July 1, 2005.
See Sec. 9-232i for definition of "election for federal office".
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Sec. 9-24. Admission as electors of persons in armed forces; definitions. As
used in sections 9-25 to 9-31, inclusive, the term "members of the armed forces" shall
include members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force or Merchant
Marine of the United States, or any of their respective components.
(1949 Rev., S. 1022; 1953, S. 526d; P.A. 73-630, S. 7, 19.)
History: P.A. 73-630 deleted provision concerning period of residency.
See Sec. 9-25a for related definitions.
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Sec. 9-25. Admission of members of the armed forces as electors. The town
clerk or assistant town clerk or either registrar of voters or deputy or assistant registrar,
on any week day and at any time before five o'clock p.m. on the last week day before
any regular election, when requested in writing by any member of the armed forces
desiring to be made an elector, or by any former member of the armed forces discharged
therefrom within the calendar year immediately preceding such request, may forthwith
examine the qualifications of such person and admit him to the elector's oath if he is
qualified.
(1949 Rev., S. 1021; 1953, S. 527d; 1969, P.A. 718, S. 1; P.A. 75-9, S. 1, 2.)
History: 1969 act added provision for former member of armed forces discharged within calendar year immediately
preceding request to be eligible for special session; P.A. 75-9 substituted town clerk and other officials for board of
admission, deleted "hold a special session" leaving provision to examine qualifications forthwith.
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Sec. 9-25a. Definitions. As used in this section and sections 9-26 and 9-28, "armed
forces" shall have the meaning set forth in section 27-103; "member of the Merchant
Marine" means a person, other than a member of the armed forces, employed as an
officer or member of the crew of a vessel documented under the laws of the United
States, or of a vessel owned by the United States, or of a vessel of foreign-flag registry
under charter to or control of the United States, or a person, other than a member of
the armed forces, enrolled with the United States for employment, or for training for
employment, or maintained by the United States for emergency relief service, as an
officer or member of the crew of any such vessel, but does not include persons so
employed, or enrolled for such employment or for training for such employment, or
maintained for such emergency relief services, on the Great Lakes or the inland waterways; "dependent" means any person who in fact is dependent; "induction into the armed
forces" shall be construed to include the latest reenlistment in the armed forces.
(1963, P.A. 403, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 210; P.A. 73-630, S. 8, 19; P.A. 81-350, S. 7, 17; P.A. 93-384, S. 19, 28.)
History: 1965 act defined "induction into the armed forces"; P.A. 73-630 added "bona fide" to residence and clarified
"town in this state in which he last resided" with respect to spouse or dependent; P.A. 81-350 eliminated a definition of
the term "town in this state in which he last resided"; P.A. 93-384 deleted provision applying definitions to Sec. 9-27,
effective January 1, 1994.
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Sec. 9-26. Application of member of armed forces or related group or person
temporarily residing outside of the United States who is unable to appear in person.
Any person who, because of service in the armed forces, membership in the United
States Merchant Marine, membership in a religious or welfare group or agency attached
to and serving with the armed forces or civilian employment with the United States or
because he is a spouse or dependent of any such person, and any person who because
of temporary residence outside the territorial limits of the several states of the United
States and the District of Columbia, may, at any time, in the manner and upon a form
prescribed by the Secretary of the State, make application, in person or by mail, to the
town clerk of such town for such examination and for admission as an elector. Upon
such form, signed by the applicant, he shall state under penalties of perjury, his name,
bona fide residence by street and number, if any, in such town and date of birth, and
that he is, at the time of making such application, a citizen of the United States. He shall
also state that he is (1) a member of the armed forces, of the merchant marine or of a
religious or welfare group or agency attached to and serving with the armed forces, (2)
a civilian employee of the United States, (3) a spouse or dependent of any person described in subdivision (1) or (2), or (4) a person temporarily residing outside the territorial limits of the several states of the United States and the District of Columbia. The
person shall also state the date of his induction into such armed forces or the date of his
joining the merchant marine or such religious or welfare group or agency or of his
entering United States employment or moving temporarily outside the territorial limits
of the several states of the United States and the District of Columbia; whether his
privileges as an elector are forfeited by reason of conviction of crime; and whether he
is, at the time of making such application, registered as an elector in any other town in
this or any other state. The application form shall provide for application for enrollment
in any political party and shall indicate that such enrollment is optional. No Social
Security number on any such form filed prior to January 1, 2000, may be disclosed to
the public or to any governmental agency. The town clerk may accept such fully completed form as evidence of the qualifications of the applicant to be admitted as an elector.
The application for admission as an elector shall include 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.
In lieu of the application form prescribed by the secretary under this section, any such
person may apply for registration and enrollment on the federal postcard application
form provided pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act,
100 Stat. 924, 42 USC 1973ff et seq., as amended from time to time, or any other
applicable law.
(1949 Rev., S. 1023; 1953, S. 528d; 1961, P.A. 266, S. 3; 1963, P.A. 403, S. 2; February, 1965, P.A. 407, S. 9; 1967,
P.A. 390, S. 3; 1969, P.A. 694, S. 3; 1972, P.A. 264, S. 3; P.A. 73-630, S. 11, 19; P.A. 79-366, S. 1; P.A. 80-281, S. 5, 31;
P.A. 81-350, S. 8, 17; 81-472, S. 7, 159; P.A. 82-472, S. 25, 183; P.A. 83-391, S. 6, 24; P.A. 93-30, S. 10, 14; 93-230, S.
3, 8; 93-384, S. 20, 28; P.A. 94-121, S. 20, 33; P.A. 99-268, S. 42, 46; P.A. 00-169, S. 22.)
History: 1961 act added requirement that, if applicant acquired citizenship by reason of being born abroad of a United
States citizen parent or through the naturalization of a parent or spouse, he must present evidence of citizenship as prescribed
in Sec. 9-27; 1963 act extended absentee admission privilege to members of the United States merchant marine and of
religious or welfare groups or agencies attached to and serving with the armed forces, to civilian employees of the United
States and to spouses or dependents of any such persons and provided that attestation of the application form may be
executed by a consul, vice consul or deputy consul representing the United States in a foreign country in addition to a
commissioned officer in the armed forces; 1965 act amended requirement for information on length of time in residency
to include only in such town; 1967 act deleted requirement in case of married woman for information on the date of marriage
and birthplace of husband, added requirement for information on maiden name and deleted requirement for applicant who
was foreign born to furnish documentary evidence of citizenship, effective January 1, 1968; 1969 act changed reading
requirements to any article of the constitution or any section of the statutes; 1972 act changed inability to appear before
board for admission to inability to appear at office of town clerk or registrars or at any session of the board, and further
provided for town clerk rather than board to accept fully completed form, effective January 1, 1973; P.A. 73-630 deleted
certain provisions applying only to spouses or dependents and deleted requirement that form contain attestation concerning
the ability to read the English language; P.A. 79-366 deleted requirement for information as to single or married status,
and, if married woman, name of husband and maiden name; P.A. 80-281 added provision that members of the armed forces
or merchant marine and their spouses and dependents may use the federal postcard application form in lieu of form
prescribed and that failure of applicant to take elector's oath of Connecticut on such postcard application will not invalidate
the application; P.A. 81-350 clarified that application is to be made to the clerk or board for admission of electors of the
town in which the applicant is a bona fide resident at the time of application; P.A. 81-472 and P.A. 82-472 made technical
corrections; P.A. 83-391 deleted references to sessions of board for admission of electors and provided for administration
of elector's oath in a foreign country by any American citizen; P.A. 93-30 updated reference to federal act, effective July
1, 1993; P.A. 93-230 added provisions re request for applicant to furnish his Social Security number, effective January 1,
1994; P.A. 93-384 extended provisions of section to persons having temporary residence outside the United States and the
District of Columbia, provided for application form to be prescribed by secretary of the state instead of the form prescribed
in Sec. 9-27, required form to provide for application for enrollment and required applicant to complete form and self-administer oath under penalties of false statement instead of taking oath before an official, effective January 1, 1994; P.A.
94-121 repealed applicability to persons who expect to be unable to appear in person for examination, substituted "penalties
of perjury" for "penalties of false statement", repealed requirement that applicant state birthplace and requirements re
elector's oath and added provision re statement required to be included in application, effective January 1, 1995; P.A. 99-268 repealed requirement that form include request for applicant to furnish Social Security number and extended 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.
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Sec. 9-27. Elector's oath. Section 9-27 is repealed, effective January 1, 1995.
(1949 Rev., S. 1025; 1953, S. 529d; 1957, P.A. 441, S. 2; 1959, P.A. 684, S. 3; 1961, P.A. 232; 266, S. 4; 517, S. 5;
1963, P.A. 41; 96; 403, S. 3; February, 1965, P.A. 407, S. 3; 548, S. 2; 1967, P.A. 390, S. 4; 1969, P.A. 694, S. 4; 1972,
P.A. 264, S. 4; P.A. 73-630, S. 12, 19; P.A. 79-366, S. 2; P.A. 81-350, S. 9, 17; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-1, S. 4, 7; P.A. 93-384, S. 21, 28; P.A. 94-121, S. 32, 33.)
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Sec. 9-27a. Enrollment application sent to applicant for absentee admission.
Section 9-27a is repealed.
(1972, P.A. 264, S. 1; P.A. 81-350, S. 16, 17.)
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Sec. 9-28. Town clerk to mail forms. Either registrar of any town may, in writing,
direct the town clerk to mail a copy of the form prescribed in section 9-26, with an
envelope for its return, to the last-known address of any person who, in the opinion of
such registrar possesses the qualifications required of an applicant for admission as an
elector under the provisions of section 9-26, and the town clerk shall forthwith comply
with such direction. Upon request to the town clerk by any person, a copy of such form,
with an envelope for its return, shall be mailed by the town clerk to any member of the
armed forces, of the merchant marine or of any religious or welfare group or agency
attached to and serving with the armed forces or any civilian employee of the United
States employed outside of this state or to the spouse or a dependent of any of such
persons or to any person temporarily residing outside the territorial limits of the several
states of the United States and the District of Columbia, or it may be delivered in person
if so requested.
(1949 Rev., S. 1026; 1953, S. 530d; 1963, P.A. 403, S. 4; P.A. 73-630, S. 9, 19; P.A. 93-384, S. 22, 28.)
History: 1963 act extended provision to groups allied with armed forces, U.S. civilian employees, spouses and dependents; P.A. 73-630 deleted requirement that extract from Connecticut constitution and statutes be mailed with the form;
P.A. 93-384 deleted references to Sec. 9-27 and required mailing of form to "any person temporarily residing outside the
territorial limits of the several states of the United States and the District of Columbia", effective January 1, 1994.
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Sec. 9-29. Printing and distribution of forms. The Secretary of the State shall
cause to be printed, at the expense of the state, a sufficient quantity of such forms and
envelopes and shall distribute to each town such number of copies thereof as the town
clerk thereof requests or as the Secretary of the State deems sufficient.
(1949 Rev., S. 1027; 1953, S. 531d; P.A. 73-630, S. 10, 19.)
History: P.A. 73-630 deleted requirement for printing of extracts from the constitution and statutes.
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Sec. 9-30. Action by town clerk. Notice. Appeal from rejection of application.
All such applications shall be examined by the town clerk and, after such examination,
he shall decide upon the right of the applicant to be admitted as an elector. If the town
clerk decides that such applicant possesses all the qualifications required by law of
applicants for admission as electors, he shall so certify, in writing, upon the form submitted by such applicant, who shall thereupon be an elector and shall be so advised in writing
by the clerk. Said clerk shall forthwith notify, by mail, any person whose application to
be admitted as an elector under the provisions of sections 9-26 to 9-29, inclusive, is
denied, with his reasons therefor. The applicant may appeal the rejection of his application under section 9-31l.
(1949 Rev., S. 1024; 1953, S. 532d; 1972, P.A. 264, S. 2; P.A. 81-350, S. 14, 17.)
History: 1972 act deleted references to board for admission substituting the town clerk therefor; P.A. 81-350 amended
section to delete reference to reexamination and refer to appeal under Sec. 9-31l.
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Sec. 9-31. Application of other statutes. All provisions of the general statutes
relating to electors, not inconsistent with the provisions of sections 9-24 to 9-30, inclusive, shall apply to electors admitted under the provisions of said sections, except that
the provisions of section 9-21 shall not apply to electors admitted under the provisions
of sections 9-26 to 9-30, inclusive.
(1949 Rev., S. 1028; 1953, S. 533d.)
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Sec. 9-31a. Special admission procedures for permanently physically disabled
persons. (a) As used in this section and section 9-31b, "permanently physically disabled
person" means a person who, by reason of a major defect or infirmity of body, whether
congenital or acquired by accident, injury or disease, is permanently physically incapacitated to a degree that prevents him and will continue to prevent him from appearing in
person at the office of the town clerk or registrars of the town where he temporarily or
permanently resides.
(b) Any permanently physically disabled person may, in the manner prescribed
under this section and upon a form as prescribed under section 9-31b, apply to the town
clerk or either registrar of voters of such town for examination and admission as an
elector of any Connecticut town. (1) In the case of a permanently physically disabled
person whose qualifications as to age, citizenship or residence in such town are attained
on or before the last session for admission of electors prior to an election to be held in
the town, the application shall be submitted so that it will be received by such town
clerk or either registrar of voters not later than such last session. Upon receipt of the
application, the town clerk or either registrar of voters shall notify the applicant of the
day, and the hour, such day to be within ten days of the receipt of the application, at
which an admitting official shall meet with the applicant at the temporary or permanent
residence of the applicant. (2) In the case of a permanently physically disabled person
whose qualifications as to age, citizenship or residence in such town are attained after
the last session for admission of electors prior to an election to be held in the town, the
application shall be submitted so that it will be received by such town clerk or either
registrar of voters not later than the opening of the limited session for the admission of
electors held, under section 9-17, on the last weekday prior to the election. Upon receipt
of the application, the town clerk or either registrar of voters shall notify the applicant
of the day, and the hour, such day and hour to be not later than 5:00 p.m. on the last
weekday before the election, at which an admitting official shall meet with the applicant
at the temporary or permanent residence of the applicant.
(c) Such admitting official shall meet at the appointed time with the applicant for
the purpose of examining his qualifications as an elector and for the purpose of admitting
him as an elector if the applicant is found qualified. Such official shall make available
to the applicant at such time, upon request, a copy of the statement that specifies each
eligibility requirement and contains an attestation that the applicant meets each such
requirement (1) in video form in accordance with procedures established by the registrars
of voters and (2) in braille, large print and audio form. Such official shall provide the
applicant with a written notice of approval or disapproval at that time, except as otherwise provided in section 9-19e. 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.
(1959, P.A. 200, S. 1, 2, 5; 1969, P.A. 198, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 768, S. 10; P.A. 75-567, S. 59, 80; P.A. 83-391, S. 7, 24;
P.A. 84-319, S. 8, 49; P.A. 85-613, S. 89, 154; P.A. 88-48, S. 3; P.A. 89-234, S. 2; P.A. 91-351, S. 25, 28; P.A. 94-121,
S. 21, 33.)
History: 1969 act provided that application by mail may be made to either registrar as well as town clerk, to be mailed
so as not to be received later than three weeks, in lieu of three months, prior to next regular election and that upon receipt,
applicant to be notified of day and hour within two weeks, in lieu of two months, of receipt at which time, at place of
confinement applicant to be examined by either town clerk or a registrar and made admission conditioned on approval of
application by board; 1971 act added "at the office of the town clerk or registrars" to any session held by board, as
places where physical incapacity prevents attendance, substituted admitting official for town clerk or registrars and deleted
reference to admission subject to approval of board; P.A. 75-567 deleted reference to Sec. 9-31c re applicability of definitions; P.A. 83-391 eliminated references to board for admission of electors and to Secs. 9-16 and 9-22; P.A. 84-319 amended
section to provide uniformity in statutes pertaining to on-location admissions sessions for handicapped persons, students
and patients at hospitals and nursing homes; P.A. 85-613 made technical changes; P.A. 88-48 divided section into Subsecs.
and, in Subsec. (b), added Subdiv. (2) establishing procedure for admission of permanently physically disabled persons
after last session for admission prior to election; P.A. 89-234 amended Subsec. (c) to require admitting official to make
elector's oath available in video, braille, large print and audio form; P.A. 91-351 substituted "ten days" for "two weeks"
in Subsec. (b); P.A. 94-121 amended Subsec. (c) by substituting "admitting him as an elector" for "administering the
elector's oath" and "statement that specifies each eligibility requirement and contains an attestation that the applicant meets
each such requirement" for "elector's oath", effective January 1, 1995.
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Sec. 9-31b. Application form. Such application shall be in form substantially as
follows:
APPLICATION OF PERMANENTLY PHYSICALLY DISABLED
PERSON FOR ADMISSION AS AN ELECTOR
.... (Signature of Applicant)
(1959, P.A. 200, S. 3; 684, S. 4; February, 1965, P.A. 407, S. 4; 1967, P.A. 390, S. 5; 1969, P.A. 198, S. 2; 1971, P.A.
768, S. 11; 871, S. 65; P.A. 73-630, S. 17, 19; P.A. 78-153, S. 8, 32; P.A. 83-391, S. 8, 24; P.A. 84-319, S. 9, 49.)
History: 1965 act deleted section of form for continuous residence in Connecticut; 1967 act deleted date of marriage
and birthplace of husband and whether husband alien or native born in reference to married women, added provision to
include maiden name and deleted provision for occupation, effective January 1, 1968; 1969 act changed title of application
by deleting "for special session" and adding "of permanently physically disabled person" and added "or to the registrar of
voters of the ... Party of the town of ...." to the address line; 1971 acts added provision in form for recital of incapacity to
prevent applicant from appearing in person at office of town clerk and registrars of voters as well as session held by board,
substituted penalty of false statement for penalty of perjury; P.A. 73-630 substituted "my bona fide residence is" for "I
reside at"; P.A. 78-153 removed section where marital status to be checked, also section where married woman to indicate
name of husband and maiden name, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 83-391 deleted reference to board for admission of
electors; P.A. 84-319 amended section to provide uniformity in statutes pertaining to on-location admission sessions for
handicapped persons, students and patients at hospitals and nursing homes; (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).
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Sec. 9-31c. Physician's certificate. Section 9-31c is repealed.
(1959, P.A. 200, S. 4; 1961, P.A. 144, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 198, S. 3; 1971, P.A. 768, S. 12; 871, S. 66; P.A. 75-83, S. 2.)
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Sec. 9-31d. Town clerk or registrar to provide forms. The form of application
provided for in section 9-31a shall be provided by the town clerk or either registrar of
voters of the town in which the individual desiring to make application resides.
(1961, P. A. 144, S. 2; 1969, P.A. 198, S. 4; P.A. 75-83, S. 1.)
History: 1969 act added either registrar of voters as providing application form; P.A. 75-83 deleted provision for
physician's certificate.
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Secs. 9-31e to 9-31k. Transfer of voting privileges between towns. Application
for transfer and enrollment. Cancellation of registration in prior town. Town
clerk's compensation. Reexamination of rejected applicant. Appeal from decision
of admitting official. Sections 9-31e to 9-31k, inclusive, are repealed.
(1963, P.A. 392, S. 1-5; 1971, P.A. 768, S. 14-16; P.A. 79-143, S. 4; P.A. 81-350, S. 16, 17.)
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Sec. 9-31l. Appeals of decisions re right of person to be or remain an elector.
(a)(1) A person who is denied admission as an elector may appeal a decision of an
admitting official of a town concerning the right of such person to be or remain an
elector. Any such appeal shall be made to the registrars of voters of such town, except
that if the admitting official who made such decision is a registrar of voters, the appeal
shall be made to the board for admission of electors of such town.
(2) Notice of an appeal shall be in writing and delivered to the registrars or to the
board for admission of electors. Within seven days after receipt of a notice of appeal,
the registrars or the board, as the case may be, shall give written notice of the time and
place where such appeal will be heard to the appellant and to the admitting official
whose decision is the subject of the appeal. Such appeal shall be heard within twenty-one days after notice of the appeal is delivered to the registrars or the board. Neither a
registrar whose decision is the subject of the appeal nor a registrar who is an appellant
shall be a voting member of the board which hears the appeal.
(3) The registrars or the board may receive sworn testimony and any other evidence
relating to the qualifications of such person to be or remain an elector.
(4) Within seven days after hearing an appeal, the registrars or the board shall render
a decision and shall send written notice of the decision to the appellant and the admitting
official whose decision was the subject of the appeal.
(b) (1) The person whose right to be or remain an elector is in dispute may appeal
the decision of the registrars or the board for the admission of electors under subsection
(a) of this section to the State Elections Enforcement Commission. If an appeal is not
made to the commission as provided in this subsection, the decision of the registrars or
the board shall be final.
(2) Any such appeal shall be in writing and filed with the State Elections Enforcement Commission at its principal offices not later than fourteen days following the
decision of the registrars or the board. A copy of any such notice of appeal shall also
be delivered within such time to the registrars or the board that rendered the decision
under subsection (a) of this section.
(3) The registrars or the board shall, not later than ten days after receipt of a copy
of the notice of appeal, deliver the record of the hearing of the registrars or board under
subsection (a) of this section to the commission.
(4) The commission shall hear such appeal not later than twenty-one days after
notice of appeal is filed with the commission. Such hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-176e to 4-180a, inclusive, and section 4-181a.
The commission may consider the record of the hearing delivered by the registrars or
the board and may examine witnesses, documents and any other evidence that it determines may have a bearing on the proper determination of the issues brought on appeal.
The commission's hearing shall be recorded.
(5) The commission shall render its decision not later than sixty days after the close
of its hearing, except that an extension of time may be granted by the commission upon
application of any party that sets forth circumstances that the commission determines
is appropriate to granting an extension of time. The commission may also initiate an
extension of time for rendering its decision, after written notice to the parties, provided
all of the parties before the commission give their prior written consent.
(6) The decision of the commission shall determine the person's right to be or remain
an elector. If any such decision is adverse to such individual's right, the commission
shall order both registrars to remove the elector's name from the town's active and
inactive registry list and any enrollment list. Any person whose name has been so removed may reapply for admission as an elector with the registrars of voters of the same
town at any time. If such application is made within four years after the commission's
decision, both registrars may approve such application only after they find that there
has been a substantial change in the circumstances that provided the basis for the commission's decision and that the individual is eligible to be an elector. Registrars who
approve an individual's application for admission within this time period without a
substantial change in circumstances may be subject to a civil penalty imposed by the
commission in accordance with subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 9-7b if the
commission determines, following a written complaint filed with the commission pursuant to said section 9-7b, that the registrars' action was without good cause and constitutes
a wilful violation of a prior order of the commission.
(P.A. 81-350, S. 1, 17; P.A. 05-235, S. 7; P.A. 06-196, S. 51.)
History: P.A. 05-235 redesignated existing Subsec. (a) as Subsec. (a)(1), redesignated existing Subsecs. (b), (c) and
(d) as Subdivs. (2), (3) and (4), respectively, of Subsec. (a), amended Subsec. (a)(2) to prohibit a registrar who is an
appellant from being a voting member of the board hearing the appeal, made conforming changes throughout Subsec. (a)
and added new Subsec. (b) allowing appeal of decision of registrars or board to State Elections Enforcement Commission,
effective July 1, 2005; P.A. 06-196 made a technical change in Subsec. (b)(4), effective June 7, 2006.
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Sec. 9-32. Canvass to ascertain changes of residence. (a) In each municipality
the registrars, between January first and May 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.
(b) No elector's name shall be removed from the registry list, pursuant to section
9-35, unless (1) the elector confirms in writing that the elector has moved out of the
municipality, or (2) the elector has been sent, by forwardable mail, a notice and a postage
prepaid preaddressed return card in accordance with the National Voter Registration
Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time, four years prior to removal
from the registry list and such elector has failed to respond and has not restored the
elector's name to the active registry list under section 9-42 or voted in an election or
primary in the municipality during the period beginning on the date of the notice and
ending four years later. If a registrar or a registrar's designee conducts a telephone
canvass, a telephone call by any such person shall constitute an attempt to contact the
elector only if the elector's household has a published telephone number and the telephone is in operating order. If a registrar, or a registrar's designee, during a telephone
canvass contacts a telecommunication device for the deaf in an elector's household,
such call shall not constitute an attempt to contact the elector unless the registrar, or the
registrar's designee, uses a similar device or uses a message relay center. No elector's
name shall be removed from the active registry list pursuant to said section 9-35 as a
result of information obtained during a telephone canvass, unless the registrar believes
such information is reliable and sufficient to enable the registrar to determine if the
elector is entitled to remain on the list under the provisions of this chapter.
(c) During any such canvass, a canvasser may distribute nonpartisan literature, prescribed by the Secretary of the State, which describes opportunities for voter registration.
No Social Security number obtained by the registrars during the canvass prior to January
1, 2000, may be disclosed to the public or to any governmental agency. Each municipality shall provide its registrars of voters with funds sufficient to conduct the annual canvass in accordance with the requirements of this section. Not later than the thirtieth day
following each regular election held in a municipality, the registrars of the municipality
shall file with the Secretary of the State a certificate that the canvass was conducted
prior to the election in accordance with the requirements of this section. The certificate
shall be on a form prescribed by the Secretary of the State, shall specify the method or
methods by which, and the date or dates on which, the canvass was conducted, and shall
be signed under penalty of false statement by all registrars of voters of the municipality.
(1949 Rev. S. 1001; 1953, S. 534d; 1967, P.A. 55; 831, S. 7; 1969, P.A. 76; P.A. 75-7, S. 1, 2; P.A. 80-379, S. 1, 3;
P.A. 82-426, S. 2, 14; P.A. 83-475, S. 5, 43; P.A. 87-382, S. 4, 55; P.A. 88-37, S. 1; 88-193; P.A. 90-156, S. 4, 11; P.A.
93-384, S. 8, 28; P.A. 94-121, S. 22, 33; P.A. 99-268, S. 43, 46; P.A. 00-66, S. 17; 00-169, S. 22.)
History: 1967 acts deleted application limited to municipalities having population of more than five thousand and in
later act provided for P.A. 55 to take effect with respect to elections held on or after January 1, 1968; 1969 act added
requirement that the canvass be made house to house and in person; P.A. 75-7 further provided that canvasser be permitted
to distribute nonpartisan literature prescribed by the secretary of the state on opportunities for voter registration; P.A. 80-379 provided for canvass by mail as an alternative, under regulations to be adopted by the secretary of the state, effective
January 1, 1981; P.A. 82-426 amended section to allow canvass by combination of mail and personal contact in new
Subdiv. (3); P.A. 83-475 established earlier date for conducting canvass, required municipalities to provide registrars with
sufficient funds to conduct canvass and required registrars to certify that canvass has been conducted; P.A. 87-382 substituted "one hundred eighty days" for "six months" and "the thirtieth day" for "one month"; P.A. 88-37 added a new Subdiv.
(3) authorizing a telephone canvass, renumbered the remaining subdivision and added the provision concerning canvass
requirements prior to removal of a name from the registry list; P.A. 88-193 amended the section by making technical
changes and added the provision re deaf electors; P.A. 90-156 added Subpara. (B), allowing elector's name to be removed
from registry list if registrar receives signed notice of canvass card, indicating that elector has moved out of municipality;
P.A. 93-384 amended Subdiv. (2) to authorize registrars to use National Change of Address System instead of mailing,
included said system as one of the two methods of contacting an elector required before his name may be removed from
list and added provisions re request for elector to furnish his Social Security number, effective January 1, 1994; P.A. 94-121 substituted "between January first and May first, annually" for "within the period of one hundred eighty days before
the Tuesday of the fifth week before each regular election to be held in such municipality", substituted "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" for "not more than one such canvass need be made in any municipality in any
period of twelve consecutive months", and substantially revised conditions for removing elector's name from registry list,
effective January 1, 1995; P.A. 99-268 repealed requirement that registrars, during the canvass, request elector to provide
Social Security number and extended prohibition on disclosure of Social Security numbers obtained during canvass to the
public or to any governmental agency, effective January 1, 2000; P.A. 00-66 divided section into Subsecs. and made
technical changes; P.A. 00-169 revised effective date of P.A. 99-268 but without affecting this section.
See note to Sec. 9-234.
Cited. 28 CS 362.
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Secs. 9-33 and 9-34. Record of applicants; change of name of married woman.
Hours of sessions of registrars. Sections 9-33 and 9-34 are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 1010, 1013; 1953, S. 535d, 536d; 1963, P.A. 645, S. 4; 1967, P.A. 559, S. 4; P.A. 79-363, S. 37, 38;
P.A. 83-213, S. 11.)
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Sec. 9-35. Making and arrangement of preliminary list. Active and inactive
registry lists. Removal of names. Change of address within municipality. (a) The
registrars, on the Tuesday of the fifth week before each regular election, shall be in
session for the purpose of completing a correct list of all electors who will be entitled
to vote at such election. Such registry list shall consist of an active registry list and an
inactive registry list. Such session shall be held during such hours between nine o'clock
a.m. and five o'clock p.m. as the registrars find necessary to complete the list. Notice
of such session shall be given at least five days before the session by publication in a
newspaper having a circulation in such municipality, if any, and by posting on the signpost therein, if any, or at some other exterior place near the office of the town clerk.
Such publication shall not be required to be in the form of a legal advertisement.
(b) At such session and on any day except on the day of an election or primary, the
registrars shall remove from the list the name of each elector who has died, who has
been disfranchised or who has confirmed in writing that the elector has moved out of
the municipality, except electors entitled to remain on such list under the provisions of
this chapter. An elector shall be deemed to have confirmed in writing that the elector
has moved out of the municipality if (1) the elector has submitted a change of address
form for purposes of a state motor vehicle operator's license, unless the elector states
on the form that the change of address is not for voter registration purposes, (2) the
elector has submitted a change of address form to a voter registration agency, as defined
in section 9-23n, and such agency has provided such change of address to the registrars
of voters, or (3) the registrars of voters have received a cancellation of previous registration from any other election official indicating that such elector has registered as an
elector outside such municipality.
(c) Whenever the registrars of voters of a town remove from the registry list the
name of an elector who has submitted a change of address to the Commissioner of Motor
Vehicles or a voter registration agency under subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (b) of
this section, indicating that the elector has moved out of such town, the registrars shall
send the elector, by forwardable mail to the elector's former address from such list or
current address in the new town, (1) a notice of removal, (2) information explaining
how to have the elector's name restored to such list, which shall be in a form prescribed
by the Secretary of the State, and (3) a mail-in voter registration application which can
be used by the elector to apply for admission as an elector in the new town. If such
notice, information and application are sent to the elector's former address and are
returned undeliverable, the registrars shall mail such documents to the elector's address
in the new town.
(d) The registrars shall enter the names on such list by street and number of the
house, when the houses are numbered, so that there shall be entered on the list first, the
street, avenue or road; second, the number of the house or residence in numerical order
or, if the registrars of any town find it more convenient, by odd and even numbers in
numerical order; and third, the names of the electors in such house in alphabetical order.
The names of any electors who cannot be so listed shall be listed alphabetically in the
voting district wherein any such elector is a bona fide resident. The registrars of voters
may consecutively number the names on the registry list, may include voter identification numbers for the names on the registry list, and may include a mark, as prescribed
by the Secretary of the State, next to the name of each first-time registrant on the system
who registers to vote on or after January 1, 2003, and does not provide identification
with his or her mail-in voter registration application as provided in the Help America
Vote Act, P.L. 107-252, as amended from time to time, provided such list shall comply
in all respects with the requirements of law other than for the addition of such numbers
and marks. The registrars shall not use Social Security numbers for any such voter
identification numbers.
(e) In any case in which the registrars have obtained reliable information of an
elector's change of address within the municipality, they shall enter the name of such
elector on the registry list at the place where the elector then resides, provided, if such
reliable information is the National Change of Address System of the United States
Postal Service, the registrar shall change the registry list and send the elector a notice
of the change by forwardable mail and a postage prepaid preaddressed return form by
which the elector may verify or correct the address information. If during the canvass
the registrars determine that an elector has moved out of town and such elector has not
confirmed in writing that the elector has moved out of the town, the registrars shall, not
later than May first, send to the elector, by forwardable mail, a notice required by the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time,
together with a postage prepaid preaddressed return card on which the elector may
state the elector's current address. In the year of a presidential preference primary, the
registrars shall send such notice not earlier than the date of such primary. If the registrar
does not receive the return card within thirty days after it is sent, the elector's name,
including the name of an elector who has not voted in two consecutive federal elections,
shall be placed on the inactive registry list for four years. At the expiration of such period
of time on the inactive registry list, such name shall be removed from the registry list.
If such elector applies to restore the elector's name to the active registry list or votes
during such period, the elector's name shall be restored to the active registry list. Such
registrars shall retain a duplicate copy or record of each such notice in their office or,
if they do not have a permanent office, in the office space provided under section 9-5a,
and shall note on such duplicate copy or record the date on which such notice was mailed.
In each municipality, any elector, upon change of residence within the municipality,
may cause the elector's registration to be transferred to the elector's new address by
presenting to the registrars a signed request therefor, stating the elector's present address,
the date the elector moved to such address and the address at which the elector was
last registered. The registrars shall thereupon enter the elector's name on the list at the
elector's new residence; provided no transfer of registration shall be made on the registry
list on election day without the consent of both registrars.
(1949 Rev., S. 1001; 1953, 1955, S. 537d; 1961, P.A. 61; 1963, P.A. 174; 645, S. 5; P.A. 75-287, S. 1; P.A. 77-283, S.
1; P.A. 79-189, S. 4, 9; P.A. 83-213, S. 4; 83-391, S. 9, 24; 83-475, S. 6, 43; P.A. 84-146, S. 4; P.A. 88-37, S. 2; 88-48, S.
4, 5; P.A. 89-19, S. 1, 4; P.A. 94-121, S. 23, 33; P.A. 97-154, S. 24, 27; P.A. 98-67, S. 1, 10; P.A. 99-112, S. 5; P.A. 00-66, S. 18; P.A. 02-130, S. 16; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 93.)
History: 1961 act added requirement that notice of removal of an elector's name must specify the cause of removal and
voting privileges to which elector is entitled; 1963 acts made technical change in language; P.A. 75-287 added provision
that at any time prior to the session held on the Tuesday of the fifth week the registrars may notify an elector that his name
will be removed from the registry list sixty days after the sending of the notice unless a transfer or continuance is effected
except that if notice is sent within sixty days of that session, the name will be removed at that session and, unless a transfer
or continuance is effected not later than seven days before such election, the registration shall remain cancelled and also
provided that if notice is sent within sixty days before the session on the third Saturday before a primary, the name shall
be removed after such primary, further provided that where a registration within a municipality is being transferred to a
new address no changes shall be made during the five days before a primary, caucus or convention; P.A. 77-283 changed
wording but made no substantive change; P.A. 79-189 changed reference to "third Saturday" before a primary to "fourteenth
day"; P.A. 83-213 deleted obsolete provisions concerning registrars' duties relating to making of preliminary registry list;
P.A. 83-391 authorized removal of elector's name from registry list without notice if elector has indicated that he is no
longer a bona fide resident of the municipality; P.A. 83-475 permitted change of address within municipality to be made
on election day with permission of both registrars; P.A. 84-146 included a reference to posting of notice on a place other
than a signpost; P.A. 88-37 authorized the registrar to publish a legal notice of an elector's removal as an alternative to
sending a notice of removal if the notice of canvass was returned to the registrar marked undeliverable; P.A. 88-48 required
session to be held "during such hours between nine o'clock a.m. and five o'clock p.m. as the registrars find necessary to
complete the list" instead of "continuously from nine o'clock a.m. to five o'clock p.m."; P.A. 89-19 deleted provision
requiring list to be alphabetical in each municipality having population of less than five thousand; P.A. 94-121 specified
that registry list consists of active and inactive lists, substantially modified procedures for removing electors' names from
list and provided for certain electors' names to be placed on inactive list, effective January 1, 1995; P.A. 97-154 deleted
provision specifying that four-year period, during which elector's name must be on inactive registry list, starts on date
notice was sent, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-67 authorized registrars to send notice of removal to elector's current
address in the new town and to include voter identification numbers for names on registry list, effective July 1, 1998; P.A.
99-112 made technical changes; P.A. 00-66 divided section into Subsecs. and made technical changes; P.A. 02-130 amended
Subsec. (a) to provide that publication of notice of registrars' session not required to be in form of legal advertisement,
effective May 10, 2002; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 amended Subsec. (d) to allow registrars to include mark next to name
of first-time registrant who does not provide identification with mail-in voter registration application, and amended Subsec.
(e) to require inclusion of name of elector who has not voted in two consecutive federal elections on inactive registry list,
effective January 1, 2004.
See note to Sec. 9-234.
See Secs. 54-240g and 54-240k re confidentiality of address of participant in address confidentiality program.
Cited. 231 C. 602.
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Sec. 9-35a. Posting of names removed from registry list. Immediately after the
close of the session or immediately after the sending of notice of intended removal
provided for in section 9-35, the registrars of voters shall post at the town hall or municipal building in the municipality in which they serve, in a place readily accessible to the
public, a list of the names of the electors whose names were removed from the registry
list at such session or will be removed on the date specified in section 9-35, together
with the address of each such elector as it appeared on the registry list at the time the
name was so removed. Together with such list, and as a part thereof, such registrars
shall also cause to be posted a statement that complete information as to such removal
and as to the privileges and remedies of those whose names were removed from the
registry list is available from such registrars, specifying when and where such registrars
are available for such purpose and, in the case of registrars of voters having office hours,
specifying such office hours.
(1967, P.A. 613, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 94; P.A. 75-287, S. 2.)
History: 1971 act added "in a place readily accessible to the public"; P.A. 75-287 following "Immediately after the
close of the session" added "or immediately after the sending of notice of intended removal" and further added, following
"whose names were removed from the registry list at such session" "or will be removed on the date specified ...".
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Sec. 9-35b. Relinquishment of registration by elector. Except during the period
between the last session for the admission of electors prior to an election and the day
following that election, any elector of any municipality who desires to relinquish his
rights as an elector and to have his name erased from the registry list shall make a signed
written request to the registrars of voters of such municipality. Upon receipt of such
application, the registrars shall remove the elector's name from the registry list and any
enrollment list. Any person whose name has been removed from the registry list pursuant
to this section may reapply for admission as an elector at any time, without prejudice
on account of such removal. In the event such person is admitted as an elector, the
registrar of the municipality shall notify the registrars of the municipality where such
person resided at the time of his relinquishment that his electoral privileges have been
restored.
(P.A. 81-350, S. 2, 17; P.A. 85-207, S. 1; P.A. 94-121, S. 24, 33.)
History: P.A. 85-207 amended section to delete language which had limited electors' right to relinquish electoral
privileges by requiring that relinquishment be for religious reasons; P.A. 94-121 repealed requirement that elector desiring
to relinquish rights as an elector appear before either registrar and make application on form prescribed by secretary,
effective January 1, 1995.
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Sec. 9-35c. Names on inactive registry list not to be counted for computing
required number of voting machines, petition signatures, minimum percentage of
voting electors. Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 9-238, 9-406 and 9-436 and
other provisions of the general statutes, the names of electors on the inactive registry
list compiled under section 9-35 shall not be counted for purposes of computing the
number of voting machines required and the number of petition signatures required.
Each elector on such inactive registry list who, in the determination of the registrars,
has signed a petition pursuant to the general statutes, giving the same address as appears
on the inactive registry list, shall forthwith be placed on the active registry list compiled
under said section 9-35. Each such elector shall be counted for purposes of future computations of the number of voting machines required and the number of signatures required
on future petitions issued for other electoral events. The names of electors on the inactive
registry list compiled pursuant to section 9-35 shall not be counted for purposes of
computing the minimum percentage of the number of electors required in any charter
or special act, if such charter or special act requires approval of a referendum by a
minimum percentage of electors qualified on the last-completed registry list or has a
similar requirement.
(P.A. 94-121, S. 8, 33; P.A. 96-134, S. 8, 9.)
History: P.A. 94-121 effective January 1, 1995; P.A. 96-134 added language re discounting names of electors on inactive
registry list for purposes of computing minimum percentage of electors required in charter or special act, effective May
29, 1996.
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Sec. 9-36. Completion of preliminary registry list. Distribution. The list for
which provision is made in section 9-35 shall be termed the preliminary registry list and
such list shall be completed, certified by such registrars and deposited in the town clerk's
office, at least thirty-one days before the regular election, and shall be on file in such
office for public inspection until the next preliminary registry list has been completed
and filed. In each municipality having a population of more than five thousand, a certified
copy of such preliminary registry list for each voting district therein shall be completed,
reproduced, certified by the registrars and posted in such municipality for public inspection on or before the Saturday of the fifth week before each regular election, and copies
shall be made available for distribution by the registrars. The registrars shall, upon
request, give to a candidate for election to the General Assembly a copy of the preliminary registry list for each voting district included in the General Assembly district for
which such person is a candidate.
(1949 Rev., S. 1003; 1953, S. 538d; 1967, P.A. 227; 1971, P.A. 92; P.A. 89-19, S. 2, 4.)
History: 1967 act added "and shall be on file in such office until the printing of the next preliminary registry list"; 1971
act substituted "has been completed and filed" for "the printing of" and substituted in the order appearing "reproduced"
for "printed" and "made available" for "printed"; P.A. 89-19 added provision requiring registrars to give copies of lists to
general assembly candidates.
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Sec. 9-37. Making of final registry list; registrars' sessions for revision and
correction of preliminary list. Each registrar shall keep a copy of the preliminary
registry list for his use in revision. Such registrars shall give notice in such list of the
times and places at which they will hold one or more sessions during the period between
the Saturday of the fifth week before the regular election and the Saturday of the fourth
week before the regular election, for the revision and correction of such list which, when
completed, shall be termed the "final registry list" for such election. In each municipality
having a population of more than five thousand, they shall also give notice of such times
and places by publication in a newspaper circulating in such municipality and by posting
the same on the signpost therein, if any, and at the office of the town clerk at least five
days before the first of such sessions. The number of sessions shall be fixed by the
registrars of each municipality. The registrars shall also hold sessions, of which no public
notice need be given, for the purpose of correcting such preliminary list, and for the
purpose of adding to such list the names of persons entitled to be registered thereon, on
each day they are in session for the admission of electors pursuant to section 9-17, and
they may also hold sessions for revision and correction of the registry list on any other
day, except during the period of six days preceding any regular election. On the fourteenth day before a primary, the registrars shall hold an additional session to hear such
requests for adding names to the registry list, in accordance with the procedure provided
in this section, and the registrars shall publish notice of such sessions in a newspaper
having general circulation in such municipality at least five days before such sessions.
Nothing in this section shall require that such publication be in the form of a legal
advertisement.
(1949 Rev., S. 1004; 1953, S. 539d; 1963, P.A. 202; P.A. 75-287, S. 3; P.A. 77-298, S. 1; P.A. 81-350, S. 10, 17; P.A.
83-391, S. 10, 24; P.A. 84-146, S. 5; P.A. 96-134, S. 2, 9.)
History: 1963 act placed the fixing of the number of sessions in the registrars rather than the selectmen; P.A. 75-287
added provision that any person whose name has been removed since the last regular election may apply to registrars to
add his name to list and further provided that on the third Saturday before a primary, registrars shall hold an additional
session to hear requests for adding names, having published notice of such session at least five days in advance; P.A. 77-298 added "fourteenth day" to "third Saturday before a primary" and changed "session" to "sessions"; P.A. 81-350 amended
section to require registrars to post notice of sessions to revise and correct preliminary registry list at the office of the town
clerk on and after July 1, 1981, and eliminated the procedure whereby electors were permitted to apply to the registrars to
have a name added to or deleted from the registry list; P.A. 83-391 deleted reference to board for admission of electors;
P.A. 84-146 made technical change re posting of notice on signpost; P.A. 96-134 deleted reference to mandatory session
on the third Saturday before a primary and added provision that publication need not be in the form of a legal advertisement,
effective May 29, 1996.
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Sec. 9-38. Deposit of final registry list. Supplementary list. The registrars of all
towns shall, on the second Friday preceding a regular election, deposit in the town clerk's
office the final registry list arranged as provided in section 9-35 and certified by them
to be correct, and shall retain a sufficient number of copies to be used by them at such
election for the purpose of checking the names of those who vote. They shall place on
such final list, in the order provided in section 9-35, the names of all persons who have
been admitted as electors. In each municipality said registrars shall also cause to be
prepared and printed and deposited in the town clerk's office a supplementary or updated
list containing the names and addresses of electors to be transferred, restored or added
to such list prior to the fourth day before such election, provided in municipalities having
a population of less than twenty-five thousand, such additional names may be inserted
in writing in such final list. Such final registry list and supplementary or updated list
deposited in the town clerk's office shall be on file in such office for public inspection
for a period of two years, and any elector may make copies thereof.
(1949 Rev., S. 1008; 1953, S. 540d; 1963, P.A. 211; P.A. 78-153, S. 22, 32; P.A. 83-391, S. 11, 24; P.A. 99-276, S. 2,
15; P.A. 05-235, S. 28; P.A. 06-196, S. 52.)
History: 1963 act provided same time for filing list prior to state and town elections and gave towns of under 25,000
option of printing supplementary list or writing names on list; P.A. 78-153 substituted "for a period of two years" for "until
the printing of the next such list", effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 83-391 deleted reference to board for admission of electors;
P.A. 99-276 added references to "or updated" list, effective January 1, 2000; P.A. 05-235 required that supplementary or
updated list be deposited in town clerk's office not later than "fourth" rather than "sixth" day before election, effective
January 1, 2006; P.A. 06-196 made a technical change, effective June 7, 2006.
See Sec. 9-172b re supplementary list for special election or referendum.
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Sec. 9-39. Distribution of copies of final registry list. The registrars of each municipality shall print copies of the final registry list for distribution in such municipality
and in all the voting districts located therein, provided nothing in sections 9-12 to 9-45,
inclusive, shall require the printing of more than one final registry list for any voting
district in any one year. With each printing such registrars shall retain at least two copies
of such lists and such copies shall be available for public use in the office of the registrars
for a period of two years. The registrars shall, upon request, give to a candidate for
election to the General Assembly a copy of the final registry list for each voting district
included in the General Assembly district for which such person is a candidate.
(1949 Rev., S. 1009; 1953, S. 541d; 1963, P.A. 201, S. 1; P.A. 78-153, S. 23, 32; P.A. 89-19, S. 3, 4.)
History: 1963 act provided for registrars to retain at least six copies of the final registry list to be available for public
use until the next printing; P.A. 78-153 substituted "for a period of two years" for "until the printing of the next such list",
effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 89-19 reduced from six to two the number of copies of registry lists that registrars are
required to retain, and required registrars to give copies of lists to general assembly candidates.
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Secs. 9-39a and 9-40. Designation of party affiliation on registry list. Privileges
after removal to another municipality. Sections 9-39a and 9-40 are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 999; 1953, S. 542d; 1967, P.A. 512; 1969, P.A. 69, S. 1; 694, S. 5; 1971, P.A. 685, S. 3; P.A. 73-630,
S. 13, 19; P.A. 79-189, S. 8, 9.)
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Sec. 9-40a. Continuance of residence in certain cases. Procedure for removal
of names for failure to vote. (a) No person shall be deemed to have lost his residence
in any municipality for purposes of qualification as an elector by reason of his absence
therefrom in the service of this state or of the United States, including service in the
armed forces or their auxiliaries, nor shall the spouse or dependent of any such person
be deemed to have lost his residence in any municipality for such purpose by reason of
such absence therefrom; provided such person, except one in the service of the armed
forces of the United States or any auxiliary thereof, or his spouse or dependent, shall
make written application for continuance on the registry list before each state election.
No person shall be deemed to have lost such residence in any municipality by reason
of his absence therefrom because of imprisonment on conviction of crime.
(b) Not later than May first in each year in which a canvass of electors is conducted,
the registrars of voters shall send the notice of removal and return card required by the
National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time,
to each member of the armed forces of the United States or their auxiliaries, or a spouse
or dependent of such member, whose name has not been checked as having voted in
at least one election, primary, referendum or town meeting during the four preceding
calendar years. If such elector does not return the card within thirty days, the registrars
of voters shall place the name of such elector on the inactive registry list compiled under
section 9-35 for four years, and if such name remains on the inactive list for four years,
such name shall thereupon be removed from the registry list. Such removal shall not
affect the right of such member, spouse or dependent to apply for admission as an elector
in such town.
(1971, P.A. 768, S. 13; P.A. 83-475, S. 7, 43; P.A. 94-121, S. 25, 33.)
History: P.A. 83-475 added reference to dependents and added Subsec. (b) permitting removal from list for failure to
vote during four previous calendar years; P.A. 94-121 substantially modified procedure for removal of electors' names
from registry list and provided for the placing of certain electors' names on the inactive list, effective January 1, 1995.
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Sec. 9-40b. Continuance of enrollment for purposes of voting in state-wide
primary. Section 9-40b is repealed.
(P.A. 77-298, S. 11; P.A. 79-189, S. 8, 9.)
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Secs. 9-41 to 9-41b. Application for restoration of name to registry list. Restoration to registry list of physically disabled person. Certificate of physician. Sections 9-41 to 9-41b, inclusive, are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 998; 1953, 1955, S. 543d; 1961, P.A. 73; 105, S. 1; 215, S. 1, 2; February, 1965, P.A. 407, S. 5; 1971,
P.A. 768, S. 16; 871, S. 67.)
See Sec. 9-64a.
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Sec. 9-42. Restoration of names to active registry list under certain circumstances. Requirements re completion and use of inactive registry list. (a) If it appears
at any time that the name of an elector who was formerly admitted or registered as an
elector in a town and who is a bona fide resident of such town has been omitted from
the active registry list compiled under section 9-35 by clerical error, the registrars shall
add such name to such list; provided no name shall be added to the active registry list
on election day, under the authority conferred by this section, without the consent of
both registrars.
(b) If it appears at any time that the name of an elector who was formerly admitted
or registered as an elector in a town and who is a bona fide resident of such town has
been omitted from the active registry list, the registrars shall, upon a written request
signed by the elector under penalties of false statement to the registrar stating that such
elector is still a bona fide resident of such town and is not an elector of any other town,
add such name to such list, provided no name shall be added to the active registry list
on election day, pursuant to this section, without the consent of both registrars.
(c) The registrars of voters shall cause the inactive registry list compiled under
section 9-35 to be completed and printed and deposited in the town clerk's office and
shall provide a sufficient number of copies for use in the polling place on election day.
If on election day the name of an elector appears on such inactive registry list, including
the name of an elector who has not responded to a confirmation of voting residence
notice under subsection (e) of section 9-35 and has not voted in two consecutive federal
elections, such name shall be added to the active registry list upon written affirmation
signed by the elector, under penalties of false statement, before an election official at
the polling place, that such elector is still a bona fide resident of such town, and upon
the consent of both registrars or assistant registrars, as the case may be, in the polls.
(d) The name of no elector shall be added to the active registry list under the provisions of this section, unless his name or some name intended for his name was on the
active registry list for at least one of the four years previous or on one of the preliminary
active registry lists for the year in which the registrars are in session.
(1949 Rev., S. 1011; 1953, S. 544d; February, 1965, P.A. 407, S. 6; P.A. 73-630, S. 14, 19; P.A. 75-23, S. 1, 2; P.A.
77-283, S. 2; P.A. 83-213, S. 5; P.A. 85-577, S. 1; P.A. 94-121, S. 26, 33; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 94.)
History: 1965 act removed the reference to one year residency in state; P.A. 73-630 substituted "is a bona fide resident
of such town" for "has resided in the town the six months next preceding such election"; P.A. 75-23 deleted provision that
name not be restored which was passed on by the registrars at any of the sessions previously held for correction of list and
further provided that name to be restored must have been on the corrected list for either of the two years previous instead
of the year previous; P.A. 77-283 added provision "upon presentation under oath of satisfactory evidence that such elector
is still a bona fide resident of the town" name shall be added to list; P.A. 83-213 amended section to provide that name
may be added at any time and not just at election; P.A. 85-577 required that elector's name have been on list for at least
one of the four previous years rather than for one of the two previous years; P.A. 94-121 divided the section into subsections
and amended Subsec. (a) by substituting "active registry list compiled under section 9-35" for "corrected list", added
Subsec. (b) by transferring provisions from Subsec. (a) and repealing requirement that evidence be presented under oath
to registrar, added Subsec. (c) re completion and use of inactive registry list, and amended Subsec. (d) for consistency with
amendment to Subsec. (a), effective January 1, 1995; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 amended Subsec. (c) by inserting
"including the name of an elector who has not responded to a confirmation of voting residence notice under subsection
(e) of section 9-35 and has not voted in two consecutive federal elections", effective January 1, 2004.
Cited. 231 C. 602.
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Sec. 9-42a. Change of name on registry list. When name of candidate on ballot
affected. (a) As used in this section, the term "municipal office" shall be construed as
defined in section 9-372, except that such term shall not include the municipal offices
of state senator and state representative.
(b) On the written request of any elector who identifies himself to the satisfaction
of the registrars of voters, such registrars shall make any changes in the name of such
elector as it appears on the registry list, provided such elector furnishes reasonable
evidence to the registrars that the name as changed is a lawful name of such elector. No
such change shall be made between the Tuesday of the fifth week before a regular
election and the day of such election.
(c) No such change in the name of a candidate at a primary shall affect the name
of the candidate as it appears on the primary ballot unless the elector is a candidate for
town committee or municipal office and the change is made not later than the twenty-ninth day preceding the day of the primary. No such change in the name of a major party
candidate at an election shall affect the name of such candidate as it appears on the
election ballot unless the elector is a candidate for municipal office and the change is
made not later than the fifty-fifth day preceding the day of such election. No such change
in the name of a minor party candidate or a nominating petition candidate for any office
at an election shall affect the name of such candidate as it appears on the election ballot
unless the change is made not later than the fifty-fifth day preceding the day of the
election.
(February, 1965, P.A. 308, S. 1; P.A. 77-163; P.A. 79-363, S. 9, 38; P.A. 83-475, S. 8, 43; P.A. 87-382, S. 5, 55.)
History: P.A. 77-163 deleted enumeration of changes in name authorized; P.A. 79-363 added provision that the elector
furnish reasonable evidence to the registrars that the name is a lawful name and deleted other restrictions; P.A. 83-475
established time limits for candidate name changes prior to primary or election; P.A. 87-382 divided section into Subsecs.,
added Subsec. (a) defining "municipal office" and amended Subsec. (c) to provide that change in name under Subsec. (b)
does not affect (1) name of candidate on primary ballot unless elector is candidate for town committee or municipal office,
(2) name of major party candidate on election ballot unless elector is candidate for municipal office or (3) name of any
minor party candidate or nominating petition candidate on election ballot unless change made by fifty-fifth day preceding
election day.
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Sec. 9-43. Procedure for removal of name for nonresidence. When the registrars
in any municipality are unable to agree upon the removal from the registry list of such
municipality of the name of any elector concerning whom the claim is made by either
registrar that such elector does not maintain a residence within such municipality, the
registrars shall send to such elector, by registered or certified mail at the address at which
his name appears on such list, a notice and return card required by the National Voter
Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time, that his right to
have his name retained on such list has been challenged; and, unless such elector has
filed with the registrars, not later than seven days before the next succeeding regular
election or primary to be held in such municipality, an application for the retention of
his electoral privileges therein, the registrars shall place his name on the inactive registry
list compiled under section 9-35. Such challenge may be made, and notice thereof sent,
at any time except for the period of five weeks before any regular election to be held in
such municipality. Such application for the retention of electoral privileges shall be a
signed and sworn application in form substantially as follows:
"I, ...., (insert name of elector) an elector of the town of .... (insert name of town) now
registered at .... (insert name of street, and number, if any) do hereby state under oath
that I maintain a place of abode at .... (insert name of street, and number, if any) within
such town; that my absence is temporary from said town for the following reasons: ....;
that it is my present intention to maintain a domicile and residence in said town and
return thereto whenever the necessity for temporary absence has ceased; that I am not
now registered elsewhere as an elector nor have I any present intention so to register.
.... (Signature of elector)
Sworn to and subscribed before me on this .... day of ...., 20.., at ....
....
Notary Public or other officer
empowered to administer oaths".
Upon receipt of such application, if either registrar, in writing signed by him, certifies
on such application that he believes such claim of residence has sufficient foundation
in fact, the name of such elector shall be retained on the active registry list of the municipality and his right to vote therein at the next succeeding regular election or primary
shall not be challenged by the registrars because of any question of residence. Otherwise,
the name of such elector shall be placed on the inactive registry list for four years and
then removed from the registry list. All applications herein provided for shall be kept
by the registrars as a permanent record; and, when no application for retention of his
electoral privilege is received from any elector whose right to have his name retained
on the registry list is challenged under the provisions of this section, the registrars shall
keep as a permanent record evidence that the notice required by this section has been
sent in the manner provided herein.
(1949 Rev., S. 1005; 1953, S. 545d; 1959, P.A. 125; P.A. 75-348, S. 6, 11; P.A. 80-281, S. 6, 31; P.A. 94-121, S. 27, 33.)
History: 1959 act added provisions for oath, statement of reasons for absence, and notarization of elector's signature;
P.A. 75-348 added provision that where elector's name restored to list his right to vote at next succeeding regular election
shall not be challenged by the registrars on any question of residence; P.A. 80-281 added "a primary" to "next succeeding
regular election" where appearing; P.A. 94-121 added reference to return cards required by the National Voter Registration
Act of 1993 and added requirements re inactive registry list, effective January 1, 1995; (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).
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Sec. 9-44. Appeal from decisions of registrars. Section 9-44 is repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 1006; 1953, S. 546d; P.A. 81-350, S. 16, 17.)
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Sec. 9-45. Removal from registry list of convicted felons who are committed
to custody of Commissioner of Correction. (a) The Commissioner of Correction shall,
on or before the fifteenth day of each month, transmit to the Secretary of the State a list
of all persons who, during the preceding calendar month, have been convicted in the
Superior Court of a felony and committed to the custody of the Commissioner of Correction for confinement in a correctional institution or facility or a community residence.
Such lists shall include the names, birth dates and addresses of such persons, with the
dates of their conviction and the crimes of which such persons have been convicted.
The Secretary of the State shall transmit such lists to the registrars of the towns in which
such convicted persons resided at the time of their conviction and to the registrars of
any towns where the secretary believes such persons may be electors. The registrars of
such towns shall compare the same with the list of electors upon their registry lists and,
after written notice mailed by certified mail to each of the persons named at the last-known place of address of such person, shall erase such names from the registry lists
in their respective towns or voting districts.
(b) Any person who procures such person or another to be registered after having
been disfranchised by reason of conviction of crime and committed to the custody of
the Commissioner of Correction for confinement in a correctional institution or facility
or a community residence, and any person who votes at any election after having forfeited such privileges by reason of conviction of crime and confinement, shall be fined
not more than five hundred dollars and imprisoned not more than one year.
(1949 Rev., S. 1007; 1953, S. 547d; 1961, P.A. 105, S. 2; P.A. 96-207, S. 1, 4; P.A. 01-11, S. 1, 4.)
History: 1961 act changed annual removal of convicts' names to monthly removal and added the requirements of
furnishing birth dates and sending notice by certified mail; P.A. 96-207 designated provision re transmittal of list of
convicted felons to registrars of voters and removal of names from registry list as Subsec. (a), designated provisions re
penalty as Subsec. (b) and amended said Subsec. (a) to replace "clerk of each court of this state having criminal jurisdiction"
with "Judicial Department" and to require the Secretary of the State to receive list from Judicial Department and transmit
list to appropriate registrars of voters, effective January 1, 1997; P.A. 01-11 required Commissioner of Correction, instead
of Judicial Department, to transmit lists to Secretary of the State in Subsec. (a) and added provisions re committal to custody
of Commissioner of Correction for confinement and made technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality in Subsecs.
(a) and (b), effective January 1, 2002.
For what crimes privileges are forfeited. 86 C. 622. See Sec. 9-46.
Cited. 34 CS 96.
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Sec. 9-46. Forfeiture of electoral rights. (a) A person shall forfeit such person's
right to become an elector and such person's privileges as an elector upon conviction
of a felony and committal to the custody of the Commissioner of Correction for confinement in a correctional institution or facility or a community residence, committal to
confinement in a federal correctional institution or facility, or committal to the custody
of the chief correctional official of any other state or a county of any other state for
confinement in a correctional institution or facility or a community residence in such
state or county.
(b) No person who has forfeited and not regained such person's privileges as an
elector, as provided in section 9-46a, may be a candidate for or hold public office.
(1949 Rev., S. 253b; 1953, S. 548d; 1963, P.A. 645, S. 6; P.A. 73-465, S. 1, 3; P.A. 85-192, S. 1, 2; P.A. 96-207, S. 2,
4; P.A. 01-11, S. 2, 4.)
History: 1963 act changed enumeration of crimes bringing forfeiture to felony; P.A. 73-465 provided for forfeiture of
right to become an elector as well as forfeiture of privileges as an elector; P.A. 85-192 added Subsec. (b) which prohibits
a person who has forfeited and not regained his privileges as an elector from becoming a candidate for or holding public
office; P.A. 96-207 deleted exception in Subsec. (a) re person convicted of a crime of nonsupport, effective January 1,
1997; P.A. 01-11 added provisions re committal for confinement in Subsec. (a) and made technical changes for purposes
of gender neutrality in Subsecs. (a) and (b), effective January 1, 2002.
For definition of felony, see Sec. 53a-25.
Cited. 153 C. 208. Cited. 169 C. 692. Cited. 178 C. 145.
Section fails to provide any procedural safeguards in the nature of notice and right to hearing before loss of such valuable
rights as electoral privileges. 34 CS 96. Cited. 43 CS 13.
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Sec. 9-46a. Restoration or granting of electoral privileges. (a) A person who
has been convicted of a felony and committed to confinement in a federal or other state
correctional institution or facility or community residence shall have such person's
electoral privileges restored upon the payment of all fines in conjunction with the conviction and once such person has been discharged from confinement, and, if applicable,
parole.
(b) Upon the release from confinement in a correctional institution or facility or a
community residence of a person who has been convicted of a felony and committed
to the custody of the Commissioner of Correction and, if applicable, the discharge of
such person from parole, (1) the person shall have the right to become an elector, (2)
the Commissioner of Correction shall give the person a document certifying that the
person has been released from such confinement and, if applicable, has been discharged
from parole, (3) if the person was an elector at the time of such felony conviction and,
after such release and any such discharge, is residing in the same municipality in which
the person resided at the time of such felony conviction, the person's electoral privileges
shall be restored, and (4) if the person was an elector at the time of such felony conviction
and, after such release and any such discharge, is residing in a different municipality or
if the person was not an elector at the time of such felony conviction, the person's
electoral privileges shall be restored or granted upon submitting to an admitting official
satisfactory proof of the person's qualifications to be admitted as an elector. The provisions of subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of this subsection shall not apply to any person
convicted of a felony for a violation of any provision of this title until such person has
been discharged from any parole or probation for such felony.
(c) The registrars of voters of the municipality in which a person is admitted as an
elector pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this section, within thirty days after the date
on which such person is admitted, shall notify the registrars of voters of the municipality
wherein such person resided at the time of such person's conviction that such person's
electoral rights have been so restored.
(d) The Commissioner of Correction shall establish procedures to inform those persons who have been convicted of a felony and committed to the custody of said commissioner for confinement in a correctional institution or facility or a community residence,
and are eligible to have their electoral privileges restored or granted pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, of the right and procedures to have such privileges restored. The
Office of Adult Probation shall, within available appropriations, inform such persons
who are on probation on January 1, 2002, of their right to become electors and procedures
to have their electoral privileges restored, which shall be in accordance with subsections
(b) and (c) of this section.
(e) The Commissioner of Correction shall, on or before the fifteenth day of each
month, transmit to the Secretary of the State a list of all persons convicted of a felony
and committed to the custody of said commissioner who, during the preceding calendar
month, have been released from confinement in a correctional institution or facility or
a community residence and, if applicable, discharged from parole. Such lists shall include the names, birth dates and addresses of such persons, with the dates of their convictions and the crimes of which such persons have been convicted. The Secretary of the
State shall transmit such lists to the registrars of the municipalities in which such convicted persons resided at the time of their convictions and to the registrars of any municipalities where the secretary believes such persons may be electors.
(P.A. 75-354, S. 1, 3; P.A. 76-22; P.A. 96-207, S. 3, 4; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1, S. 42, 121; P.A. 01-11, S. 3, 4; P.A.
05-235, S. 25; P.A. 06-137, S. 11; 06-196, S. 53.)
History: P.A. 76-22 amended original act to appear as Subsec. (a), added "or other satisfactory" to written proof, replaced
reference to registrars of municipality wherein person resided at time of conviction with "the admitting official before
whom he presents his qualifications to be admitted as an elector" and added Subsec. (b) re required notifications regarding
restoration of electoral rights; P.A. 96-207 added new Subsec. (c) requiring the Judicial Department, the Commissioner
of Correction and the Board of Parole to establish procedures re the right to have electoral privileges restored, effective
January 1, 1997; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 98-1 made a technical change in Subsec. (c), effective June 24, 1998; P.A. 01-11
amended Subsec. (a) by adding provisions re committal to confinement and eliminating requirement that person be discharged from probation before electoral privileges restored, added new Subsec. (b) re procedures upon release of a person
from confinement, redesignated former Subsecs. (b) and (c) as Subsecs. (c) and (d), amended Subsec. (d) by eliminating
requirement that Judicial Department and Board of Parole also establish procedures and adding provisions re committal
to custody and sentence requiring Office of Adult Probation to inform persons on probation of their right to become electors,
added Subsec. (e) requiring Commissioner of Correction to transmit a monthly list to Secretary of the State, and made
technical changes for purposes of gender neutrality, effective January 1, 2002; P.A. 05-235 amended Subsec. (b) to prohibit
admitting official from requiring person to submit document from Commissioner of Correction to prove discharge, effective
July 1, 2005; P.A. 06-137 amended Subsec. (a) to eliminate requirement to submit written or other proof satisfactory to
the admitting official before whom a convicted person presents his or her qualifications to be admitted as an elector and
to make technical changes, and amended Subsec. (b) to eliminate requirements re submitting to an admitting official a
document or other satisfactory proof that a convicted person has been released from confinement and, if applicable, discharged from parole and to make technical changes, effective June 6, 2006; P.A. 06-196 made a technical change in Subsec.
(e), effective June 7, 2006.
Cited. 178 C. 145.
Cited. 34 CS 96. Cited. 43 CS 13.
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Secs. 9-47 to 9-50. Commission on forfeited rights. Petitions for restoration
of electoral rights; investigation. Hearings; no appeal. Notice to registrars and
petitioner of action. Sections 9-47 to 9-50, inclusive, are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 16; 1949, S. 4b-8b; 1953, S. 549d-552d; 1959, P.A. 382, S. 1; 1961, P.A. 517, S. 6; 1963, P.A. 645, S.
7; P.A. 73-465, S. 2, 3; P.A. 74-183, S. 182, 291; P.A. 75-354, S. 2, 3.)
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Sec. 9-50a. Monthly compilation of changes to active and inactive registry
lists. The registrars of voters of each town shall, on a monthly basis, compile a list of
(1) all persons whose names were added, restored, removed or erased from the active
and inactive registry lists during the preceding month, (2) all electors who changed
either their names or addresses during such period and (3) all persons sent notices required under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended
from time to time, and all persons who have replied to such notices. Such list shall
include, but not be limited to, each such person's or elector's (A) name, (B) former
name, if changed during such period, (C) address, including zip code, (D) former address, including zip code, if changed during such period, (E) voting district and (F) party
affiliation, if any. The registrars shall make each such list available to the public in
accordance with the provisions of section 1-210.
(P.A. 87-462, S. 1, 2; P.A. 94-121, S. 28, 33.)
History: P.A. 94-121 substituted "active and inactive registry lists" for "registry list" and added Subdiv. (3) re persons
sent notices required under National Voter Registration Act, effective January 1, 1995.
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Sec. 9-50b. State-wide centralized voter registration system. (a) As used in this
section, "state-wide centralized voter registration system" means a computerized system
designed and maintained by the Secretary of the State which includes: (1) Voter registration information prescribed by the Secretary, (2) information contained in applications
for admission as electors described in section 9-20, (3) information needed to compile
registry lists and enrollment lists under sections 9-35 and 9-54, (4) information required
by section 9-50a, and (5) other information for use in complying with the provisions of
this title.
(b) Not later than July 1, 2003, each registrar of voters shall transmit to the office
of the Secretary of the State all elector information required by the office to complete
the state-wide centralized voter registration system. Each registrar shall transmit such
information in a format prescribed by the Secretary. Not later than September 1, 2003,
each registrar of voters shall participate in the state-wide centralized voter registration
system in the manner prescribed by the Secretary.
(c) The provisions of subsection (b) of this section shall not prohibit the registrars
of voters of any municipality from maintaining a registry list for such municipality that
is separate from the state-wide centralized voter registration system, provided (1) such
separate registry list includes the same information as the registry list for such municipality in the state-wide centralized voter registration system, and (2) such registrars comply
with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section and the Help America Vote Act,
P.L. 107-252, as amended from time to time.
(P.A. 03-117, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 03-117 effective June 18, 2003.
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Sec. 9-51. Enrollment sessions. The registrars shall make changes and corrections
in the list of enrolled electors at any time. On the fourteenth day before each primary,
the registrars of voters in each town shall hold a mandatory enrollment session for the
purpose of making an enrollment of the electors who are entitled to vote in primaries.
All enrollment sessions of the registrars of voters shall be held in a public place maintained by the municipality at such hours between twelve o'clock noon and nine o'clock
p.m. as said registrars prescribe, provided each such session shall be held for not less than
two consecutive hours and provided, in any municipality divided into voting districts in
which an enrollment session is held in each such district, the hours of such session in
each of the districts shall be uniform. This section shall apply in each municipality, the
provisions of any special act to the contrary notwithstanding.
(1949 Rev., S. 1171; 1953, 1955, S. 553d; 1957, P.A. 442, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 50; 266; 1971, P.A. 685, S. 1; P.A. 75-206,
S. 1, 7; 75-269, S. 2; P.A. 77-298, S. 2; P.A. 83-475, S. 9, 43; P.A. 87-382, S. 6, 55; P.A. 96-134, S. 3, 9.)
History: 1963 acts provided for preparation of enrollment lists in municipalities holding nonpartisan elections in even-numbered years and by agreement of all registrars in odd-numbered years and required that enrollment sessions be held
in a public place maintained by the municipality; 1971 act added provision that registrars may make changes and corrections
in the list at any time in addition to sessions except during period of five days before a primary, caucus or convention and
further, deleted provision requiring municipality in which municipal election not held in odd-numbered year to hold session
on second Friday in June of each odd-numbered year; P.A. 75-206 changed from fourteenth to the sixteenth week before
election the mandatory enrollment session in municipality in which municipal election is held in odd-numbered year; P.A.
75-269 provided for a mandatory enrollment session on the third Saturday before each primary; P.A. 77-298 eliminated
enrollment sessions in January and June in even-numbered years and provided for changes and corrections to be made in
list of enrolled electors at any time except during period of fourteen, in lieu of five days before a primary, caucus or
convention, further deleted provision for a mandatory enrollment session on the Friday of the sixteenth week before election
held in an odd-numbered year, provided for a mandatory enrollment session on the fourteenth day before each primary
and deleted provision for preparation of enrollment lists in municipalities holding nonpartisan elections; P.A. 83-475
deleted prohibition against making changes and corrections in enrollment list during fourteen-day period prior to primary,
caucus or convention; P.A. 87-382 changed date for one of mandatory enrollment sessions from third Saturday before
primary to seventeenth day before primary; P.A. 96-134 deleted reference to mandatory enrollment session on seventeenth
day before primary and replaced "three" with "two" consecutive hours, effective May 29, 1996.
See Sec. 9-372 for applicable definitions.
Cited. 144 C. 1.
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Sec. 9-52. Discretionary enrollment sessions. The registrars of voters in each
municipality may hold additional discretionary enrollment sessions for the purpose of
making an enrollment of the electors who are entitled to vote in any primary or caucus
in such municipality at such other times as all such registrars in such municipality deem
necessary; but no such session shall be held on the day when a caucus or primary is held
or during the fourteen days preceding a primary or the day before a caucus.
(1949 Rev., S. 1171; 1953, 1955, S. 553d; 1957, P.A. 442, S. 3; 1961, P.A. 70; P.A. 77-298, S. 3; P.A. 79-94.)
History: 1961 act added provision re twenty-one days preceding primary or caucus in last sentence; P.A. 77-298 provided
that discretionary enrollment sessions may not be held on the day of caucus or primary or during the fourteen instead of
twenty-one days preceding a primary or caucus; P.A. 79-94 changed the last amendment to read or "the day before a" caucus.
See Sec. 9-372 for applicable definitions.
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Sec. 9-53. Notice of sessions. The registrars of voters in each municipality in which
an enrollment session is to be held shall give notice of such session, and of the purpose,
day, hours and place thereof, by publication in a newspaper published in or having a
circulation in such municipality, not more than fifteen nor less than five days before
such session. Nothing herein shall require that such publication be in the form of a
legal advertisement. In each municipality divided into two voting districts which elects
registrars of voters for each voting district, any session for enrollment in such municipality shall be held in each such district thereof by the registrars of such district, and the
notice hereinbefore required shall specify the place in each such district in which such
session is to be held. In each municipality divided into voting districts which elects
registrars of voters for the entire municipality, any session for enrollment in such municipality may, if the registrars so decide, be held in each such district by assistant registrars
appointed under section 9-192, provided the registrars in the notice hereinbefore required shall specify the place in each such district in which such session is to be held.
When such a session is so held in each such district by such assistant registrars, within
forty-eight hours after the close of each of such sessions, each of such assistant registrars
shall deliver to the registrar of whom he is the appointee a true and attested list or
lists, as made by such assistant registrars at such session, showing all enrollments and
corrections, if any, by them made, together with a list of all applications rejected under
the provisions of sections 9-60 and 9-63.
(1949 Rev., S. 1172; 1953, 1955, S. 554d; 1957, P.A. 442, S. 4; 1963, P.A. 393, S. 4; February, 1965, P.A. 275, S. 3;
1967, P.A. 352, S. 4; P.A. 77-298, S. 4; P.A. 93-230, S. 4; P.A. 95-171, S. 4, 14; P.A. 96-134, S. 4, 5, 9.)
History: 1963 act removed requirement of posting notice of session on public signpost and changed time limit for
publishing notice; 1965 act modified time of publication to "not more than ten nor less than" five days; 1967 act changed
last amendment to fifteen instead of ten days; P.A. 77-298 changed fifteen days back to ten; P.A. 93-230 specified that
publication need not be in form of a legal advertisement; P.A. 95-171 added "two" re municipalities divided into voting
districts, effective January 8, 1997; P.A. 96-134 required publication of notice of enrollment session not more than "fifteen"
rather than "ten" days before a session, effective May 29, 1996.
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Sec. 9-54. Compilation and maintenance of enrollment lists and list of unaffiliated electors. The registrars shall compile separate lists of all qualified electors making
application for enrollment according to the declared political preference of such electors.
Before each primary at which unaffiliated electors are authorized to vote, under section
9-431, the registrars shall also compile a list of unaffiliated electors which shall be a
component of the official checklist to be used at such primary. In those towns having
cities or boroughs within, and not coterminous with, their limits, the registrars shall also
prepare such lists for use in such cities or boroughs; and when towns, cities or boroughs
are divided into wards or voting districts, the registrars shall also prepare such lists for
such wards or voting districts. Any town, city, consolidated town and city, or consolidated town and borough may, by vote of its legislative body, require the registrars of
voters to designate the party affiliation, if any, of each elector on the registry list with
the name of such elector, and, if it is so voted, may provide for the continuance or
discontinuance of separate enrollment lists, except as provided in section 9-55. Whenever an elector's name has been removed from the registry list or transferred upon the
registry list because of a change of address within the municipality, pursuant to section
9-35, such name shall also, at the same time, be removed from or transferred upon the
enrollment list or upon the list of unaffiliated electors, if applicable. In municipalities
divided into two voting districts or wards where registrars are elected for each voting
district or where assistant registrars are appointed for each voting district under section
9-192, when a transfer of enrollment is made between separate lists of the same political
party because of the removal of an elector from one voting district or ward to another
voting district or ward in the same municipality, the registrars or assistant registrars
from the voting district or ward where the elector formerly resided shall remove the
elector's name from the list and shall report the removal to the registrars or assistant
registrars of the same political party in the voting district or ward to which such elector
has removed, whereupon such registrars or assistant registrars shall add such name to
the list of the same political party in such district or ward unless such elector has made
application for erasure or transfer of enrollment to the list of another party. In all other
municipalities, when a transfer of enrollment between separate lists of the same political
party is made because of the removal of an elector from one voting district or ward to
another voting district or ward in the same municipality, the registrars of voters shall
transfer the name of such elector from the list on which it appears to the enrollment list
of the same political party in the voting district or ward to which such elector has removed
unless such elector has made application for erasure or transfer of enrollment to the list
of another party. All such enrollment lists and lists of unaffiliated electors shall be
arranged in the manner provided by section 9-35 for the arrangement of registry lists
in such town except as modified by sections 9-51 to 9-65, inclusive.
(1949 Rev., S. 1173; 1953, S. 555d; 1957, P.A. 442, S. 5; 1971, P.A. 685, S. 2; 1972, P.A. 26; P.A. 77-298, S. 5; P.A.
78-153, S. 28, 32; P.A. 83-475, S. 10, 43; P.A. 87-509, S. 3, 24; P.A. 95-171, S. 5, 14.)
History: 1971 act added provision authorizing legislative body to vote discontinue maintenance of separate enrollment
lists and to require registrars to designate party affiliation on registry lists, added authority for registrars to make changes
and corrections at any time except within five days before a primary, caucus or convention and changed references to
enrollment sessions for purposes of making changes and corrections to the making of the change itself; 1972 act amended
provision for action by legislative body so that in addition to authority to require registrars to designate party affiliation
on the registry list, such body may vote for continuance or discontinuance of separate enrollment lists; P.A. 77-298 changed
period registrars may not make changes and corrections before a primary, caucus or convention from five to fourteen days;
P.A. 78-153 changed fourteen days to one day before a caucus or convention; P.A. 83-475 amended section to facilitate
changes of address within a municipality; P.A. 87-509 added provisions requiring registrars to compile list of unaffiliated
electors and added reference to Sec. 9-55; P.A. 95-171 added "two" re municipalities divided into voting districts, effective
January 8, 1997.
Cited. 144 C. 1.
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Sec. 9-55. Printing of corrected enrollment lists and list of unaffiliated electors. (a) The registrars shall cause to be printed at least once during the calendar year
a sufficient number of copies of complete, corrected enrollment lists certified by them
as correct, provided a supplementary or updated list shall be printed within one week
after a session held on the fourteenth day before a primary.
(b) If a political party authorizes unaffiliated electors to vote in a primary, under
section 9-431, and a notice of primary is published, the registrars shall cause a list of
all unaffiliated electors eligible to vote in the primary to be printed within one week
after the session held on the fourteenth day before such primary. If unaffiliated electors
are authorized to vote in only one party's primary and are authorized to vote for all
offices to be contested at the primary, the registrars may print the list of unaffiliated
electors in combination with such party's enrollment list, indicating party affiliation
where applicable.
(c) If the legislative body of the municipality votes to eliminate separate enrollment
lists under section 9-54 and:
(1) Notices of primaries are published for two parties to be held on the same day,
the registrars shall print complete separate enrollment lists within one week after the
enrollment session held on the fourteenth day before the primary and, if unaffiliated
electors are authorized to vote in the primary, the registrars shall print a separate list of
unaffiliated electors as provided in subsection (b) of this section; or
(2) A notice of primary is published for one party in which unaffiliated electors are
authorized to vote for some but not all offices to be contested at the primary, the registrars
shall print a complete separate enrollment list and a separate list of unaffiliated electors
as provided in subsection (b) of this section; or
(3) A notice of primary is published for only one party and (A) unaffiliated electors
are not authorized to vote or (B) unaffiliated electors are authorized to vote for all offices
to be contested at the primary, a registry list may be used as a checklist at the primary
and the registrars shall, within one week after the session held on the fourteenth day
before such primary, print a supplementary or updated list indicating those electors who
have become eligible to vote in the primary since the printing of the registry list.
(d) Whenever a list is required by this section to be printed within one week after
the session held on the fourteenth day before the primary, a supplement to such list shall
be compiled by the registrars of persons who after such date and prior to twelve o'clock
noon of the last business day before the primary become eligible to vote in such primary.
The registrars may combine such separate compilation with the foregoing printed list
either by inserting the names in writing or by reprinting the list incorporating the supplementary or updated list into a single printed list.
(e) The registrars shall file one copy of each such list with the town clerk which
copy shall be available for public use in the office of the town clerk until the printing
of the next completed, corrected enrollment list; and they shall deliver to the chairman
of the town committee of each political party five copies of each such list for each voting
district in the town. Upon request the registrars shall give one complete set of such lists
to each candidate for nomination for any office or for election as a town committee
member. They shall deliver a sufficient number of copies thereof to the moderator of
each primary. With each printing the registrars shall retain at least six copies of each
such list and such copies shall be available for public use in the office of the registrars
until the printing of the next complete, corrected enrollment list. No petition brought
under the provisions of section 9-63 shall operate to delay the completion and printing
of such lists. If the petition of any elector is granted after any such list has been completed,
the registrar or assistant registrar shall issue to such elector a certificate showing that
the elector is entitled to the privileges accompanying enrollment in the political party
named in the elector's petition.
(1949 Rev., S. 1182; 1953, 1955, June, 1955, S. 556d; November, 1955, S. N40; 1957, P.A. 442, S. 6; 1963, P.A. 201,
S. 2; 1967, P.A. 370; P.A. 75-269, S. 3; P.A. 76-128, S. 8, 11; P.A. 77-298, S. 6; P.A. 80-281, S. 7, 31; P.A. 87-382, S. 7,
55; 87-509, S. 4, 24; P.A. 99-276, S. 3, 15; P.A. 03-241, S. 4.)
History: 1963 act reduced copies of registry lists to be filed with town clerk to one and added provision requiring
registrars to keep copies available for public use; 1967 act added provision for one copy to be filed with the town clerk,
available for public use until next completed corrected list is available; P.A. 75-269 provided for a supplementary list
to be printed within two weeks after session held on third Saturday before primary; P.A. 76-128 provided for separate
supplementary list of those attaining age or citizenship qualifications after third Saturday and before day of primary and
enrolling during that period; P.A. 77-298 deleted provision for printing of list within three weeks after completion of each
mandatory enrollment session and substituted provision for printing of list at least once during calendar year, changed
provision for supplementary list to be printed within one, instead of two weeks after session held on fourteenth day, instead
of third Saturday, before a primary and, with reference to the separate supplementary list of those attaining qualifications
within period before primary, changed reference to fourteenth day, instead of third Saturday; P.A. 80-281 added "residence"
to qualifications of "age and citizenship" attained during period between fourteenth day before and day of primary; P.A.
87-382, in first sentence, deleted "attains the qualification as to age, citizenship or residence for admission as an elector",
substituted "twelve o'clock noon on the last business day before" for "the day of", added reference to Sec. 9-56 and deleted
"during such period", but changes were superseded by provisions of P.A. 87-509; P.A. 87-509 divided section into Subsecs.,
added new Subsecs. (b), (c) and (d) re, respectively, when registrars required to cause list of unaffiliated electors to be
printed, requirements when legislative body of municipality votes to eliminate separate enrollment lists and compilation
of supplementary list and, in Subsec. (e), required registrars to give one complete set of list to each candidate for election
as town committee member or delegate to convention; P.A. 99-276 added references to "or updated" list, effective January
1, 2000; P.A. 03-241 amended Subsec. (e) by eliminating requirement that registrars give set of lists to each candidate for
election as delegate to a convention, effective January 1, 2004, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after
that date.
See Sec. 9-372 for applicable definitions.
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Sec. 9-55a. Compensation of registrars, clerks and other personnel. For the
performance of the duties imposed by sections 9-55 and 9-57, each registrar, deputy
registrar and other personnel appointed as provided in section 9-57 actually engaged in
such duties and each municipal clerk shall receive such reasonable compensation from
the municipality as is approved by the selectmen of the town, the warden and burgesses
of the borough or the common council of the city or the consolidated town and city, as
the case may be; and all necessary expenses incurred by registrars and municipal clerks
under the provisions of said sections shall be paid by the municipality.
(1963, P.A. 17, S. 93; 1967, P.A. 857, S. 1.)
History: 1967 act applied provisions to "other personnel appointed as provided in section 9-57".
See Sec. 9-195 re compensation of registrars and town clerks for duties relating to enrollment.
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Sec. 9-56. Application for enrollment by unaffiliated elector. Except as otherwise provided in the case of an elector whose name has not been placed on or has been
removed from the enrollment list under section 9-59, 9-60, 9-61 or 9-62, any elector
not enrolled on any enrollment list may at any time make a written and signed application
for enrollment to the registrars of voters on an application form for admission as an
elector, in accordance with the requirements of this section. The application shall be
effective as of the date it is filed with the registrars of voters of the town of residence
of the applicant and any person making application for enrollment in such manner shall
immediately be entitled to the privileges of party enrollment unless the application for
enrollment (1) is filed in person by the applicant with the registrars of voters after twelve
o'clock noon on the last business day before a primary, in which case he shall be entitled
to the privileges of party enrollment immediately after the primary, (2) is otherwise filed
with the registrar after the fifth day before the primary, in which case he shall be entitled
to the privileges of party enrollment immediately after the primary, except as provided
in section 9-23a, or (3) is filed with the registrars of voters after 5:00 p.m. on the last
business day before a caucus or convention, in which case he shall be entitled to the
privileges of party enrollment immediately after the caucus or convention. The application shall be signed or initialed by the registrar, deputy, assistant or registrar's clerk
receiving it, or by such other personnel as such registrar or deputy may appoint for the
purpose, showing the date when such application is received and, in the case of an
applicant not immediately eligible under section 9-59, 9-60, 9-61 or 9-62 to the privileges
accompanying enrollment in the party named in his application, the date upon which
such applicant becomes so eligible. In municipalities divided into voting districts in
which an enrollment session is held in each district thereof under section 9-51, application for enrollment shall be made to the registrar or assistant registrar, as the case may
be, in the voting district in which such elector is entitled to vote at the time of making
such application. If any registrar or assistant registrar fails to add any name to any such
list on written application or adds any name to any such list except as herein provided,
he shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty
days or both.
(1949 Rev., S. 1174; 1953, S. 557d; 1957, P.A. 442, S. 7; 1967, P.A. 32; 1969, P.A. 122, S. 2; 694, S. 6; 1971, P.A.
871, S. 68; P.A. 74-29; P.A. 75-47, S. 3, 5; 75-269, S. 4; P.A. 77-244, S. 3, 4; 77-298, S. 7; P.A. 79-363, S. 34, 38; P.A.
80-483, S. 31, 186; P.A. 83-475, S. 11, 43; P.A. 84-118, S. 3, 5; P.A. 94-121, S. 29, 33; P.A. 97-67, S. 2, 9.)
History: 1967 act provided for filing of application in duplicate if filed by applicant and in triplicate if filed by anyone
else in which later case a copy to be mailed to applicant and the other copy to the person filing the application; 1969 acts
added exception to entitlement to enrollment in the case of elector whose name is automatically removed where his name
appeared on a ballot label at an election only under a different party designation and added provision for registrars or
deputies to appoint other personnel to participate in proceedings; 1971 act made technical changes; P.A. 74-29 added
provision for either registrars or their deputies to take acknowledgment of affidavit; P.A. 75-47 substituted "admitting
official" for enumerated officials and changed references to application for enrollment to accommodate use of combined
form for registration and enrollment where both accomplished at same time by applicant, eliminating duplication of personal
data to be furnished, effective January 1, 1976; P.A. 75-269 provided for entitlement to privileges of party enrollment
immediately except where application made following session held on third Saturday before a primary in which case
entitlement occurs immediately after primary or, if application made on day of caucus or convention, then entitlement
follows immediately after and further, if caucus or convention to be held prior to next enrollment session separate lists
will be prepared, by party, before the day of caucus or convention; P.A. 77-244 incorporated by cross reference provisions
for preregistration and preenrollment of seventeen-year-olds; P.A. 77-298 changed reference to enrollment session held
on "third Saturday" to "fourteenth day" before primary; P.A. 79-363 and P.A. 80-483 made technical changes; P.A. 83-475 amended section to permit special assistant registrars to take acknowledgments in applications for enrollment and
clarify that party membership attaches as of date of execution of application; P.A. 84-118 changed time limit for enrollment
from fourteenth day to noon of last business day before primary; P.A. 94-121 required application for enrollment to be
"on an application form for admission as an elector" and to be effective as of date filed with registrars of town of applicant's
residence instead of date of execution and repealed requirements that enrollment application include an affidavit and be
made in duplicate or triplicate, that form of application be prescribed by secretary of the state and that certain applicants
state specified information in applications, effective January 1, 1995; P.A. 97-67 inserted Subdiv. indicators, applied
Subdiv. (1) to applications filed in person by applicant, added Subdiv. (2) re applications filed with registrar after fifth day
before primary and amended Subdiv. (3) by substituting "after 5:00 p.m. on the last business day before a caucus or
convention" for "on the day of a caucus or convention", effective July 1, 1997.
Cited. 144 C. 1. See note to Sec. 9-192.
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Sec. 9-57. Application for enrollment by new elector at time of admission. Attachment of party privileges. Notwithstanding the provisions of any special act or
charter to the contrary, whenever any person makes application for admission as an
elector in person to an admitting official, he may, on an application for admission as an
elector, make application for enrollment on the list of the political party of his preference.
Any such elector who has so applied for enrollment shall, upon acquisition of electoral
privileges, immediately be entitled to all the privileges of enrollment in the party named
in his application, unless (1) he ceases to be an elector in the town or voting district in
which he is entitled to vote, as the case may be, (2) he makes application for erasure or
transfer or enrollment on the list of another party in accordance with the provisions of
section 9-59, (3) he files his application for enrollment with the registrars of voters of
his town of residence after twelve o'clock noon on the last business day before a primary,
in which case he shall be entitled to the privileges of party enrollment immediately after
the primary, or (4) he files his application for enrollment with the registrars of voters
of his town of residence on the day of a caucus or convention, in which case he shall
be entitled to the privileges of party enrollment immediately after the caucus or convention. The registrars of voters or assistant registrars shall add the names of all persons
making such application to the enrollment list or supplementary enrollment list of the
political party of each such applicant's preference, provided, if a caucus or convention
is to be held, such registrars or assistant registrars shall prepare separate lists of such
names according to party, on the day before such caucus or convention.
(1949 Rev., S. 1183; 1953, June, 1955, S. 558d; November, 1955, S. N41; 1957, P.A. 442, S. 8; 1967, P.A. 857, S. 2;
P.A. 75-47, S. 4, 5; 75-269, S. 5; P.A. 76-128, S. 9, 11; P.A. 77-298, S. 8; P.A. 78-153, S. 6, 32; P.A. 79-357, S. 4; 79-363, S. 35, 38; P.A. 84-118, S. 4, 5; P.A. 97-67, S. 4, 9.)
History: 1967 act added reference to other personnel appointed by registrar or deputy; P.A. 75-47 restated provisions;
P.A. 75-269 specified when entitlement to party privileges begins after a primary; P.A. 76-128 added proviso re immediate
entitlement to party privileges; P.A. 77-298 restated provisions and replaced "third Saturday" before primary with "fourteenth day" before primary as key date re party privileges; P.A. 78-153 made slight changes in wording; P.A. 79-357
specified that those who attain residence qualification are entitled to immediate privileges in proviso; P.A. 79-363 made
technical correction; P.A. 84-118 changed time limit for enrollment from fourteenth day to noon of last business day before
primary, deleting obsolete proviso re enrollment of those who qualify after fourteenth day before primary; P.A. 97-67
applied section to applications in person, deleted reference to Secs. 9-12, 9-20, 9-23a and 9-56 re applications, deleted
provision re elector's oath, provided that applicant is entitled to enrollment privileges immediately upon acquisition of
electoral privileges instead of from time of enrollment application, inserted Subdiv. indicators, deleted reference to Sec.
9-56 in Subdiv. (2), amended Subdiv. (3) by inserting "with the registrars of voters of his town of residence", added Subdiv.
(4) re filing on day of caucus or convention, and rearranged provisions, effective July 1, 1997.
See Sec. 9-23a re offer of application for enrollment to elector and attachment of party privileges.
See Sec. 9-55a re compensation of registrars, clerks and other personnel.
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Sec. 9-57a. Application for enrollment made at time of application for restoration. Section 9-57a is repealed.
(1961, P.A. 274, S. 1; P.A. 78-153, S. 31, 32.)
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Sec. 9-58. Applications for enrollment; record of, disposal after five years. All
applications for enrollment shall be arranged in alphabetical order and shall be preserved
by the registrars as a permanent record open to public inspection, except that any such
application 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,
in the manner provided in section 7-109, by such registrars.
(1949 Rev., S. 1181; 1953, S. 559d; P.A. 75-174, S. 2, 3.)
History: P.A. 75-174 added provision for disposal of applications of electors whose names have been removed from
the list for at least five years.
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Sec. 9-59. Erasure or transfer of name. Any elector whose name appears on any
enrollment list or who has made application for enrollment may, at any time, make a
written application, on an application form for admission as an elector, which shall be
signed by such elector, to either registrar for erasure of his name from such list or for
transfer of his name to the enrollment list of another party. If an elector makes an application for erasure, his name shall be erased from said enrollment list and, if a municipality
is having a primary in which unaffiliated electors are authorized to vote, under section
9-431, such elector's name shall be placed on the list of unaffiliated electors together
with the date he is eligible to vote in a primary. If an elector makes an application for
transfer, his name shall be transferred to the enrollment list of another party, together
with the effective date of such transfer. Any elector whose name has been transferred
from one enrollment list to another or who has applied for erasure or transfer of his
name from an enrollment list shall not be entitled to vote in a caucus or primary of any
party or be entitled to the privileges accompanying enrollment in any party for a period
of three months from the date of the filing of his application for transfer or for erasure.
Any elector who removes his name from the registry list and from an enrollment list in
accordance with the provisions of section 9-35b shall not be entitled to enroll in any
political party or vote in any primary for three months after such removal. The registrars
of voters shall state, on the notice of acceptance sent under sections 9-23g, 9-19b and
9-19e, the date enrollment privileges take effect, if delayed.
(1949 Rev., S. 1175; 1953, S. 560d; 1957, P.A. 442, S. 10; P.A. 77-298, S. 9; P.A. 85-207, S. 2; P.A. 87-509, S. 5, 24;
P.A. 94-109, S. 1, 2; 94-121, S. 30, 33.)
History: P.A. 77-298 deleted reference to enrollment sessions and provided for erasure or transfer to enrollment list of
another party and for recording of effective date of transfer; P.A. 85-207 amended section to prohibit an elector who
voluntarily cancelled his rights from enrolling in a political party until six months after the cancellation; P.A. 87-509
required that, if elector makes application for erasure and municipality is having a primary, elector's name shall be placed
on list of unaffiliated electors together with date of eligibility to vote in primary and provided that, if elector removes name
from lists in accordance with Sec. 9-35b, elector not entitled to vote in any primary for six months after removal; P.A. 94-109 shortened, from six months to three months, the period during which elector is not entitled to vote in caucus or primary
and is not entitled to privileges of enrollment following erasure, transfer or removal, effective January 1, 1995; P.A. 94-121 substituted "an application form for admission as an elector" for "a form prescribed by the secretary of the state",
deleted requirement that provisions of Sec. 9-56 relating to new enrollments apply to applications for erasure or transfer
made under provisions of section, and added provision requiring registrars to state on notice of acceptance the date enrollment privileges take effect, if delayed, effective January 1, 1995.
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Sec. 9-60. Discretionary erasure or exclusion from enrollment list for lack of
good-faith party affiliation; citation and hearing. Whenever the registrar of voters
of any political party, or any deputy registrar thereof in cases where it is provided by
law that the deputy registrar shall act in the place and stead of the registrar, is of the
opinion that any person on the enrollment list, or any person applying to be placed
upon the enrollment list, of the political party which such registrar or deputy registrar
represents is not affiliated with, or in good faith a member of, that political party and
does not intend to support its principles or candidates, such registrar or deputy registrar,
as the case may be, shall cite such person to appear before him and the chairman of the
town committee of such political party, or before him and the chairman of the same
party committee of the ward or voting district, if in a town divided into wards or voting
districts; or, where there is no such chairman, or in the absence or disability of such
chairman, before him and any enrolled member of the same political party chosen by
such registrar or deputy registrar, to show cause why his name should not be erased or
excluded from such enrollment list. Such citation shall be in writing and shall state the
time when and place where such person shall appear, and shall be served upon or left
at the usual place of abode of such person at least two days before the time fixed for
such hearing upon such citation, which time shall not be less than one week before the
next succeeding caucus or primary of such political party. The person leaving or serving
such citation shall make a record of the date and time of leaving or serving the same
and shall make a return to the registrar or deputy registrar, within thirty-six hours thereafter, of the date and time when such citation was left or served. If, at any such hearing,
it appears to such registrar and such chairman or party member or to such deputy registrar
and such chairman or party member, as the case may be, that it is not the bona fide
intention of such person to affiliate with, or that such person is not affiliating with, such
political party and does not intend to support the principles or candidates of such party,
his name may thereupon be erased or excluded from the enrollment list of such party.
If any elector upon whom a citation to appear, as herein provided, has been served fails
to appear at the time and place fixed for such hearing, such registrar or deputy registrar
may take such action as to the erasure or exclusion of the name of such elector as the
facts warrant.
(1949 Rev., S. 1176; 1953, S. 561d; 1967, P.A. 902, S. 1; P.A. 83-475, S. 12, 43; P.A. 97-154, S. 9, 27.)
History: 1967 act added exception in the case of name of elector appearing on ballot label of an elector only under party
designation other than the party in which enrolled; P.A. 83-475 made section applicable to applicants for enrollment; P.A.
97-154 deleted exemption from discretionary erasure or exclusion provisions for case where name of elector appears on
ballot only under party designation other than that of party with which he is enrolled, effective July 1, 1997.
"Intention to affiliate" means an intention to support the principles of the party and customarily support its candidates.
144 C. 1.
Mere signing of a petition for new political party does not warrant the opinion, as provided in statute, that such person
is not affiliated with the party which registrar of voters or his deputy represents. 16 CS 6. Cited. 31 CS 89.
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Sec. 9-61. Prima facie evidence supporting discretionary erasure or exclusion.
Enrollment in any other political party or organization, active affiliation with any other
political party or organization, knowingly being a candidate at any primary or caucus
of any other party or political organization, or being a candidate for office under the
designation of another party or organization, within a period of two years prior to the
date of the notice as provided in section 9-60 shall be prima facie evidence that any
elector committing any such act is not affiliated with, or in good faith a member of, and
does not intend to support the principles or candidates of the party upon the enrollment
list of which his name appears or in which his application for enrollment is pending;
and, upon reasonable proof of the commission of any one of such acts, the name of any
such elector may be stricken or excluded from such list and such erasure or exclusion
shall be effective for a period of two years from the date of any such act. The same
procedure as to notice to appear thereon, return and hearing shall be followed as provided
in section 9-60. If, after full hearing, such registrar and chairman or party member or
such deputy registrar and chairman or party member, as the case may be, find that the
name of any such elector has been wrongfully or improperly stricken or excluded from
such list, such name shall be forthwith placed upon the enrollment list.
(1949 Rev., S. 1177; 1953, S. 562d; 1967, P.A. 902, S. 2; 1969, P.A. 122, S. 1; P.A. 83-475, S. 13, 43; P.A. 97-154,
S. 10, 27.)
History: 1967 act added provision for removal from enrollment list of name of an elector whose name appeared on any
ballot label of an election only under party designation other than that of party in which enrolled, removal to be for period
of time equal to term of office for which he was candidate; 1969 act changed removal to period of time beginning on day
of election and ending at termination of term of office and further provided that he might then apply for enrollment in the
party; P.A. 83-475 made section applicable to applicants for enrollment and specified two-year period for erasure or
exclusion; P.A. 97-154 repealed provision for mandatory erasure from enrollment list for name of elector appearing on
ballot only under party designation other than that of party with which he is enrolled, effective July 1, 1997.
Knowingly becoming a candidate for office on ticket of a new party automatically separates voter from his former
party. 102 C. 607. Cited. 144 C. 1.
Cited. 16 CS 6. The words, "at an election only under a party designation other than that of the party with which he is
enrolled", make it clear that the legislature intended a party could run on a dual ticket. 31 CS 89.
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Sec. 9-62. Hearings concerning discretionary erasure or exclusion. At any
hearing provided for in sections 9-60 and 9-61, any elector upon whom a citation or
notice as therein provided has been served and any person offering himself as a witness
shall be sworn; and all registrars and deputy registrars are authorized to administer, for
that purpose, the oath provided for witnesses. Any person cited to appear before any
registrar or deputy registrar under any of the provisions of said sections shall have the
right to appear either in person or by attorney; and, when no witnesses are present at
any such hearing to testify in favor of the removal of the name of an elector from any
list on which the same appears, or against placing the name of an elector upon an enrollment list, or against the restoration of the name of an elector to an enrollment list from
which the name of such elector has been removed or excluded, the registrar or deputy
registrar before whom the hearing is held shall make a statement of facts in his possession, showing why the name of any such elector should be erased from such enrollment
list or why it should not be placed upon the enrollment list as requested by the applicant
or why such name was wrongfully or improperly stricken or excluded from the enrollment list upon which it appeared.
(1949 Rev., S. 1178; 1953, S. 563d; P.A. 83-475, S. 14, 43.)
History: P.A. 83-475 amended section to refer to wrongful or improper removal or exclusion from enrollment list.
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Sec. 9-63. Court appeal of discretionary erasure or exclusion. Any elector
whose name has been removed from an enrollment list in the manner provided in sections
9-60 and 9-61, and any elector whose application to have his name placed upon an
enrollment list has been refused, and who is aggrieved thereby, may, within ten days
after such removal or refusal, bring a petition before any judge of the Superior Court,
setting forth that the name of the petitioner has been unjustly or improperly removed
from such list or excluded therefrom, as the case may be, and praying for an order
directing such registrar or deputy registrar by whom such name was removed or excluded
to restore such name or place the same upon such list. A recognizance shall be attached
to the petition, with proper surety, in a sum not less than fifty dollars, conditioned that
the petitioner will prosecute such action to effect and pay all proper costs of the adverse
party in case he fails therein. Such petition shall be returnable not more than six days
from the date thereof, and to the same shall be attached a citation commanding such
registrar or deputy registrar in the name of the state to appear and show cause why such
name should not be restored to such list or placed thereon. A true copy of such petition
shall be served upon such registrar or deputy registrar at least four days before the return
day thereof, and the judge before whom such petition is returnable shall assign the same
for a hearing at the earliest practicable date; and if, upon due hearing thereof, he finds
that the petitioner is entitled to relief, such judge shall issue an order directing such
registrar or deputy registrar to forthwith restore the name of such elector to the list from
which it was removed or to place the name of such elector upon the list applied for, as
the case may be; and any registrar or deputy registrar who fails to obey such order shall
be deemed guilty of contempt and may be fined not more than one hundred dollars.
(1949 Rev., S. 1179; 1953, S. 564d; 1959, P.A. 28, S. 166; 1971, P.A. 870, S. 18; P.A. 74-183, S. 183, 291; P.A. 76-436, S. 162, 681; P.A. 83-475, S. 15, 43.)
History: 1959 act placed jurisdiction of petition of circuit rather than municipal court which was abolished; 1971 act
deleted reference to superior court as having jurisdiction of petition; P.A. 74-183 deleted judge of circuit court for the
circuit wherein case arises from having jurisdiction of petition, effective December 31, 1974; P.A. 76-436 deleted common
pleas and substituted superior court for jurisdiction of petition, effective July 1, 1978; P.A. 83-475 added reference to
exclusion of applicant for enrollment.
Remedy provided is an original judicial proceeding and not an appellate review of the registrar's acts; it is a special
statutory proceeding in nature of a mandamus; burden of proof is on the plaintiff. 124 C. 271. Although denominated an
appeal, the proceeding is not an appeal from an administrative officer but in the nature of mandamus to compel the
performance of a public duty. The issue is not whether the decision was arbitrary and an abuse of discretion but whether
the applicant is entitled as a matter of right to have his name restored. 144 C. 1.
Cited. 4 CA 339.
Cited. 16 CS 1. Cited 31 CS 89.
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Sec. 9-64. Erasure of name not on registry list. Upon the written application of
an enrolled elector of any town, made to any registrar or assistant registrar of any ward
or voting district in such town, stating that the name of an elector appearing on the
enrollment list of any ward or district does not appear on the last-completed registry list
of such ward or district and that such elector is not entitled to vote therein and requesting
that the name of such elector be stricken from such enrollment list, such registrar or
assistant registrar, upon verifying the accuracy of such information, shall erase such
name from the enrollment list, provided any name so erased shall be added to the enrollment list of the same party in the ward or district upon the registry list of which such
name appears. Any registrar or assistant registrar failing to so erase any such name shall
be fined not more than two hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than thirty days
or both.
(1949 Rev., S. 1180; 1953, S. 565d; 1957, P.A. 442, S. 11; P.A. 77-298, S. 10.)
History: P.A. 77-298 deleted reference to enrollment session.
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Sec. 9-64a. Removal, restoration or transfer of enrollment list names. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other section of this chapter, the registrars of voters in
any town or district shall remove the name of any elector from the enrollment list at the
same time that such name is removed from the registry list, but, if such name is restored,
added or transferred on the registry list under section 9-35 or section 9-42, it shall be
simultaneously restored, added or transferred on the enrollment list.
(1967, P.A. 533, S. 1; P.A. 78-153, S. 27, 32; P.A. 81-350, S. 15, 17; P.A. 83-475, S. 16, 43.)
History: P.A. 78-153 made no changes; P.A. 81-350 deleted reference to repealed Sec. 9-44; P.A. 83-475 added reference
to names added to or transferred on the enrollment list.
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Sec. 9-64b. Removal of names from list to be used at caucus, primary or convention. Prior to distributing any enrollment list for use in any caucus, primary or town
convention, the registrar of voters shall remove all names from such enrollment list
which have been removed from the last-completed registry list.
(1967, P.A. 533, S. 2.)
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Sec. 9-65. Statement to secretary of registration, enrollment and addition and
removal statistics. (a) Within a week after the last session of the registrars of voters
under section 9-17 before an election, the registrars of voters in each municipality shall
submit in writing to the Secretary of the State a statement setting forth the total number
of electors on the active and inactive registry list, the total number of electors enrolled
on each active and inactive party enrollment list and the total number of unaffiliated
electors on the active and inactive registry list in such municipality. They shall omit
therefrom electors on the last-completed registry list or enrollment lists who have died,
and they shall include therein electors who have acquired electoral or enrollment privileges since the last-completed registry list or enrollment lists were perfected. In municipalities divided into two voting districts which elect registrars of voters for each district,
such information shall be so submitted by the registrars of voters of the first district.
Such statement shall be deemed to be submitted within the time required if it is either
(1) postmarked by the United States Postal Service not earlier than eight o'clock p.m.
on the day of such last session of the registrars and not later than midnight on the seventh
day following such last session, or (2) delivered by hand or by electronically transmitted
facsimile to the office of the Secretary of the State not earlier than the first day following,
and not later than four-thirty o'clock p.m. on the seventh day following, such last session.
(b) After the last session of the registrars of voters under section 9-17 before each
election, the registrars of voters in each municipality shall submit in writing to the
Secretary of the State a statement setting forth the total number of names of new electors
added to the registry list, and the total number of names of former electors removed
from the registry list, in such municipality during the period between the two most recent
such last sessions. Such statement shall be submitted annually at a time to be determined
by the Secretary of the State. In municipalities divided into two voting districts that
elect registrars of voters for each district, such statement shall be so submitted by the
registrars of voters of the first district.
(1957, P.A. 442, S. 14; 1961, P.A. 109; 1969, P.A. 40, S. 1; P.A. 73-113; P.A. 83-391, S. 12, 24; P.A. 85-577, S. 2;
P.A. 93-384. S. 6; P.A. 95-171, S. 6, 14; P.A. 96-119, S. 1, 14; P.A. 97-154, S. 22, 27.)
History: 1961 act changed "June" to "August" in first sentence; 1969 act provided for addition of total number of
unaffiliated electors to be reported and further provided that the report omit those who have died and include those who
have acquired electoral or enrollment privileges since lists were perfected; P.A. 73-113 deleted "during the last week of
August in each year" and substituted "within a week after the last session of the board for admission of electors before an
election"; P.A. 83-391 deleted reference to board for admission of electors and added Subsec. (b) requiring registrars'
statement re electors added or removed; P.A. 85-577 established late filing fee and guidelines for assuming timely filing
in Subsec. (a); P.A. 93-384 inserted "or by electronically transmitted facsimile" in Subdiv. (2) of Subsec. (a); P.A. 95-171
amended Subsec. (a) by adding "two" re municipalities divided into voting districts and amended Subsec. (b) by deleting
provision re submission of statement in municipalities divided into voting districts, effective January 8, 1997; P.A. 96-119 amended Subsec. (b) to require statement to be submitted by registrars of voters of the first district in municipalities
divided into two voting districts that elect registrars of voters for each district, effective January 8, 1997; P.A. 97-154
amended Subsec. (a) re statements to Secretary of the State to require total number of electors to be from "active and
inactive" registry and party enrollment lists, to require total number of unaffiliated electors to be from "active and inactive"
registry lists, and to delete late filing fee for registrars who fail to submit required statements within time required, effective
July 1, 1997.
See Sec. 1-2a re construing of references to "United States mail" or "postmark" to include references to any delivery
service designated by the Secretary of the Treasury pursuant to Section 7502 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or any
successor to the code, as amended, and to any date recorded or marked as described in said Section 7502 by a designated
delivery service and construing of "registered or certified mail" to include any equivalent designated by the Secretary of
the Treasury pursuant to said Section 7502.
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Sec. 9-66. Application of provisions. The provisions of sections 9-51 to 9-67,
inclusive, shall extend only to (A) any major party as defined in subdivision (5) of
section 9-372, and (B) any minor party as defined in subdivision (6) of section 9-372.
In the case of a major party, such provisions shall apply state-wide. In the case of a
minor party, such provisions shall apply within the geographical jurisdiction of the office
or offices to which such minor party status pertains.
(1949 Rev., S. 1187; 1953, S. 566d; P.A. 85-577, S. 21.)
History: P.A. 85-577 entirely replaced prior provisions which had stated that Secs. 9-51 to 9-67, inclusive, do not apply
to parties polling ten per cent or less of a municipality's vote at the last regular election and which had authorized town
clerk to enroll party members for parties which are not represented by a registrar but which polled ten per cent or more of
the vote.
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Sec. 9-67. Party affiliation of electors of boroughs. Any provision of the general
statutes to the contrary notwithstanding, any elector of a borough may, in connection
with any borough election, enroll in, be affiliated with, be a candidate for nomination
or election of, or in any other manner participate in the affairs of, a political party or
organization which names candidates for borough offices, despite his participation in
any manner, in connection with any state, town or city election, in the affairs of any
political party or organization. Such participation, in connection with any borough election, shall not affect the right of any such elector to participate, in connection with any
state, town or city election, in the affairs of any other single political party or organization. The provisions of sections 9-51 to 9-67, inclusive, regulating party affiliation of
electors shall apply to the intraborough political activities of any such elector.
(1949 Rev., S. 1189; 1953, S. 567d.)
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