Here's How Elections
Could Significantly Change In CT
A committee passed a
slew of election-related bills,
including one to require
presidential
candidates to release tax returns.
By Rich Scinto, Patch Staff | Apr
2, 2019 12:40 pm ET
It’s about time?
This is only about
250 (243), years in waiting!
Read on if you will?
HARTFORD, CT
The Government
Administration and Elections Committee approved a number of bills that could
lead to major changes in how Connecticut residents vote. The bills now head to
the General Assembly for another vote.
Disclosure of
Presidential and Gubernatorial Candidate Federal Taxes
Another
bill would require presidential and gubernatorial candidates to publicly
disclose at least two years worth of tax returns in order to appear on the
ballot. Several other states are pushing for similar measures, but there is
debate whether it would stand up to a court challenge. President Donald Trump
didn't release his tax returns, which bucked a decades-long trend among major
party candidates. Last week a committee approved a bill that could lead to early
in-person voting via a constitutional amendment. The proposal still has a long
way to go as it requires either a 75% majority in both the State House and
Senate or to pass by a majority two years in a row in both houses before
appearing as a question on the ballot.
Three states have
all-mail voting and nearly 40 have some form of early voting, according to the
National Conference of State Legislatures.
Connecticut voters
can either vote in-person on Election Day or apply and mail-in absentee ballot.
The rules regarding who qualifies for an absentee ballot are strict. The
process currently requires an application which is sent to the local Town Clerk
who then sends a ballot before an election, primary or referendum. That ballot
then has to be filled out and either mailed back or dropped off in-person
before the Election Day deadline.
A number of bills
would increase Election Day voter registration across the state. Some big
cities have run into issues with low staffing levels coupled with a mass of
last-minute registrants over the past few election cycles. Some registrants
waited in line for four hours to register in New Haven last election.
Under current law,
voters must be registered by 8 p.m. Election Day in order to cast a ballot.
Those stuck in registration line when the clock strikes eight can't vote. A
bill proposed by Gov. Ned Lamont and approved by a committee would also allow
those in line for Election-Day registration to vote after 8 p.m.
One bill would allow
additional Election Day registration locations in towns and require that
registrars of voters advise the Secretary of State office on the expected
staffing levels. The bill passed unanimously out of committee.
Read on if you will?
