Chapter 145 - Absentee Voting

Sec. 9-134. Members of the armed forces; definitions. The term “members of the armed forces”, wherever used in this chapter, means members in active service of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Coast and Geodetic Survey, Public Health Service and Merchant Marine of the United States, and all regular and reserve components thereof. The term “members of the Merchant Marine of the United States”, wherever used in this chapter, means persons employed as officers or members of crews of vessels documented under the laws of the United States, or of vessels owned by the United States, or of vessels of foreign-flag registry under charter to or control of the United States, and persons enrolled with the United States for employment, or for training for employment, or maintained by the United States for emergency relief service, as officers or members of crews of any such vessels; but does not mean persons so employed, or enrolled for such employment or for training for such employment, or maintained for such emergency relief service, on the Great Lakes or the inland waterways. The term “United States”, wherever used geographically in this chapter, includes the territorial limits of the states of the United States and the District of Columbia.

(1953, 1955, S. 619d; P.A. 79-363, S. 10, 38; P.A. 86-179, S. 2, 53.)

History: P.A. 79-363 referred to elector's inability to appear at polling place rather than his absence from town; P.A. 86-179 deleted sentence authorizing absentee voting by elector unable to appear at polling place because of active service with armed forces.

Sec. 9-135. Absentee voting eligibility; expansion for 2020 state election. Misrepresentation prohibited. (a) Any elector eligible to vote at a primary or an election and any person eligible to vote at a referendum may vote by absentee ballot if such elector or person is unable to appear at such elector's or person's polling place during the hours of voting for any of the following reasons: (1) Such elector's or person's active service with the armed forces of the United States; (2) such elector's or person's absence from the town of such elector's or person's voting residence during all of the hours of voting; (3) such elector's or person's illness; (4) such elector's or person's physical disability; (5) the tenets of such elector's or person's religion forbid secular activity on the day of the primary, election or referendum; (6) the required performance of such elector's or person's duties as a primary, election or referendum official, including as a town clerk or registrar of voters or as staff of the clerk or registrar, at a polling place other than such elector's or person's own during all of the hours of voting at such primary, election or referendum; or (7) for the state election in 2020, the sickness of COVID-19. As used in this section, “COVID-19” means the respiratory disease designated by the World Health Organization on February 11, 2020, as coronavirus 2019, and any related mutation thereof recognized by said organization as a communicable respiratory disease.

(b) No person shall misrepresent the eligibility requirements for voting by absentee ballot prescribed in subsection (a) of this section, to any elector or prospective absentee ballot applicant.

(1949 Rev., S. 1134; 1953, S. 622d; 1963, P.A. 93, S. 2; February, 1965, P.A. 74, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 678, S. 1; 831, S. 6; 1969, P.A. 2, S. 1; 69, S. 2; P.A. 75-595, S. 2, 5; P.A. 76-50, S. 2, 7; 76-435, S. 44, 82; P.A. 79-189, S. 5, 9; P.A. 81-238, S. 2; 81-472, S. 119, 159; P.A. 83-254, S. 2, 4; P.A. 84-546, S. 19, 173; P.A. 86-179, S. 3, 53; P.A. 87-320, S. 1; P.A. 05-235, S. 1; P.A. 12-193, S. 7; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-3, S. 1.)

History: 1963 act changed technical language of statute; 1965 act added to eligibility for absentee ballot where “tenets of his religion forbid secular activity”, effective January 1, 1966; 1967 acts added absence because of status as student at institution of higher learning outside town of residence and also because of temporary abode outside town occasioned by membership in a religious community, effective January 1, 1968, and following “any elector” deleted “not a member of the armed forces”; 1969 acts added spouse to student at institution of higher learning, effective January 1, 1970 and added provision for absentee voting for those who have continued their registration for a period one day short of six months following their removal from the town, effective January 1, 1970; P.A. 75-595 gave authority to vote by absentee ballot to those confined in correctional institutions outside the town whose privileges as electors have not been forfeited, effective January 1, 1976; P.A. 76-50 rephrased provisions; P.A. 76-435 made technical changes; P.A. 79-189 deleted provision for absentee voting of elector who has removed from the town; P.A. 81-238 eliminated reference to certain conditions under which absence from town of voting residence during all of the hours of voting at a state, municipal or special election entitled electors to vote by absentee ballot and granted such entitlement to electors on the basis of such absence for any reason; P.A. 81-472 made technical changes; P.A. 83-254 authorized absentee voting by election official performing duties at polling place other than his own; P.A. 84-546 made technical change; P.A. 86-179 added references to voting at primary and referendum and added active service with armed forces as reason for voting by absentee ballot; P.A. 87-320 deleted provision limiting applicability to only those referenda “for which absentee ballots are made available pursuant to section 9-369c”; P.A. 05-235 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re prohibition on misrepresentation of eligibility requirements for voting by absentee ballot, effective July 1, 2005, and applicable to elections, primaries and referenda held on or after September 1, 2005; P.A. 12-193 amended Subsec. (a) by adding town clerk or registrar of voters and staff in Subdiv. (6) and making technical changes, effective June 15, 2012; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-3 amended Subsec. (a) to add Subdiv. (7) re state election in 2020, define “COVID-19” and make technical changes, effective July 31, 2020.

See Sec. 9-14a re electors in custody of state.

Cited. 186 C. 125.

Sec. 9-135a. Form of absentee ballot. (a) Each absentee ballot shall be arranged to resemble the appropriate ballot and sample ballot as prescribed by law, and shall include, as applicable, the offices, party designations, names of candidates and questions to be voted upon and spaces for write-in votes. A replica of the state seal shall be printed on the ballot. The size, type, form, instructions, specifications for paper and printing and other specifications shall be prescribed by the Secretary of the State.

(b) In municipalities in which some or all offices are to be voted upon without party designation at an election, the clerk of the municipality shall prepare a suitably modified absentee ballot which, upon approval by the Secretary of the State, shall be the form of absentee ballot for the purposes of the election.

(c) In the case of a primary in a voting district in which unaffiliated electors are authorized, under section 9-431, to vote for some but not all offices to be contested at the primary, the clerk of the municipality shall so prepare and cause to be printed separate and distinct partial absentee ballots for such unaffiliated electors, provided on each such ballot, each candidate's position shall be the same as on the full absentee ballot for the primary, pursuant to section 9-437, leaving blank columns where necessary.

(P.A. 75-310, S. 1, 11; P.A. 77-245, S. 15; P.A. 78-24; P.A. 79-363, S. 11, 38; P.A. 84-319, S. 11, 49; P.A. 86-179, S. 4, 53; P.A. 87-509, S. 6, 24; P.A. 11-20, S. 3.)

History: P.A. 77-245 changed “town” to “municipal” clerk where appearing; P.A. 78-24 changed requirement for filing absentee ballot with secretary of the state to not later than 35 days, rather than 20 days, before election and further provided for filing of any corrections or alterations thereto; P.A. 79-363 made technical changes; P.A. 84-319 eliminated the requirement that secretary provide blank ballot facsimiles to municipal clerks, i.e. “without names of parties, candidates, offices and questions”; P.A. 86-179 deleted subsections requiring filing of absentee ballot forms and affidavits with secretary of the state and public availability of layouts of sample absentee ballots and added provision re modified absentee ballot for use in municipalities in which officers are voted upon without party designation; P.A. 87-509 added Subsec. (c), requiring preparation of separate and distinct absentee ballots for unaffiliated electors in case of primary in which unaffiliated electors authorized to vote for some but not all offices to be contested at primary; P.A. 11-20 amended Subsec. (a) to replace “ballot label” with “ballot” and eliminate requirement for Secretary of the State to send a ballot facsimile to each municipal clerk, effective May 24, 2011.

Sec. 9-135b. Preparation and printing of absentee ballots; layouts for public inspection; filing of ballot and affidavit with Secretary. Vacancies; procedure. Omissions or errors in printing. (a) Immediately after the deadline for certification of all candidates whose names are to appear on the ballot, and in sufficient time to begin issuing absentee ballots on the day prescribed by law, the municipal clerk shall prepare the absentee ballots and have them printed. Prior to printing such ballots, the registrars of voters of the municipality may provide comments concerning the content and form of such ballots to the clerk.

(b) A layout model of each different absentee ballot shall be available for public inspection at the clerk's office prior to printing. The model shall indicate the type face to be used, the spelling and placement of names and other information to be printed on the ballots.

(c) Immediately upon receiving the printed absentee ballots, the municipal clerk shall file one with the Secretary of the State or, if there are different ballots for different political subdivisions, one ballot for each subdivision. The clerk shall also file his affidavit with the Secretary, stating the number of ballots printed. The form of affidavit shall be prescribed by the Secretary. If any correction or alteration is subsequently made on any absentee ballot the clerk shall immediately file a corrected or altered ballot and, using the prescribed form, his affidavit stating the number of such ballots printed, with the Secretary.

(d) If a vacancy in candidacy occurs after the ballots have been printed, the clerk may either reprint the ballots or cause blank or printed stickers, as the case may be, to be affixed to them so that the name of any candidate who has vacated his candidacy is deleted and the name of any candidate chosen to fill the vacancy as provided in section 9-428 or section 9-460 appears in the same position as that in which the vacated candidacy appeared except as provided in section 9-426 or 9-453s.

(e) The Secretary of the State shall examine each absentee ballot required to be filed pursuant to this section and if a ballot contains an omission or error, the Secretary shall order the municipal clerk to reprint a corrected absentee ballot or to take such other action as the Secretary may deem appropriate.

(P.A. 75-310, S. 2, 11; P.A. 79-363, S. 12, 38; P.A. 86-179, S. 5, 53; P.A. 11-20, S. 1; 11-173, S. 33.)

History: P.A. 79-363 substituted municipal clerk for town clerk; P.A. 86-179 changed time limit for preparation and printing of ballot by municipal clerk, added requirements that layout models of ballots be available for public inspection and that ballots and affidavits be filed with the secretary of the state, changed reference to vacancy in nomination to vacancy in candidacy, added new Subsec. re examination and correction of ballots and deleted provisions re votes cast for candidates who have vacated their candidacies and counting of straight ticket votes; P.A. 11-173 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing “ballot label” with “ballot” and by adding language re comments by registrars, effective July 13, 2011.

Secs. 9-136 and 9-136a. Form of absentee ballot. Form for municipal election to fill partisan and nonpartisan offices. Sections 9-136 and 9-136a are repealed.

(1949 Rev., S. 1140; 1953, S. 623d; 1957, P.A. 517, S. 1; 1961, P.A. 395, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 224, S. 1; 374, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 631; P.A. 75-310, S. 10, 11; P.A. 86-179, S. 52, 53.)

Sec. 9-136b. Transferred to Sec. 9-153c.

Sec. 9-137. Inner envelope for return of ballot; statement under false statement penalty. Exception for 2020 state election. (a) Each absentee ballot shall be returned to the municipal clerk, inserted in an inner envelope which shall be capable of being sealed and which shall have printed on its face a form containing the following statements:

“I hereby state under the penalties of false statement in absentee balloting that I am eligible to vote at the primary, election or referendum in the municipality in which this absentee ballot is to be cast and that I expect to be unable to appear at my polling place during the hours of voting at such primary, election or referendum for one or more of the following reasons: (1) My active service in the armed forces; (2) my absence from the town in which I am eligible to vote during all of the hours of voting; (3) my illness or physical disability; (4) the tenets of my religion which forbid secular activity on the day of the primary, election or referendum; or (5) my duties as a primary, election or referendum official.

Date ....

.... (Signature)”

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, for the state election in 2020, each inner envelope in which an absentee ballot is returned to the municipal clerk shall have printed on its face a form containing the following statements:

“I hereby state under the penalties of false statement in absentee balloting that I am eligible to vote at the primary, election or referendum in the municipality in which this absentee ballot is to be cast and that I expect to be unable to appear at my polling place during the hours of voting at such primary, election or referendum for one or more of the following reasons: (1) My active service in the armed forces; (2) my absence from the town in which I am eligible to vote during all of the hours of voting; (3) my illness or physical disability; (4) the tenets of my religion which forbid secular activity on the day of the primary, election or referendum; (5) my duties as a primary, election or referendum official; or (6) the sickness of COVID-19.

Date ....

.... (Signature)”

(1949 Rev., S. 1141; 1953, 1955, S. 624d; 1963, P.A. 42, S. 2; 93, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 74, S. 2; 1967, P.A. 678, S. 2; 1969, P.A. 2, S. 2; 69, S. 3; 1971, P.A. 871, S. 69; P.A. 74-96, S. 2, 9; P.A. 75-595, S. 3, 5; P.A. 79-189, S. 6, 9; 79-363, S. 13, 38; P.A. 82-247, S. 2, 14; P.A. 83-254, S. 3, 4; P.A. 86-179, S. 6, 53; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-3, S. 2.)

History: 1963 acts changed the technical language of statement by elector and eliminated requirement inner envelope be sealed by elector; 1965 act added to form “or because the tenets of any religion forbid secular activity on said election day”, effective January 1, 1966; 1967 act added status as student at institution of higher learning in another town in state and also because of a temporary abode at town other than voting residence occasioned by membership in a religious community, effective January 1, 1968; 1969 acts added spouse of and living with a student at institution of higher learning located outside town of residence and added those removed from town but with continuance of registration under certain circumstances, effective January 1, 1970; 1971 act changed penalties of “perjury” to “false statement”; P.A. 74-96 added “in absentee balloting” after “false statement”, effective January 1, 1975; P.A. 75-595 added confinement in correctional facility provided privileges as an elector are not forfeited, effective January 1, 1976; P.A. 79-189 deleted those removed from town but with continuance of registration; P.A. 79-363 changed wording of form; P.A. 82-247 changed absence from state to absence from town of voting residence effective January 1, 1983 and deleted reasons for absence from town; P.A. 83-254 amended form to include reference to performance of duties of election official; P.A. 86-179 added references to primaries and referenda, deleted requirement that municipal clerk inscribe name of town, city or borough on statement signed by voter and made technical changes; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-3 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re state election in 2020, effective July 31, 2020.

See Sec. 9-14a re electors in custody of state.

Cited. 231 C. 602.

Cited. 28 CS 361.

Sec. 9-138. Transferred to Sec. 9-140a.

Sec. 9-139. Outer envelope for return of ballot. The inner envelope, in which the absentee ballot has been inserted by the absentee ballot applicant, shall be returned to the municipal clerk in an outer envelope endorsed on the outside with the words: “OFFICIAL ABSENTEE BALLOT”. The outer envelope shall also contain (1) blank spaces for the name and return address of the sender and spaces upon which the municipal clerk, before issuance of the ballot and envelopes, shall insert the applicant's name, voting residence by street and number, voting district, the date of the primary, election or referendum at which the ballot is to be cast and, if the absentee ballot is to be cast at a primary, the name of the party holding the primary and (2) a notice, sufficient to warn any person handling the ballot, of the restrictions set forth in section 9-140b concerning who may possess or return the ballot and the restrictions and penalties set forth in section 9-359 concerning the completion or execution of absentee ballots. The clerk shall also inscribe his official address for the return of the ballot on the outer envelope prior to issuance of the ballot and envelopes. All outer envelopes shall be serially numbered.

(1949 Rev., S. 1143; 1953, 1955, S. 626d; 1963, P.A. 42, S. 1; 207, S. 2; P.A. 86-179, S. 7, 53; P.A. 87-509, S. 7, 24; P.A. 89-5, S. 1, 2.)

History: 1963 acts required municipal clerk to inscribe his return address on the outer envelope before issuance and provided for insertion of the ballot in the inner envelope rather than sealing it in; P.A. 86-179 deleted provisions re specific location of blank spaces to be filled in on envelope, made technical changes and added references to primaries and referenda; P.A. 87-509 required outer envelope to contain blank space for name of party holding primary, if absentee ballot to be cast at primary; P.A. 89-5 added Subdiv. (2), requiring outer envelope to contain warning notice.

Cited. 231 C. 602.

Sec. 9-139a. (Formerly Sec. 9-155). Secretary to furnish forms. Contents. Instructions. (a) The Secretary of the State shall prescribe and furnish the following materials to municipal clerks: The absentee ballot facsimile, the application for absentee ballot, the inner envelope, the outer envelope provided for the return of the ballot to the municipal clerk, the instructions for the use of the absentee ballot and the envelope for mailing of such forms by the clerk to the absentee ballot applicant.

(b) The application for absentee ballot shall be in the form of a statement signed under the penalties of false statement in absentee balloting. Each application shall contain (1) spaces for the signature under the penalties of false statement in absentee balloting of any person who assists the applicant in the completion of an application together with the information required in section 9-140, and (2) spaces for the signature and the printed or typed name of the applicant.

(c) The instructions for the use of the absentee ballot shall be in plain language and shall include the steps to be taken if a vote is to be cancelled or changed, and shall also contain a simple and concise restatement of the provisions of subsection (l) of section 9-150a and section 9-159o concerning rejection of ballots marked in such manner as to identify the voters casting them, and withdrawal of ballots by persons who find they are able to vote at the polls.

(d) A sufficient supply of such instructions and envelopes shall be printed to supply the number which the municipal clerk requests or the Secretary of the State deems sufficient.

(1949 Rev., S. 1139; 1953, 1955, S. 642d; 1957, P.A. 517, S. 12; 1963, P.A. 42, S. 3; 214, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 59, S. 4; 574, S. 10; P.A. 75-310, S. 9, 11; P.A. 79-363, S. 22, 38; P.A. 84-319, S. 23, 49; P.A. 86-179, S. 8, 53; P.A. 87-382, S. 8, 55; 87-532, S. 2, 10; P.A. 91-286, S. 1; P.A. 96-119, S. 2, 14.)

History: 1963 acts required inner envelope to be self-sealing and required the instructions to include a restatement of Sec. 9-151; 1965 acts changed statement to be included in instructions to the effect that a list of candidates and questions will be mailed as soon as available to those not receiving same with the absentee ballot, effective with respect to all elections held on or after January 1, 1966 and deleted provision requiring that statements be sent to applicants in the armed forces automatically but to others only upon their request; P.A. 75-310 deleted provision for the statement to be included in instructions, effective January 1, 1976; P.A. 79-363 made technical changes; P.A. 84-319 eliminated requirement that inner ballot envelope be “self-sealing”; P.A. 86-179 added subsection requiring that application be in form of a statement to be signed under the penalties of false statement in absentee balloting, added requirement that instructions be in plain language and include steps to be taken if vote is cancelled or changed; Sec. 9-155 transferred to Sec. 9-139a in 1987; P.A. 87-382, in Subsec. (c), substituted “(l)” for “(m)”; P.A. 87-532 amended Subsec. (b) to require application to contain spaces for signature or stamp of clerk and signature and name of person obtaining application from clerk for another person, statement that any such signature or stamp made under penalties of false statement in absentee balloting, and spaces for signature and name of applicant; P.A. 91-286 deleted depository envelopes used in counting absentee ballots from list of materials that secretary is required to furnish under Subsec. (a); P.A. 96-119 amended Subsec. (b) to delete provision allowing an application to contain a stamp of the municipal clerk in lieu of a signature and to add language requiring an application to contain the signature “of any person who assists the applicant in the completion of an application together with the information required in section 9-140”, effective May 24, 1996.

Cited. 231 C. 602.

Sec. 9-139b. (Formerly Sec. 9-157). Secretary authorized to change forms. Expanded authority for 2020 state election. (a) The Secretary of the State may make any changes in any forms prescribed by this chapter which, in the opinion of the Secretary, are necessary to conform to the applicable provisions of federal law.

(b) For the state election in 2020, the Secretary of the State may make any changes in any forms prescribed by this chapter or in any printed, recorded or electronic material issued pursuant to this chapter which, in the opinion of the Secretary, are necessary to conform to the applicable provisions of law.

(1949 Rev., S. 1154; 1953, S. 644d; P.A. 86-179, S. 9, 53; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-3, S. 3.)

History: P.A. 86-179 replaced reference to Federal War Ballot Act with reference to applicable provisions of federal law; Sec. 9-157 transferred to Sec. 9-139b in 1987; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-3 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a), added Subsec. (b) re state election in 2020 and made a technical change, effective July 31, 2020.

Sec. 9-139c. (Formerly Sec. 9-154). Clerk to account to secretary for forms. Within ten days after an election or primary, the municipal clerk shall file with the Secretary of the State a statement, on a form to be prescribed and provided by the secretary, setting forth the number of absentee voting forms received from the secretary, the number issued to applicants for absentee ballots and the number remaining unused, and an explanation of any discrepancies. The statement shall also include such information concerning presidential and overseas ballot forms. The prescribed form may also require such absentee voting information as is necessary to complete questionnaires issued by the United States Department of Defense.

(1955, S. 641d; 1957, P.A. 517, S. 11; 1969, P.A. 8, S. 2; P.A. 76-295, S. 14, 18; P.A. 86-179, S. 10, 53.)

History: 1969 act deleted references to members of the armed forces and added reporting on “individuals qualified to vote a presidential ballot under section 9-163b” in statement on absentee balloting; P.A. 76-295 added inclusion in statement of report on “individuals qualified to vote an overseas ballot under section 9-159b”; P.A. 86-179 made technical changes; Sec. 9-154 transferred to Sec. 9-139c in 1987.

Sec. 9-140. Application for and issuance of absentee ballots; exception for 2020 state election re mailing of ballots. Distribution of absentee ballot applications. Mailing unsolicited applications. Downloading applications. Summary of absentee voting laws. (a) Application for an absentee ballot shall be made to the clerk of the municipality in which the applicant is eligible to vote or has applied for such eligibility. Any person who assists another person in the completion of an application shall, in the space provided, sign the application and print or type his name, residence address and telephone number. Such signature shall be made under the penalties of false statement in absentee balloting. The municipal clerk shall not invalidate the application solely because it does not contain the name of a person who assisted the applicant in the completion of the application. The municipal clerk shall not distribute with an absentee ballot application any material which promotes the success or defeat of any candidate or referendum question. The municipal clerk shall maintain a log of all absentee ballot applications provided under this subsection, including the name and address of each person to whom applications are provided and the number of applications provided to each such person. Each absentee ballot application provided by the municipal clerk shall be consecutively numbered and be stamped or marked with the name of the municipality issuing the application. The application shall be signed by the applicant under the penalties of false statement in absentee balloting on (1) the form prescribed by the Secretary of the State pursuant to section 9-139a, (2) a form provided by any federal department or agency if applicable pursuant to section 9-153a, or (3) any of the special forms of application prescribed pursuant to section 9-150c, 9-153a, 9-153b, 9-153d, 9-153e, 9-153f or 9-158d, if applicable. Any such absentee ballot applicant who is unable to write may cause the application to be completed by an authorized agent who shall, in the spaces provided for the date and signature, write the date and name of the absentee ballot applicant followed by the word “by” and his own signature. If the ballot is to be mailed to the applicant, the applicant shall list the bona fide personal mailing address of the applicant in the appropriate space on the application.

(b) A municipal clerk may transmit an application to a person under this subsection by facsimile machine or other electronic means, if so requested by the applicant. If a municipal clerk has a facsimile machine or other electronic means, an applicant may return a completed application to the clerk by such a machine or device, provided the applicant shall also mail the original of the completed application to the clerk, either separately or with the absentee ballot that is issued to the applicant. If the clerk does not receive such original application by the close of the polls on the day of the election, primary or referendum, the absentee ballot shall not be counted.

(c) The municipal clerk shall check the name of each absentee ballot applicant against the last-completed registry list and any updated registry lists on file in the municipal clerk's office. If the name of such applicant does not appear on any of such lists, the clerk shall send such applicant a notice, in a form prescribed by the Secretary of the State, to the effect that (1) the applicant's name did not appear on the list of electors of the municipality at the time the application was processed, and (2) unless the applicant is admitted or restored as an elector of the municipality by the applicable cutoff dates an absentee ballot will not be mailed to him. Such notice shall not be so mailed if, prior to the mailing of the notice, the registrars provide the clerk with reliable information showing the absentee ballot applicant to be an elector of the municipality.

(d) An absentee voting set shall consist of an absentee ballot, inner and outer envelopes for its return, instructions for its use, and if applicable, explanatory texts concerning ballot questions, as provided for in sections 2-30a and 9-369b. No other material shall be included with an absentee voting set issued to an applicant except as provided in sections 9-153e and 9-153f or where necessary to correct an error or omission as provided in section 9-153c.

(e) Upon receipt of an application, the municipal clerk shall, unless a notice is mailed to the applicant pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, write the serial number of the outer envelope included in the absentee voting set to be issued to the applicant in the space provided for that purpose on the application form. Sets shall be issued to applicants in consecutive ascending numerical order of the envelope serial numbers, and the clerk shall keep a list of the numbers indicating beside each number the name of the applicant to whom that set was issued. The list shall be preserved as a public record as required by section 9-150b.

(f) Absentee voting sets shall be issued beginning on the thirty-first day before an election and the twenty-first day before a primary or, if such day is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, beginning on the next preceding business day.

(g) (1) On the first day of issuance of absentee voting sets the municipal clerk shall mail an absentee voting set to each applicant whose application was received by the clerk prior to that day. When the clerk receives an application during the time period in which absentee voting sets are to be issued he shall mail an absentee voting set to the applicant, within twenty-four hours, unless the applicant submits his application in person at the office of the clerk and asks to be given his absentee voting set immediately, in which case the clerk shall comply with the request. Any absentee voting set to be mailed to an applicant shall be mailed to the bona fide personal mailing address shown on the application. Issuance of absentee voting sets shall also be subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, section 9-150c and section 9-159q concerning persons designated to deliver or return ballots in cases involving unforeseen illness or disability and supervised voting at certain health care institutions.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, for the state election in 2020, each absentee voting set required to be mailed to an applicant under said subdivision (A) shall be mailed by the municipal clerk within forty-eight hours after the application for such absentee voting set is received by the clerk, or (B) may be mailed by a third-party mailing vendor approved and selected by the Secretary of the State for use by the municipal clerk for such purpose, provided any contract between the Secretary of the State and any such vendor shall require that such vendor mail each absentee voting set within seventy-two hours after the application for such absentee voting set is received by such vendor from the clerk.

(h) No absentee ballot shall be issued on the day of an election or primary, or after the opening of the polls on the day of a referendum, except in cases involving unforeseen illness or disability or presidential or overseas ballots as provided in section 9-150c and sections 9-158a to 9-158m, inclusive.

(i) The municipal clerk shall file executed applications in alphabetical order according to the applicants' surnames. Such applications shall be preserved as a public record as required by section 9-150b.

(j) No person shall pay or give any compensation to another and no person shall accept any compensation solely for (1) distributing absentee ballot applications obtained from a municipal clerk or the Secretary of the State or (2) assisting any person in the execution of an absentee ballot.

(k) (1) A person shall register with the town clerk before distributing five or more absentee ballot applications for an election, primary or referendum, not including applications distributed to such person's immediate family. Such requirement shall not apply to a person who is the designee of an applicant.

(2) Any person who distributes absentee ballot applications shall maintain a list of the names and addresses of prospective absentee ballot applicants who receive such applications, and shall file such list with the town clerk prior to the date of the primary, election or referendum for which the applications were so distributed. Any person who distributes absentee ballot applications and receives an executed application shall forthwith file the application with the town clerk.

(l) No candidate, party or political committee, or agent of such candidate or committee shall mail unsolicited applications for absentee ballots to any person, unless such mailing includes: (1) A written explanation of the eligibility requirements for voting by absentee ballot as prescribed in subsection (a) of section 9-135, and (2) a written warning that voting or attempting to vote by absentee ballot without meeting one or more of such eligibility requirements subjects the elector or applicant to potential civil and criminal penalties. As used in this subsection, “agent” means any person authorized to act on behalf of another person.

(m) The Secretary of the State shall conspicuously post on the Secretary of the State's web site, adjacent to the absentee ballot application form available for downloading, a notice that the application may be downloaded by a person only for (1) the person's own use, (2) the use of a member of the person's immediate family, or (3) the use of a designee of the applicant. The notice shall also contain an advisory statement concerning the requirements of subsection (k) of this section.

(n) The State Elections Enforcement Commission, in consultation with the Secretary of the State, shall prepare a summary of the requirements and prohibitions of the absentee voting laws, which shall be posted on said agencies' web sites. Candidates and political party chairpersons shall provide such summary to campaign and party employees and volunteers.

(o) As used in this section, (1) “immediate family” has the same meaning as provided in subsection (a) of section 9-140b, and (2) “designee” has the same meaning as provided in subsection (b) of section 9-140b.

(1949 Rev., S. 1135; 1953, 1955, S. 627d; 1957, P.A. 517, S. 2; 1959, P.A. 54; 1963, P.A. 139; 207, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 59, S. 1; 158, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 176, S. 3; 1971, P.A. 871, S. 71; P.A. 74-96, S. 4, 9; 74-141, S. 1, 2; P.A. 75-310, S. 5, 11; P.A. 76-50, S. 4, 7; P.A. 78-153, S. 2, 32; P.A. 79-363, S. 15, 38; P.A. 84-319, S. 13, 49; P.A. 85-514, S. 1; 85-577, S. 5; 85-592, S. 1; P.A. 86-179, S. 11, 53; P.A. 87-382, S. 9, 55; 87-532, S. 3, 10; P.A. 89-297, S. 3, 10, 11, 18; P.A. 93-384, S. 26, 28; P.A. 95-177, S. 1, 7; P.A. 97-154, S. 11, 27; P.A. 05-235, S. 2, 3; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 10-1, S. 37; P.A. 11-173, S. 63; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-3, S. 4.)

History: 1959 act required applicant to give his bona fide personal mailing address to which ballot was to be sent; 1963 acts allowed application to be made at any time but reduced earliest time for giving or mailing ballot to applicant from 2 months to 45 days and authorized mailing of ballot to applicant at his request; 1965 acts deleted box on application form where applicant could request list, added provision, in case of armed forces members, not more than 90 days before election date, for ballot to be furnished, also provided if application received more than 90 days before election date, ballot to be mailed on ninetieth day and further provided list of all applicants be open to public inspection for period beginning 90 days before election, in lieu of 45, effective for elections held after January 1, 1966; 1967 act added provision for procedure to cover spouse or dependent of armed forces member, if living where member is stationed, to be covered by the 90-day provision, effective for elections held after January 1, 1968; 1971 act substituted “false statement” for “perjury”; P.A. 74-96 added “in absentee balloting” following “false statement”, effective January 1, 1975; P.A. 74-141 in addition to list to be maintained of all applicants for absentee ballots provided for including the voting address, bona fide mailing address and reason given for requesting absentee ballot; P.A. 75-310 deleted reference to 90 days in case of members of armed forces, their spouses and dependents; further changed reference to 45 days to 30 days, further changed period for list open to public inspection to start 30 days before election, effective January 1, 1976; P.A. 76-50 made technical changes; P.A. 78-153 provided absentee ballots to be made available by a municipality 30 days before an election, spelled out procedure to be followed by clerk, specifying a 24-hour period following receipt of application during which action to be taken, further provided executed applications to be kept on hand for 60 days after election, in lieu of 6 months; P.A. 79-363 deleted provision for maintaining a list as public record and provided for the applications themselves to constitute the public record with destruction authorized after 60 days; P.A. 84-319 amended section to allow applicant to designate person to deliver ballot to him or return it to clerk; P.A. 85-514 divided section into Subsecs. and amended Subsec. (a) to prohibit giving or accepting compensation for distributing absentee ballot applications or for assisting persons in the execution of such ballots; P.A. 85-577 changed time frame from 30 days before an election to the thirty-first day before an election or the next preceding business weekday, required notices to electors whose names are not on registry lists that unless the applicant is an elector by applicable cutoff dates, an absentee ballot will not be mailed, and provided that such notices are not mailed if registrar provided clerk with reliable information that absentee ballot applicant is elector of the municipality; P.A. 85-592 added new Subsec. which allowed electors to return application by U.S. postal service, commercial carrier, courier or messenger services; P.A. 86-179 made technical changes, added requirement that applicants list bona fide personal mailing address on application, prohibited issuance of ballot on day of election or during voting hours on day of special election primary or referendum and added prohibition of compensation for distributing applications or assisting in execution of ballot; P.A. 87-382, in Subsec. (d), added references to Secs. 9-153e and 9-153f; P.A. 87-532 amended Subsec. (a) to require clerk to maintain log of absentee ballot applications and to sign or stamp each application provided, under penalties of false statement in absentee balloting, and to require any person obtaining application from a clerk for use of another person to sign and type his name, under same penalties; P.A. 89-297 amended Subsec. (a) by allowing person obtaining application from municipal clerk for use of another person to affix his signature stamp instead of signing the application and by adding prohibition on clerk distributing campaign material with application, substituted “twenty-first” for “nineteenth” in Subsec. (f) and amended Subsec. (h) to prohibit an absentee ballot from being issued on day of “an election or primary”, instead of on day of “a regular election”, or after opening of polls on day of “a referendum” instead of “a special election, primary or referendum”; P.A. 93-384 amended Subsec. (a) to authorize fax transmissions for sending and returning applications, effective January 1, 1994; P.A. 95-177 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provisions re log of absentee ballot applications and signature stamp, changing identification requirement from person obtaining application for use of another person to person assisting with completion of application, adding requirement of assistant's address and telephone number, provision re not invalidating application lacking name of assistant, and Subdiv. indicators, moving provision re applicant's mailing address from Subsec. (b) to (a), and making provision re facsimile machine Subsec. (b), and amended Subsecs. (e) and (i) by deleting explanation of time period set in Sec. 9-150b, effective January 1, 1996; P.A. 97-154 deleted provisions that forms prescribed by Secretary of the State be provided by the secretary, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 05-235 amended Subsec. (a) to require municipal clerk to maintain a log of absentee ballot applications provided and require that each application provided by municipal clerk be consecutively numbered and stamped or marked with name of municipality, and added Subsecs. (k) to (o), inclusive, re requirements for absentee ballot distributors, mailing unsolicited applications, notice on the Secretary of the State's web site re downloading applications, and a summary of absentee voting laws by the State Elections Enforcement Commission, effective July 1, 2005, and applicable to elections, primaries and referenda held on or after September 1, 2005; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 10-1 amended Subsec. (b) by allowing for transmission of application by electronic means other than facsimile, effective June 22, 2010; P.A. 11-173 amended Subsec. (c) by replacing “supplementary” with “updated” re registry lists, effective July 13, 2011; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-3 amended Subsec. (g) to designate existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and to add Subdiv. (2) re state election in 2020, effective July 31, 2020.

See Sec. 9-153e re alternate application procedure for certain military personnel.

Cited. 231 C. 602.

Defendant's application for absentee ballot from residence in Connecticut did not make that address his “place of abode” for service of process when he was living in and employed in England. 28 CS 359.

Sec. 9-140a. (Formerly Sec. 9-138). Signing of form. Insertion of ballot in envelopes. Each absentee ballot applicant shall sign the form on the inner envelope provided for in section 9-137, which shall constitute a statement under the penalties of false statement in absentee balloting. Any absentee ballot applicant who is unable to write may cause his name to be signed on the form by an authorized agent who shall, in the space provided for the signature, write the name of the applicant followed by the word “by” and his own signature. The failure of the applicant or authorized agent to date the form shall not invalidate the ballot. The ballot shall be inserted in the inner envelope, and the inner envelope shall be inserted in the outer envelope, prior to the return of the ballot to the municipal clerk. If an applicant is required to return identification with the ballot pursuant to the Help America Vote Act, P.L. 107-252, as amended from time to time, such identification shall be inserted in the outer envelope so such identification can be viewed without opening the inner envelope.

(1955, S. 625d; 1971, P.A. 871, S. 70; P.A. 74-96, S. 3, 9; P.A. 78-79, S. 3, 4; P.A. 79-363, S. 14, 38; P.A. 86-179, S. 12, 53; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 95.)

History: 1971 act changed penalties of “perjury” to “false statement”; P.A. 74-96 added “in absentee balloting”, effective January 1, 1975; P.A. 78-79 removed provisions for dating where appearing and further added that failure of applicant or agent to date form would not invalidate the application; P.A. 79-363 substituted “ballot” for “application”; P.A. 86-179 amended section to allow agent to sign form on envelope for applicant who is unable to write for any reason; Sec. 9-138 transferred to Sec. 9-140a in 1987; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 added provision re procedure to be followed when applicant is required to return identification with ballot pursuant to Help America Vote Act, effective January 1, 2004.

Cited. 231 C. 602.

Sec. 9-140b. (Formerly Sec. 9-146). Return of absentee ballots; use of secure drop box for 2020 state election. Possession of ballots and envelopes restricted. (a) An absentee ballot shall be cast at a primary, election or referendum only if: (1) It is mailed by (A) the ballot applicant, (B) a designee of a person who applies for an absentee ballot because of illness or physical disability, or (C) a member of the immediate family of an applicant who is a student, so that it is received by the clerk of the municipality in which the applicant is qualified to vote not later than the close of the polls; (2) it is returned by the applicant in person to the clerk by the day before a regular election, special election or primary or prior to the opening of the polls on the day of a referendum; (3) it is returned by a designee of an ill or physically disabled ballot applicant, in person, to said clerk not later than the close of the polls on the day of the election, primary or referendum; (4) it is returned by a member of the immediate family of the absentee voter, in person, to said clerk not later than the close of the polls on the day of the election, primary or referendum; (5) in the case of a presidential or overseas ballot, it is mailed or otherwise returned pursuant to the provisions of section 9-158g; or (6) it is returned with the proper identification as required by the Help America Vote Act, P.L. 107-252, as amended from time to time, if applicable, inserted in the outer envelope so such identification can be viewed without opening the inner envelope. A person returning an absentee ballot to the municipal clerk pursuant to subdivision (3) or (4) of this subsection shall present identification and, on the outer envelope of the absentee ballot, sign his name in the presence of the municipal clerk, and indicate his address, his relationship to the voter or his position, and the date and time of such return. As used in this section, “immediate family” means a dependent relative who resides in the individual's household or any spouse, child or parent of the individual.

(b) As used in this section and section 9-150c, “designee” means (1) a person who is caring for the applicant because of the applicant's illness or physical disability, including but not limited to, a licensed physician or a registered or practical nurse, (2) a member of the applicant's family, who is designated by an absentee ballot applicant and who consents to such designation, or (3) if no such person consents or is available, then a police officer, registrar of voters, deputy registrar of voters or assistant registrar of voters in the municipality in which the applicant resides.

(c) (1) For purposes of this section, “mailed” means (A) sent by the United States Postal Service or any commercial carrier, courier or messenger service recognized and approved by the Secretary of the State, or (B) for the state election in 2020, deposited in a secure drop box designated by the municipal clerk for such purpose, in accordance with instructions prescribed by the Secretary.

(2) In the case of absentee ballots mailed under subparagraph (B) of subdivision (1) of this subsection, beginning on the twenty-ninth day before the state election in 2020 and on each weekday thereafter until the close of the polls, the municipal clerk shall (A) retrieve from the secure drop box described in said subparagraph each such ballot deposited in such drop box, and (B) if the drop box is located outside a building other than the building where the clerk's office is located, arrange for the clerk or the clerk's designee to be escorted by a police officer during such retrieval.

(d) No person shall have in his possession any official absentee ballot or ballot envelope for use at any primary, election or referendum except the applicant to whom it was issued, the Secretary of the State or his or her authorized agents, any official printer of absentee ballot forms and his designated carriers, the United States Postal Service, any other carrier, courier or messenger service recognized and approved by the Secretary of the State, any person authorized by a municipal clerk to receive and process official absentee ballot forms on behalf of the municipal clerk, any authorized primary, election or referendum official or any other person authorized by any provision of the general statutes to possess a ballot or ballot envelope.

(e) No (1) candidate or (2) agent of a candidate, political party or committee, as defined in section 9-601, shall knowingly be present when an absentee ballot applicant executes an absentee ballot, except (A) when the candidate or agent is (i) a member of the immediate family of the applicant or (ii) authorized by law to be present or (B) when the absentee ballot is executed in the office of the municipal clerk and the municipal clerk or an employee of the municipal clerk is a candidate or agent.

(1949 Rev., S. 1143; 1953, S. 633d; 1972, P.A. 196, S. 14; P.A. 73-472, S. 1, 2; P.A. 74-312, S. 1, 2; P.A. 75-125, S. 1, 3; P.A. 76-295, S. 17, 18; P.A. 77-245, S. 1; P.A. 79-340; P.A. 81-424, S. 4; P.A. 82-288, S. 1, 2; P.A. 83-324, S. 1, 2; P.A. 84-319, S. 15, 49; P.A. 85-592, S. 2; 85-613, S. 90, 154; P.A. 86-179, S. 13, 53; P.A. 87-532, S. 4, 10; P.A. 88-162, S. 3, 4; P.A. 89-297, S. 4, 18; P.A. 94-203, S. 11, 12; P.A. 97-154, S. 15, 27; 97-176, S. 1, 2; P.A. 98-67, S. 9, 10; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 96; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-3, S. 5.)

History: 1972 act retained requirements for deadline for return of absentee ballots to clerk for municipal elections not held coincidentally with regular or special state elections but changed deadline for return of ballots for regular or special state elections to not later than the close of the polls on election day and added provision for a presidential ballot to be issued on election day in certain circumstances; P.A. 73-472 provided that ballot may be completed in clerk's office and returned to clerk at same time, effective with all elections held on or after January 1, 1974; P.A. 74-312 detailed who may be designated to mail absentee ballot where there is illness or physical disability and those who may at times have in their possession official ballots or ballot envelopes not to apply to any primary held in 1974; P.A. 75-125 changed deadline for return of all absentee ballots, mailed or otherwise, for municipal or state elections, to “the close of the polls on the day of such election”, effective January 1, 1976; P.A. 76-295 added provision for return of an overseas ballot by a person not employed by U.S. postal service; P.A. 77-245 changed “town clerk's office” to “office of the municipal clerk” where appearing; P.A. 79-340 divided section into three Subsecs. and in new Subsec. (a) set forth conditions under which absentee ballot is deemed to be cast, in which was deleted previous provision for completion in clerk's office and return at same time, substituting a requirement that when returned in person by elector deadline is “by the day before such election”; P.A. 81-424 amended Subsec. (b) to include justices of the peace among those persons who may be designated by an elector to mail his ballot; P.A. 82-288 amended section to allow electors to pick up and return absentee ballots in person on day of a special election or primary if done prior to the opening of the polls, and to delete reference to justice of the peace as person who may mail absentee ballot for elector; P.A. 83-324 amended section to allow municipal clerk or designee to personally accept ballots from hospitalized persons; P.A. 84-319 permitted certain individuals to pick up as well as return the absentee ballot of a person hospitalized within the six days immediately preceding a primary or an election; P.A. 85-592 amended Subsec. (a) to allow electors to return applications by U.S. postal service, commercial carrier, courier or messenger services; P.A. 85-613 made a technical change in Subsec. (a) and deleted provision which had required clerk to retain records for six months after election or primary; P.A. 86-179 added references to referenda, use of commercial carrier, courier or messenger service, changed term “elector” to “applicant” and deleted provision re issuance of ballot on election day; Sec. 9-146 transferred to Sec. 9-140b in 1987; P.A. 87-532 amended Subsec. (a)(1) to allow an absentee ballot to be cast if it is mailed by a member of the immediate family of an applicant who is a student; P.A. 88-162 amended Subsec. (a)(2) to require that absentee ballot be returned by day before special election or primary, instead of prior to opening of polls on day of special election or primary, in order to be cast, effective July 1, 1989; P.A. 89-297 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to allow a designee of any ill or physically disabled applicant, instead of only an applicant having an unforeseen illness or physical disability occurring within six days immediately preceding close of polls, to return ballot in person ; P.A. 94-203 divided Subsec. (b) into Subdivs., rephrased provision re licensed physician or registered or practical nurse in Subdiv. (1), and inserted “or assistant registrar of voters” in Subdiv. (2), effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 97-154 added new Subsec. (a)(4) authorizing absentee ballot to be cast if returned by immediate family member, renumbering former Subdiv. (4) as Subdiv. (5) and requiring person returning absentee ballot to municipal clerk under Subdiv. (3) or (4) to present identification and provide information on outer envelope, effective January 1, 1998; P.A. 97-176 added new Subsec. (e) prohibiting candidate or his agent, except in certain cases, from knowingly being present when an applicant executes absentee ballot, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-67 redefined “immediate family” for purposes of section, effective July 1, 1998; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 made a technical change in Subsec. (a)(1) and added Subsec. (a)(6) re ballot returned with proper identification as required by Help America Vote Act, effective January 1, 2004; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-3 amended Subsec. (c) to designate existing provisions as Subdiv. (1), add Subpara. (A) designator, add Subpara. (B) re state election in 2020 and add Subdiv. (2) re absentee ballots mailed under Subdiv. (1)(B), effective July 31, 2020.

Annotations to former section 9-146:

Time requirements unenforceable when clerk failed to comply with Sec. 9-148, hence ballots held void. 164 C. 204. Cited. 186 C. 125.

Subsec. (b):

Where absentee ballots were mailed by person not specifically enumerated, court erred in determining that there had been substantial compliance with statute. 186 C. 125.

Annotations to present section:

A designee to return an absentee ballot on behalf of an absentee voter must be appointed or selected from within the approved categories of persons by the absentee voter himself or herself, and not by a third party; when absentee voters are in the process of casting their ballots, i.e. returning such ballots to the town clerk for submission, partisan individuals are required to distance themselves from such absentee voters. 328 C. 393.

Sec. 9-140c. (Formerly Sec. 9-147). List of applicants returning ballots to clerk. Sorting of ballots and checking of names on registry list; rejection of ballot if name not on list; exception for 2020 state election. Times for delivery of ballots by clerk to registrars; exception for 2020 state election. Preservation of secrecy. Counting of ballots by counters upon receipt from registrars; exception re processing of ballots for 2020 state election. Late ballots retained by clerk. (a) The municipal clerk shall retain the envelopes containing absentee ballots received by him under section 9-140b and shall not open such envelopes. The municipal clerk shall endorse over his signature, upon each outer envelope as he receives it, the date and precise time of its receipt. The clerk shall make an affidavit attesting to the accuracy of all such endorsements, and at the close of the polls shall deliver such affidavit to the head moderator, who shall endorse the time of its receipt and return it to the clerk after all counting is complete. The clerk shall preserve the affidavit for one hundred eighty days in accordance with the requirements of section 9-150b. The clerk shall keep a list of the names of the applicants who return absentee ballots to the clerk under section 9-140b. The list shall be preserved as a public record as required by section 9-150b.

(b) (1) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, beginning not earlier than the seventh day before the election, primary or referendum and on any weekday thereafter, all absentee ballots received by the municipal clerk at or prior to eleven o'clock a.m. of such day may be sorted into voting districts by the municipal clerk and checked as provided in this subparagraph. On any such day, beginning as soon as the ballots have been sorted, the registrars of voters, without opening the outer envelopes, may check the names of the applicants returning ballots on the official checklist to be used at the election, primary or referendum by indicating “absentee” or “A” preceding each such name and, if unaffiliated electors are authorized under section 9-431 to vote in the primary of either of two parties, the designation of the party in which the applicants are voting preceding each such name. Unless absentee ballots are to be counted in the respective polling places, pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, the registrars shall also place such indication on a duplicate checklist to be retained by the municipal clerk until the municipal clerk delivers such duplicate checklist to the registrars, in accordance with subsection (e) of this section, for the use of the absentee ballot counters pursuant to subsection (i) of this section.

(B) For the state election in 2020, beginning on the fourteenth day before the election and on any weekday thereafter, all absentee ballots received by the municipal clerk at or prior to eleven o'clock a.m. of such day may be sorted into voting districts by the municipal clerk and checked as provided in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision.

(2) All absentee ballots received at or prior to eleven o'clock a.m. of the last day before the election, primary or referendum which is not a Sunday or legal holiday, shall be sorted into voting districts by the municipal clerk and checked as provided in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of this subsection not later than such last day.

(c) If the name of the applicant returning the ballot is not on the official checklist for any polling place in such municipality, the registrars shall endorse on the face of such outer envelope the word “rejected”, followed by a statement of the reasons for rejection, and the outer envelope shall not be opened or the ballot counted.

(d) After such checking has been completed on any such day, the municipal clerk shall seal the unopened ballots in a package and retain them in a safe place.

(e) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, ballots received at or prior to eleven o'clock a.m. on the last day before the election, primary or referendum shall be delivered by the municipal clerk to the registrars between ten o'clock a.m. and twelve o'clock noon on the day of the election or primary and at twelve o'clock noon on the day of a referendum. Unless absentee ballots are to be counted in the respective polling places, pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, the municipal clerk shall also deliver to the registrars at this time the duplicate checklist provided for in subsection (b) of this section, for the use of the absentee ballot counters pursuant to subsection (i) of this section.

(2) (A) For the state election in 2020:

(i) Ballots received, sorted and checked prior to five o'clock p.m. on the (I) fourth day before the election may be delivered by the municipal clerk to the registrars at five o'clock p.m. on such fourth day, (II) third day before the election may be so delivered at five o'clock p.m. on such third day, and (III) second day before the election may be so delivered at five o'clock p.m. on such second day;

(ii) Ballots received not later than eleven o'clock a.m. on the last day before the election shall be delivered by the municipal clerk to the registrars at six o'clock a.m. on the day of the election; and

(iii) Each time ballots are delivered pursuant to this subparagraph, the municipal clerk shall also deliver to the registrars at such time a copy of the duplicate checklist provided for in subsection (b) of this section, current as of the time of such delivery, for the use of the absentee ballot counters pursuant to subsection (i) of this section.

(B) The municipal clerk may deliver the ballots at times later than those provided in subdivision (1) of this subsection or subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, as applicable, provided any such time is mutually agreed upon by the municipal clerk and registrars and is not later than eight o'clock p.m. on the day of the election, primary or referendum.

(f) Absentee ballots timely received by the clerk after eleven o'clock a.m. of such last day before an election, primary or referendum shall be sorted into voting districts by the clerk and retained by the clerk separately until delivered to the registrars of voters for checking.

(g) Any or all of such ballots received after eleven o'clock a.m. of such last day before an election, primary or referendum and before six o'clock p.m. on the day of the election, primary or referendum shall, upon request of the registrars, be delivered to the registrars by the municipal clerk at six o'clock p.m. on the day of the election, primary or referendum for checking, or at a later time mutually agreed upon by the clerk and registrars, provided such time is not later than eight o'clock p.m. on the day of the election, primary or referendum.

(h) Absentee ballots received after six o'clock p.m. on the day of the election, primary or referendum and any ballots received prior to six o'clock p.m. of such day which were not delivered earlier shall be delivered to the registrars at the close of the polls for checking. Although absentee ballots shall be checked by the registrars of voters at various times throughout the election, primary or referendum day, absentee ballots may be counted at one single time during such day.

(i) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the absentee ballot counters, upon receipt of the ballots delivered by the municipal clerk to the registrars at six o'clock p.m. on the day of the election, primary or referendum and at the close of the polls pursuant to subsections (g) and (h) of this section, shall check the names of the applicants returning ballots on the duplicate checklist in the same manner as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section.

(2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, the names of applicants whose ballots were delivered at six o'clock p.m. on the day of the election, primary or referendum shall be called in to the appropriate polling places where they shall be checked by the checkers on the official checklists, and they shall also be checked by the absentee ballot counters on the duplicate checklist required under subsection (b) of this section.

(B) Whenever absentee ballots are counted in any polling place pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, the names of applicants whose ballots were delivered at six o'clock p.m. on the day of the election, primary or referendum shall be checked by the absentee ballot counters and checkers at such polling place on the official checklist used at such polling place.

(3) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, the names of applicants whose ballots were delivered at the close of the polls shall be checked by the absentee ballot counters on the official checklists used at the polling places and such official checklists, bearing the certifications required by section 9-307, shall be delivered by the registrars or assistant registrars to the central counting moderator for that purpose.

(B) Whenever absentee ballots are counted in any polling place pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, the official checklist used at such polling place shall remain in such polling place for checking by the absentee ballot counters at such polling place.

(4) If the name of an applicant returning a ballot has been checked on the official checklist as having voted in person the absentee ballot counters shall, in checking the ballots, endorse on the face of the outer envelope the word “rejected” followed by a statement of the reason for rejection, and the outer envelope shall not be opened or the ballot counted.

(5) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, when central counting is completed and the result is announced, the central counting moderator shall deliver the duplicate checklist, the official checklists and the returns required by section 9-150b to the head moderator.

(B) Whenever absentee ballots are counted in any polling place pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, and such counting is completed and the result for such polling place is announced, the moderator for such polling place shall deliver the official checklist used at such polling place and the return required by section 9-150b to the head moderator.

(j) Each time absentee ballots are delivered by the clerk to the registrars pursuant to this section, the clerk and registrars shall execute an affidavit of delivery and receipt stating the number of ballots delivered. The clerk shall preserve the affidavit for the period prescribed in section 9-150b.

(k) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, the absentee ballot counters shall count, in the manner provided in section 9-150a, each group of absentee ballots upon receipt from the registrars.

(2) For the state election in 2020, whenever absentee ballots are to be processed before the day of the election, pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 9-147a, the absentee ballot counters shall process, in the manner provided in section 9-150e, each group of absentee ballots upon receipt from the registrars.

(l) The municipal clerk shall retain all outer envelopes containing absentee ballots received by him after the close of the polls, unopened, for the period prescribed in section 9-150b.

(1949 Rev., S. 1143; 1953, S. 634d; 1963, P.A. 43; 1967, P.A. 831, S. 3; 1972, P.A. 196, S. 15; P.A. 75-125, S. 2, 3; 75-300, S. 5, 9; P.A. 77-187, S. 1, 9; 77-245, S. 2; P.A. 78-75, S. 1, 3; 78-153, S. 21, 32; P.A. 79-363, S. 16, 38; P.A. 81-424, S. 1; P.A. 84-319, S. 17, 49; P.A. 85-592, S. 3; P.A. 86-179, S. 14, 53; P.A. 87-382, S. 10, 55; 87-509, S. 23, 24; 87-532, S. 5, 10; P.A. 95-171, S. 11, 14; P.A. 96-119, S. 3, 14; P.A. 11-173, S. 10; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-2, S. 48; P.A. 13-295, S. 1; P.A. 18-124, S. 3–5; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-3, S. 6; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-4, S. 2.)

History: 1963 act allowed clerk to deliver ballots promptly after as well as before the opening of the polls; 1967 act made technical changes; 1972 act provided that on day of municipal or special election not held coincidentally with a regular or special state election, prior to or promptly after polls open and again promptly after twelve noon, when day of election is Monday, clerk to deliver absentee ballots to registrars, and further on day of regular or special state election clerk to deliver absentee ballots immediately after twelve noon and again immediately after the close of the polls to the registrars, also at any time or times between noon and the close of the polls may deliver any envelopes received during that period; P.A. 75-125 deleted distinction between municipal and state elections and provided for delivery of ballots to registrars at any election immediately after twelve noon and after closing of polls as well as any time in between at discretion of clerk, effective January 1, 1976; P.A. 75-300 changed twelve noon to two p.m. and further deleted discretionary deliveries between that time and closing of polls, effective January 1, 1976; P.A. 77-187 deleted all provisions for delivery of ballots by clerk to registrars, provided that ballots received before eleven a.m. of day before election be sorted into voting districts by clerk, that registrars to start checking as ballots are available from clerk the names of such voters on registry list and if name not on list, without opening ballot to indicate “not counted” thereon and reason therefor upon completion ballots retained in sealed package by clerk until delivered to registrars at twelve noon, election day, that ballots received in timely fashion after eleven a.m. day before election to be sorted and delivered to registrars after polls close, that, if admission form of member of armed forces or related group is received by five p.m. at day before election, his absentee ballot, received before the admission form, to be counted and that where absentee ballots cast in election on first Monday in May, ballots to be checked against registry list on last weekday before election; P.A. 77-245 changed “town” to “municipal” clerk; P.A. 78-75 provided for delivery and checking of ballots received since last delivery at five p.m. on request of registrars and again any ballots not previously delivered to be delivered at the close of polls; P.A. 78-153 made technical changes; P.A. 79-363 changed five p.m. delivery time to six p.m.; P.A. 81-424 provided for optional sorting and checking of ballots on a daily basis for seven days prior to the election; P.A. 84-319 divided section into Subsecs. and amended section to provide uniformity in procedures for sorting, checking and marking absentee ballot envelopes; P.A. 85-592 applied provisions of section to referenda and amended Subsec. (b) to require that clerk and registrars execute affidavit of delivery and receipt stating number of ballots delivered; P.A. 86-179 changed term “registry list” to “official checklist” and made technical changes; Sec. 9-147 transferred to Sec. 9-140c in 1987; P.A. 87-382 substituted “one hundred eighty days” for “six months”; P.A. 87-509 amended Subsec. (b) to provide that checking by registrars, if unaffiliated electors authorized to vote in primary of either of two parties, to include designation of party in which applicants are voting preceding each name; P.A. 87-532 amended Subsec. (a) to require clerk to keep list of names of applicants returning absentee ballots to clerk; P.A. 95-171 amended Subsec. (e) by changing time of delivery of ballots from noon to between nine a.m. and noon for an election or primary and not later than noon for a referendum, effective January 1, 1996; P.A. 96-119 amended Subsec. (e) to replace “nine” with “ten” o'clock and replace “not later than” with “at” twelve o'clock, effective May 24, 1996; P.A. 11-173 amended Subsecs. (e) to (h) by deleting language re specific times for counting and references to such times and counting, and by adding language re counting a single time in Subsec. (h), effective July 13, 2011; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-2 amended Subsec. (h) by making a technical change; P.A. 13-295 amended Subsec. (e) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and providing for an exception for Subdiv. (2) therein and adding Subdiv. (2) re mutually agreed upon delivery time, made a technical change in Subsec. (f) and amended Subsec. (g) by making a technical change and adding provision re mutually agreed upon delivery time, effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 18-124 amended Subsecs. (b) and (e)(1) to replace provision re central counting of absentee ballots with provision re counting in respective polling places, amended Subsec. (i)(1) to replace “official checklist” with “duplicate checklist”, amended Subsec. (i)(2) to replace provision re central counting with provision re exception in Subpara. (B), designate existing provisions re names of applicants to be called into polling places and checked by absentee ballot counters as Subpara. (A), and add Subpara. (B) re counting of absentee ballots in polling place and checking names of certain applicants, amended Subsec. (i)(3) to designate existing provisions re names of applicants to be checked on official checklists as Subpara. (A) and add Subpara. (B) re counting of absentee ballots in polling place, amended Subsec. (i)(5) to designate existing provisions re completion of central counting and delivery of checklists to head moderator as Subpara. (A) and add Subpara. (B) re completion of counting of absentee ballots and delivery of official checklist to head moderator, replaced “clerk” with “municipal clerk”, and made technical and conforming changes in Subsecs. (b), (e) and (i), effective June 6, 2018; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-3 amended Subsec. (b) to designate existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and amend same to add exception re Subsec. (b)(2), add exception re Subsec. (e)(2)(A) and add Subdiv. (2) re state election in 2020, amended Subsec. (e)(2) to add Subpara. (A) re state election in 2020, designate existing provisions as Subpara. (B) and add “or subparagraph (A) of this subdivision”, and made technical changes in Subsec. (i), effective July 31, 2020; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-4 amended Subsec. (b) to designate existing provisions of Subdiv. (1) re permission to sort and check received absentee ballots as Subdiv. (1)(A) and amended same to replace “at twelve o'clock noon, except as provided in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of this section, on election, primary or referendum day” with “in accordance with subsection (e) of this section”, add Subdiv. (1)(B) re state election in 2020, designate existing provision of Subdiv. (1) re requirement to sort and check received absentee ballots as new Subdiv. (2) and delete former Subdiv. (2) re state election in 2020, amended Subsec. (e) to add Subdiv. (2)(A)(i) re permission to deliver ballots to registrars, add Subdiv. (2)(A)(iii) re delivery of duplicate checklist and designate existing provisions of Subdiv. (2)(A) re requirement to deliver ballots to registrars as Subdiv. (2)(A)(ii), amended Subsec. (h) to add “on the day of the election, primary or referendum” and “of such day”, amended Subsec. (i) to add “on the day of the election, primary or referendum” in Subdivs. (1) and (2), amended Subsec. (j) to replace “Each time ballots” with “Each time absentee ballots”, “on election, primary or referendum day” with “pursuant to this section” and “six months in accordance with” with “the period prescribed in”, amended Subsec. (k) to designate existing provisions re requirement to count absentee ballots upon receipt as Subdiv. (1) and amend same to add exception re Subdiv. (2), and add Subdiv. (2) re state election in 2020, and made technical and conforming changes, effective October 2, 2020.

Cited. 231 C. 602.

Sec. 9-140d. (Formerly Sec. 9-152). Validity of armed forces member's ballot after death. No absentee ballot executed by a member of the armed forces shall be invalidated by his death prior to an election, primary or referendum if his name appears on the official checklist used at such election, primary or referendum.

(1949 Rev., S. 1152; 1953, S. 638d; P.A. 86-179, S. 15, 53.)

History: P.A. 86-179 added references to primaries and referenda and changed term “registry list” to “official checklist”; Sec. 9-152 transferred to Sec. 9-140d in 1987.

Sec. 9-140e. Permanently physically disabled elector. Status for receipt of absentee ballots. (a) Any elector who is permanently physically disabled and who files an application for an absentee ballot with a certification from a primary care provider, indicating that such elector is permanently physically disabled and unable to appear in person at such elector's designated polling location, shall be eligible for permanent absentee ballot status and shall receive an absentee ballot for each election, primary or referendum conducted in such elector's municipality for which such elector is eligible to vote. Such elector's permanent absentee ballot status shall remain in effect until such elector: (1) Is removed from the official registry list of the municipality, (2) is removed from permanent absentee ballot status pursuant to the provisions of this section, or (3) requests that he or she no longer receive such permanent absentee ballot status.

(b) The registrars of voters shall send written notice to each such elector with permanent absentee ballot status in January of each year, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of the State, for the purpose of determining if such elector continues to reside at the address indicated on the elector's permanent absentee ballot application. If (1) such written notice is returned as undeliverable, or (2) not later than thirty days after such notice is sent to the elector, the elector fails to return such notice to the registrars of voters, as directed on the form, the elector in question shall be removed from permanent absentee ballot status. If such elector indicates on such notice that the elector no longer resides at such address and the elector's new address is within the same municipality, the registrars of voters shall change the elector's address pursuant to section 9-35 and such elector shall retain permanent absentee ballot status. If the elector indicates on such notice that the elector no longer resides in the municipality, the registrars of voters shall remove such individual from the registry list of the municipality and send such individual an application for voter registration. Failure to return such written notice shall not result in the removal of an elector from the official registry list of the municipality.

(P.A. 11-173, S. 56; P.A. 12-57, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 11-173 effective January 1, 2012; P.A. 12-57 amended Subsec. (a) by providing that an elector with permanent absentee ballot status receive an absentee ballot rather than an application and amended Subsec. (b) by making technical changes, effective January 1, 2013.

Secs. 9-141 and 9-142. Transferred to Secs. 9-153a and 9-153b, respectively.

Secs. 9-143 to 9-143b. Transferred to Secs. 9-153d to 9-153f, inclusive.

Secs. 9-144 and 9-145. Materials to be furnished to absentee ballot applicants. Marking of ballots. Sections 9-144 and 9-145 are repealed.

(1949 Rev., S. 1137, 1151; 1953, S. 631d, 632d; 1955, S. 631d; 1957, P.A. 517, S. 5, 6; 1959, P.A. 592, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 213; 224, S. 2; 374, S. 2; February, 1965, P.A. 59, S. 2; 1967, P.A. 174; 303, S. 2; 1969, P.A. 694, S. 7; P.A. 74-11, S. 1, 4; P.A. 75-310, S. 7, 8, 11; 75-349, S. 2; P.A. 85-514, S. 2; P.A. 86-179, S. 52, 53.)

Sec. 9-146. Transferred to Sec. 9-140b.

Sec. 9-146a. Transferred to Sec. 9-159q.

Sec. 9-147. Transferred to Sec. 9-140c.

Sec. 9-147a. Central counting of absentee ballots; designation of location by registrars of voters. Exception for counting in respective polling places. Exception re processing of absentee ballots for 2020 state election. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) or (c) of this section, at any election, primary or referendum, all absentee ballots shall, within existing resources, be counted in the manner provided in section 9-150a at a central location designated by the registrars of voters in writing to the municipal clerk at least twenty days before the election, primary or referendum, which location shall be published in the warning for the election, primary or referendum. Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, if unaffiliated electors are authorized under section 9-431 to vote in the primary of either of two parties, all absentee ballots shall be separated, counted, tallied and placed in depository envelopes by voting district. Any member of the public may observe the counting of absentee ballots at such central location.

(b) At any election, primary or referendum, all absentee ballots may be counted in the manner provided in section 9-150a in the respective polling places if the registrars of voters agree that such absentee ballots should be so counted. If unaffiliated electors are authorized under section 9-431 to vote in the primary of either of two parties, absentee ballots may be counted in the respective polling places if the parties agree that such absentee ballots should be so counted. Any election official serving in a polling place may observe the counting of absentee ballots at such polling place.

(c) (1) For the state election in 2020, absentee ballots may be processed before the day of the election in the manner provided in section 9-150e. Any such processing shall take place at a central location designated by the registrars of voters in writing to the municipal clerk at least ten days before the election, which location shall be published in the warning for the election.

(2) If absentee ballots are to be processed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, the registrars of voters and municipal clerk shall jointly certify such fact in writing to the Secretary of the State at least ten days before the election. Such written certification shall (A) include the name, street address and relevant contact information associated with the designated central location, and (B) list the name and address of each absentee ballot counter appointed pursuant to section 9-147c. The Secretary shall approve or disapprove such written certification not later than two days after receipt of such certification and may require the appointment of one or more additional absentee ballot counters.

(3) In the case of absentee ballots delivered to the registrars on the day of the election, nothing in this subsection shall preclude the counting of such absentee ballots in the respective polling places pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.

(P.A. 75-300, S. 1, 9; P.A. 77-187, S. 4, 9; P.A. 78-75, S. 2, 3; 78-153, S. 19, 32; P.A. 79-363, S. 17, 38; P.A. 81-424, S. 2; P.A. 84-319, S. 18, 49; P.A. 85-592, S. 4; P.A. 86-179, S. 16, 53; P.A. 87-509, S. 22, 24; P.A. 18-124, S. 1; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-4, S. 3.)

History: P.A. 77-187 changed time of receipt referring to before or after “five p.m.” of day before election to “eleven a.m.” where appearing, changed time of delivery by town clerk from “two p.m.” to “twelve noon” on election day; P.A. 78-75 changed “town” to “municipal” clerk where appearing, and provided for delivery of ballots at five p.m. on election day at request of registrars and in any case at close of polls; P.A. 78-153 replaced town clerk with municipal clerk; P.A. 79-363 changed “five” to “six” p.m. on election day where appearing; P.A. 81-424 provided for optional sorting and checking of ballots on a daily basis for seven days prior to the election; P.A. 84-319 divided section into Subsecs. and amended provisions to provide uniformity in procedures for checking and counting absentee ballots; P.A. 85-592 applied provisions of section to primary elections and referenda; P.A. 86-179 added subsection re counting of absentee ballots at polling place or central counting location and deleted provisions re timetable and procedures for counting; P.A. 87-509 prohibited central counting of absentee ballots if unaffiliated electors authorized to vote in primary of either of two parties, unless both parties decide to have central counting and designate same room for central counting; P.A. 18-124 deleted former Subsec. (a) re counting of absentee ballots and election official observing counting of ballots, redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as new Subsec. (a) and amended same to add exception re Subsec. (b), replace “may” with “shall, within existing resources”, delete provisions re prohibition on counting absentee ballots at central location unless both parties agree to designate same room for counting and delete provision re return of absentee ballots by voting district, added new Subsec. (b) re counting of absentee ballots in respective polling places and election official observing counting of absentee ballots, and made technical and conforming changes, effective June 6, 2018; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-4 amended Subsec. (a) to add exception re Subsec. (c) and “in the manner provided in section 9-150a”, amended Subsec. (b) to add “in the manner provided in section 9-150a” and added Subsec. (c) re state election in 2020, effective October 2, 2020.

Sec. 9-147b. Transferred to Sec. 9-151a.

Sec. 9-147c. Appointment of absentee ballot counters, central counting moderator and alternate moderator. Count not to be disclosed prior to close of polls. Each registrar of voters shall appoint one or more electors of the town, known to be persons of integrity, to count all absentee ballots. No spouse, parent, grandparent, child or sibling of a candidate may be appointed to count absentee ballots on which the name of such candidate appears. Unless absentee ballots are to be counted in the respective polling places pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, the registrars shall also jointly appoint a central counting moderator and alternate moderator pursuant to the requirements of section 9-229. No person shall print, publish, announce, or otherwise make known such count prior to the time for the closing of the polls.

(P.A. 75-300, S. 3, 9; P.A. 77-187, S. 6, 9; P.A. 79-363, S. 18, 38; P.A. 81-467, S. 2, 8; P.A. 85-592, S. 5; P.A. 86-179, S. 17, 53; P.A. 99-276, S. 4, 15; P.A. 18-124, S. 2.)

History: P.A. 77-187 changed time count of absentee ballots to begin from “two p.m.” to “twelve o'clock”; P.A. 79-363 made technical changes; P.A. 81-467 added reference to appointment of alternate moderator; P.A. 85-592 amended section to require counters to attend training sessions at which registrars, municipal clerks and moderators review and study an absentee ballot counter's manual; P.A. 86-179 deleted provisions re counter's training sessions and submittal of questions to moderator for decision; P.A. 99-276 added prohibition against spouse, parent, grandparent, child or sibling of a candidate from counting absentee ballots on which candidate's name appears, effective January 1, 2000; P.A. 18-124 replaced provision re central counting of absentee ballots with provision re counting in respective polling places, effective June 6, 2018.

Sec. 9-147d. Central counting of absentee ballots timely received after 11 a.m. of day before election. Section 9-147d is repealed.

(P.A. 75-300, S. 4, 9; P.A. 77-187, S. 7, 9; P.A. 86-179, S. 52, 53.)

Sec. 9-148. Counting of absentee ballots; training of counters. The appointment of absentee ballot counters shall be made by the registrars of voters. The presiding officer for the purpose of declaring the result of the vote of the whole municipality is the moderator. Each person appointed to count absentee ballots shall participate in a training session at which the registrars of voters, absentee ballot moderator or moderator of the polling place, as the case may be, shall review and study the absentee counter's manual provided by the Secretary of the State under section 9-150a. Each elector so appointed shall be sworn to carry out faithfully the duties of his office and not to attempt to ascertain the manner in which any absentee elector has marked his absentee ballot. The registrars of voters shall ascertain the voting district in which each absentee elector is registered and shall apportion the envelopes according to voting districts among the appointed groups of electors, if there is more than one such group, in such manner that each group can conveniently count the votes apportioned to it.

(1949 Rev., S. 1144; 1953, 1955, S. 635d; 1957, P.A. 517, S. 7; 1963, P.A. 215, S. 1; P.A. 77-187, S. 2, 9; P.A. 84-319, S. 19, 49; P.A. 85-592, S. 6; P.A. 86-179, S. 18, 53; P.A. 07-194, S. 39.)

History: 1963 act provided for endorsement of date of receipt on envelope; P.A. 77-187 substituted “head” moderator for “chief” moderator; P.A. 84-319 eliminated requirement that absentee ballot counters be affiliated with appointing registrar's political party; P.A. 85-592 amended section to require mandatory training sessions for absentee ballot counters and to specify that registrars, municipal clerks and moderators must review and study absentee counter's manual at such sessions; P.A. 86-179 deleted provisions re clerk's endorsement and affidavit of receipt of ballots; P.A. 07-194 deleted provisions re voting districts and municipal clerk's attendance at training session, specified that absentee ballot moderator or moderator of polling place participate in training session and made technical changes.

Absentee ballots held void due to clerk's total noncompliance; relation to Secs. 9-145 and 9-146 discussed. 164 C. 204. Cited. 186 C. 125; 216 C. 253.

(1949 Rev., S. 1144, 1146; 1953, 1955, S. 635d, 636d; 1957, P.A. 517, S. 8; 1959, P.A. 527, S. 2; February, 1965, P.A. 37; 1967, P.A. 885, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 8, S. 1; 694, S. 17; 1972, P.A. 196, S. 16; P.A. 75-300, S. 6, 7, 9; P.A. 76-295, S. 16, 18; P.A. 77-187, S. 3, 9; 77-202, S. 1, 4; 77-286; P.A. 79-363, S. 21, 38; P.A. 84-319, S. 20, 49; P.A. 85-489, S. 2; 85-592, S. 7, 8; P.A. 86-179, S. 52, 53.)

Sec. 9-150a. Absentee ballot counting procedures. (a) Starting time designated by registrars of voters. The absentee ballot counters shall proceed to the central counting location or to the respective polling places when counting is to take place pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a at the times designated by the registrars of voters.

(b) Delivery and checking of ballots. At the time each group of ballots is delivered to them pursuant to section 9-140c, the counters shall perform any checking of such ballots required by subsection (i) of said section and shall then proceed as hereinafter provided.

(c) Removal of inner envelopes. Count of total number of ballots received. Except with respect to ballots marked “Rejected” pursuant to section 9-140c or other applicable law, the counters shall remove the inner envelopes from the outer envelopes, shall note the total number of absentee ballots received and shall report such total to the moderator. They shall similarly note and separately so report the total numbers of presidential ballots and overseas ballots received pursuant to sections 9-158a to 9-158m, inclusive.

(d) Ballot rejected if inner envelope statement not executed. (1) If the statement on the inner envelope has not been signed as required by section 9-140a, such inner envelope shall not be opened or the ballot removed therefrom, and such inner envelope shall be replaced in the opened outer envelope which shall be marked “Rejected” and the reason therefor endorsed thereon by the counters. (2) If such statement is signed but the individual completing the ballot is an individual described in subsection (a) of section 9-23r and has not met the requirements of subsection (e) of section 9-23r, the counters shall replace the ballot in the opened inner envelope, replace the inner envelope in the opened outer envelope and mark “Rejected as an Absentee Ballot” and endorse the reason for such rejection on the outer envelope, and the ballot shall be treated as a provisional ballot for federal offices only, pursuant to sections 9-232i to 9-232o, inclusive.

(e) Removal of ballots from inner envelopes. The counters shall then remove the absentee ballots from the remaining inner envelopes.

(f) Inner and outer envelopes to be sealed in depository envelopes. Before the ballots are counted, all opened outer and inner envelopes from which such ballots have been removed, and all outer envelopes marked “Rejected” as required by law, shall be placed and sealed by the counters, separately by voting district, in depository envelopes prescribed by the Secretary of the State and provided by the municipal clerk. The counters shall seal such depository envelopes by wrapping them lengthwise and sideways with nonreusable tape, endorse on each such envelope their names, the voting district and the time of the count, and deliver such envelopes to the moderator.

(g) Moderator to supervise counting. The counters shall then count such ballots as provided in this section. The moderator shall supervise the counting.

(h) Procedure manual. The Secretary of the State shall provide a procedure manual for counting absentee ballots. The manual shall include a description of the steps to be followed in receiving, handling, counting and preserving absentee ballots. Facsimile ballots shall be printed in the manual, illustrating potential variations in ballot markings along with the correct interpretation to be given in each situation illustrated.

(i) Write-in votes. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section the provisions of section 9-265 shall apply to write-in votes on absentee ballots at elections.

(2) Votes cast by absentee ballot at a primary may be counted only for candidates whose names appear on the ballot on primary day, and no write-in vote shall be counted except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection.

(3) If a write-in vote on an absentee ballot is cast for a candidate for any office whose name appears on the ballot for that office on election or primary day, such candidate's name shall be deemed to have been checked on such ballot and, except as otherwise provided in subsection (j) of this section, one vote shall be counted and recorded for such candidate for such office.

(4) Except as otherwise provided in section 9-265, if the name of a registered write-in candidate for an office is written in for such office on an absentee ballot it shall be deemed validly written in for purposes of subsection (j) of this section.

(j) Intent of voter to govern; presumptions. In the counting of absentee ballots the intent of the voter shall govern, provided the following conclusive presumptions, where applicable, shall prevail in determining such intent:

(1) If the names of more candidates for an office than the voter is entitled to vote for are checked or validly written in, then the vote cast for that office shall be deemed an invalid overvote.

(2) If the name of a candidate who has vacated his candidacy is checked such vote shall not be counted.

(3) On an absentee ballot on which candidates' names are printed, a vote shall be deemed cast only for each candidate whose name is individually checked or validly written in, except as otherwise provided in this subsection. If a party designation is circled, checked, underscored or similarly marked in any manner, or written in, no vote shall be deemed cast or cancelled for any candidate by virtue of such marking or writing.

(k) Questions submitted to moderator for decision. If the intent of an absentee voter is difficult to ascertain due to uncertain, conflicting or incorrect ballot markings which are not clearly addressed in this section or in the procedure manual for counting absentee ballots provided by the Secretary of the State, the absentee ballot counters shall submit the ballot and their question to the moderator. They shall then count the ballot in accordance with the moderator's decision as to the voter's intent, if such intent is ascertainable. A ballot or part of a ballot on which the intent is determined by the moderator to be not ascertainable, shall not be counted. The moderator shall endorse on the ballot the question and his decision.

(l) Rejection of marked ballots. No absentee ballot shall be rejected as a marked ballot unless, in the opinion of the moderator, it was marked for the purpose of providing a means of identifying the voter who cast it.

(m) Placing of ballots in depository envelopes. After the absentee ballots have been so counted they shall be placed by the counters, separately by voting district, in depository envelopes prescribed by the Secretary of the State and provided by the municipal clerk. Any notes, worksheets, or other written materials used by the counters in counting such ballots shall be endorsed by them with their names, the date and the time of the count and shall also be placed in such depository envelopes together with the ballots, and with the separate record of the number of votes cast on such ballots for each candidate as required by section 9-150b. Such depository envelopes shall then be sealed, endorsed and delivered to the moderator by the counters in the same manner as provided in subsection (f) of this section.

(P.A. 86-179, S. 19, 53; P.A. 87-197, S. 2, 3; 87-382, S. 11, 55; P.A. 91-286, S. 2, 3; P.A. 95-171, S. 7, 14; P.A. 96-119, S. 4, 14; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 97; P.A. 04-257, S. 7; P.A. 11-20, S. 1; 11-173, S. 11; P.A. 18-124, S. 6.)

History: P.A. 87-197 and 87-382 repealed provisions in former Subsecs. (j) and (k) re straight-ticket party block, relettered Subsec. (k) as Subsec. (j) and remaining Subsecs. accordingly and made technical changes; P.A. 87-197 amended section further by adding new Subdiv. (3) in relettered Subsec. (j) re marking of a party designation; P.A. 91-286 amended Subsecs. (f) and (m) to require that depository envelopes be prescribed by secretary of the state and provided by municipal clerk instead of provided by secretary; P.A. 95-171 amended Subsec. (a) by changing the time ballot counters arrive from not earlier than noon to between nine a.m. and noon for an election or primary and not later than noon for a referendum, effective January 1, 1996; P.A. 96-119 amended Subsec. (a) to replace “nine” with “ten” o'clock and replace “not later than” with “not earlier than” twelve o'clock noon on the day of a referendum, effective May 24, 1996; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 amended Subsec. (d) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and adding Subdiv. (2) re ballot completed by individual described in Sec. 9-23r(a) who has not met requirements of Sec. 9-23r(e), effective January 1, 2004; P.A. 04-257 made a technical change in Subsec. (d), effective June 14, 2004; P.A. 11-173 replaced language re specific time for counting with language re times designated by the registrars of voters in Subsec. (a), made a technical change in Subsec. (c) and replaced “ballot label” with “ballot” in Subsec. (i), effective July 13, 2011; P.A. 18-124 amended Subsec. (a) to delete “to the polling places for which they have been assigned ballots or” and to add “or to the respective polling places when counting is to take place pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a”, effective June 6, 2018.

Cited. 231 C. 602.

Sec. 9-150b. Duties of moderators and municipal clerks. Declaration of count. (a) Moderator to record result of each count. The moderator shall record the result of each count of absentee ballots at any election, primary or referendum, separately by time of count, on (1) a separate moderator's return for each voting district, and (2) a separate record of the number of absentee votes cast for each candidate for each voting district.

(b) Counting at central location. Central counting moderator's return. Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, when all counting is complete, the moderator shall publicly declare the result of such count. The moderator shall then deliver to the head moderator the central counting moderator's returns, together with all other information required by law or by the Secretary of the State's instructions. The head moderator shall add the results from the voting tabulators, recorded on the moderator's return for each polling place, to the absentee count recorded on the central counting moderator's return for the corresponding voting district, in the manner prescribed by the Secretary of the State. The returns so completed shall show separately the tabulator vote and the absentee vote and the totals thereof.

(c) Counting in the respective polling places. Declaration of result. If the absentee ballots were counted in the respective polling places, pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, when all counting is complete the moderator shall publicly declare the result of such count as provided in section 9-309 and add such count to the results from the voting tabulators recorded on the moderator's return. Such return shall show separately the tabulator vote and the absentee vote and the totals thereof.

(d) Forms. The Secretary of the State may prescribe the forms and instructions for the tabulation, counting and return of the absentee ballot vote.

(e) Presentation of depository envelopes. The sealed depository envelopes required by subsections (f) and (m) of section 9-150a shall be returned by the moderator to the municipal clerk as soon as practicable on or before the day following the election, primary or referendum.

(f) Municipal clerk to preserve ballots, envelopes and related materials. The municipal clerk shall preserve for sixty days after the election, primary or referendum the depository envelopes containing opened envelopes and rejected ballots required by subsection (f) of section 9-150a, and shall so preserve for one hundred eighty days the depository envelopes containing counted ballots and related materials required by subsection (m) of section 9-150a.

(g) Limits on opening depository envelopes. Exception for 2020 state election. (1) No such depository envelope shall be opened except by order of a court of competent jurisdiction, by the State Elections Enforcement Commission pursuant to a subpoena issued under subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 9-7b or within five business days after an election, primary or referendum for the purpose of a recanvass conducted pursuant to law. After such a recanvass the depository envelopes and their contents shall be returned to the municipal clerk and preserved for the stated period.

(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection, for the state election in 2020, no such depository envelope shall be opened for the purpose of a recanvass conducted pursuant to law except within seven business days after the election as provided in section 9-311.

(h) Municipal clerk to preserve applications, void and unused ballots, records. For sixty days after the election, primary or referendum the following shall be preserved by the municipal clerk as a public record open to public inspection: (1) All executed absentee ballot application forms and direction by registrar forms, as required by subdivision (i) of section 9-140; (2) the list and index of applicants for presidential or overseas ballots as required by section 9-158h; (3) the numerical list of absentee voting sets issued as required by subsection (e) of section 9-140; (4) the list of the names of persons whose absentee ballots are received by the municipal clerk, as required by subsection (a) of section 9-140c; (5) all unused absentee ballots; and (6) all envelopes containing ballots received by the municipal clerk after the close of the polls, which shall remain unopened.

(i) Municipal clerk to preserve affidavits. For one hundred eighty days after the election, primary or referendum the following shall be preserved by the municipal clerk as a public record open to public inspection: (1) The affidavit regarding the municipal clerk's endorsement of inner envelopes, as required by subsection (a) of section 9-140c; and (2) the affidavit regarding delivery and receipt of ballots, as required by subsection (j) of said section.

(j) Destruction of ballots, envelopes and related materials. At the expiration of the applicable retention period, if no contest is pending and no subpoena has been issued by the State Elections Enforcement Commission pursuant to subsection (1) of section 9-7b, the municipal clerk shall destroy the materials preserved under this section.

(P.A. 86-179, S. 20, 53; P.A. 87-382, S. 12, 55; 87-532, S. 6, 10; P.A. 88-364, S. 11, 123; P.A. 90-156, S. 5; P.A. 95-177, S. 6, 7; P.A. 00-66, S. 19; P.A. 11-20, S. 1; P.A. 18-124, S. 7; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-4, S. 6.)

History: P.A. 87-382 substituted “one hundred eighty days” for “six months” in Subsecs. (f) and (i) and, in Subsec. (f), also substituted “(m)” for “(n)”; P.A. 87-532 applied provisions of Subsec. (h) to log of applications issued and list of persons whose applications are received by clerk; P.A. 88-364 substituted the words “The sealed” for “No such” in Subsec. (e); P.A. 90-156 corrected a subsec. reference in Subsec. (e); P.A. 95-177 deleted Subsec. (h)(2) re log of applications issued and renumbered Subdivs. (3) to (7) as (2) to (6), effective January 1, 1996; P.A. 00-66 made a technical change in Subsec. (g); pursuant to P.A. 11-20, “machine” and “machines” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “tabulator” and “tabulators”, respectively, in Subsecs. (b) and (c), effective May 24, 2011; P.A. 18-124 amended Subsec. (a) to delete “the moderator's return, or in the case of central counting” in Subdiv. (1) and delete “as shown on the moderator's return, or in the case of central counting, such a record” in Subdiv. (2), deleted former Subsec. (b) re absentee ballots counted at polls and redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (b) and amended same to replace “If the absentee ballots were counted at a central location” with “Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section”, added new Subsec. (c) re counting of absentee ballots in respective polling places and replaced “clerk” with “municipal clerk”, effective June 6, 2018; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-4 amended Subsec. (a) to add “at any election, primary or referendum”, amended Subsec. (b) to make a technical change, amended Subsec. (g) to designate existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and amend same to replace “five days of” with “five business days after”, and add Subdiv. (2) re state election in 2020, effective October 2, 2020.

Cited. 231 C. 602.

Sec. 9-150c. Procedure for delivery of ballot in case of late-occurring illness, disability or hospitalization. An applicant who applies for an absentee ballot because of unforeseen illness or physical disability occurring within six days immediately preceding the close of the polls at an election, primary or referendum or because the applicant is a patient in a hospital within such six-day period, may appoint a designee, as defined in subsection (b) of section 9-140b, to deliver the ballot to him, by stating on the application, in a space provided for that purpose, (1) the date of occurrence of the illness or disability or the name and address of the hospital in which the applicant is a patient within such six-day period, (2) the name, address and category under said subsection, of the person so designated and (3) the delivery which the person is designated to perform, provided the person so designated shall also sign a statement on the application to the effect that he consents to the designation and will perform the delivery without tampering with the ballot in any way. If the application designates a person to deliver the ballot to the applicant, that person shall personally submit the application to the municipal clerk. If such application is submitted to the clerk in person, within six days immediately preceding the close of the polls at an election or primary, by a person designated on the application to deliver the absentee ballot to the applicant as provided in this section and in subsection (b) of said section 9-140b, and if the application is dated within such time, the clerk shall give that person the absentee voting set.

(P.A. 86-179, S. 21, 53; P.A. 89-297, S. 5, 18; P.A. 97-154, S. 14, 17.)

History: P.A. 89-297 referenced definition of “designee” in Sec. 9-140b(b) and deleted provisions re return of ballot to municipal clerk; P.A. 97-154 authorized applicant who is a hospital patient during six-day period preceding election, primary or referendum to appoint designee to deliver ballot to him, effective January 1, 1998.

Sec. 9-150d. Use of voting tabulators to count absentee ballots. A voting tabulator approved by the Secretary of the State under section 9-242 may be used to count absentee ballots in any municipality at an election, primary or referendum, provided the registrars of voters of the municipality approve the use of such tabulator and the Secretary of the State prescribes specifications for (1) the security, testing, set-up, operation and canvassing of the tabulator, (2) such absentee ballots, and (3) the training of election officials in the use of the tabulator.

(P.A. 99-276, S. 10, 15; P.A. 11-20, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 99-276 effective January 1, 2000; pursuant to P.A. 11-20, “machine” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “tabulator”, effective May 24, 2011.

Sec. 9-150e. Procedures for processing of absentee ballots before day of election for 2020 state election. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-150a, for the state election in 2020, in any municipality in which absentee ballots are processed pursuant to subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 9-147a:

(a) (1) Not earlier than five o'clock p.m. on the fourth day before the election, the absentee ballot counters shall proceed to the central counting location at the times designated by the registrars of voters;

(2) At the time each group of ballots is delivered pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of section 9-140c, the counters shall proceed as hereinafter provided;

(3) Except with respect to ballots marked “Rejected” pursuant to section 9-140c or other applicable law, the counters shall then remove the inner envelopes from the outer envelopes, shall note the total number of absentee ballots received and shall report such total to the moderator. The counters shall similarly note and separately so report the total numbers of presidential ballots and overseas ballots received pursuant to sections 9-158a to 9-158m, inclusive;

(4) If the statement on the inner envelope has not been signed as required by section 9-140a, such inner envelope shall not be opened or the ballot removed therefrom, and such inner envelope shall be replaced in the opened outer envelope which shall be marked “Rejected” and the reason therefor endorsed thereon by the counters; and

(5) Not earlier than the day of the election, and after the duties under subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of this subsection have been performed, absentee ballots shall be counted in the manner provided in subsections (e) to (m), inclusive, of section 9-150a.

(b) In accordance with instructions which shall be prescribed by the Secretary of the State not later than ten days before the election, each group of ballots delivered pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (e) of section 9-140c shall be kept secure (1) throughout the performance of the duties under subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of subsection (a) of this section, and (2) after such performance until such time on the day of the election that absentee ballots are counted in the manner provided in subsections (e) to (m), inclusive, of section 9-150a. The requirements of this subsection shall be in addition to all other applicable requirements under this title regarding the security of absentee ballots and any related materials.

(Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-4, S. 5.)

History: Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-4 effective October 2, 2020.

Sec. 9-151. Voting in person after absentee ballot has been sent. Section 9-151 is repealed.

(1949 Rev., S. 1147; 1953, 1955, S. 637d; 1969, P.A. 694, S. 8; P.A. 75-300, S. 8, 9; P.A. 77-187, S. 8, 9.)

Sec. 9-151a. Transferred to Sec. 9-159o.

Sec. 9-152. Transferred to Sec. 9-140d.

Sec. 9-153. Clerk to preserve counters' notes, worksheets and other written materials and envelopes, applications and void and unused ballots. Section 9-153 is repealed.

(1949 Rev., S. 1145; 1953, 1955, S. 640d; P.A. 73-100; P.A. 77-202, S. 2, 4; P.A. 78-153, S. 7, 32; P.A. 84-319, S. 22, 49; P.A. 85-489, S. 3; 85-592, S. 9; P.A. 86-179, S. 52, 53.)

Sec. 9-153a. (Formerly Sec. 9-141). Use of federal ballot application form. The form of absentee ballot application provided by any federal department or agency, referred to in section 9-140, may be used only by a person in any one of the following categories who is eligible to vote and who expects to be unable to appear at his proper polling place for any reason specified in section 9-135: (1) Members of the armed forces, (2) the spouses and dependents of such members, (3) members of religious groups or welfare agencies assisting members of the armed forces, who are officially attached to and serving with the armed forces, and their spouses and dependents, (4) civilian employees of the United States in all categories serving outside the territorial limits of the several states of the United States and the District of Columbia and their spouses and dependents when residing with or accompanying them, whether or not the employee is subject to the civil service laws and the Federal Classification Act of 1949, and whether or not paid from funds appropriated by the Congress, (5) citizens of the United States temporarily residing outside of the territorial limits of the several states of the United States and the District of Columbia and (6) overseas citizens qualified to vote under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 100 Stat. 924, 42 USC 1973ff et seq., as amended from time to time. Any such person may apply for an absentee ballot in the manner provided in said section 9-140, either on the form prescribed by the Secretary of the State under said section, or on the application form provided by any federal department or agency hereinbefore referred to.

(1955, S. 620d; 1969, P.A. 334; P.A. 80-281, S. 8, 31; P.A. 86-179, S. 22, 53; P.A. 93-30, S. 11, 14; P.A. 97-154, S. 12, 27.)

History: 1969 act added citizens temporarily residing outside territorial limits; P.A. 80-281 added overseas citizens qualified to vote under federal law; P.A. 86-179 deleted reference to elector or applicant for admission as an elector and substituted reference to person eligible to vote; Sec. 9-141 transferred to Sec. 9-153a in 1987; P.A. 93-30 updated reference to federal act in Subdiv. (6), effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 97-154 deleted provision that application form prescribed by the Secretary of the State be provided by the secretary, effective July 1, 1997.

Sec. 9-153b. (Formerly Sec. 9-142). Additional ballots. (a) If any absentee ballot applicant applies for an additional absentee ballot, he shall note on his application the reason for his applying for an additional absentee ballot and he shall return the absentee voting set formerly issued to him before another set is issued to him, provided, if he is unable to return the set formerly issued to him, his application for an additional ballot shall be accompanied by a statement signed under the penalties of false statement in absentee balloting in which he shall set forth the reason for his inability to return the set formerly issued to him. If he fails to file such a statement, no additional set shall be issued to him.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section for members of the armed forces, the municipal clerk shall mark the serially-numbered outer envelope “rejected” and note the reasons therefor on all absentee ballots and envelopes so returned to him and shall seal such unopened ballots in a package and retain them in a safe place until delivered in accordance with section 9-140c. The municipal clerk shall keep a list of the names of each absentee ballot applicant who has applied for more than one absentee ballot, as provided in section 9-140, together with the serial number appearing on the outer envelope of each absentee voting set issued to each such applicant including the latest one issued.

(c) When an absentee ballot applicant has applied for more than one absentee ballot, only the latest absentee ballot issued to him by the municipal clerk as determined by the serial number appearing on the outer envelope may be counted and all absentee ballots and envelopes formerly issued to that applicant shall be marked rejected as provided in subsection (b) of this section and not counted.

(d) Subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section shall not apply to members of the armed forces, and if more than one absentee ballot is received from any elector who is a member of the armed forces, the ballot of such elector bearing the latest postmark shall be counted if no absentee ballot of such elector has already been counted, provided that the municipal clerk shall mark all serially-numbered outer envelopes bearing earlier postmarks “rejected” and note the reasons for rejection and shall deliver such ballots in accordance with section 9-140c.

(1955, S. 628d; 1957, P.A. 517, S. 3; 1971, P.A. 871, S. 72; P.A. 74-96, S. 5, 9; P.A. 76-50, S. 5, 7; P.A. 84-319, S. 14, 49; P.A. 86-179, S. 23, 53.)

History: 1971 act substituted penalty of “false statement” for “perjury”; P.A. 74-96 added “in absentee balloting” following “false statement”, effective January 1, 1975; P.A. 76-50 changed from 6 months to 60 days after election time in which clerk shall preserve voided ballots; P.A. 84-319 amended section to provide uniformity in procedures for marking absentee ballot envelopes by clerks and divided section into Subsecs.; P.A. 86-179 made technical changes; Sec. 9-142 transferred to Sec. 9-153b in 1987.

See Sec. 1-2a re construction of references to “United States mail”, “postmark” or “registered or certified mail”.

Sec. 9-153c. (Formerly Sec. 9-136b). Procedure in case of omission or error in printing or issuing of ballot. (a) If a municipal clerk has omitted the name of a candidate, party or office designation, inserted an incorrect or misspelled name of a candidate, party or office designation, provided an absentee ballot applicant with a ballot which is not the correct ballot for his voting district, or incorrectly imprinted or failed to imprint the designation of a state or local question on an absentee ballot in the appropriate space, and if any such omission or error is likely to mislead any voter, he shall, as soon as he becomes aware of such omission or error, promptly mail to each applicant to whom such an absentee ballot has been issued, a correct absentee ballot, envelopes for its return and instructions, a statement explaining the error or omission including the correct name or question and a copy of this section. The municipal clerk shall inform the Secretary of the State when he proceeds under this subsection.

(b) Any additional absentee voting sets issued to applicants under this section shall be issued in consecutive ascending numerical order based upon the serial number appearing on the outer envelope for return of ballots to the municipal clerk, and the clerk shall keep a record of such numbers by making a notation on, or attaching a memorandum to, the applicant's original application for an absentee ballot.

(c) The municipal clerk shall keep a list containing the name, address and voting district of each absentee ballot applicant who has been issued more than one absentee ballot under this section and the serial number appearing on the outer envelope of each absentee voting set so issued. The list shall be kept with the list required under section 9-140.

(d) If more than one ballot is received from an applicant who has been sent a correct ballot under subsection (a) of this section, the ballot bearing the latest serial number shall be counted, if no ballot of such applicant has already been counted. The municipal clerk shall inscribe the word “rejected” and note the reasons for rejection on the outer envelope of each of such applicant's other ballots not so counted and shall seal them, unopened, in a package and retain them in a safe place until delivered in accordance with section 9-140c.

(P.A. 73-376; P.A. 76-50, S. 3, 7; P.A. 77-303, S. 1, 3; P.A. 82-426, S. 3, 14; P.A. 84-319, S. 12, 49; P.A. 86-179, S. 24, 53.)

History: P.A. 76-50 substituted municipal clerk for town clerk and deleted requirement that copy of question be mailed to applicants for absentee ballot; P.A. 77-303 added new Subsecs. (b) and (c) detailing procedures to be followed in correcting omissions or errors; P.A. 82-426 amended section to require corrective action by municipal clerk only if ballot omission or error is likely to be misleading; P.A. 84-319 revised procedure for correction when applicant provided with incorrect or defective ballot; P.A. 86-179 deleted provision re secretary's examination and correction of ballots and made technical changes; Sec. 9-136b transferred to Sec. 9-153c in 1987.

Sec. 9-153d. (Formerly Sec. 9-143). Mailing of ballots to persons living outside of United States, military personnel, spouses or dependents. (a) Either registrar of voters may, not more than ninety days before the day of an election, in a form to be prescribed by the Secretary of the State, direct the municipal clerk forthwith to mail an absentee ballot, with the necessary envelopes and instructions, to the best-known address, within the knowledge of the registrar issuing such direction, of an elector or applicant for admission as an elector who is living outside the territorial limits of the several states of the United States and the District of Columbia or who is a member of the armed forces, or the spouse or dependent of a member of the armed forces living where such member is stationed, whether such address is a home address or an armed service address, and such direction shall constitute sufficient application for such absentee ballot. The municipal clerk may, during such period, so act of his own motion and without waiting for the direction of a registrar of voters or other application, if the clerk first completes and retains in his records as an application the same direction form as is used by a registrar of voters.

(b) Within the time limits in subsection (b) of section 9-158c for availability of overseas ballots, either registrar of voters may, in a form to be prescribed by the Secretary of the State, direct the municipal clerk forthwith to mail an overseas ballot, with the necessary envelopes and instructions, to the best-known address, within the knowledge of the registrar issuing such direction, of a citizen of the United States who is eligible to vote as an overseas elector under sections 9-158a to 9-158m, inclusive, and such direction shall constitute sufficient application for such absentee ballot. Such ballot shall not be counted unless an application form prescribed in subsection (b) of section 9-158d is received by the town clerk prior to the day of the election or primary. The municipal clerk may, during such period, so act on his own motion and without waiting for the direction of a registrar of voters or other application, if the clerk first completes and retains in his records as an application the same direction form that is used by a registrar of voters.

(1949 Rev., S. 1136; 1953, S. 629d; 1957, P.A. 517, S. 4; February, 1965, P.A. 158, S. 2; 1967, P.A. 176, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 4, S. 1; P.A. 75-310, S. 6, 11; P.A. 84-319, S. 44, 49; P.A. 86-179, S. 25, 53; P.A. 91-351, S. 20, 28; P.A. 93-384, S. 23, 28; P.A. 97-154, S. 13, 27.)

History: 1965 act changed from not more than “two months” to “ninety days” before election time in which upon direction of a registrar absentee ballot to be mailed, effective for all elections on or after January 1, 1966; 1967 act added “spouse or dependent of member of armed forces living where member is stationed”, effective for all elections on or after January 1, 1968; 1969 act added authority for municipal clerk to mail ballots without waiting for direction of a registrar; P.A. 75-310 changed mailing period to 30 days before election, effective January 1, 1976; P.A. 84-319 amended section to permit mailing of absentee ballot up to 90 days before election, where prior limit was 30 days; P.A. 86-179 made technical changes; Sec. 9-143 transferred to Sec. 9-153d in 1987; P.A. 91-351 authorized registrars to direct clerk to mail absentee ballot to elector or applicant living outside United States; P.A. 93-384 designated existing section as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re mailing overseas ballots to U.S. citizens eligible to vote as overseas electors, effective January 1, 1994; P.A. 97-154 deleted provisions that forms prescribed by the Secretary of the State be provided by the secretary, effective July 1, 1997.

See Sec. 9-153e re alternate application procedure for certain military personnel.

Sec. 9-153e. (Formerly Sec. 9-143a). Alternate application procedure for certain military personnel. A member of the armed forces who is an elector or an applicant for admission as an elector, or the member's spouse or dependent if living where such member is stationed, may apply before a regular election for a blank absentee ballot to vote for all offices being contested at the election. The clerk shall make such ballots available for this purpose beginning not earlier than ninety days before the election. Application shall be made upon a form prescribed by the Secretary of the State or on the federal postcard application form provided pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 100 Stat. 924, 42 USC 1973ff et seq., as amended from time to time, or any other applicable law and shall be issued only if the applicant states that due to military contingencies the regular application procedure, as set forth in section 9-140, cannot be followed. Upon receipt of the application, the municipal clerk shall issue the ballot either by mail or electronic means, as requested by the elector, which shall be prescribed and provided by the Secretary of the State, and a list of the offices to be voted upon indicating the number of individuals for which each elector may vote. As soon as a complete list of nominated candidates, including the party designations of such candidates, and questions is available, the clerk shall send such list to each applicant. If the list of candidates and questions is not available when the ballot is issued, the clerk shall include a statement indicating that such list shall be mailed as soon as it becomes available. The ballot shall permit the elector to vote by writing in the names of specific candidates and offices for which he is voting. The elector may also vote on the questions in a manner prescribed by the Secretary of the State. If such ballot is issued by electronic means, the clerk shall include a certification prescribed by the Secretary of the State that the elector shall be required to complete, sign and return with the completed ballot in order for such ballot to be counted. If the military contingency no longer exists, application for an additional ballot for all offices may be made pursuant to the provisions of section 9-153b.

(P.A. 78-94, S. 1, 2; P.A. 84-319, S. 45, 49; P.A. 86-179, S. 26, 53; P.A. 87-382, S. 13, 55; P.A. 93-30, S. 12, 14; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 10-1, S. 38.)

History: P.A. 84-319 amended section to provide for special ninety-day ballot; P.A. 86-179 made technical changes and deleted provision re write-in of name of candidate which is printed on ballot; Sec. 9-143a transferred to Sec. 9-153e in 1987; P.A. 87-382 provided for absentee ballot to be blank, instead of containing titles of contested offices, added provisions re issuance of list of offices to be voted upon and list of candidates and repealed provision permitting elector to vote by writing in a party preference; P.A. 93-30 updated reference to federal act, effective July 1, 1993; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 10-1 added provisions re issuance of ballot either by mail or electronic means, effective June 22, 2010.

Sec. 9-153f. (Formerly Sec. 9-143b). Alternate application procedure and early ballot for electors residing or traveling outside United States and certain military personnel. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-140, any elector who is living, or expects to be living or traveling before and on election day, outside the territorial limits of the several states of the United States and the District of Columbia and any member of the armed forces who is an elector or an applicant for admission as an elector, or the member's spouse or dependent if living where such member is stationed, may apply for a blank absentee ballot to vote for all offices being contested at an election or primary. Application shall be made upon a form prescribed by the Secretary of the State or on the federal postcard application form provided pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 100 Stat. 924, 42 USC 1973ff et seq., as amended from time to time, or any other applicable law. The municipal clerk receiving such an application shall, as soon as a complete list of candidates and questions to be voted upon at such election or primary becomes available, issue the ballot either by mail or electronic means, as requested by the elector, which shall be the blank ballot prescribed and provided by the Secretary of the State under section 9-153e. The clerk shall include with the ballot a complete list of the offices to be voted upon, the number of individuals for which each elector may vote, the candidates, and, in the case of an election, the party designation of each candidate and questions to be voted upon. If such ballot is issued by electronic means, the clerk shall include a certification prescribed by the Secretary of the State that the elector shall be required to complete, sign and return with the completed ballot in order for such ballot to be counted. If application for an absentee ballot is made at the time of availability of regular absentee ballots as provided in section 9-140, the provisions of section 9-140 shall prevail. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the procedures governing the issuance of ballots under this section shall conform as nearly as may be to the procedures provided in section 9-140.

(P.A. 84-319, S. 3, 49; P.A. 86-179, S. 27, 53; P.A. 87-382, S. 14, 55; P.A. 89-297, S. 12, 18; P.A. 90-156, S. 6, 11; P.A. 93-30, S. 13, 14; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 10-1, S. 39.)

History: P.A. 86-179 made technical changes and deleted provision re write-in of name of candidate which is printed on ballot; Sec. 9-143b transferred to Sec. 9-153f in 1987; P.A. 87-382 applied provisions of section to any armed forces member who is an elector or an applicant for admission and to member's spouse or dependent if living where member stationed, provided for absentee ballot to be blank instead of containing titles of contested offices, required clerk to include list of offices to be voted upon with ballot and repealed provision permitting elector to vote by writing in a party preference; P.A. 89-297 provided for blank absentee ballot for any election or primary instead of for a regular election only; P.A. 90-156 authorized elector who “expects to be living or traveling before and on election day” outside of U.S. to apply for blank ballot; P.A. 93-30 updated reference to federal act, effective July 1, 1993; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 10-1 added provisions re issuance of ballot either by mail or electronic means and made technical changes, effective June 22, 2010.

Sec. 9-153g. Method for return of ballot used by certain military personnel. Report. On or before October 1, 2013, the Secretary of the State, in consultation with the Military Department, shall select a method for use in any election or primary held after September 1, 2014, for returning any ballot issued pursuant to section 9-153e or 9-153f that (1) may be used by any elector or applicant for admission as an elector who is a member of the armed forces and expects to be living or traveling outside the several states of the United States and the District of Columbia before and on election day, or such member's spouse or dependent if living where such member is stationed, (2) gives due consideration to the interests of maintaining the security of such ballot and the privacy of information contained on such ballot, and (3) ensures receipt, prior to the closing of the polls on the day of the election or primary, of such ballot by the municipality in which the member or member's spouse or dependent is enrolled or has applied for admission as an elector, if such method is properly utilized by such member or such member's spouse or dependent prior to the closing of the polls on the day of the election or primary. Not later than January 1, 2014, the Secretary of the State shall submit a report, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to elections and veterans' and military affairs describing such method and any legislative changes necessary for its implementation.

(P.A. 13-185, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 13-185 effective June 21, 2013.

Sec. 9-154. Transferred to Sec. 9-139c.

Sec. 9-155. Transferred to Sec. 9-139a.

Sec. 9-156. Distribution and receipt of ballots by secretary. Section 9-156 is repealed.

(1949 Rev., S. 1150; 1953, S. 643d; 1967, P.A. 176, S. 2; P.A. 75-310, S. 10, 11.)

Sec. 9-157. Transferred to Sec. 9-139b.

Sec. 9-158. Eligibility to vote for presidential electors after removal from state. Section 9-158 is repealed.

(1953, S. 655d; September, 1957, P.A. 25, S. 1; 1972, P.A. 196, S. 18.)

Sec. 9-158a. Presidential and federal elections; overseas balloting. Definitions. As used in sections 9-139c, 9-140b, 9-158a to 9-158m, inclusive, and 9-307:

(1) “Federal election” means any general or special election or any primary held solely or in part for the purpose of selecting, nominating or electing any candidate for the office of President, Vice President, presidential elector, member of the United States Senate or member of the United States House of Representatives;

(2) “Former resident” means a person who was a bona fide resident of a town in this state and who has moved from that town to another state less than thirty days before the day of a presidential election and who for that reason is unable to register to vote in the election in such person's present town or state of residence;

(3) “Overseas elector” means any person permitted to vote pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-158b;

(4) “Presidential election” means an election at which electors of President and Vice-President are elected;

(5) “Resident” means a bona fide resident of a town in this state;

(6) “State” includes any of the several states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands; and

(7) “United States” includes the several states, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands, but does not include American Samoa, The Canal Zone, the trust territory of the Pacific Islands or any other territory or possession of the United States.

(1972, P.A. 196, S. 1; P.A. 82-247, S. 3; P.A. 86-179, S. 28, 53; P.A. 12-56, S. 3.)

History: P.A. 82-247 deleted definition of absentee elector and replaced alphabetic Subdiv. indicators with numeric indicators; P.A. 86-179 made technical changes and added definitions relating to overseas balloting; P.A. 12-56 amended Subdiv. (2) by redefining “former resident” and making a technical change, effective July 1, 2013.

Sec. 9-158b. Eligibility for presidential or overseas ballot. (a) Each citizen of the United States who is at least eighteen years of age, is a former resident and who has not forfeited such citizen's electoral privileges because of a disfranchising crime, may vote for presidential and vice-presidential electors, but for no other offices, in the town in this state in which such citizen formerly resided in the manner provided in sections 9-158c to 9-158m, inclusive.

(b) Each citizen of the United States who is at least eighteen years of age; who resides outside the United States and who, immediately prior to moving outside the United States, was a bona fide resident of a town in this state; who is not registered to vote and is not voting in any other state or election district of a state or territory or in any territory or possession of the United States, who has a valid passport or card of identity and registration issued under the authority of the Secretary of State of the United States or alternative form of identification and who has not forfeited his electoral privileges because of a disfranchising crime, may vote in federal elections in the town in this state in which he formerly resided immediately prior to his departure from the United States in the manner provided in sections 9-158c to 9-158m, inclusive. The exercise of any right to vote in federal elections by any citizen outside the United States shall not affect the determination of his place of residence or domicile for purposes of any tax imposed under federal, state or local law.

(c) Each citizen of the United States born outside of the United States who is at least eighteen years of age, whose parent or guardian was a bona fide resident of a town in this state immediately prior to moving outside the United States, who is not registered to vote and is not voting in any other state or election district of a state or territory or in any territory or possession of the United States, who has a valid passport or card of identity and registration issued under the authority of the Secretary of State of the United States or alternative form of identification and who has not forfeited such citizen's electoral privileges because of a disfranchising crime, shall be eligible to vote pursuant to this section. Such citizen may vote in federal elections in the town in this state in which the citizen's parent or guardian formerly resided immediately prior to the parent's or guardian's departure from the United States, in the manner provided in sections 9-158c to 9-158m, inclusive.

(1972, P.A. 196, S. 2; P.A. 82-247, S. 4; P.A. 86-179, S. 29, 53; P.A. 89-297, S. 8, 18; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 10-1, S. 35; P.A. 12-56, S. 4.)

History: P.A. 82-247 removed absentee electors from applicability statement; P.A. 86-179 made technical changes and added provisions re overseas balloting; P.A. 89-297 deleted requirement that citizen not maintain a domicile in order to vote in manner provided in Secs. 9-158c to 9-158m, inclusive; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 10-1 added Subsec. (c) re voting eligibility of citizens born outside the United States, effective June 22, 2010; P.A. 12-56 amended Subsec. (a) by limiting the applicability of provisions to former residents and making a technical change, effective July 1, 2013.

Sec. 9-158c. Application for ballot. (a)(1) Not earlier than forty-five days before the election and not later than the close of the polls on election day, each former resident who desires to vote in a presidential election under sections 9-158a to 9-158m, inclusive, may apply for a “presidential ballot” to the municipal clerk of the town in which such former resident is qualified to vote on the form prescribed in section 9-158d. Application for a “presidential ballot” may be made in person or absentee, in the manner provided for applying for an absentee ballot under section 9-140, except as provided in said sections 9-158a to 9-158m, inclusive.

(2) A municipal clerk shall have the authority to designate a location in a municipal facility for the distribution, completion and processing of presidential ballot applications and the distribution, casting and return of presidential ballots under sections 9-158a to 9-158m, inclusive, on election day. Such municipal clerk may appoint one or more presidential ballot assistants to serve at such location, may delegate to such assistants any of the responsibilities assigned to municipal clerks under said sections, and shall train and supervise such presidential ballot assistants.

(b) Each overseas elector who desires to vote in a federal election under subsection (b) of section 9-158b may apply for an overseas ballot not earlier than (1) the forty-fifth day preceding a federal election which is a general election or a general election held in conjunction with a special election, and (2) the thirtieth day preceding a federal election which is a primary or a federal election which is a special election not held in conjunction with a general election. Application shall be made to the town clerk of the municipality in which the elector is so qualified to vote on a form prescribed in subsection (b) of section 9-158d.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section, in any year in which the date of a primary is advanced pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 9-376, overseas electors may not apply for an overseas ballot earlier than the fortieth day preceding a federal election which is a general election or a general election held in conjunction with a special election.

(1972, P.A. 196, S. 3; P.A. 86-179, S. 30, 53; P.A. 89-297, S. 16, 18; P.A. 97-154, S. 6, 27; P.A. 04-80, S. 1; P.A. 12-56, S. 5.)

History: P.A. 86-179 made technical changes and added subsecs. relating to overseas balloting; P.A. 89-297 amended Subsec. (b) by changing earliest date for applying for overseas ballot from nineteenth day preceding a federal election which is a primary to thirtieth day; P.A. 97-154 amended Subsec. (a) by extending application deadline for residents from seven days before election to close of polls on election day, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 04-80 amended Subsec. (a) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and adding Subdiv. (2), authorizing municipal clerk to designate location in municipal facility for presidential ballots and applications and to appoint presidential ballot assistants, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 12-56 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by limiting the applicability of provisions to former residents and amended Subsec. (b) by making technical changes, effective July 1, 2013.

Sec. 9-158d. Application form. (a) The application for a presidential ballot shall be a form signed in duplicate by the applicant under penalty of false statement in absentee balloting, which shall provide substantially as follows:

To the Town Clerk of the Town of ...., Connecticut

I, the undersigned, declare under penalty of false statement in absentee balloting that the following statements are true:

1. I am a citizen of the United States.

2. I have not forfeited my electoral privileges because of conviction of a disfranchising crime.

3. I was born on ...., and on the day of the next presidential election, I shall be at least 18 years of age.

4. FORMER RESIDENT. I am a former resident of the above town, to which I am making this application, and resided at .... Street therein. I moved from such town to my present town and state of residence on the .... day of ...., 20.., being within thirty days before the date of the next presidential election, and for that reason I cannot register to vote in said presidential election in my present town and state of residence. I am now a bona fide resident of the Town of ...., in the state of ...., now residing at .... Street therein.

5. I hereby apply for a “presidential ballot” for the election to be held on ...., 20... I have not voted and will not vote otherwise than by this ballot at that election. I am not eligible to vote for electors of President and Vice-President in any other state.

6. The said ballot is to be given to me personally or mailed to me at

.... (bona fide mailing address)

Dated at ...., this .... day of .... 20...

.... (Signature of applicant)

(b) The application for an overseas ballot shall be the federal application permitted under section 9-153a or a form signed by the applicant under penalty of false statement in absentee balloting which shall provide substantially as follows:

To the Town Clerk of the Town of ...., Connecticut

I, the undersigned, declare under penalty of false statement in absentee balloting that the following statements are true:

1. I am a citizen of the United States.

2. I have not forfeited my electoral privileges because of conviction of a disfranchising crime.

3. I was born on ...., and on the day of the next federal election, I shall be at least eighteen years of age.

4. I was a resident of the above town, to which I am making this application, and resided at no. .... Street therein. I moved from such town to my present residence on the .... day of ...., 20... I now reside in ...., at no. .... Street therein.

5. I have a valid passport or card of identity and registration issued under the authority of the Secretary of State of the United States or alternate form of identification.

	( ) Primary
6. I hereby apply for an overseas ballot for the	( ) General Election
	( ) Special Election

to be held on ...., 20... I do not maintain a domicile in any other state or election district of any state or territory or any territory or possession of the United States. I have not voted and will not vote otherwise than by this ballot at such election or primary for which I now apply for an overseas ballot. I am not eligible to vote in any town in Connecticut or in any other state or election district of any state or territory or any territory or possession of the United States.

7. The said ballot is to be mailed to me at ....

.... (Mailing address)

Dated at ...., this .... day of ...., 20...

.... (Signature of applicant)

(1972, P.A. 196, S. 4; P.A. 82-247, S. 5; P.A. 86-179, S. 31, 53; P.A. 87-382, S. 15, 55; P.A. 89-297, S. 9, 18; P.A. 93-384, S. 24, 28; P.A. 97-154, S. 7, 27; P.A. 12-56, S. 6; P.A. 13-264, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 82-247 deleted references to absentee elector; P.A. 86-179 made technical changes and added subsection re application for overseas ballot; P.A. 87-382, in sentence 4. of Subsec. (b) substituted “was” for “am” and deleted “former”; P.A. 89-297 deleted statement in Subsec. (b) that applicant does not maintain a domicile “in this state”; P.A. 93-384 amended Subsec. (b) to authorize application to be “a form signed by the applicant under penalty of false statement in absentee balloting” instead of “in the form of an affidavit subscribed and sworn to before an officer authorized to administer oaths” and deleted provision listing persons authorized to administer oaths and the part of the form to be subscribed by administering officer, effective January 1, 1994; P.A. 97-154 amended Subsec. (a) by providing for application to be signed by applicant under penalty of false statement in absentee balloting instead of sworn to by applicant, and deleting certain provisions re oaths, effective July 1, 1997; (Revisor's note: In 2001 the references in this section to the date “19..” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “20..” to reflect the new millennium); P.A. 12-56 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting provision in statement 3. re completion of statement 4. or 5., deleting former statement 4. re resident, redesignating existing statements 5. to 7. as statements 4. to 6., adding references to state of residence in redesignated statement 4. and deleting reference to any other town in Connecticut in redesignated statement 5., effective July 1, 2013; P.A. 13-264 made a technical change in Subsec. (a), effective July 1, 2013.

Sec. 9-158e. Identification required from person applying for presidential ballot. Mailing or giving of presidential ballot to applicant. Mailing overseas ballot to applicant. (a) A person applying for a presidential ballot in person shall present: (1) A current and valid photo identification, or (2) a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document that shows the name and address of the voter. The application for a presidential ballot by mail shall be accompanied by: (A) A copy of a current and valid photo identification, or (B) a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or government document that shows the name and address of the voter. Upon receipt of an application for a presidential ballot under sections 9-158a to 9-158m, inclusive, the clerk, if satisfied that the application is proper and that the applicant is qualified to vote under said sections, shall forthwith give or mail to the applicant, as the case may be, a ballot for presidential and vice-presidential electors for use at the election and instructions and envelopes for its return.

(b) Upon receipt of an application for an overseas ballot, the clerk, if satisfied that the application is proper and that the applicant is qualified to vote at the federal election for which the application is made, pursuant to the provisions of sections 9-158b to 9-158m, inclusive, shall forthwith mail a ballot containing the names and offices of the candidates for federal office and instructions and envelopes for its return to the applicant.

(1972, P.A. 196, S. 5; P.A. 86-179, S. 32, 53; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6, S. 98; P.A. 12-56, S. 7.)

History: P.A. 86-179 made technical changes and added subsection re mailing of overseas ballot to elector; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-6 amended Subsec. (a) by requiring identification from person applying for presidential ballot and making technical changes, effective January 1, 2004; P.A. 12-56 amended Subsec. (a) by eliminating requirement re mailing of duplicate application, effective July 1, 2013.

Sec. 9-158f. Envelope. (a) The voter, after marking his presidential ballot so as to express his choice, shall fold it so as to conceal the markings, and enclose it in an inner envelope furnished by the town clerk for such purpose. The envelope shall have imprinted upon its back a statement which shall be signed by the voter. The failure of the voter to date the statement shall not invalidate the ballot. Such statement shall be substantially as follows:

Certification of Presidential Voter

I, the undersigned, do hereby state under the penalties of false statement in absentee balloting that:

(1) I am qualified to vote for Presidential and Vice-Presidential electors in the town of .... Connecticut, at the presidential election to be held on November ...., 20...

(2) I have not applied, nor do I intend to apply, for a ballot to vote for Presidential and Vice-Presidential electors at said election from any other town, city, county or state, and

(3) I have not voted, and I will not vote otherwise than by this ballot in said presidential election.

Dated at ...., this .... day of .... 20...

.... (Signature of voter)

(b) The overseas elector, after marking his overseas ballot so as to express his choice, shall fold it so as to conceal the markings and enclose it in an inner envelope furnished by the town clerk for such purpose. The envelope shall have imprinted upon its back a statement which shall be signed by the elector. The failure of the elector to date the statement shall not invalidate the ballot. The statement shall be substantially as follows:

Certification of Overseas Elector

I, the undersigned, do hereby state under the penalties of false statement in absentee balloting that:

(1) I am qualified to vote for candidates for federal office in the town of ...., Connecticut, at the federal election to be held on ...., 20...

(2) I have not applied, nor do I intend to apply, for a ballot to vote for candidates for federal office at said election from any other town, city or county in Connecticut or in any other state or election district of any state or territory or any territory or possession of the United States.

(3) I have not voted, and I will not vote otherwise than by this ballot in said federal election.

Dated at ...., this .... day of ...., 20...

.... (Signature of overseas elector)

(1972, P.A. 196, S. 6; P.A. 74-96, S. 6, 9; P.A. 78-79, S. 1, 4; P.A. 82-247, S. 6; P.A. 86-179, S. 33, 53.)

History: P.A. 74-96 made minor changes in wording of form; P.A. 78-79 added requirement that statement upon back of inner envelope be signed by the voter and provided that failure of voter to date statement shall not invalidate the ballot; P.A. 82-247 deleted reference to absentee elector; P.A. 86-179 made technical changes and added subsection re overseas elector's certification; (Revisor's note: In 2001 the references in this section to the date “19..” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “20..” to reflect the new millennium).

Sec. 9-158g. Return to town clerk. The voter shall sign the certification upon the inner envelope, securely seal it, enclose it in an outer serially-numbered envelope, and return it to the municipal clerk of the town in which he is qualified to vote. The clerk shall keep it in his office until delivered by him to the registrars of voters at the same time and in the same manner as is provided for absentee ballots. If the ballot is returned by a person other than the voter or the United States Postal Service, the person delivering the ballot shall sign his name and address and the date and time of its delivery on the outer envelope in the clerk's presence. The ballot, to be cast, shall be returned so that it is received by the town clerk not later than the close of the polls on the day of the election.

(1972, P.A. 196, S. 7; P.A. 86-179, S. 34, 53.)

History: P.A. 86-179 made technical changes.

Sec. 9-158h. List of applicants. The clerk shall prepare and keep open to public inspection a list of all persons who have applied under sections 9-158a to 9-158m, inclusive, to vote as presidential voters or overseas electors with their names, voting addresses and application dates together with the serial number of the return envelopes issued, and shall maintain an alphabetical index of the list for a period of one hundred eighty days after the election or primary.

(1972, P.A. 196, S. 8; P.A. 86-179, S. 35, 53; P.A. 87-382, S. 16, 55.)

History: P.A. 86-179 made technical changes and added reference to overseas electors; P.A. 87-382 substituted “one hundred eighty days” for “six months”.

Sec. 9-158i. Secretary to prepare and distribute ballots and forms. The Secretary of the State shall prepare, print and distribute to the town clerk in each town in this state, a sufficient number of ballots and other necessary forms to be used by the persons eligible to vote for the offices of presidential electors or federal offices under the provisions of sections 9-158a to 9-158m, inclusive. The words “Presidential Ballot” or “Overseas Ballot” shall appear on each such ballot and no such ballot shall afford any opportunity to vote for any office or officer except presidential electors or federal offices. The Secretary of the State may make any changes in any forms prescribed by, or provided for, in said sections which, in the opinion of the secretary, are necessary to cause said forms to conform to the provisions of applicable federal law.

(1972, P.A. 196, S. 9; P.A. 86-179, S. 36, 53.)

History: P.A. 86-179 made technical changes and added provisions re overseas balloting.

Sec. 9-158j. Notice to registrars. Upon receipt of an application for a “Presidential Ballot” or “Overseas Ballot” the town clerk shall forthwith notify the registrars of voters of the applicant's name, with a notation designating him as a person voting for presidential and vice-presidential electors or federal offices only. If the name of a presidential voter who is a former resident appears on the registry list, the registrars shall insert the letters “pf” in the margin preceding his name. The registrars shall prepare a list of names and addresses of presidential voters and overseas electors whose names do not appear on the registry list, for each voting district, which list shall accompany the check list to be used at such election in such district. The registrars shall insert the letters “pf” in the margin of such list of presidential voters preceding the name of each applicant who is a former resident.

(1972, P.A. 196, S. 10; P.A. 82-247, S. 7; P.A. 86-179, S. 37, 53.)

History: P.A. 82-247 deleted provision requiring registrars to insert letter “p” in margin preceding absentee elector's name; P.A. 86-179 made technical changes and added references to overseas balloting.

Sec. 9-158k. Town clerk to maintain file of information from other states or towns. Section 9-158k is repealed, effective July 1, 2013.

(1972, P.A. 196, S. 11; P.A. 86-179, S. 38, 53; P.A. 87-382, S. 17, 55; P.A. 12-56, S. 14.)

Sec. 9-158l. False statements. Neglect of duty by public official. Any person wilfully making a false statement on any statement required by sections 9-158a to 9-158m, inclusive, to be made in the form of an affidavit or a statement under penalties of false statement in absentee balloting, shall be subject to the penalties imposed by law for such statements. If any public official wilfully refuses or neglects to perform any of the duties prescribed by sections 9-158a to 9-158m, inclusive, or violates any of the provisions of said sections, such official shall be subject to the penalties imposed by law.

(1972, P.A. 196, S. 12; P.A. 74-96, S. 7, 9; P.A. 86-179, S. 39, 53; P.A. 12-56, S. 8.)

History: P.A. 74-96 added “in absentee balloting” following “false statement”; P.A. 86-179 made technical changes; P.A. 12-56 deleted references to Secs. 9-140b and 9-140c and made a technical change, effective July 1, 2013.

Sec. 9-158m. Absentee voting law applicable. Except as otherwise provided in sections 9-158a to 9-158m, inclusive, the provisions of law relating to absentee ballots shall apply to the distribution, casting and counting of presidential and overseas ballots under said sections and to the furnishing of election supplies and ballots, canvassing of ballots and making returns of the results of the election under said sections.

(1972, P.A. 196, S. 13; P.A. 86-179, S. 40, 53.)

History: P.A. 86-179 added reference to overseas balloting and made technical change.

Sec. 9-158n. Voting in person. Section 9-158n is repealed.

(1972, P.A. 196, S. 17; P.A. 78-153, S. 18, 32; P.A. 82-247, S. 12.)

Secs. 9-159 to 9-159m. Ballots. Overseas ballots. Sections 9-159 to 9-159m, inclusive, are repealed.

(September, 1957, P.A. 25, S. 2; March, 1958, P.A. 27, S. 23; 1972, P.A. 196, S. 18; P.A. 76-295, S. 1–13, 18; P.A. 78-79, S. 2, 4; 78-153, S. 10–17, 32; P.A. 79-363, S. 20, 38; P.A. 80-281, S. 9, 10, 31; P.A. 83-544, S. 2, 4; P.A. 84-319, S. 24, 49; P.A. 86-179, S. 52, 53.)

Sec. 9-159n. Transferred to Sec. 9-159q.

Sec. 9-159o. (Formerly Sec. 9-151a). Voting in person after ballot has been sent; exception for 2020 state election. (a) Any elector who has returned an absentee ballot to the municipal clerk and who finds such elector is able to vote in person shall proceed before ten o'clock a.m. on election, primary or referendum day to the municipal clerk's office and request that such elector's ballot be withdrawn. The municipal clerk shall remove the ballot from the sealed package and shall mark the serially-numbered outer envelope, which shall remain unopened, “rejected” and note the reasons for rejection. The elector shall also endorse the envelope. The rejected ballot shall then be returned to the sealed package until delivered on election, primary or referendum day to the registrars of voters in accordance with section 9-140c. The municipal clerk shall then give the elector a signed statement directed to the moderator of the voting district in which the elector resides stating that the elector has withdrawn such elector's absentee ballot and may vote in person. Upon delivery of the statement by the elector to the moderator, the moderator shall cause the absentee indication next to the name of the elector to be stricken from the official checklist and the elector may then have such elector's name checked and vote in person. Unless absentee ballots are to be counted in the respective polling places pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, the municipal clerk shall also cause the absentee indication next to the name of the elector to be stricken from the duplicate checklist to be used by the absentee ballot counters.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, for the state election in 2020, any elector who has returned an absentee ballot to the municipal clerk and who finds such elector is able to vote in person shall proceed before five o'clock p.m. on the fourth day before the election to the municipal clerk's office and request that such elector's ballot be withdrawn.

(P.A. 75-300, S. 2, 9; P.A. 77-187, S. 5, 9; P.A. 78-153, S. 20, 32; P.A. 79-363, S. 19, 38; P.A. 84-319, S. 21, 49; P.A. 86-179, S. 42, 53; P.A. 95-171, S. 12, 14; P.A. 96-119, S. 5, 14; P.A. 18-124, S. 8; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-3, S. 7; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-4, S. 7.)

History: P.A. 77-187 changed time of count to twelve noon from “not earlier than two p.m.”; P.A. 78-153 changed “town” to “municipal” clerk, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-363 made technical changes; in 1979 transferred Sec. 9-147c to Sec. 9-151a; P.A. 84-319 amended section to provide a uniform procedure for checking and marking ballots; P.A. 86-179 made technical changes and substituted “checklist” for “registry list”; Sec. 9-151a transferred to Sec. 9-159o in 1987; P.A. 95-171 changed the time before which ballots must be withdrawn from before noon to before ten a.m., effective January 1, 1996; P.A. 96-119 deleted “at twelve o'clock noon,” effective May 24, 1996; P.A. 18-124 deleted provision re notation by clerk in case of central counting, added provisions re counting of absentee ballots in respective polling places and striking absentee indication, and replaced “clerk” with “municipal clerk”, effective June 6, 2018; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-3 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a), added Subsec. (b) re state election in 2020 and made technical changes, effective July 31, 2020; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-4 amended Subsec. (a) to make a technical change and amended Subsec. (b) to replace “last day” with “fourth day”, effective October 2, 2020.

Sec. 9-159p. (Formerly Sec. 9-232g). Challenge of absentee ballots. (a) Any elector may challenge the right of any person offering to vote by absentee ballot based upon false identity, disenfranchisement for conviction of a felony or lack of bona fide residence. The failure of an elector to challenge, pursuant to this section, the right of a person to vote by absentee ballot shall not bar such elector from bringing an action to contest the primary or election under section 9-323, 9-324, 9-328 or 9-329a, based on the alleged invalidity of the absentee ballot cast at such primary or election.

(b) Challenges shall not be made indiscriminately and may only be made if the challenger knows or reasonably believes that the right of the person offering to vote by absentee ballot should be denied on one or more of the grounds specified in subsection (a) of this section.

(c) Challenges made concerning ballots that the municipal clerk has not delivered to the registrars of voters for counting pursuant to sections 9-140c and 9-147a shall be made in writing to the municipal clerk. Challenges made concerning ballots that the municipal clerk has delivered to the registrars of voters for counting pursuant to sections 9-140c and 9-147a shall be made in writing to the central counting moderator or the moderator of the polling place at which the ballot is to be counted pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a. All challenges shall be made under oath.

(d) Immediately upon receipt of a challenge, the municipal clerk shall send copies of the challenge to each registrar of voters and to the person offering to vote by absentee ballot. The municipal clerk shall send the copy of the challenge to the person offering to vote by first class certified mail to the mailing address shown on the application for the absentee ballot. The municipal clerk shall furnish copies of any written response to the challenge to each registrar of voters. The municipal clerk shall deliver the ballot in the inner envelope, which shall not be opened, the serially-numbered envelope and any other evidence relevant to the challenge, to the registrars, who shall sign a receipt for the same.

(e) Immediately upon receipt of a challenge, the moderator shall deliver copies of the challenge to each registrar of voters. The moderator shall also deliver, or designate another election, primary or referendum official to deliver, the ballot in the inner envelope, which shall not be opened, the serially-numbered envelope and any other evidence relevant to the challenge to the registrars, who shall sign a receipt for the same.

(f) The registrars of voters shall examine the challenge, any written response to the challenge and any other evidence or information they deem relevant to the challenge, including the inner envelope, which shall not be opened, and shall determine whether the challenge should be upheld. If the registrars fail to agree that the challenge should be upheld, it shall be deemed to have been denied.

(g) The registrars of voters shall make the determination not earlier than noon of the day of the election, primary or referendum at which the ballot is submitted and not later than the time when the counting of all other absentee ballots at the election, primary or referendum has been completed.

(h) The registrars of voters shall notify, in writing, the municipal clerk and the central counting moderator, or the moderator of the polling place at which the ballot is to be counted pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-147a, of their determination. If the challenge is denied, the absentee ballot shall be delivered by the registrars to the appropriate location for counting pursuant to law. If the challenge is upheld, the registrars shall mark the word “rejected” on the serially-numbered outer envelope and note the reasons for rejection, and shall return it together with all other evidence received in connection with the challenge to the municipal clerk who shall retain the same until delivered in accordance with section 9-140c, except that a challenge to a ballot which the municipal clerk has delivered to the registrars of voters for counting pursuant to sections 9-140c and 9-147a shall be returned to the moderator to whom the challenge was made.

(i) Within five days after the election, primary or referendum the municipal clerk shall send to the person whose offer to vote was challenged a copy of the written determination of the registrars and a statement as to the disposition of the absentee ballot.

(P.A. 81-467, S. 1, 8; P.A. 84-319, S. 32, 49; P.A. 86-179, S. 43, 53; P.A. 88-101, S. 1, 2; P.A. 18-124, S. 9.)

History: P.A. 84-319 amended section to permit challenges to be made to, and decided by, the election or primary moderator in certain instances; P.A. 86-179 made technical changes and added references to referenda; Sec. 9-232g transferred to Sec. 9-159p in 1987; P.A. 88-101 amended Subsec. (a) by providing that failure to challenge right of person to vote by absentee ballot is not a bar to action contesting primary or election; P.A. 18-124 amended Subsec. (c) to add reference to Sec. 9-147a(b) and make technical changes, amended Subsec. (d) to replace “clerk” with “municipal clerk”, and amended Subsec. (h) to make technical and conforming changes, effective June 6, 2018.

(1) “Institution” means a veterans' health care facility, residential care home, health care facility for the handicapped, nursing home, rest home, mental health facility, alcohol or drug treatment facility, an infirmary operated by an educational institution for the care of its students, faculty and employees or an assisted living facility; and

(2) “Designee” means an elector of the same town and political party as the appointing registrar of voters which elector is not an employee of the institution at which supervised voting is conducted.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes to the contrary, if less than twenty of the patients in any institution in the state are electors, absentee ballots voted by such electors shall, upon request of either registrar of voters in the town of such electors' voting residence or the administrator of such institution, be voted under the supervision of such registrars of voters or their designees in accordance with the provisions of this section. The registrars of voters of a town other than the town in which an institution is located may refuse a request by the administrator of such institution when, in their written opinion, the registrars agree that such request is unnecessary, in which case this section shall not apply. Such registrars shall inform the administrator and the town clerk of the electors' town of voting residence of their refusal.

(c) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, such request shall be made in writing and filed with the town clerk and registrars of voters of the town of such electors' voting residence, not more than forty-five days prior to an election or thirty-four days prior to a primary and not later than the seventh day prior to an election or primary. The request shall specify the name and location of the institution and the date and time when the registrars of voters or their designees shall supervise the casting of absentee ballots at the institution. The request shall also specify one or more alternate dates and times when supervised voting may occur. No request shall specify a date or an alternate date for supervised voting which is later than the last business day before the election or primary.

(d) The town clerk shall not mail or otherwise deliver an absentee ballot to an applicant who is a patient in any institution if a request for supervision of absentee balloting at that institution has been filed with the clerk during the period set forth in subsection (c) of this section. The clerk shall instead deliver such ballot or ballots to the registrars of voters or their designees who will supervise the voting of such ballots in accordance with this section.

(e) Except in the case of a written refusal as provided in subsection (b) of this section, upon receipt of a request for supervision of absentee balloting during the period set forth in subsection (c) of this section, the registrar or registrars of voters who received the request shall inform the registrar or administrator who made the request and the town clerk as to the date and time when such supervision shall occur, which shall be the date and time contained in the request or the alternate date and time contained in the request. If the registrar or registrars fail to select either date, the supervision shall take place on the date and time contained in the request. If a request for supervision of absentee balloting at an institution is filed during the period set forth in subsection (c) of this section and the town clerk receives an application for an absentee ballot from a patient in the institution after the date when supervised balloting occurred, either registrar of voters may request, in writing, to the appropriate town clerk and registrars of voters that the supervision of the voting of absentee ballots at such institution in accordance with this section be repeated, and in such case the registrars or their designees shall supervise absentee balloting at such institution on the date and at the time specified in the subsequent request, which shall be not later than the last business day before the election or primary.

(f) On the date when the supervision of absentee balloting at any institution is to occur, the town clerk shall deliver to the registrars or their designees the absentee ballots and envelopes for all applicants who are electors of such clerk's town and patients at such institution. The ballot and envelopes shall be prepared for delivery to the applicant as provided in sections 9-137 to 9-140a, inclusive. The registrars or their designees shall furnish the town clerk a written receipt for such ballots.

(g) The registrars or their designees, as the case may be, shall jointly deliver the ballots to the respective applicants at the institution and shall jointly supervise the voting of such ballots. The ballots shall be returned to the registrars or their designees by the electors in the envelopes provided and in accordance with the provisions of sections 9-137, 9-139 and 9-140a. If any elector asks for assistance in voting his ballot, two registrars or their designees of different political parties or, for a primary, their designees of different candidates, shall render such assistance as they deem necessary and appropriate to enable such elector to vote his ballot. The registrars or their designees may reject a ballot when (1) the elector declines to vote a ballot, or (2) the registrars or their designees are unable to determine how the elector who has requested their assistance desires to vote the ballot. When the registrars or their designees reject a ballot, they shall mark the serially-numbered outer envelope “rejected” and note the reasons for rejection. Nothing in this section shall limit the right of an elector to vote his ballot in secret.

(h) After all ballots have been voted or marked “rejected” in accordance with subsection (g) of this section, the registrars or their designees shall jointly deliver or mail them in the envelopes, which shall be sealed, to the appropriate town clerk, who shall retain them until delivered in accordance with section 9-140c.

(i) When an institution is located in a town having a primary, the registrar in that town of the party holding the primary shall appoint for each such institution, one designee of the party-endorsed candidates and one designee of the contestants from the lists, if any, submitted by the party-endorsed candidates and contestants. Such registrar shall notify all party-endorsed candidates and all contestants of their right to submit a list of potential designees under this section. Each party-endorsed candidate and each contestant may submit to such registrar in writing a list of names of potential designees, provided any such list shall be submitted not later than ten days before the primary. If no such lists are submitted within said period, such registrar shall appoint one designee of the party-endorsed candidates and one designee of the contestants. Each designee appointed pursuant to this section shall be sworn to the faithful performance of his duties, and the registrar shall file a certificate of each designation with his town clerk.

(j) Any registrar of voters who has filed a request that the absentee balloting at an institution be supervised and any registrar required to conduct a supervision of voting under this section, who neglects to perform any of the duties required of him by this section so as to cause any elector to lose his vote shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor. Any registrar from the same town as a registrar who has filed such a request may waive his right to participate in the supervision of absentee balloting.

(k) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, if the spouse or a child of a registrar of voters or a dependent relative residing in the registrar's household is a candidate in the election or primary for which supervised absentee voting is to occur, such registrar shall not supervise such absentee voting but may designate the deputy registrar of voters or an assistant registrar of voters, appointed by the registrar pursuant to section 9-192, to supervise the absentee voting in his place.

(l) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, if a town clerk receives twenty or more absentee ballot applications from the same street address in a town, including, but not limited to, an apartment building or complex, absentee ballots voted by the electors submitting such applications may, at the discretion of the registrars of voters of such town, be voted under the supervision of such registrars of voters or their designees in accordance with the same procedures set forth in this section for supervised absentee voting at institutions.

(P.A. 81-424, S. 3; P.A. 82-426, S. 1, 14; P.A. 84-319, S. 16, 49; P.A. 85-577, S. 6; P.A. 86-179, S. 41, 53; P.A. 87-532, S. 7, 10; P.A. 90-1, S. 1, 5; P.A. 91-128, S. 1; P.A. 93-230, S. 6; P.A. 95-177, S. 2, 7; P.A. 97-112, S. 2; P.A. 05-235, S. 4.)

History: P.A. 82-426 amended section to clarify that supervision is to be performed by registrars in the town of the voter's voting residence, to allow registrars to refuse an administrator's request for supervision if the institution is in another town and to change the definition of “institution” by adding veterans health care facilities, state supported institutions and hospitals and deleting reference to hospitals for tuberculous, mentally ill or mentally retarded persons; P.A. 84-319 amended section to provide uniformity in procedures for marking absentee ballot envelopes, substituting “rejected” for “not voted” designation in Subsecs. (f) and (g); P.A. 85-577 amended Subsec. (b) to require filing not later than the seventh day prior to an election or primary, replacing previous filing deadlines of 31 days before election and 20 days before primary; P.A. 86-179 made technical changes; Sec. 9-146a transferred to Sec. 9-159n in 1987; P.A. 87-532 amended Subsec. (a) to make section applicable only to institutions in which less than twenty of the patients are electors; Sec. 9-159n transferred to Sec. 9-159q in 1989; P.A. 90-1 added provision in Subsec. (f) re right to vote ballot in secret; P.A. 91-128 amended Subsecs. (b) and (d) to require supervised voting to be held not later than last business day before election or primary; P.A. 93-230 added Subsec. (j) re disqualification of registrar when immediate family member is a candidate; P.A. 95-177 moved definition of institution to new Subsec. (a) and added definition of “designee”, relettered Subsecs. (a) to (j) as (b) to (k), amended relettered Subsec. (g) by adding “as the case may be”, provision re designees of different candidates, deleting provisions re elector “unable to vote”, adding provision re registrars or designees unable to determine how elector desires to vote, and replaced provision allowing any elector of registrar's town other than an employee of institution to serve as designee with new Subsec. (i) re party-endorsed candidate designees and contestant designees at primaries, effective January 1, 1996; P.A. 97-112 replaced “home for the aged” with “residential care home”; P.A. 05-235 amended Subsec. (a)(1) to include an assisted living facility in definition of “institution” and added Subsec. (l) re supervised absentee voting by applicants from same street address, at discretion of registrars, effective July 1, 2005, and applicable to elections, primaries and referenda held on or after September 1, 2005.

Cited. 231 C. 602.

Sec. 9-159r. Mandatory supervised absentee voting at institutions. Procedure. Exception for 2020 state election. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes to the contrary, if twenty or more of the patients in any institution in the state are electors, absentee ballots voted by such electors shall be voted under the supervision of the registrars of voters or their designees of the town in which the institution is located, in accordance with the provisions of this section. As used in this section, “institution” has the same meaning as provided in section 9-159q.

(b) Application for an absentee ballot for any such patient shall be made to the clerk of the town in which such patient is eligible to vote. The application procedure set forth in section 9-140 shall apply, except that the clerk shall deliver the absentee voting set for any such application to the clerk of the town in which the institution is located, who shall deliver all such voting sets he receives to the registrars of such town, on the date when the supervision of absentee balloting is to occur. The ballots and envelopes shall be prepared for delivery to the applicant as provided in sections 9-137 to 9-140a, inclusive. The registrars or their designees shall furnish the town clerk a written receipt for such ballots. The registrars of the town in which an institution is located and the administrator of the institution shall mutually agree on a date and time for such supervision of absentee balloting, which shall be not later than the last business day before the election or primary.

(c) The supervision of absentee balloting under this section shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of subsections (g), (h), (i) and (k) of section 9-159q.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of this section, for the state election in 2020, the Secretary of the State may waive any requirement under said subsections, provided the Secretary (1) waives such requirement in recognition of the public health and civil preparedness emergency declared by the Governor on March 10, 2020, and has consulted with the Commissioner of Public Health or said commissioner's designee regarding such waiver, (2) has given written notice to the town clerk and registrars of voters in each municipality, and (3) has submitted a report, in accordance with section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to elections advising of such waiver and specifying alternative actions to be taken to provide opportunities for absentee voting by electors described in this section.

(P.A. 87-532, S. 8, 10; P.A. 91-128, S. 2; P.A. 93-230, S. 7; P.A. 95-177, S. 3, 7; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-3, S. 8.)

History: P.A. 91-128 amended Subsec. (b) to require supervised voting to be held not later than last business day before election or primary; P.A. 93-230 amended Subsec. (c) to add reference to Sec. 9-159q(j); P.A. 95-177 amended Subsec. (c) by deleting reference to Sec. 9-159q(f) and (j) and adding reference to 9-159q(i) and (k), effective January 1, 1996; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-3 made a technical change in Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (d) re state election in 2020, effective July 31, 2020.

Cited. 231 C. 602.

Sec. 9-159s. Notice to conservators and guardians re residents' voting opportunities and voting registration. Optional notice to person with power of attorney. (a) The administrator of an institution, as defined in subsection (a) of section 9-159q, a residential facility for persons with intellectual disability licensed pursuant to section 17a-227, or a community residence, as defined in section 19a-507a, shall use his or her best efforts to provide written notice pursuant to subsection (b) of this section to any conservator or guardian appointed to manage the affairs of a resident of such institution, facility or residence pursuant to sections 45a-644 to 45a-663, inclusive, or sections 45a-669 to 45a-683, inclusive, at least seven days prior to the date any voter registration or voting opportunity is presented to the resident with respect to a primary, referendum or election. As used in this section, “voter registration” or “voting opportunity” includes, but is not limited to, the solicitation or completion of: (1) An application for admission as an elector; or (2) an absentee ballot, regardless of whether supervised absentee ballot voting will take place at such institution. The administrator of such institution, facility or residence shall also use his or her best efforts to provide written notice to any such conservator or guardian at least seven days prior to the date when the resident may be brought to a polling place to vote in person. The notification provisions of this section shall not apply when a member of the resident's immediate family provides the resident with an absentee ballot application or brings the resident to a polling place to vote.

(b) Any such notice shall indicate that the resident is entitled to vote or register to vote unless the resident is determined incompetent to do so by a probate court, or unless the registrars of voters or their designees jointly conclude at a supervised voting session that the resident declines to vote the ballot or they are unable to determine how the resident desires to vote the ballot, as provided in subsection (g) of section 9-159q. The notice shall also specify that a resident who requires assistance to vote in accordance with section 9-264 by reason of blindness, disability or inability to read or write may receive assistance from a person of the resident's choosing.

(c) The administrator of any such institution, facility or residence may also provide such notice to a person with a power of attorney for a resident of the institution, facility or residence.

(P.A. 02-83, S. 1; P.A. 11-129, S. 20; P.A. 16-49, S. 15.)

History: (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (a), a reference to Sec. “45a-668” in the phrase “sections 45a-668 to 45a-684, inclusive,” was changed editorially by the Revisors to Sec. “45a-669” to reflect the repeal of Sec. 45a-668 by P.A. 04-54, S. 8); pursuant to P.A. 11-129, “the mentally retarded” was changed editorially by the Revisors to “persons with intellectual disability” in Subsec. (a); P.A. 16-49 replaced reference to Sec. 45a-684 with reference to Sec. 45a-683.

See Sec. 45a-703 re determinations of competency to vote.

(September, 1957, P.A. 25, S. 3–6; 1959, P.A. 493; 1963, P.A. 53, S. 1; 92, S. 1; 245, S. 1–11; February, 1965, P.A. 407, S. 7, 8; 618, S. 2–5; 1972, P.A. 196, S. 18.)

Sec. 9-163k. Pilot program for absentee voting. (a) As used in this section:

(1) “Commission” means the State Elections Enforcement Commission; and

(2) “Designee” means (A) a person who is caring for an absentee ballot applicant because of the applicant's illness or physical disability, including but not limited to, a licensed physician or a registered or practical nurse, or (B) a member of any such applicant's family, who is designated by an absentee ballot applicant and who consents to such designation.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this title, the State Elections Enforcement Commission shall establish a pilot program for absentee voting at the municipal elections and primaries held in three municipalities in 2003. The commission shall notify municipalities of the opportunity to participate in the pilot program and shall select three municipalities to participate, provided the legislative body of each such municipality or, in the case of a municipality in which the legislative body is a town meeting, the board of selectmen, consents to such participation. In making such selections, the commission shall rank all municipalities from highest population to lowest population, and select one municipality in the highest third of such ranking, one municipality in the middle third of such ranking, and one municipality in the lowest third of such ranking.

(1) Only municipal clerks, registrars of voters and absentee ballot coordinators appointed by registrars of voters may issue absentee ballot applications;

(2) Such officials may issue absentee ballot applications only to persons who (A) request such applications for themselves, (B) have been identified by candidates or political parties as potential absentee voters, or (C) are designees;

(3) For a municipal election, each registrar of voters shall appoint at least one absentee ballot coordinator for each two hundred persons who voted by absentee ballot in the most recent municipal election. For a municipal primary, each registrar of voters shall appoint at least one absentee ballot coordinator for each two hundred persons who voted by absentee ballot in the most recent municipal primary. A registrar of voter's appointment of an absentee ballot coordinator shall not be effective until the registrar files the appointment with the municipal clerk;

(4) Absentee ballot coordinators serving in a municipality shall be residents of such municipality (A) who apply for such positions, or (B) whose names are submitted by candidates or slates of candidates at the election or primary or by political parties. Absentee ballot coordinators may not be municipal employees or members of a town committee or be employed by, or volunteer for, any campaign or political party;

(5) Absentee ballot coordinators may be compensated by the municipalities appointing the coordinators and shall receive training in absentee voting procedures by the appointing registrar or registrars of voters and be sworn to the faithful performance of their duties as election officials, in accordance with the provisions of section 9-231;

(6) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, only absentee ballot coordinators may be present and provide assistance to an applicant in completing an absentee ballot application outside of the office of a registrar of voters or a municipal clerk. In the case of a municipal election, two absentee ballot coordinators of different political parties, and in the case of a primary, two absentee ballot coordinators representing competing slates or candidates in the primary, shall jointly provide such assistance to an applicant residing in the municipality who requests it. Each coordinator who provides such assistance shall sign the application in the space provided. One or both of such coordinators shall deliver the completed application to the municipal clerk not later than two business days after the date of completion of the application. This section shall not apply to supervised voting at institutions under section 9-159q or 9-159r; and

(B) A designee of an ill or physically disabled applicant may also be present and provide assistance to an applicant in completing an absentee ballot application. The persons listed in subsection (a) of section 9-140b may also assist in the return of absentee ballot applications;

(7) Each absentee ballot coordinator shall account to the municipal clerk for blank absentee ballot applications issued by the coordinator;

(8) When a municipal clerk or a registrar of voters provides assistance to an absentee ballot applicant in the office or the clerk or registrar, such official shall also sign the application; and

(9) The list of absentee ballot applicants who have executed applications shall remain confidential until the third business day before an election or primary.

(d) The State Elections Enforcement Commission shall have the power to enforce the provisions of this section to the same extent as the commission has the power to enforce provisions of election statutes under section 9-7b.

(e) After the municipal elections and primaries held in 2003, the State Elections Enforcement Commission shall survey election officials and participants in the three municipalities participating in the pilot program for absentee voting. Not later than January 15, 2004, the commission shall submit a report on its findings and recommendations concerning the pilot program to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to elections.

(P.A. 03-227, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 03-227 effective July 9, 2003.