OLR Bill Analysis

sHB 5169

AN ACT CONCERNING THE NUMBER OF REGISTRARS OF VOTERS IN TOWNS.

SUMMARY:

This bill eliminates the authority of legislative bodies in towns with two voting districts to vote to elect two registrars of voters to represent each district, thus capping at two the number of registrars in each municipality under most circumstances.

The bill retains the provision under existing law that provides for the election of more than two registrars per municipality if the top two vote-getters are not major party candidates. By law, the two candidates for registrar receiving the most votes are elected. If a major party candidate is not one of them, he or she is also elected. This means a municipality could have up to four registrars of voters if the top two vote-getters are minor party candidates. For purposes of selecting registrars of voters, a “major party” is one with the largest or next largest number of enrolled members in the state, according to the latest enrollment list, that the secretary of the state maintains.

The bill also makes conforming changes.

EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2009

COMMITTEE ACTION

Government Administration and Elections Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute