Government Administration and Elections Committee

JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT

SPONSORS OF BILL:

Government Administration and Elections Committee

REASONS FOR BILL:

This bill is intended to make technical changes to the State's election laws. Specifically this bill would authorize the State Elections Enforcement Commission to investigate any Registrar of Voters under suspicion of misconduct. In addition, this bill would change the appointment process, and terms, for members on the Commission. Also, this legislation will require the Registrars of Voters to verify an address' authenticity on the town registry list for any elector seeking to use an absentee ballot.

The substitute language (LCO 2925) deletes sections 2 and 5 and renumbers the remaining sections accordingly. The substitute language also adds section 8, which defines “designee”.

RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:

Denise W. Merrill, Secretary of the State, Connecticut: Ms. Merrill testified mostly in opposition of this bill. She views favorably the designation of the State Election Enforcement Commission as the investigator of Registrar complaints. Ms. Merrill believes the office of the Secretary of the State should be able to oversee the town registrars in order to ensure accountability and fairness in the election process. Ms. Merrill cautioned against the bill's revisions concerning absentee ballots, saying that her office will soon hold a work group session to take up ideas to streamline the absentee ballot system. Lastly, she expressed her concern over the bill's specificity regarding employee training. She noted that, although she supports efforts to train employees to enhance their work place skills, she believes that the office's flexibility in implementing training programs is essential.

Michael J. Brandi, Executive Director and General Counsel, State Elections Enforcement Commission: Mr. Brandi testified in support of this bill on behalf of the State Elections Enforcement Commission. Specifically, he supports the changes the bill would make regarding the term structure of the commissioner. Mr. Brandi believes the changes will help the commission maintain a quorum, which is essential to the commission's ability to reward Citizens' Election Program grants. Without these changes, Mr. Brandi believes there is a strong likelihood that the commission will see a lack of quorum, and therefore difficulty in rewarding CEP grants, if this bill is not made into law.

NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:

Susan Voris, Election Specialist, League of Women Voters of Connecticut: Ms. Voris testified in support of this bill. She believes it makes necessary and meaningful changes to the state election laws. On behalf of the LWV, Ms. Voris expressed favor for the bill's changes to the SEEC and its responsibility to investigate registrars of voters who may have committed misconduct or been negligent in their position. She is also in favor of the bill's changes to the appointment of SEEC committee members, the requirement that an elector must file their change in address with the town registrar prior to receiving an absentee ballot from the Town Clerk, and the section that allows for continuing education for registrar of voters and town clerks to enhance their workplace skills and expertise.

Deb Denette, Town Clerk, East Haddam: Ms. Denette testified on this bill. She provided recommendations the Connecticut Town Clerks Association would like to see made to the legislation. Specifically, in section 5 of the bill, Ms. Denette pointed out that the Town Clerks can comply with the proposed changes to the election laws regarding the notification of address change in order to receive an absentee ballot but that the process will incur a delay due to processing time for issuing the absentee ballots, which she fears would not allow the elector ample time to fill out and return their absentee ballot. In addition, she recommends a timeframe for the Registrar of Voters to submit information necessary for the Town Clerks to submit their voting district maps and a similar timeframe for submitting election results.

NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:

None expressed.