CHAPTER 146
ELECTIONS

PART I
GENERAL

      Sec. 9-172a. Revised registry list defined for purposes of special elections. For purposes of special elections, the term "revised registry list last completed", as used in sections 9-170, 9-171 and 9-172, means the registry list last completed for the last regular election held in the municipality or political subdivision holding the special election, together with the updated list of persons in such municipality or political subdivision who acquired voting privileges since the completion of such list compiled under section 9-172b.

      (1967, P.A. 207, S. 1; P.A. 99-276, S. 5, 15; P.A. 11-173, S. 61.)

      History: P.A. 99-276 added references to "or updated" list, effective January 1, 2000; P.A. 11-173 deleted reference to supplementary list, effective July 13, 2011.

      Sec. 9-172b. Updated list and registration deadline for special election or referendum. (a) In each municipality or political subdivision in which a special election or referendum is to be held, the registrars of voters shall prepare an updated list of the names and addresses of those persons who acquired voting privileges after the completion of the revised registry list and prior to the day of such special election or referendum. In each such municipality or political subdivision, not later than the day before such special election or referendum, such registrars of voters shall cause to be completed and printed such 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 or referendum for the purpose of checking the names of those who vote, provided the names of any persons who acquired such voting privileges within thirty days before such special election or referendum may be inserted on such printed list in writing.

      (b) In the case of a special election or referendum, no person admitted as an elector on the day of the special election or referendum shall be entitled to vote in that election.

      (1967, P.A. 207, S. 2; P.A. 79-363, S. 23, 38; P.A. 80-483, S. 33, 186; P.A. 83-162; P.A. 99-276, S. 6, 15; P.A. 11-173, S. 12.)

      History: P.A. 79-363 deleted reference to inclusion of voters who acquired voting privileges under Secs. 9-31e, 9-41 and 9-41a on supplementary list; P.A. 80-483 made technical change; P.A. 83-162 made existing provisions applicable to referenda and added Subsec. (b) re electors admitted on day of special election or referendum; P.A. 99-276 amended Subsec. (a) by adding reference to "or updated" list, effective January 1, 2000; P.A. 11-173 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting language re supplementary list and re deposit of list in town clerk's office and making a technical change, effective July 13, 2011.

      Sec. 9-174a. Emergency contingency plan for elections. Model plan. (a) For each municipality, the registrars of voters, in consultation with the municipal clerk, shall create an emergency contingency plan for elections, primaries and referenda to be held within such municipality. Such plan shall include, but not be limited to, (1) solutions for ballot shortages, and (2) strategies to implement in the event of (A) a shortage or absence of poll workers, (B) a loss of power, (C) a fire or the sounding of an alarm within a polling place, (D) voting machine malfunctions, (E) a weather or other natural disaster, (F) the need to remove a poll worker or moderator and to replace such worker or moderator, and (G) disorder in and around the polling place.

      (b) Not later than six months after the adoption of a model plan by the Secretary of the State provided for in regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, the registrars of voters shall submit the plan created under subsection (a) of this section to the legislative body of such municipality or, in a municipality where the legislative body is a town meeting or representative town meeting, the board of selectmen, for approval. Upon approval, such plan shall remain on file with the municipal clerk until such plan is amended by the registrars of voters, in consultation with the municipal clerk, and approved by the legislative body of the municipality or, in a municipality where the legislative body is a town meeting or representative town meeting, the board of selectmen. If, not later than six months after the adoption of a model plan by the Secretary, a municipality fails to create and approve an emergency contingency plan, the municipality shall be deemed to have adopted the model plan adopted by the Secretary.

      (c) Any municipality that activates the emergency contingency plan established pursuant to this section shall provide a written report concerning the activation of such plan to the Secretary of the State not later than thirty days after such activation. Such report shall include the reason for such activation as well as the procedures in the emergency contingency plan that were activated and the outcome of the activation of such plan.

      (d) The Secretary of the State shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, as the Secretary deems necessary to implement the provisions of this section. Such regulations shall include a model plan that municipalities may adopt.

      (P.A. 11-46, S. 2.)

      History: P.A. 11-46 effective June 13, 2011.

PART II
PARTICULAR OFFICERS

      Sec. 9-190. Registrars of voters. On and after January 9, 2013, each municipality shall have two registrars of voters for the entire municipality, except as otherwise provided for in this section. Each registrar of voters shall reside in the municipality for which the registrar of voters is elected. Notwithstanding any special act, for elections held on and after November 6, 2012, in each municipality in which registrars of voters are elected, no elector shall vote for more than one registrar of voters for the municipality. The candidate having the highest number of votes and the candidate having the next highest number of votes for the office of registrar of voters, who does not belong to the same political party as the candidate having the highest number, shall be declared elected registrars of voters for the municipality, provided, if the candidate for registrar of voters of a major party is not one of the registrars of voters so elected, such candidate of such major party shall also be declared elected registrar of voters. For purposes of this section, a major party shall be one having the largest or next largest total number of enrolled party members in the state, as determined by the latest enrollment records in the office of the Secretary of the State submitted in accordance with the provisions of section 9-65. The term of office of all registrars of voters for voting districts in office on January 7, 1995, shall expire on January 8, 1997, and on November 5, 1996, two registrars shall be elected for each municipality with more than two voting districts which previously elected registrars of voters for voting districts.

      (1949 Rev., S. 509; 1953, 1955, S. 671d; 1959, P.A. 484; 630, S. 4; P.A. 76-173, S. 6; P.A. 95-171, S. 8, 14; P.A. 96-119, S. 6, 14; P.A. 11-173, S. 34.)

      History: 1959 acts provided for minority representation in the office of registrar and made it mandatory that each major party have a registrar elected; P.A. 76-173 substituted vote of "its legislative body" for "any annual or special town meeting"; P.A. 95-171 added "two" re towns divided into voting districts, added provision re term of office of registrars for voting districts in office on January 7, 1995, and election of registrars in towns with more than two voting districts, effective October 1, 1995, and applicable to elections held on or after that date; P.A. 96-119 replaced "November 6, 1996" with "November 5, 1996," effective May 24, 1996; P.A. 11-173 limited municipalities to 2 registrars of voters on and after January 9, 2013, and made conforming and technical changes, effective January 1, 2012.

PART III
VACANCIES

      Sec. 9-224. Special election on same day as regular election. If any special election is called to fill a vacancy in any office on the same day as a regular election, the names of the candidates for such office shall be placed on the same ballot as the names of the candidates to be voted for at such regular election, and except as otherwise specifically provided by statute, the provisions of the statutes governing regular elections shall apply to such special election.

      (1949 Rev., S. 1094; 1953, S. 701d; P.A. 83-391, S. 22, 24; P.A. 11-20, S. 4.)

      History: P.A. 83-391 added words "except as otherwise specifically provided by statute"; P.A. 11-20 replaced "voting machine" with "ballot", effective May 24, 2011.

PART IV
WARNING OF ELECTIONS

      Sec. 9-225. State elections. (a) The town clerk or assistant town clerk of each town shall warn the electors therein to meet on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November in the even-numbered years, at six o'clock a.m., which warning shall be given by publication in a newspaper having a general circulation in such town, or towns in the case of a joint publication under subsection (b) of this section, not more than fifteen nor less than five days previous to holding such election. The clerk in each town shall, in the warning for such election, give notice of the time and the location of the polling place in the town, and in towns divided into voting districts, of the time and the location of the polling place in each district, at which such election will be held. The town clerk shall record each such warning.

      (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of any charter or home rule ordinance, the warning under subsection (a) of this section may be published jointly by two or more towns in a newspaper, provided all other requirements of this section with respect to such warning are met.

      (1949 Rev., S. 1053; 1953, S. 702d; 1963, P.A. 393, S. 8; February, 1965, P.A. 275, S. 4; 1967, P.A. 119, S. 1; 352, S. 1; P.A. 11-173, S. 57.)

      History: 1963 act substituted publication in a newspaper for posting notice on town signposts and omitted method of computing 5-day notice period, for which see Sec. 9-2; 1965 act added "not more than ten nor less than" to the 5 days previous to election for publication in a newspaper, deleted "except as otherwise provided by law" and also provision for true and attested copy of warning to be left with town clerk by person who served same and provided for town clerk to record such warning; 1967 acts changed not more than 10 days to 15 days and made minor changes in wording; P.A. 11-173 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and amended same to add language re joint publication, and added Subsec. (b) re joint publication, effective July 1, 2011.

PART V
CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS

      Sec. 9-228a. Certification re location of polling place. Report to Secretary of the State identifying moderators. Removal of moderator by Secretary. (a) The registrars of voters of each municipality shall, not later than thirty-one days prior to each municipal, state or federal election or primary, certify to the Secretary of the State, in writing, the location of each polling place that will be used for such election or primary. Such certification shall detail the name, address, relevant contact information and corresponding federal, state and municipal districts associated with each polling place used for such election or primary.

      (b) The registrars of voters of each municipality shall, prior to each municipal, state or federal election or primary, provide a written report to the Secretary of the State setting forth the names and addresses of each moderator for each polling place location disclosed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.

      (c) The Secretary of the State shall have the authority to disqualify any moderator appointed by the registrars of voters if, after consultation with both registrars of voters, the Secretary determines such moderator has committed material misconduct, material neglect of duty or material incompetence in the discharge of his or her duties as a moderator. If the Secretary disqualifies a moderator, the Secretary shall share his or her findings upon which the disqualification was based with the registrars of voters.

      (P.A. 11-46, S. 4.)

      History: P.A. 11-46 effective June 13, 2011.

      Sec. 9-229. Appointment, instruction and certification of moderators. Regulations. (a) The registrars of voters in the several towns and, in towns where there are different registrars for different voting districts, the registrars of voters in such districts shall appoint the moderators of regular and special state and municipal elections in their respective towns or districts. For the purpose of providing a reserve group of persons who may serve as moderators, the registrars shall designate alternate moderators from among those persons chosen as official checkers, or tabulator tenders, in the following minimum numbers: In towns with one or more but not exceeding three voting districts, one alternate moderator; in towns with four or more but not exceeding eight voting districts, two alternate moderators; in towns with more than eight voting districts, a number of alternate moderators equal to one-fourth of the number of voting districts rounded off to the nearest multiple of four. In case the registrars fail to agree in the choice of a moderator or alternate moderator, the choice shall be determined between such registrars by lot. In the case of a primary, the registrar, as defined in section 9-372, shall so appoint such moderators and alternate moderators. Moderators and alternate moderators shall be appointed at least twenty days before the election or primary. The registrars shall submit a list of the names of such moderators and alternate moderators to the municipal clerk, which list shall be made available for public inspection by such clerk. Each person appointed to serve as moderator or alternate moderator shall be certified by the Secretary of the State in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, except as provided in subsection (d) of this section or section 9-436.

      (b) The Secretary of the State shall (1) request registrars of voters to volunteer to serve as instructors for moderators and alternate moderators, (2) select registrars from among such volunteers to serve as such instructors, (3) establish a curriculum for instructional sessions for moderators and alternate moderators, (4) establish the number of such instructional sessions, provided at least one such instructional session shall be held in each congressional district in each calendar year, (5) train the instructors for such sessions, and (6) certify moderators and alternate moderators. The curriculum for such instructional sessions shall include, without limitation, procedures for counting and recording absentee ballots, "hands on" training in the use of voting tabulators, and the duties of a moderator in the conduct of a primary and election. The Secretary may employ assistants on a temporary basis within existing budgetary resources for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this section. Such assistants shall not be subject to the provisions of chapter 67. The instructors shall conduct instructional sessions for moderators and alternate moderators in accordance with their training by the Secretary of the State and the curriculum for such sessions. Any elector may attend one or more of such instructional sessions. Each instructor shall provide the Secretary of the State with the name and address of each person who completes such a session.

      (c) The Secretary shall conduct certification sessions for moderators and alternate moderators each year at times and places to be determined by said Secretary, provided at least eight such sessions shall be held each calendar year and at least one such session shall be conducted prior to every primary. The Secretary shall certify each person who successfully completes an instructional session conducted in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section and an examination administered by the Secretary, as eligible to serve as moderator or alternate moderator at any election or primary held during the time such certification is effective. Any such certification made on or after October 1, 2011, shall be effective for two years from the date of such certification. Only those persons who attend and are thereby certified at such session shall be eligible to serve as moderators on election or primary day, except as provided in subsection (d) of this section or section 9-436. The Secretary of the State may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, as the Secretary deems necessary to implement the certification process under this section.

      (d) If the person designated as moderator is unable to serve for any reason, a certified alternate moderator shall serve as moderator. If such certified alternate moderator is not called upon to serve as moderator, he shall serve in another capacity as an election official on election or primary day. If any town or voting district lacks a moderator due to the death, disability or withdrawal of a certified moderator or alternate moderator, or due to the disqualification of a moderator for any reason, including failure to attend an instructional session as required by this section, the registrars of voters shall appoint a new moderator for such town or voting district in the manner provided in this section. Such new moderator shall attend an instructional session and a certification session conducted in accordance with the provisions of this section. If all such sessions have been conducted at the time of appointment of the new moderator, the new moderator shall receive instruction from the registrars who appointed the new moderator.

      (1949 Rev., S. 1057; 1953, S. 706d; P.A. 81-467, S. 3, 8; P.A. 82-426, S. 5, 14; P.A. 85-274; P.A. 87-472, S. 11; P.A. 93-384, S. 2; P.A. 95-185, S. 1; P.A. 11-20, S. 1; 11-46, S. 1.)

      History: P.A. 81-467 required appointment and instruction of alternate moderators, required instruction of moderators and added provisions re certification of moderators and alternates; P.A. 82-426 extended provisions of section to moderators at primaries; P.A. 85-274 amended section to require "successful" completion of instructional session and an examination and to allow electors to attend one or more of such instructional sessions; P.A. 87-472 added provisions re five-year certifications for qualifying moderators and alternate moderators; P.A. 93-384 changed duration of terms for moderators and alternate moderators from three or five years to four years; P.A. 95-185 divided section into Subsecs., changed the conductor of instructional sessions from the Secretary of the State to registrars who volunteer as instructors, established the secretary's and registrars' duties re moderator instruction, and the curriculum for such sessions, required eight certification sessions annually and made technical changes; pursuant to P.A. 11-20, "machine" and "machines" were changed editorially by the Revisors to "tabulator" and "tabulators", respectively, in Subsecs. (a) and (b), effective May 24, 2011; P.A. 11-46 amended Subsec. (c) by making certification effective for 2, rather than 4, years on or after October 1, 2011, by authorizing Secretary of the State to adopt regulations re certification process and by making technical changes, effective June 13, 2011.

      Sec. 9-229a. Election or primary day polling place observers. Appointment. Duties. Training program. Regulations. Additional election officials. Code of ethics for polling place observers. Section 9-229a is repealed, effective July 13, 2011.

      (P.A. 07-194, S. 9; P.A. 11-173, S. 69.)

      Sec. 9-234. Presence of registrars. Official checkers. Each registrar of voters shall be present during the taking of the vote at any regular or special state or municipal election in the registrar's of voters town or district. The assistants in their respective districts shall, when requested by either registrar of voters, be present at the taking of any such vote and discharge the duties of registrars of voters. Each registrar of voters shall appoint some suitable person to check the list in each district, unless the registrars of voters have established two shifts for election officials under the provisions of section 9-258a, in which case each such registrar of voters shall appoint one such person for each district for each shift. Each such person, who is so appointed official checker, shall check the name of each elector thereon when the elector offers the elector's vote, and no voting tabulator tender shall permit any vote to be cast upon the voting tabulator until the name has been so checked.

      (1949 Rev., S. 1069; 1953, S. 711d; 1969, P.A. 500, S. 3; P.A. 11-20, S. 1; 11-173, S. 35.)

      History: 1969 act provided for appointment of checkers for each established shift; P.A. 11-173 added "official" re checkers, replaced "machine" with "tabulator" and made technical changes, effective July 13, 2011.

      Sec. 9-235. Unofficial checkers. (a) At least forty-eight hours prior to each election to be held in a municipality, each registrar of voters in such municipality may appoint for each line of electors in each voting district therein, to serve as unofficial checkers, not more than four electors enrolled in the party with which the registrar is enrolled, provided a registrar may establish two or more shifts for unofficial checkers, in which case such registrar may appoint not more than four such unofficial checkers for each line of electors in each district for each shift. The persons so appointed shall be designees of the town chairman of the party with which such registrar is enrolled, provided such town chairman shall submit the names of such designees in writing to such registrar at least forty-eight hours before the election. A registrar of voters shall, at the request of the town chairman of the party with which such registrar is enrolled, change such appointments of designees of such town chairman, at any time before the closing of the polls on the day of an election.

      (b) Except for rows of candidates entitled to unofficial checkers under subsection (a) of this section, each group of three or more electors whose names appear in one single row on the ballot in a voting district, may designate not more than two electors of the state in which the voting district is located, to serve as unofficial checkers on behalf of the candidates whose names appear in such row. Such candidates shall submit a list of the names of such designees to the registrars of voters at least forty-eight hours prior to the election. The registrars of voters shall verify that each such designee is an elector of the state and shall appoint not more than two such designees to serve each such row of candidates. The registrars of voters shall, at the request of such a group of three or more electors, change such designations at any time before the closing of the polls on the day of an election.

      (c) If such designation is not so made with respect to unofficial checkers for any voting district at an election, such registrar may appoint for such district not more than four electors of his own choice to serve as unofficial checkers, provided a registrar may establish two or more shifts for unofficial checkers, in which case such registrar may appoint not more than four such unofficial checkers for each line of electors in each district for each shift, such appointment to be made at least twenty-four hours before the election, provided any candidates entitled to unofficial checkers under subsection (b) of this section are deemed to have waived their rights under this section if names of designees are not filed in a timely manner.

      (d) No candidate for an office in an election may be an unofficial checker at such election. In municipalities divided into two voting districts in which registrars are elected for each district, such appointments may be made by the registrars in each district. Such unofficial checkers may remain within the polling place for the purpose of checking their own copy of the registry list to indicate the names of electors who have voted, and may enter and leave the restricted area surrounding the polling place during the hours of election or referendum for the purpose of taking such information outside said area or may communicate such information from the polling place by means of telephones provided by the party for which such checkers were appointed. If any such unofficial checker interferes with the orderly process of voting or attempts to influence any elector, he shall be evicted by the moderator. An unofficial checker appointed pursuant to this section may receive compensation from the municipality in which the election is held.

      (e) At least forty-eight hours before the opening of the polls at a referendum, the registrars of voters may jointly appoint for each voting district not more than eight electors of the town to serve as unofficial checkers, provided the registrars notify (1) each committee and person on whose behalf a political committee statement of organization or a certificate of exemption has been filed for the referendum with the town clerk in accordance with chapter 155 and (2) each other group known to be for and each other group known to be against the referendum issue, of the right of such committee, person or group to submit designees to the registrars of voters. Any person for or against a referendum question may request consideration for such appointment by notifying the registrars of voters at least forty-eight hours before the opening of the polls at the referendum, indicating his position on the referendum question. The registrars may appoint designees of one side alone if the other side chooses not to submit designees. A list of the names of persons who request such appointment and persons, groups or committees who are notified pursuant to this subsection shall be maintained by the registrars as a public record. If there are no requests or submissions for such appointments, the registrars shall not appoint any such unofficial checkers.

      (f) No election or referendum official shall perform the functions of an unofficial checker pursuant to this section.

      (1957, P.A. 494, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 498; 1969, P.A. 500, S. 4; 1971, P.A. 97, S. 1; P.A. 75-271; 75-488, S. 1, 3; P.A. 83-391, S. 16, 24; P.A. 87-471, S. 1; P.A. 88-173, S. 1; P.A. 93-384, S. 14; P.A. 95-171, S. 9, 14; P.A. 11-20, S. 5; 11-173, S. 36.)

      History: 1963 act changed time limit for appointing party checkers from 24 to 48 hours prior to election and increased number from two to four and authorized party chairmen to designate whom they wished to have serve; 1969 act provided for appointment of party checkers for each established shift; 1971 act provided for use of telephones provided by the party for use of party checkers; P.A. 75-271 changed term "party" to "unofficial" checkers, provided for unofficial checkers for groups having three or more names on single row on the ballot label and provided that no unofficial checkers receive compensation from the municipality in which election was held, for performing this function; P.A. 75-488 added references to checkers for each "line" of electors; P.A. 83-391 amended section to permit compensation of unofficial checkers and added Subsec. (e) prohibiting election officials from performing the functions of unofficial checkers; P.A. 87-471 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to authorize changes in appointments or designations of unofficial checkers; P.A. 88-173 amended Subsecs. (a) and (c) to allow a registrar to establish two or more shifts for unofficial checkers where previously two shifts for election officials under the provisions of Sec. 9-258a were permitted; P.A. 93-384 inserted "of designees of such town chairman" in last sentence of Subsec. (a), inserted new Subsec. (e) authorizing registrars to appoint unofficial checkers at a referendum and relettered former Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (f), adding reference to referendum officials; P.A. 95-171 amended Subsec. (d) by adding "two" re municipalities divided into voting districts, effective January 8, 1997; P.A. 11-20 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting reference to "voting machine" and by replacing "ballot label" with "ballot", effective May 24, 2011; P.A. 11-173 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing "voting machine ballot label" with "ballot", by changing residency requirement for unofficial checkers from town to state and by making technical changes, effective July 13, 2011.

      Sec. 9-235e. Secretary of the State allowed access to polling place. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Secretary of the State, or the Secretary's designee, shall be allowed access to each polling place within the state during any municipal, state or federal election, primary or recanvass for the purpose of reviewing each polling place and recanvass for compliance with state and federal law. If the Secretary is a candidate on the ballot for any election or primary at a polling place, only the Secretary's designee may access such polling place pursuant to the provisions of this section.

      (P.A. 11-46, S. 3.)

      History: P.A. 11-46 effective June 13, 2011.

      Sec. 9-236. Activities prohibited in and near polling place; distance markers; entry restricted; exceptions. (a) On the day of any primary, referendum or election, no person shall solicit on behalf of or in opposition to the candidacy of another or himself or on behalf of or in opposition to any question being submitted at the election or referendum, or loiter or peddle or offer any advertising matter, ballot or circular to another person within a radius of seventy-five feet of any outside entrance in use as an entry to any polling place or in any corridor, passageway or other approach leading from any such outside entrance to such polling place or in any room opening upon any such corridor, passageway or approach. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit (1) parent-teacher associations or parent-teacher organizations from holding bake sales or other fund-raising activities on the day of any primary, referendum or election in any school used as a polling place, provided such sales or activities shall not be held in the room in which the election booths are located, (2) the registrars of voters from directing the officials at a primary, referendum or election to distribute, within the restricted area, adhesive labels on which are imprinted the words "I Voted Today", or (3) the registrars of voters in a primary, election or referendum from jointly permitting nonpartisan activities to be conducted in a room other than the room in which the election booths are located. The registrars may jointly impose such conditions and limitations on such nonpartisan activity as deemed necessary to ensure the orderly process of voting. The moderator shall evict any person who in any way interferes with the orderly process of voting.

      (b) (1) The selectmen shall provide suitable markers to indicate the seventy-five-foot distance from such entrance. Such markers shall consist of a board resting on an iron rod, which board shall be not less than twelve inches square and painted a bright color and shall bear the figures and letters "75 feet" and the following words: "On the day of any primary, referendum or election no person shall solicit in behalf of or in opposition to another or himself or peddle or offer any ballot, advertising matter or circular to another person or loiter within a radius of seventy-five feet of any outside entrance in use as an entry to any polling place or in any corridor, passageway or other approach leading from any such outside entrance to such polling place or in any room opening upon any such corridor, passageway or approach."

      (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the selectmen may provide the markers required by the provisions of this subsection in effect prior to October 1, 1983, except that in the case of a referendum which is not held in conjunction with an election or a primary, the selectmen shall provide the markers required by subdivision (1) of this subsection.

      (3) The moderator and the moderator's assistants shall meet at least twenty minutes before the opening of a primary, referendum or an election in the voting district, and shall cause to be placed by a police officer or constable, or such other primary or election official as they select, a suitable number of distance markers. Such moderator or any police officer or constable shall prohibit loitering and peddling of tickets within that distance.

      (c) No person except those permitted or exempt under this section or section 9-236a and primary or election officials and party checkers appointed under section 9-235 shall be allowed within any polling place except for the purpose of casting his vote. Representatives of the news media shall be allowed to enter, remain within and leave any polling place or restricted area surrounding any polling place to observe the election, provided any such representative who in any way interferes with the orderly process of voting shall be evicted by the moderator. A number of students in grades four to twelve, inclusive, not to exceed four at any one time in any one polling place, may enter any polling place between twelve o'clock noon and three o'clock p.m. for the purpose of observing the activities taking place in the polling place, provided there is proper parental or teacher supervision present, and provided further, any such student who in any way interferes with the orderly process of voting shall be evicted by the moderator. An elector may be accompanied into any polling place by one or more children who are fifteen years of age or younger and supervised by the elector if the elector is the parent or legal guardian of such children. Any person who violates any provision of this section or, while the polls are open for voting, removes or injures any such distance marker, shall be fined not more than fifty dollars or imprisoned not more than three months, or both.

      (1949 Rev., S. 1068; 1953, 1955, June, 1955, S. 712d; November, 1955, S. N113; 1957, P.A. 494, S. 2; 1969, P.A. 65; 799; P.A. 73-410, S. 1, 2; P.A. 78-153, S. 29, 32; P.A. 79-370; P.A. 81-434, S. 1; P.A. 83-147; P.A. 87-251, S. 1; P.A. 89-286, S. 1, 3; P.A. 93-384, S. 1; P.A. 94-203, S. 8, 12; P.A. 97-154, S. 1, 27; P.A. 10-32, S. 23; P.A. 11-20, S. 36.)

      History: 1969 acts provided for admission of representatives of news media to any polling place at discretion of moderator and provided that parent-teacher associations or organizations may hold bake sales or other fund raising activities on an election or primary day in a school used as a polling place provided that the activity not take place in room where election booths are located; P.A. 73-410 expanded rights of representatives of news media to remain within and to leave polling places to observe the election, further provided for eviction of such representatives by moderator if in any way they interfere with voting; P.A. 78-153 prohibited placement of advertising matter related directly or indirectly to election or primary on municipally-owned property, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-370 provided for admission of no more than four, at any one time, junior or senior high school students to a polling place between hours of noon and three p.m. for purpose of observation and also provided for eviction in case of interference; P.A. 81-434 eliminated a prohibition against placing political advertising matter on municipally-owned property on the day of a primary or election; P.A. 83-147 applied the provisions of this section to referenda and allowed selectmen to use markers required by this section prior to October 1, 1983, in certain circumstances; P.A. 87-251 allowed children 10 years of age or younger to accompany an elector into a polling place; P.A. 89-286 allowed students in grades four to twelve, inclusive, instead of junior and senior high school students only, to enter polling place "between twelve o'clock noon and three o'clock p.m." instead of "during the hours of twelve o'clock noon and three o'clock p.m." and, when allowed by registrars of voters, for purposes of Sec. 9-236a; P.A. 93-384 authorized distribution of "I Voted Today" labels in restricted area; P.A. 94-203 inserted "or in opposition to" and moved a reference to Sec. 9-236a, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 97-154 divided section into Subsecs., amended Subsec. (a) by inserting Subdiv. numbers and adding Subdiv. (3) re nonpartisan activities in a room other than the room in which election booths are located, and amended Subsec. (c) to increase maximum age of children who may accompany an elector into polling place from 10 years to 15 years, and to add proviso that such elector be the parent or legal guardian of such children, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 10-32 made technical changes, effective May 10, 2010; P.A. 11-20 amended Subsec. (a) to delete exception re Sec. 9-294, effective May 24, 2011.