CHAPTER 153
NOMINATIONS AND POLITICAL PARTIES

PART I
GENERAL

      Sec. 9-377. Write-in spaces on ballots prohibited. At a primary votes may be cast and counted only for duly qualified candidates at such primary whose names appear on the ballot on primary day. No write-in spaces shall appear on the ballots used at a primary.

      (June, 1955, S. 609d; November, 1955, S. N94; 1958 Rev., S. 9-122; 1963, P.A. 17, S. 6; P.A. 76-50, S. 6, 7; P.A. 86-179, S. 49, 53; P.A. 11-20, S. 25.)

      History: 1963 act restated existing provisions; P.A. 76-50 deleted "absentee ballots" from the operation of the section; P.A. 86-179 deleted all of existing section and added specific provisions re casting and counting of votes, write-in slides on machine and write-in spaces on absentee ballots; P.A. 11-20 replaced language re write-in slides on voting machines and write-in spaces on absentee ballots with prohibition re write-in spaces on ballots, effective May 24, 2011 (Revisor's note: A reference to "ballot label" was changed editorially by the Revisors to "ballot" to conform with changes made by P.A. 11-20, S. 1).

PART III
NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES

A

MAJOR PARTIES

      Sec. 9-400. Filing of candidacies; state or district office. (a) A candidacy for nomination by a political party to a state office may be filed by or on behalf of any person whose name appears upon the last-completed enrollment list of such party in any municipality within the state and who has either (1) received at least fifteen per cent of the votes of the convention delegates present and voting on any roll-call vote taken on the endorsement or proposed endorsement of a candidate for such state office, whether or not the party-endorsed candidate for such office received a unanimous vote on the last ballot, or (2) circulated a petition and obtained the signatures of at least two per cent of the enrolled members of such party in the state, in accordance with the provisions of sections 9-404a to 9-404c, inclusive. Candidacies described in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be filed by submitting to the Secretary of the State not later than four o'clock p.m. on the fourteenth day following the close of the state convention, a certificate, signed by such candidate and attested by either (A) the chairman or presiding officer, or (B) the secretary of the convention, that such candidate received at least fifteen per cent of such votes, and that such candidate consents to be a candidate in a primary of such party for such state office. Such certificate shall specify the candidate's name as the candidate authorizes it to appear on the ballot, the candidate's full residence address and the title of the office for which the candidacy is being filed. A single such certificate or petition for state office may be filed on behalf of two or more candidates for different state offices who consent to have their names appear on a single row of the primary ballot under subsection (b) of section 9-437. Candidacies described in subdivision (2) of this subsection shall be filed by submitting said petition not later than four o'clock p.m. on the sixty-third day preceding the day of the primary for such office to the registrar of voters of the towns in which the respective petition pages were circulated. Each registrar shall file each page of such petition with the Secretary of the State in accordance with the provisions of section 9-404c. A petition filed by or on behalf of a candidate for state office shall be invalid for such candidate if such candidate is certified as the party-endorsed candidate pursuant to section 9-388 or as receiving at least fifteen per cent of the convention vote for such office pursuant to this subsection. Except as provided in section 9-416a, upon the expiration of the time period for party endorsement and circulation and tabulation of petitions and signatures, if any, if one or more candidacies for such state office have been filed pursuant to the provisions of this section, the Secretary of the State shall notify all town clerks and registrars of voters in accordance with the provisions of section 9-433, that a primary for such state office shall be held in each municipality in accordance with the provisions of section 9-415.

      (b) A candidacy for nomination by a political party to a district office may be filed by or on behalf of any person whose name appears upon the last-completed enrollment list of such party within the district the person seeks to represent that is in the office of the Secretary of the State at the end of the last day prior to the convention for the party from which the person seeks nomination and who has either (1) received at least fifteen per cent of the votes of the convention delegates present and voting on any roll-call vote taken on the endorsement or proposed endorsement of a candidate for such district office, whether or not the party-endorsed candidate for such office received a unanimous vote on the last ballot, or (2) circulated a petition and obtained the signatures of at least two per cent of the enrolled members of such party in the district for the district office of representative in Congress, and at least five per cent of the enrolled members of such party in the district for the district offices of state senator, state representative and judge of probate, in accordance with the provisions of sections 9-404a to 9-404c, inclusive. Candidacies described in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be filed by submitting to the Secretary of the State not later than four o'clock p.m. on the fourteenth day following the close of the district convention, a certificate, signed by such candidate and attested by either (A) the chairman or presiding officer, or (B) the secretary of the convention, that such candidate received at least fifteen per cent of such votes, and that the candidate consents to be a candidate in a primary of such party for such district office. Such certificate shall specify the candidate's name as the candidate authorizes it to appear on the ballot, the candidate's full residence address and the title and district of the office for which the candidacy is being filed. Candidacies described in subdivision (2) of this subsection shall be filed by submitting said petition not later than four o'clock p.m. on the sixty-third day preceding the day of the primary for such office to the registrar of voters of the towns in which the respective petition pages were circulated. Each registrar shall file each page of such petition with the Secretary in accordance with the provisions of section 9-404c. A petition may only be filed by or on behalf of a candidate for the district office of state senator, state representative or judge of probate who is not certified as the party-endorsed candidate pursuant to section 9-388 or as receiving at least fifteen per cent of the convention vote for such office pursuant to this subsection. A petition filed by or on behalf of a candidate for the district office of representative in Congress shall be invalid if said candidate is certified as the party-endorsed candidate pursuant to section 9-388 or as receiving at least fifteen per cent of the convention vote for such office pursuant to this subsection. Except as provided in section 9-416a, upon the expiration of the time period for party endorsement and circulation and tabulation of petitions and signatures, if any, if one or more candidacies for such district office have been filed pursuant to the provisions of this section, the Secretary of the State shall notify all town clerks within the district, in accordance with the provisions of section 9-433, that a primary for such district office shall be held in each municipality and each part of a municipality within the district in accordance with the provisions of section 9-415.

      (c) For the purposes of this section, the number of enrolled members of a party shall be determined by the latest enrollment records in the office of the Secretary of the State prior to the earliest date that primary petitions were available. 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 petition signatures required under this section, as provided in section 9-35c.

      (d) On the last day for filing primary petition candidacies in accordance with the provisions of this section, the office or office facilities of the registrars of voters shall open not later than one o'clock p.m., and remain open until at least four o'clock p.m., and such registrars or the deputy or assistant registrars shall be present.

      (June, 1955, S. 589d; November, 1955, S. N70; 1957, P.A. 518, S. 17; 1958 Rev., S. 9-98; 1963, P.A. 17, S. 28; 1967, P.A. 557, S. 13; 1969, P.A. 694, S. 13; P.A. 73-657, S. 9, 13; P.A. 79-616, S. 5; P.A. 81-447, S. 9, 23; P.A. 87-382, S. 41, 55; 87-472, S. 9; P.A. 93-342, S. 2; P.A. 03-241, S. 26; P.A. 06-137, S. 6; P.A. 11-20, S. 1; 11-173, S. 60, 65.)

      History: 1963 act restated previous provisions; 1967 act added clarifying language concerning candidacy of person whose name appears on enrollment list of party within any municipality or part forming a component part of a district and provided for application of section to state representative of a district whose boundaries include a part or whole of two or more towns; 1969 act made technical changes; P.A. 73-657 added detailed language concerning the fact that assembly districts affected are those whose boundaries extend within the whole or parts of two or more towns; P.A. 79-616 provided that within 14 days following the close of state or district conventions a candidacy for nomination may be filed, a written statement of consent signed by the candidate, and if one or more such candidacies are filed a primary shall be held, applying to those who received at least 20% of convention delegates votes on roll call and deleted all provisions pertaining to petitions and the signatures required thereon, and filing fees required; P.A. 81-447 amended section to require filing of certificate by candidates receiving 20% of convention votes and to specify certificate contents, effective January 1, 1982; P.A. 87-382 added, in Subsecs. (a) and (b), "as he authorizes it to appear on the ballot"; P.A. 87-472 amended Subsec. (a) to allow single certificate for state office to be filed on behalf of two or more candidates for different state offices who consent to have their names appear on single row of primary ballot label under Sec. 9-437(b); P.A. 93-342 substituted 15% for 20% in Subsecs. (a) and (b); P.A. 03-241 substantially revised Subsecs. (a) and (b) by adding provisions to allow candidacies to also be filed by persons who circulate petition and obtain signatures of threshold percentages of enrolled party members and added Subsecs. (c) and (d) re determination of number of enrolled party members and required office hours of registrars of voters on last day for filing primary petition candidacies, effective January 1, 2004, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after that date; P.A. 06-137 amended Subsec. (a) to change the deadline for filing of petitions described in Subdiv. (2) from four o'clock p.m. on the fourteenth day following the close of the state convention to four o'clock p.m. on the sixty-third day preceding the day of the primary for the office and to change the time period for notification by the Secretary of the State to town clerks re the holding of a primary for state office from upon the expiration of the 14-day period and completion of the tabulation of petition signatures, if any, to upon the expiration of the time period for party endorsement and circulation and tabulation of petitions and signatures, if any, and amended Subsec. (b) to change the deadline for filing of petitions described in Subdiv. (2) from four o'clock p.m. on the fourteenth day following the close of the district convention to four o'clock p.m. on the sixty-third day preceding the day of the primary for the office and to change the time period for notification by the Secretary of the State to town clerks within the district re the holding of a primary for district office from upon the expiration of the 14-day period and completion of the tabulation of petition signatures, if any, to upon the expiration of the time period for party endorsement and circulation and tabulation of petitions and signatures, if any, effective January 1, 2007; P.A. 11-173 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing "ballot label" with "ballot", by requiring Secretary of the State to notify registrars of primaries for a state office and by making a technical change and amended Subsec. (b) to require candidate for nomination to a district office to appear on the last-completed enrollment list of the nominating party of the district, rather than the municipality or part of the municipality, that is in the office of the Secretary of the State prior to the convention, effective July 13, 2011.

      Sec. 9-406. Filing of primary petition candidacies for municipal offices and town committee members. A candidacy for nomination by a political party to a municipal office or a candidacy for election as a member of a town committee may be filed by or on behalf of any person whose name appears upon the last-completed enrollment list of such party within the municipality or within the political subdivision, senatorial district or assembly district within which a person is to be nominated or a town committee member is to be elected, as the case may be. Any such candidacy shall be filed by filing with the registrar within the applicable time specified in section 9-405 a petition signed by (1) at least five per cent of the electors whose names appear upon the last-completed enrollment list of such party in such municipality or in such political subdivision, senatorial district or assembly district, or (2) such lesser number of such electors as such party by its rules prescribes, as the case may be. For the purpose of computing five per cent of the last-completed enrollment list, the registrar shall use the last printed enrollment list and the printed updated list, if any, of a political party certified and last completed by the registrars of voters prior to the date the first primary petition was issued, excluding therefrom the names of individuals who have ceased to be electors.

      (June, 1955, S. 590d; November, 1955, S. N71; 1957, P.A. 518, S. 18; 1958 Rev., S. 9-99; 1963, P.A. 17, S. 34; 1967, P.A. 557, S. 14; P.A. 75-269, S. 6; P.A. 79-616, S. 6; P.A. 80-483, S. 36, 186; P.A. 99-276, S. 7, 15; P.A. 03-241, S. 28; P.A. 11-173, S. 62.)

      History: 1963 act restated previous provisions; 1967 act added assembly district to application of section; P.A. 75-269 provided that in computing 5% the names of individuals ceasing to be electors shall be excluded therefrom; P.A. 79-616 deleted requirement for filing fees; P.A. 80-483 made technical changes; P.A. 99-276 added reference to "or updated" list, effective January 1, 2000; P.A. 03-241 specified that filing of candidacy shall be "within the applicable time specified in section 9-405", specified that enrollment list to be used for computation purposes is that last completed "prior to the date the first primary petition was issued" and made technical changes, effective January 1, 2004, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after that date; P.A. 11-173 deleted reference to supplementary list, effective July 13, 2011.

      Sec. 9-433. Notice of primary; state and district office. (a) After the deadline set forth in section 9-400 for filing candidacies, and upon the completion of the tabulation of petition signatures, if any, if one or more candidacies for nomination by a political party to a state or district office have been filed in accordance with the provisions of section 9-400, the Secretary of the State shall notify the clerk of each town within the state or within the district, as the case may be, that a primary is to be held by such party for the nomination of such party to such office. Such notice shall include a list of all the proposed candidates, those endorsed by the convention as well as those filing candidacies, together with their addresses and the titles of the office for which they are candidates and, if applicable, a statement that unaffiliated electors may vote in the primary. The clerk of each such town shall thereupon cause such notice to be published forthwith 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, together with a statement of the date upon which the primary is to be held, the hours during which the polls shall be open and the location of the polls.

      (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.

      (June, 1955, S. 597d; November, 1955, S. N80; 1957, P.A. 518, S. 26; 1958 Rev., S. 9-108; 1963, P.A. 17, S. 59; 393, S. 5; P.A. 79-616, S. 22; P.A. 87-509, S. 14, 24; P.A. 03-241, S. 41; P.A. 11-173, S. 58.)

      History: 1963 acts restated previous provisions and deleted requirement that notice be posted on public signpost; P.A. 79-616 deleted reference to petition signatures under Sec. 9-403 and substituted reference to expiration of the fourteen-day period under Sec. 9-400 and further provided for notification of primary where one or more candidacies have been filed; P.A. 87-509 required notice to include, if applicable, statement that unaffiliated electors may vote in primary; P.A. 03-241 substituted "After the deadline set forth in section 9-400 for filing candidacies, and upon the completion of the tabulation of petition signatures, if any," for "Upon the expiration of the fourteen-day period prescribed by section 9-400, and" and made a technical change, effective January 1, 2004, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after that date; 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.

      Sec. 9-434. Verification of names on filing with municipal clerk. Exception. Upon the filing with the clerk of a municipality of the names of party-endorsed candidates pursuant to section 9-390 or upon the filing with such clerk of petitions for contesting candidates pursuant to section 9-412, such clerk shall verify and correct the names of any such candidate as the candidate authorizes the candidate's name to appear on the ballot, pursuant to the certificate filed in accordance with subsection (c) of section 9-391 or the statement of consent filed in accordance with section 9-409, as applicable, endorse the same as having been so verified and corrected and use the same in the preparation of the ballots for the primary. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the municipal offices of state senator and state representative.

      (November, 1955, S. N107; 1957, P.A. 518, S. 35; 1958 Rev., S. 9-129; 1963, P.A. 17, S. 60; P.A. 87-382, S. 44, 55; P.A. 11-20, S. 1; 11-173, S. 66.)

      History: 1963 act restated previous provisions; P.A. 87-382 added sentence making section inapplicable to municipal offices of state senator and state representative; P.A. 11-173 replaced language re candidates' names in accordance with the registry list with language re candidate's name as authorized by the candidate and replaced "ballot labels" with "ballots", effective July 13, 2011.

      Sec. 9-435. Notice of primary; municipal office or town committee members. Except as provided in sections 9-418 and 9-419, if in any municipality, within the time specified in section 9-405, a candidacy for nomination by a political party to any municipal office or for election as a town committee member is filed with the registrar, in conformity with the provisions of sections 9-405 to 9-412, inclusive, and section 9-414, by or on behalf of any person other than party-endorsed candidates, the registrar shall forthwith after the deadline for certification of party-endorsed candidates notify the clerk of such municipality that a primary is to be held by such party for the nomination of such party to such office or for the election by such party of town committee members, as the case may be. Such notice shall include a list of all the proposed candidates, those endorsed as well as those filing candidacies, together with their addresses and the titles of the offices or positions for which they are candidates. In the case of a primary for justices of the peace, such notice shall also contain the complete ballot designation of each slate pursuant to subsection (h) of section 9-437. The clerk of the municipality shall thereupon cause such notice to be published forthwith in a newspaper having a general circulation in such municipality, together with a statement of the date upon which the primary is to be held, the hours during which the polls shall be open and the location of the polls. The clerk of the municipality shall also file such notice with the Secretary of the State not later than three business days after receipt of such notice from the registrar of voters. The clerk shall forthwith publish any change in the proposed candidates, listing such changes.

      (June, 1955, S. 598d; November, 1955, S. N81; 1957, P.A. 518, S. 27; 1958 Rev., S. 9-109; 1963, P.A. 17, S. 61; 393, S. 6; P.A. 79-616, S. 19; P.A. 87-472, S. 7; P.A. 03-241, S. 42; P.A. 11-20, S. 26; 11-173, S. 22.)

      History: 1963 acts restated previous provisions and deleted requirement that notice be posted on public signpost; P.A. 79-616 changed reference to Sec. 9-399 to Sec. 9-400 and further added "of such notice" to the provision for a copy to be sent to the secretary of the state; P.A. 87-472 required notice, in case of primary for convention delegates, to also contain complete ballot label designation of each slate pursuant to Sec. 9-437(h); P.A. 03-241 removed convention delegate candidacies from application of section, changed section references, applied provisions to persons other than party-endorsed candidates, added reference to notification "after the deadline for certification of party-endorsed candidates" and substituted "justices of the peace" for "delegates to a convention", effective January 1, 2004, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after that date; P.A. 11-20 replaced "ballot label" with "ballot" and replaced provision re notice to Secretary of the State and recording same with provision requiring clerk to file notice with Secretary not later than 3 business days after receipt thereof from registrar, effective May 24, 2011; P.A. 11-173 made identical changes as P.A. 11-20, effective July 13, 2011.

      Sec. 9-436. Use, number and adjustment of voting tabulators; voting booths; conditions and rules for use of paper ballots; qualification and appointment of primary officials. (a) Voting tabulators shall be used at each primary, provided, (1) if, because of the number of offices and positions to be voted upon at a primary, there is an insufficient number of vertical columns on any ballot to be used in a municipality, the vote in such municipality at such primary for such offices or positions as the Secretary of the State determines shall be taken by paper ballots, and (2) if, because of the number of candidates for any office or position to be voted upon at a primary, there is an insufficient number of horizontal rows with respect to such office or position on any ballot to be used in the municipality, the vote in such municipality at such primary for such office or position shall be taken by paper ballots. More than one voting tabulator may be used in any voting district if the registrar so prescribes. The registrar shall furnish a number of voting booths sufficient to provide a voting booth for each five hundred or fraction of five hundred electors eligible to vote at such primary in the municipality or voting district, as the case may be, and other necessary equipment. In each polling place in which a party has authorized unaffiliated electors, pursuant to section 9-431, to vote for some but not all offices to be contested at the primary, a separate voting tabulator shall be used for such unaffiliated electors and the registrar shall separately furnish one voting booth for each five hundred or fraction of five hundred enrolled party members and one voting booth for each five hundred or fraction of five hundred unaffiliated electors authorized to vote at such primary in such district. In determining such number of electors, enrolled party members or unaffiliated electors, the registrar shall not count the names on the enrollment or registry lists of seventy-five per cent of such electors, unaffiliated electors or enrolled party members who reside in institutions, as defined in section 9-159q. The registrar may provide more than the minimum number of voting booths required by this section.

      (b) Each tabulator shall be so arranged that the elector may vote for as many persons for nomination or election to each office or position as there are persons to be nominated or elected, as the case may be, and no more, and so that the elector may vote for individual candidates; provided the vote for justices of the peace shall be by slate, as provided in section 9-443.

      (c) The registrar shall appoint from among the enrolled party members in the municipality or political subdivision holding the primary, as the case may be, to serve in each polling place, the primary polling place officials, who shall consist of one moderator, at least one, but not more than two official checkers, not more than two challengers if he deems it necessary, and at least one and not more than two ballot clerks and at least one but not more than two voting tabulator tenders for each tabulator in use at such primary and, in towns with two or more voting districts at least one and not more than two assistant registrars, provided (1) in the case of a political subdivision holding a primary, if no enrolled party member who resides in the political subdivision and who is a certified moderator consents to serve as a moderator, the registrar may appoint any enrolled party member who resides in the municipality and is a certified moderator to be moderator, (2) in the case of either a municipality or a political subdivision holding a primary, if no enrolled party member can be found or no such person consents to serve as a moderator, the registrar may appoint any elector who resides in the municipality and is a certified moderator to be moderator, (3) in the case of a political subdivision holding a primary, if an insufficient number of enrolled party members who reside in the political subdivision consent to serve as checkers, challengers, voting tabulator tenders or assistant registrars, the registrar may appoint any enrolled party member who resides in the municipality to be a checker, challenger, voting tabulator tender or assistant registrar, (4) in the case of either a municipality or a political subdivision holding a primary, if a sufficient number of enrolled party members cannot be found or do not consent to serve in a position described in subdivision (3) of this subsection, the registrar may appoint any elector who resides in the municipality to any such position, and (5) in the case of either a municipality or a political subdivision holding more than one primary on the same day for different political parties, one certified moderator may serve as moderator for both primaries, if the registrars of voters so agree. If unaffiliated electors are authorized under section 9-431 to vote for some but not all of the offices to be contested at the primary, the registrar shall appoint two additional checkers to check the list of unaffiliated electors who are authorized to vote on the separate tabulators. If unaffiliated electors are authorized under section 9-431 to vote in the primary of either of two parties in the same polling place, whether for some or for all offices to be contested at the primary, each such registrar shall appoint two additional checkers to check the list of unaffiliated electors who are authorized to vote in either such primary.

      (d) The registrar shall designate one of the moderators so appointed by the registrar to be head moderator or shall appoint as head moderator an elector who is not also moderator of a polling place and who shall be deemed a primary official. The registrar may also appoint a deputy head moderator to assist the head moderator in the performance of his duties. A deputy head moderator shall also be deemed to be a primary official. Each registrar's appointments of primary polling place officials, except moderators of polling places, and of designees to conduct supervised voting of absentee ballots pursuant to sections 9-159q and 9-159r shall be divided equally, as nearly as may be, between designees of the party-endorsed candidates and designees of one or more of the contestants, provided, if a party-endorsed candidate is a member of a party other than the one holding the primary, such primary officials shall be enrolled party members of the party holding the primary. Names of designees and alternate designees for such positions shall be submitted in writing by party-endorsed candidates and contestants to the registrar not later than ten days before the primary, except that names of designees and alternate designees for the position of moderator shall be so submitted not later than twenty-one days before the primary and, if such lists are not so presented, all such appointments shall be made by the registrar but in the above-mentioned proportion. The registrar shall notify all such candidates and contestants of their right to submit a list of designees under this section. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the registrar shall appoint as moderators only persons who are certified to serve as moderators or alternate moderators pursuant to section 9-229, unless there is an insufficient number of such persons who are enrolled members of the registrar's party in the municipality or political subdivision holding the primary, in which case the registrar may appoint a new moderator in accordance with section 9-229, but only to the extent of such insufficiency. Primary central counting moderators and absentee ballot counters shall also be deemed primary officials. No primary official shall perform services for any candidate at the primary on primary day.

      (e) If paper ballots are required for the vote on any office or position in a municipality, the clerk of the municipality, in consultation with the registrars of voters, shall print a paper ballot for use in such primary for nomination to such office or election to such position. The Secretary of the State shall prescribe the form of such paper ballot. The Secretary of the State may prescribe general rules for the use of paper ballots in any primary, including the duties of officials at the polls with regard to the same, the marking of the same and the counting of the same. The procedure to be followed when paper ballots are so used shall conform, as nearly as may be, to the procedure applicable to voting tabulators provided in this chapter and to the law governing the use of paper ballots in regular elections and such rules shall have the force and effect of law. Chapter 54 shall not apply to rules made pursuant to this section.

      (f) The provisions of section 9-258 concerning additional lines of electors at a polling place, and of section 9-258a concerning two shifts of officials at a polling place, shall apply to a primary. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the provisions of the general statutes relating to the use of voting tabulators at regular elections shall apply as nearly as may be to the use of voting tabulators at primaries.

      (June, 1955, S. 600d; November, 1955, S. N83; 1957, P.A. 518, S. 29; 1958 Rev., S. 9-111; 1963, P.A. 17, S. 62; 129; 1971, P.A. 836, S. 5; P.A. 82-426, S. 11, 14; 82-472, S. 29, 183; P.A. 83-391, S. 19, 24; P.A. 84-319, S. 47, 49; P.A. 85-592, S. 11; P.A. 87-382, S. 45, 55; 87-509, S. 15, 24; P.A. 89-297, S. 6, 18; P.A. 90-156, S. 7, 11; P.A. 93-384, S. 4, 28; P.A. 94-203, S. 4, 12; P.A. 95-177, S. 5, 7; P.A. 96-180, S. 14, 166; 96-119, S. 7, 14; P.A. 97-47, S. 53; P.A. 98-67, S. 3, 10; P.A. 03-241, S. 43, 58; P.A. 11-20, S. 27.)

      History: 1963 acts restated previous provisions and placed time limit on submission of designees for primary officials to registrar; 1971 act provided for designation of a head moderator by the registrar; P.A. 82-426 amended section to provide that names of designees and alternates for primary moderator are to be submitted 21 days before primary and to require appointment of only certified moderators unless the number of such persons is insufficient; P.A. 82-472 substituted reference to Ch. 54 for obsolete reference to repealed Secs. 4-41 to 4-50; P.A. 83-391 amended section to reduce number of voting machines and officials required, to provide that mechanics need not be electors of any town and to provide that provisions of Secs. 9-258 and 9-258a concerning additional lines of electors and shifts of officials shall apply to primaries and to prohibit primary officials from performing services for any candidate on the day of the primary; P.A. 84-319 added requirement that registrar notify candidates and contestants of their right to submit list of designees for election official positions; P.A. 85-592 authorized registrars to appoint a deputy head moderator who shall be deemed a primary official; P.A. 87-382 repealed provision re locking of party levers; P.A. 87-509 substituted "electors eligible to vote at such primary" for "enrolled party members whose names are on the last-completed enrollment list", established requirement for separate voting machines for unaffiliated electors in each polling place in which a party authorizes unaffiliated electors to vote for some but not all offices to be contested at primary, required registrar to appoint at least one assistant registrar as a primary polling place official in a town with two or more voting districts, required appointment of two additional checkers if unaffiliated electors authorized to vote for some but not all offices to be contested at primary and required appointment of two additional checkers if unaffiliated electors authorized to vote in primary of either of two parties in same polling place; P.A. 89-297 allowed registrar, in case of a political subdivision holding a primary, to appoint enrolled party members residing elsewhere in municipality to serve as moderator, checker, challenger or voting machine tender, when necessary; P.A. 90-156 authorized registrar to appoint any enrolled party member residing in municipality to be an assistant registrar if insufficient number of enrolled party members residing in political subdivision holding primary consent to be assistant registrars; P.A. 93-384 renumbered Subdivs. and inserted new Subdivs. (2) and (4) authorizing appointment of any resident elector when enrolled party members cannot be found or do not consent to serve as primary officials, effective June 29, 1993; P.A. 94-203 required registrars to exclude 75% of names of electors, enrolled party members or unaffiliated electors residing in institutions when calculating required number of voting machines, effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-177 divided section into Subsecs., divided Subsec. (a) into Subdivs., made technical changes, amended Subsec. (e) by adding provision re designees to conduct supervised voting, and moved provisions re additional lines, shifts of officials and statutes re voting machines applying at primaries to Subsec. (g), effective January 1, 1996; P.A. 96-119, effective May 24, 1996, and P.A. 96-180, effective June 3, 1996, both deleted provision in Subsec. (g) specifying that Chapter 54 is inapplicable to rules made under this section; P.A. 97-47 amended Subsec. (e) by changing the reference to Secs. 9-150q and 9-150r to Secs. 9-159q and 9-159r, respectively; P.A. 98-67 amended Subsec. (e) to exempt polling place moderators from requirement that polling place officials be divided between designees of candidates, effective July 1, 1998; P.A. 03-241 amended Subsec. (a) by substituting "twenty-four hundred" for "twelve hundred" and amended Subsec. (c) by substituting "justices of the peace" for "delegates to conventions", effective January 1, 2004, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after that date; P.A. 11-20 replaced references to voting machines or machines with references to voting tabulators, ballots or voting booths throughout, amended Subsec. (a) by changing required number of booths to one for each 500 or fraction of 500 electors or unaffiliated electors, deleted former Subsec. (b) re mechanics, redesignated existing Subsecs. (c) to (g) as Subsecs. (b) to (f), amended Subsec. (c) by adding provisions re ballot clerks and maximum number of official checkers and tabulator tenders and by adding Subdiv. (5) re holding of more than one primary, amended Subsec. (d) by deleting reference to mechanics, and amended Subsec. (e) by adding provision re consultation with registrars of voters, effective May 24, 2011.

      Sec. 9-437. Form of ballot. Position of candidates' names on ballot. Sample ballots. Voting instructions and information. (a) At the top of each ballot shall be printed the name of the party holding the primary, and each ballot shall contain the names of all candidates to be voted upon at such primary, except the names of justices of the peace. The vertical columns shall be headed by the designation of the office or position and instructions as to the number for which an elector may vote for such office or position, in the same manner as a ballot used in a regular election. The name of each candidate for town committee or municipal office, except for the municipal offices of state senator and state representative, shall appear on the ballot as it appears on the registry list of such candidate's town of voting residence, except as provided in section 9-42a. The name of each candidate for state or district office or for the municipal offices of state senator or state representative shall appear on the ballot as it appears on the certificate or statement of consent filed under section 9-388, 9-391, 9-400 or 9-409. On the first horizontal line, below the designation of the office or position in each column, shall be placed the name of the party-endorsed candidate for such office or position, such name to be marked with an asterisk; provided, where more than one person may be voted for for any office or position, the names of the party-endorsed candidates shall be arranged in alphabetical order from left to right under the appropriate office or position designation and shall continue, if necessary, from left to right on the next lower line or lines. In the case of no party endorsement there shall be inserted the designation "no party endorsement" at the head of the vertical column, immediately beneath the designation of the office or position. On the horizontal lines below the line for party-endorsed candidates shall be placed, in the appropriate columns, the names of all other candidates as hereinafter provided.

      (b) (1) In the case of two or more such candidates for the same state or district office, precedence as to row shall be determined by the alphabetical order of the surnames of such candidates, except as provided under subdivision (2) of this subsection. (2) If a single certificate or a single petition has been filed under subsection (a) of section 9-400 on behalf of two or more candidates and proposing one candidate for each state office to be contested at such primary, a single row shall be used for the names of such candidates and precedence as to row between such certificates and petitions shall be determined by the Secretary of the State by lot in a ceremony which shall be open to the public. The names of all other candidates for state office shall be placed in the appropriate columns in alphabetical order on the rows below the row or rows used for candidates whose names are contained in such a single certificate, certificates, single petition or petitions.

      (c) Whenever the position of candidates or slates on the ballot under the provisions of this section is affected by the time or order of filing of primary petitions, and the registrar of voters certifies in writing to the town clerk that (1) two or more of the petitions to which such provisions apply were filed simultaneously, or (2) the registrar is unable to determine the time or order of filing of two or more such petitions, then for purposes of this section the order of filing of the petitions specified in the registrar's certification shall be determined by the town clerk by lot in a ceremony which shall be open to the public.

      (d) In the case of candidates for municipal office, a single row shall be used for the candidates whose names are contained in one primary petition, provided such petition proposes at least two candidates and the full number of candidates for each office to be contested at such primary as the party may nominate or choose thereat, precedence as to row being given to the candidates whose names appear in the first such petition filed, and so on in descending order.

      (e) The names of candidates for town committee members which are contained in one primary petition shall be placed in a separate row, precedence as to row being given to the candidates whose names appear in petitions in the order determined in accordance with this subsection. Petitions filed by nine o'clock a.m. on the first business day following the day on which petitions become available shall be given precedence as to row based on the number of valid signatures filed, in descending order from the greatest to the least. Petitions filed after nine o'clock a.m. on the first business day following the day on which petitions become available shall be given precedence as to row based on the order in which they are filed, if such petitions are filed during the regular business hours of the office of the registrars of voters or during any different hours for said office required under the general statutes. Such order of precedence shall be determined separately for petitions proposing the full number of candidates which the party may choose at the primary and for petitions proposing fewer than such full number of candidates, and provided further that petitions proposing such full number of candidates shall have precedence as to row over petitions proposing fewer than such full number of candidates.

      (f) Within such row or rows for those whose names are contained in one primary petition, where more than one person may be voted for any municipal office or position, such names shall be arranged in alphabetical order from left to right under the appropriate municipal office or position designation. The names of all other candidates shall be placed in the appropriate columns in alphabetical order on the horizontal lines below the line or lines used for candidates whose names are contained in one primary petition, if any; provided where more than one person may be voted for for any office or position, such names shall be arranged in alphabetical order from left to right under the appropriate office or position designation and shall continue, if necessary, from left to right on the next lower line or lines.

      (g) The name of each candidate shall appear on the ballot in such position as is hereinbefore required, and such position shall be determined as of the final time for filing candidacies specified in section 9-400 or 9-405. Vacancies in candidacies thereafter occurring shall not cause the position of any candidate's name on the ballot to be changed to another position. The name of any candidate whose candidacy has been vacated shall not appear on the ballot. If such a vacancy results in the cancellation of a primary for any office, the office column or columns where the names of the candidates and the title of the office would have appeared if the primary for that office had not been cancelled shall be left blank. If a vacancy occurs in a party-endorsed candidacy and a person is chosen in accordance with section 9-426 or 9-428 to fill the resulting vacancy in candidacy, the name of the person so chosen shall appear in the same position as that in which the name of the vacating candidate appeared. The municipal clerk shall have the ballot prepared so that the name of any candidate who has vacated such candidate's candidacy is deleted and so that the name of any candidate chosen to fill a vacancy in candidacy appears in the same position as that in which the vacated candidacy appeared. The municipal clerk may use blank or printed stickers, as the case may be, in preparing the ballots if the ballots were printed before the occurrence of the vacancy in candidacy or the selection of a candidate to fill a vacancy in candidacy. The order of the offices and positions shall be as prescribed by the Secretary of the State.

      (h) The names of candidates for election as justices of the peace shall not appear on the ballot. A single vertical column shall be used for all the candidates for election to the office of justice of the peace of a particular town. The vertical column used for justices of the peace shall be headed by the words "justices of the peace". On the first horizontal line in the vertical column used for justice of the peace shall be placed the words "party-endorsed slate". On the second and succeeding horizontal lines, in the order of the time of filing, shall be placed the words "challenge slate", preceded, in quotation marks, by the letter designating such line. The municipal clerk shall prepare a list of the names of all candidates on each slate for election as justices of the peace, including the complete ballot designation of each such slate as provided in this subsection, which shall be posted in the polling places by each moderator for the inspection of the electors prior to voting.

      (i) The names of candidates for nomination to any elective office or for election as members of a town committee, as the case may be, shall be separated from each other by a light line, but shall not be separated from each other on the ballot by names of candidates for any other office or position or by columns used for any other office or position; and the column or columns used for each office or position shall be separated from the columns used for other offices or positions by a heavy line.

      (j) All ballots used at a primary shall be prepared by the clerk of the municipality in which such primary is held and shall be printed at the expense of the municipality. Each municipality shall provide for all polling places:

      (1) At least forty-eight hours before the primary, such clerk shall have sample ballots for general distribution, which shall contain the offices or positions and names of candidates to be voted upon. Each such sample ballot shall also include printed instructions approved by the Secretary of the State concerning the use of the voting tabulator and information concerning the date of the primary and the hours during which polling places will be open. Such clerk shall have available for distribution such number of sample ballots as such clerk deems advisable, but in no event less than three which shall be posted inside the polling place so as to be visible to those within the polling place during the whole day of the primary. At least one of such sample ballots shall be posted so as to be visible to an elector being instructed on the demonstrator device, pursuant to section 9-260. If paper ballots are used in any primary, such sample paper ballots shall be overprinted with the word "Sample";

      (2) Instructions on how to cast a provisional ballot, as prescribed by the Secretary of the State;

      (3) Instructions for mail-in registrants and first-time voters who register to vote by mail on or after January 1, 2003, as prescribed by the Secretary of the State;

      (4) General information concerning voting rights under federal and Connecticut laws, including information on the right of an individual to cast a provisional ballot and instructions on how to contact the appropriate officials if such rights are alleged to have been violated, as prescribed by the Secretary of the State; and

      (5) General information on federal and state laws concerning prohibitions on acts of fraud and misrepresentation, as prescribed by the Secretary of the State.

      (k) When unaffiliated electors are authorized under section 9-431 to vote for some but not all offices to be contested at a primary, (1) separate voting tabulators shall be used for the unaffiliated electors in a voting district, (2) the ballot shall indicate that it is a partial ballot for unaffiliated electors, (3) the ballot shall contain only the offices and names of candidates for which such electors may vote, with blank columns left wherever necessary to assure that each candidate's position is the same as on the full ballot for such primary in the voting district, and (4) three sample ballots showing such partial ballot shall also be posted inside the polling place so as to be visible to such unaffiliated electors.

      (June, 1955, S. 601d; November, 1955, S. N84; 1957, P.A. 518, S. 30; 1958 Rev., S. 9-112; 1961, P.A. 230; 1963, P.A. 17, S. 63; 503, S. 2; 1967, P.A. 557, S. 19; 903; 904, S. 2; P.A. 73-481; P.A. 77-245, S. 13; P.A. 79-253; 79-616, S. 20; P.A. 80-249, S. 2; 80-281, S. 28, 31; P.A. 82-426, S. 12, 14; P.A. 83-257, S. 1, 2; 83-475, S. 30, 43; P.A. 85-577, S. 12; P.A. 87-382, S. 46, 47, 55; 87-472, S. 8, 10; 87-509, S. 17, 24; P.A. 90-1, S. 4, 5; P.A. 03-241, S. 44, 45; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 102; P.A. 04-113, S. 5; P.A. 11-20, S. 28.)

      History: 1961 act added provisions re placing of candidates' names on ballot label; 1963 acts restated previous provisions and added provision re separate rows for town committee candidates on petition; 1967 acts added "assembly district" to list of words to head vertical columns for delegates to other than state conventions, changed provision for arrangement of names so that where a primary petition proposes the full number of candidates for the positions to be contested, a separate row will be used, precedence as to row given to the first petition filed and provided for the designation "no party endorsement"; P.A. 73-481 provided for names of candidates for town committee contained in one primary petition, without the requirement for the full number of candidates for contested positions, to be placed in a separate row, precedence given to the order of filing of such petitions; P.A. 77-245 changed "town" to "municipal" clerk where appearing; P.A. 79-253 deleted requirement for number of sample ballots to be available for distribution as a per cent of the number of electors and provided for the number to be as the clerk deems advisable, but no less than those which are to be posted within the polling place; P.A. 79-616 qualified the provision for placement of candidate names on horizontal lines below the line for party-endorsed candidates by inserting "in the case of candidates for municipal office, town or committee member", section changed reference from "section 9-399" to "section 9-400"; P.A. 80-249 changed the provisions relating to delegates to a convention, following "party-endorsed slate" by adding "preceded by the last name of one of the party-endorsed candidates for delegate if such name was certified to the municipal clerk at the time of certification of party-endorsed candidates under section 9-391"; P.A. 80-281 provided that petitions proposing full number of candidates for town committee members shall have precedence over petitions proposing fewer than the full number; P.A. 82-426 amended section to allow town clerks to determine position on ballot by lot when filing order of petitions can not be verified; P.A. 83-257 divided section into Subsecs. (a) to (i), inclusive, and changed placement of words "no party endorsement" as required by Subsec. (a); P.A. 83-475 amended Subsec. (a) to require that candidate's name appear on ballot in same form as on registry list, except as provided in Sec. 9-42a and amended Subsec. (d) to establish procedure for determining order of names on ballot for candidates for town committee members; P.A. 85-577 inserted new Subsec. (b) regarding position on row for two or more candidates for the same state or district office, relettered remaining sections and in Subsec. (d) changed separate row to single row and required the petition to propose at least two candidates and the full number of candidates for each office; P.A. 87-382 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that name of a candidate for municipal office only, except for municipal offices of state senator and state representative, shall appear on ballot label as name appears on registry list and to add sentence providing that name of candidate for state or district office or for municipal office of state senator or state representative shall appear on ballot label as name appears on certificate or statement of consent and substituted "demonstrator or spare voting" for "dummy" machine in Subsec. (j); P.A. 87-472 designated existing Subsec. (b) as Subdiv. (1), inserted at end of Subdiv. (1) of Subsec. (b) "except as provided under subdivision (2) of this subsection" and added Subdiv. (2) to Subsec. (b), providing that when single certificate filed on behalf of two or more candidates and proposing one candidate for each state office to be contested at primary, single row to be used for such candidates, precedence as to row between certificates to be determined by lot, and to require names of all other candidates for state office to be placed in rows below and in Subsec. (h), repealed requirement that slates be labeled by last name of a candidate on slate and required challenge slates to be designated by letters and each slate to include names of candidates supported by slate; P.A. 87-509 added Subsec. (k) re voting machine and ballot label requirements when unaffiliated electors authorized to vote for some but not all offices to be contested at primary; P.A. 90-1 amended requirements in Subsec. (h) for ballot to include names of candidates supported by a slate; P.A. 03-241 amended Subsec. (a) by substituting "justices of the peace" for "delegates to conventions" and deleting reference to "subsection (b)" of section 9-391, amended Subsec. (b) by inserting references to petitions and amended Subsec. (h) by substituting provisions re justices of the peace for provisions re delegates to conventions and eliminating provisions re slates, effective January 1, 2004, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after that date; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 amended Subsec. (j) by adding requirement that "Each municipality shall provide for all polling places:", designating sample ballot label provisions as Subdiv. (1) and making a technical change therein, adding provisions to Subdiv. (1) re printed instructions to be included in sample ballot labels, and adding Subdivs. (2) to (5), inclusive, re voting instructions and information, effective January 1, 2004; P.A. 04-113 amended provision re row precedence based on order of filing in Subsec. (e) by adding ", if such petitions are filed during the regular business hours of the office of the registrars of voters or during any different hours for said office required under the general statutes", effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 11-20 replaced references to ballot labels with references to ballots and made technical changes throughout, amended Subsec. (g) by deleting language re voting machine pointer, amended Subsec. (j) by replacing references to voting machine with references to tabulator or device and by deleting language re sample ballot arrangement in the form of a diagram, and amended Subsec. (k) by replacing "voting machines" with "voting tabulators", effective May 24, 2011.

      Sec. 9-440. Moderators to make returns. Upon the closing of the polls at any primary held under sections 9-382 to 9-450, inclusive, the moderator, in the presence of the other officials, shall immediately lock the voting tabulators against voting and shall then proceed to ascertain, record and announce the result in the manner provided by law for ascertaining, recording and announcing the result in regular elections. The election officials shall execute certificates and returns similar to those required in regular elections. The moderator in each town not divided into voting districts, and the head moderator in each town divided into voting districts, shall transmit the results of the vote for each office contested at any such primary in the same manner and within the same time as provided under section 9-314 in an election for such office. The late filing fee provided under section 9-314 shall apply to late filing of results of primaries for state or district office. In the case of primaries for state or district offices, the Secretary of the State shall forthwith cause to be tabulated the result of the votes cast in the several municipalities in which such primaries have been held and shall publicly declare the result thereof, and a certificate attesting thereto shall be entered in the Secretary's records.

      (June, 1955, S. 604d; November, 1955, S. N89; 1958 Rev., S. 9-117; 1963, P.A. 17, S. 66; 1967, P.A. 557, S. 20; 1971, P.A. 542, S. 4; 836, S. 6; P.A. 73-657, S. 12, 13; P.A. 84-319, S. 39, 49; P.A. 85-577, S. 13; P.A. 03-241, S. 46; P.A. 11-20, S. 1; 11-173, S. 67.)

      History: 1963 act restated previous provisions; 1967 act added clarifying language pertaining to split voting districts, added "or assembly" to "senatorial" before the word "district"; 1971 acts changed time limit for mailing or delivering list to "not later than twenty-four hours after the closing of the polls" and deleted reference to the moderator of the first district as alternative to the head moderator with reference to causing the vote to be tabulated; P.A. 73-657 added further clarifying language pertaining to split voting districts and assembly districts; P.A. 84-319 amended section to provide uniformity in procedures for filing head moderator's returns after primaries and elections; P.A. 85-577 imposed time limit for transmittal of vote results and late filing fee; P.A. 03-241 removed primaries for "district delegates" from application of provision re tabulation of voting results, effective January 1, 2004, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after that date; P.A. 11-173 replaced "machines" with "tabulators" and made a technical change, effective July 13, 2011.

      Sec. 9-445. Recanvass on close vote. Forthwith after a primary for nomination to a municipal office or for election of members of a town committee, or forthwith upon tabulation of the vote for a state or district office by the Secretary of the State when the plurality of an elected or nominated candidate over the vote for a defeated candidate receiving the next highest number of votes was either (1) less than a vote equivalent to one-half of one per cent of the total number of votes cast at the primary for the office or position but not more than one thousand votes, or (2) less than twenty votes, there shall be a recanvass of the returns of the voting tabulator or voting tabulators used in such primary for such office or position unless within one day after the primary, in the case of nomination to a municipal office or for election of members of a town committee, or prior to the time the Secretary of the State notifies the town clerk of state and district offices which qualify for an automatic recanvass, the defeated candidate or defeated candidates, as the case may be, for such office or position file a written statement waiving the right to such recanvass with the municipal clerk in the case of a municipal office or town committee, or with the Secretary of the State in the case of a state or district office. In the case of a state or district office, the Secretary of the State, upon tabulation of the votes for such an office, shall notify the town clerks in the state or district, as the case may be, of the state and district offices which qualify for an automatic recanvass and shall also notify each candidate for any such office. When a recanvass is to be held, the municipal clerk shall promptly notify the moderator, as defined in section 9-311, who shall proceed forthwith to recanvass such returns of the office in question in the same manner as is provided for a recanvass in regular elections, except that the recanvass officials shall be divided equally, as nearly as may be, among the candidates for such office. In addition to the notice required under section 9-311, the moderator shall, before such recanvass is made, give notice in writing of the time and place of such recanvass to each candidate for a municipal office which qualifies for an automatic recanvass under this section. For purposes of this section, "the total number of votes cast at the primary for the office or position" means, in the case of multiple openings for the same office or position, the total number of electors checked as having voted in the primary in the state, district, municipality or political subdivision, as the case may be. When a recanvass of the returns for an office for which there are multiple openings is required by the provisions of this section, the returns for all candidates for all openings for the office shall be recanvassed. Nothing in this section shall preclude the right to judicial proceedings on behalf of such defeated candidate under any provision of this chapter.

      (1963, P.A. 225, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 694, S. 16; 1971, P.A. 542, S. 2; P.A. 80-281, S. 29, 31; P.A. 84-319, S. 40, 49; P.A. 03-241, S. 49; P.A. 10-32, S. 25; P.A. 11-20, S. 29.)

      History: 1969 act substituted "an elected or nominated candidate" for "candidate receiving highest number of votes" and added application of section to elections of members of a town committee or delegates to a convention; 1971 act deleted time limit of "within five days" and substituted therefor "forthwith", provided for automatic recanvass where votes are within the limits prescribed unless waived in writing by defeated candidates and deleted provision for successful candidate to apply for recanvass in any other municipality within which the primary was held when defeated candidate or chairman applied for a recanvass; P.A. 80-281 provided for determining application of section where multiple openings for the same office or position are involved and that where such a recanvass is applicable the returns for all candidates for all openings of the office are recanvassed; P.A. 84-319 amended section to provide uniformity in recanvass procedures for primaries and elections; P.A. 03-241 removed convention delegates from application of section, effective January 1, 2004, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after that date; P.A. 10-32 made technical changes, effective May 10, 2010; P.A. 11-20 replaced "machine or voting machines" with "tabulator or voting tabulators" and made a technical change, effective May 24, 2011.

      Sec. 9-446. Tie vote. (a) If two or more candidates obtain the same number of votes at a primary held to nominate candidates for a state or district office, and a tie vote thereby occurs, any of such candidates, or the state chairman of the political party, may apply for a recanvass of the returns in the manner provided in section 9-445. If no such application is made, or if any such recanvass results in a tie vote, such primary shall stand adjourned for three weeks at the same hour at which the first primary was held. Ballots of the same form and description as described in section 9-437 shall be used in the primary on such adjourned day, and the primary shall be conducted in the same manner as on the first day, except that the votes shall be cast for such office only. Ballots for such primary shall be provided forthwith by the registrars of voters of each municipality wherein such primary stands adjourned, and each clerk of the municipality shall furnish the Secretary of the State with an accurate list of all candidates to be voted for at such adjourned primary. The clerk of each municipality in the state or the district, whichever is applicable, wherein such primary so stands adjourned shall, at least three days prior to the day of such adjourned primary, give notice of the day, hours, place and purpose thereof by publishing such notice in a newspaper published in such municipality or having a circulation therein. No such primary shall be held if prior to such primary all but one of the candidates for such office die, withdraw their names or for any reason become disqualified to hold such office, and, in such event, the remaining candidate shall be deemed to be lawfully voted upon as the candidate for such office. No withdrawal shall be valid until the candidate who has withdrawn has filed a letter of withdrawal signed by such candidate with the Secretary of the State. When such a primary is required to be held under the provisions of this section and prior to such primary all but one of the candidates for such office die, withdraw their names or for any reason become disqualified to hold such office, the Secretary of the State shall forthwith notify the registrars of voters of such fact, and shall forthwith direct the registrars that such primary shall not be held. In the case of a multiple-opening office only the names of those candidates whose votes are equal shall be placed on the ballot of the adjourned primary. If such second primary results in a tie vote, the Secretary of the State, in the presence of not fewer than three disinterested persons, and after notification to the candidates obtaining the same number of votes and the chairperson of the state central committee of the party holding the primary of the time when and the place where such tie vote is to be dissolved, shall dissolve such tie vote by lot. The Secretary of the State shall execute a certificate attesting to the result of the dissolution of such tie vote, and the person so certified or the slate so certified as having been chosen by lot shall be deemed to have received a plurality of the votes cast and shall be deemed to have been chosen as the nominee of such party to such office.

      (b) If two or more candidates obtain the same number of votes at a primary held to nominate candidates for a municipal office or to elect members of a town committee, or if two or more slates of candidates obtain the same number of votes at a primary held for justices of the peace, and a tie vote thereby occurs, any of such candidates, or the town chairman of the political party, may apply for a recanvass of the returns in the manner provided in section 9-445. If no such application is made, or if any such recanvass results in a tie vote, such primary shall stand adjourned for three weeks at the same hour at which the first primary was held. Ballots of the same form and description as described in section 9-437 shall be used in the primary on such adjourned day, and the primary shall be conducted in the same manner as on the first day, except that the votes shall be cast for such office only. Ballots for such primary shall be provided forthwith by the registrars of voters of the municipality wherein such primary stands adjourned, and the clerk of the municipality shall furnish the Secretary of the State with an accurate list of all candidates to be voted for at such adjourned primary. The clerk of the municipality wherein such primary so stands adjourned shall, at least three days prior to the day of such adjourned primary, give notice of the day, hours, place and purpose thereof by publishing such notice in a newspaper published in such municipality or having a circulation therein. No such primary shall be held if prior to such primary all but one of the candidates for such office die, withdraw their names or for any reason become disqualified to hold such office, and, in such event, the remaining candidate shall be deemed to be lawfully voted upon as the candidate for such office. No withdrawal shall be valid until the candidate who has withdrawn has filed a letter of withdrawal signed by such candidate with the municipal clerk. When such a primary is required to be held under the provisions of this section and prior to such primary all but one of the candidates for such office die, withdraw their names or for any reason become disqualified to hold such office, the Secretary of the State shall forthwith notify the municipal clerk of such fact, and shall forthwith direct the clerk that such primary shall not be held. In the case of a multiple-opening office only the names of those candidates whose votes are equal shall be placed on the ballot of the adjourned primary. If such second primary results in a tie vote, the registrar, in the presence of not fewer than three disinterested persons, and after notification to the candidates obtaining the same number of votes and the chairperson of the town committee of the party holding the primary of the time when and the place where such tie vote is to be dissolved, shall dissolve such tie vote by lot. The registrar shall execute a certificate attesting to the result of the dissolution of such tie vote, and the person so certified or the slate so certified as having been chosen by lot shall be deemed to have received a plurality of the votes cast and shall be deemed to have been chosen as the nominee of such party to such office.

      (June, 1955, S. 606d; November, 1955, S. N91; 1958 Rev., S. 9-119; 1963, P.A. 17, S. 71; 225, S. 2; P.A. 03-241, S. 50; P.A. 07-194, S. 46; P.A. 11-20, S. 1; 11-173, S. 68.)

      History: 1963 acts restated previous provisions and added provisions re recanvass; P.A. 03-241 removed slates of delegate candidates from application of section and applied tie vote provisions to slates of candidates for "justices of the peace", effective January 1, 2004, and applicable to primaries and elections held on or after that date; P.A. 07-194 divided existing provisions into Subsecs. (a) and (b), deleted former provisions re dissolving of tie vote by lot and added provisions re adjourned primary and re holding of new primary in the event of a tie vote; P.A. 11-173 provided that registrars, rather than clerks, provide ballots and notice from Secretary of the State re withdrawal or disqualification of a candidate, replaced references to ballot labels with references to ballots and made technical changes, effective July 13, 2011.

      Sec. 9-447. Unlocking of voting tabulators. The voting tabulators used in any primary shall not be unlocked for a period of fourteen days from the date of the primary, unless otherwise ordered by any judge of the Superior Court or by the State Elections Enforcement Commission. If a contest or investigation is pending, such tabulators shall not be unlocked for such longer period of time as may be ordered by any judge of the Superior Court, unless a recanvass has been applied for under the provisions of section 9-445 or unless an order has been issued by the State Elections Enforcement Commission.

      (June, 1955, S. 607d; November, 1955, S. N92; 1958 Rev., S. 9-120; 1963, P.A. 17, S. 72; 225, S. 3; P.A. 86-1, S. 4, 5; P.A. 87-203, S. 2; P.A. 95-88, S. 9; P.A. 11-20, S. 30.)

      History: 1963 acts restated previous provisions and added provision re recanvass; P.A. 86-1 added references to orders issued by the state elections enforcement commission; P.A. 87-203 increased period during which voting machines shall not be unlocked, from 5 to 10 days; P.A. 95-88 changed number of days machine remains locked from 10 to 14; P.A. 11-20 replaced "machines" with "tabulators" and made a technical change, effective May 24, 2011.

B

MINOR PARTIES

      Sec. 9-452. Time for making nominations; certification. All minor parties nominating candidates for any elective office shall make such nominations and certify and file a list of such nominations, as required by this section, not later than the sixty-second day prior to the day of the election at which such candidates are to be voted for. A list of nominees in printed or typewritten form that includes each candidate's name as authorized by each candidate to appear on the ballot, the signature of each candidate, the full street address of each candidate and the title and district of the office for which each candidate is nominated shall be certified by the presiding officer of the committee, meeting or other authority making such nomination and shall be filed by such presiding officer with the Secretary of the State, in the case of state or district office or the municipal office of state representative, state senator or judge of probate, or with the clerk of the municipality, in the case of municipal office, not later than the sixty-second day prior to the day of the election. The registrars of voters of such municipality shall promptly verify and correct the names on any such list filed with him, or the names of nominees forwarded to the clerk of the municipality by the Secretary of the State, in accordance with the registry list of such municipality and endorse the same as having been so verified and corrected. For purposes of this section, a list of nominations shall be deemed to be filed when it is received by the Secretary or clerk, as appropriate.

      (November, 1955, S. N106; 1958 Rev., S. 9-128; 1961, P.A. 202; 1963, P.A. 17, S. 76; P.A. 77-188, S. 1, 2; P.A. 83-475, S. 32, 43; P.A. 07-194, S. 12; P.A. 11-173, S. 51.)

      History: 1961 act provided for filing list with municipal clerk not less than 32, rather than 25, days prior to election; 1963 act entirely replaced prior provisions; P.A. 77-188 changed from five to six weeks time prior to election as deadline for nominating candidates for municipal office and changed from 32 to 38 days prior to election day as deadline for delivering a list of nominees to the clerk of the municipality; P.A. 83-475 amended section to require uniform date of certification of filing, not later than the fifty-fifth day prior to election; P.A. 07-194 changed "fifty-fifth" to "sixty-second" day prior to day of election and added "the municipal office of state representative, state senator or judge of probate", effective July 5, 2007; P.A. 11-173 added requirement that list of nominees include name authorized by candidate, signature and address of candidate and title and district of the office, changed clerk to registrars re persons to verify and correct names, and made technical changes, effective July 13, 2011.

C

PETITIONING PARTIES

      Sec. 9-453o. Rejection of defective pages. Cure for omission by town clerk. Approval of petitions. (a) The Secretary of the State may not count for purposes of determining compliance with the number of signatures required by section 9-453d the signatures certified by the town clerk on any petition page filed under sections 9-453a to 9-453s, inclusive, or 9-216 if: (1) The name of the candidate, his address or the party designation, if any, has been omitted from the face of the petition; (2) the page does not contain a statement by the circulator as to the residency in this state and eligibility of the circulator and authenticity of the signatures thereon as required by section 9-453j or upon which such statement of the circulator is incomplete in any respect; or (3) the page does not contain the certifications required by sections 9-453a to 9-453s, inclusive, by the town clerk of the town in which the signers reside. The town clerk shall cure any omission on his part by signing any such page at the office of the Secretary of the State and making the necessary amendment or by filing a separate statement in this regard, which amendment shall be dated.

      (b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the Secretary of the State shall approve every nominating petition which contains sufficient signatures counted and certified on approved pages by the town clerks. In the case of a candidate who petitions under a reserved party designation the Secretary shall approve the petition only if it meets the signature requirement and if a statement endorsing such candidate is filed with the Secretary by the party designation committee not later than four o'clock p.m. on the sixty-second day before the election. In the case of a candidate who petitions under a party designation which is the same as the name of a minor party the Secretary shall approve the petition only if it meets the signature requirement and if a statement endorsing such candidate is filed in the office of the Secretary by the chairman or secretary of such minor party not later than four o'clock p.m. on the sixty-second day before the election. No candidate shall be qualified to appear on any ballot by nominating petition unless the candidate's petition is approved by the Secretary pursuant to this subsection.

      (c) The Secretary of the State may approve a nominating petition received under section 9-453k at any time except such approval shall be withdrawn if sufficient signatures are withdrawn under section 9-453h.

      (1971, P.A. 806, S. 16; P.A. 81-447, S. 13; P.A. 83-475, S. 34, 43; P.A. 85-577, S. 18; P.A. 03-241, S. 57; P.A. 11-173, S. 23.)

      History: P.A. 81-447 replaced former Subsec. (b) with new Subsec. requiring filing of a statement endorsing petitioning candidate with secretary of the state prior to approval of petition by secretary, and added Subsec. (c) permitting independent review of petitions by secretary; P.A. 83-475 amended section to establish time limit for filing endorsements on fifty-fifth day before election and to eliminate subsection requiring independent review of petitions by the secretary of the state; P.A. 85-577 amended Subsec. (c) to allow approval of a nominating petition received under Sec. 9-453k at any time rather than prior to tenth week before election but not earlier than final date for a major party endorsement for the office specified in the petition; P.A. 03-241 amended Subsec. (a)(2) by inserting "residency in this state and eligibility of the circulator and", effective July 9, 2003, and applicable only to petitions circulated on or after that date; P.A. 11-173 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing "fifty-fifth day" with "sixty-second day", effective July 13, 2011.

      Sec. 9-453r. Position of candidates' names on ballot. (a) A separate row on the ballot shall be used for a petitioning candidate whose name is contained in a petition approved pursuant to section 9-453o, bearing a party designation. A separate row shall be used for the petitioning candidates whose names are contained in petitions approved pursuant to section 9-453o, bearing the same party designation. Within such a separate row, the order of the names of such candidates for the same multiple-opening office shall be determined by the registrars of voters by lot in a ceremony which shall be open to the public. The registrars of voters shall provide at least five days public notice for each such ceremony.

      (b) On the horizontal rows below the rows so used for candidates, if any, who are so entitled to a party designation on the ballot, shall be placed, in the appropriate office columns, the names of candidates contained in petitions approved pursuant to section 9-453o bearing no party designation. Such candidates shall not be entitled to separate rows. Precedence as to horizontal row between or among such candidates shall be determined, if necessary, by the order in which their applications for petitions were filed with the Secretary of the State from the earliest to the latest; provided that within any such horizontal row the names of as many of such candidates for the same multiple-opening office as such row will accommodate shall be placed before placing the names of other such candidates for such office on the next such row. The order of the names of such candidates for the same multiple-opening office, within and between any such horizontal rows, shall be determined by the registrars of voters by lot in a ceremony which shall be open to the public. The registrars of voters shall provide at least five days public notice for each such ceremony. Each row in which a candidate's name appears who is not entitled to a party designation shall be labeled "Petitioning Candidates", the print of which shall correspond to that used for party designations.

      (1971, P.A. 806, S. 22; 1972, P.A. 27, S. 1; P.A. 84-319, S. 43, 49; P.A. 87-382, S. 49, 55; 87-472, S. 13; P.A. 88-49, S. 1, 2; P.A. 11-20, S. 31.)

      History: 1972 act deleted provision that petitioning candidate name shall not appear on ballot under a party designation unless 50% of offices to be filled have petitioning candidates approved and provided for separate row to be used for petitioning candidate whose petition is approved under Sec. 9-453o; P.A. 84-319 amended section to provide uniformity in statutes re order of unaffiliated electors on ballot and order of party candidates and divided provisions into Subsecs.; P.A. 87-382 repealed provisions in Subsec. (b) re party lever; P.A. 87-472 required that, under Subsec. (a), within a separate row of candidates for same multiple-opening office and, under Subsec. (b), within and between horizontal rows for same multiple-opening offices, the order of names of candidates be determined by lot instead of alphabetical order based on surnames; P.A. 88-49 substituted "registrars of voters" for "municipal clerk" and "clerk"; P.A. 11-20 replaced "voting machines" with "ballot" in Subsec. (b), effective May 24, 2011.

      Sec. 9-453s. Vacancies in candidacies. Ballot. Vacancies in candidacies occurring after all nominating petitions have been approved under section 9-453o, shall not cause the position of any candidate's name on the ballot to be changed to another position unless a blank row on the ballot results from such vacancy or vacancies in which case the position of candidates appearing on lines under the blank row may change if the consent of all candidates involved in such a change is filed in the Secretary of the State's office prior to the time for printing and filing sample ballots with said Secretary. The name of any candidate whose candidacy has been vacated shall not appear on the ballot.

      (1971, P.A. 806, S. 23; P.A. 11-20, S. 32.)

      History: P.A. 11-20 replaced "ballot label" with "ballot", "machine" with "ballot" and "ballot labels" with "ballots", and deleted provision re voting machine pointer, effective May 24, 2011.

PART V
LISTS OF CANDIDATES

      Sec. 9-461. Filing of list of candidates with Secretary. Not later than the seventh day following the date set for the primary for nomination at any election at which a municipal office is to be filled, the clerk of the municipality in which such election is to be held shall file with the Secretary of the State a list of the candidates of each party for the municipal offices to be filled at such election nominated in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Such list shall be on a form provided by the Secretary of the State and shall indicate the name and address of each candidate and the office and term for which each candidate has been nominated, and, except for major party candidates for the municipal offices of state senator or state representative, shall contain the certification of such municipal clerk that he has compared the name of each such candidate with the candidate's name as the candidate authorizes the candidate's name to appear on the ballot, pursuant to the certificate filed in accordance with subsection (c) of section 9-391 or the statement of consent filed in accordance with section 9-409, as applicable, and has verified and corrected the same. In the case of major party candidates for the municipal offices of state senator or state representative, such list shall contain the certification of the municipal clerk that he has compared the name of each such candidate with the candidate's name as the candidate has authorized, on the certificate or statement of consent filed under subsection (c) of section 9-391 or section 9-409, his name to appear, and has verified and corrected the same. Such list shall include a statement of the total number of candidates for which each elector may vote for each office and term at such election as set forth in the list or amendment or supplement thereto filed with the Secretary of the State under section 9-254. After the filing of such list of candidates, the clerk of the municipality shall forthwith notify the Secretary of the State of any errors in such list or of any changes in such list provided for in section 9-329a or 9-460.

      (November, 1955, S. N107; 1957, P.A. 518, S. 35; 1958 Rev., S. 9-129; 1963, P.A. 17, S. 91; P.A. 75-206, S. 5, 7; P.A. 87-382, S. 50, 55; P.A. 11-173, S. 24.)

      History: 1963 act restated previous provisions; P.A. 75-206 changed from at least 28 days to 42 days prior to election the time by which list of candidates for municipal offices to be filed; P.A. 87-382 substituted "Not later than the seventh day following the date set for the primary for nomination at" for "At least forty-two days prior to", required town clerk to include on list certification that he has compared name of each major party candidate for municipal offices of state senator or state representative with certificate or statement of consent, instead of with registry list and added reference to Sec. 9-329a; P.A. 11-173 replaced provision re candidate's name as it appears on registry list with provision re candidate's name as the candidate authorizes the name to appear and made technical changes, effective July 13, 2011.