Hopefully in this curious mayoral cycle we’ll elect a chief executive before April when early voting comes to Connecticut this year, the first opportunity the state’s presidential primary in April. See election calendar here
The new law requires a 14-day early voting period for general elections and seven days for most primaries. Under the current law, the only form of early voting is by excuse-only absentee ballot.
Snapshot of new law.
This act establishes a framework for early, in-person voting for all general elections, primaries, and special elections, held on or after January 1, 2024 (PA 23-204 applies this to elections, primaries, and special elections on or after April 1, 2024, see BACKGROUND). Specifically, it requires a 14-day early voting period for general elections, a seven-day period for most primaries, and a four-day early voting period for special elections and presidential preference primaries. Under the act, every municipality must establish at least one early voting location, and those with a population of at least 20,000 may establish more.
The act sets various early voting requirements and procedures, including voter eligibility, ballot custody, staffing and training, and materials. Among other things, it (1) expands election-day registration (EDR) by applying it to the entire early voting period for general elections, rather than just election day itself, and (2) renames it as “same day registration” (SDR). Additionally, the act sets voter registration and party enrollment deadlines for those who wish to vote during early voting in a primary. To accommodate the early voting period, the act generally changes several election-related deadlines by either (1) moving the deadline up by 14 days or (2) setting it at the specified number of days before the early voting period begins instead of before election day. The act also sets specific deadlines for special elections. The act subjects early voting to the State Election Enforcement Commission’s (SEEC) enforcement authority. Among other things, the commission may investigate complaints and levy a civil penalty of not more than $2,000 per offense for a person who violates the act’s early voting-related provisions
Thank you for the research on the Presidential Primary timetable. We also know well about the January 23 Bridgeport primary (do-over) and the February 27 Bridgeport mayoral (do-over), but what can you tell us about the Democratic election of 9 local members to 10 District committees who will elect a leader to guide the party into the future? What are the rules to run for this primarily political body that has sustained a major plurality over any other political body in opposition within Bridgeport for countless years?
How does “one person, one vote” as popularly understood deal with this silent corrosion of power and politics embodied in the current representation results? When one million dollars is spent on the 2023 fall campaign and only 20% of eligible registered citizens complete a ballot (of candidates supported by the DTC) and governance gets a required do-over from the court system, why do we hear nothing about the March election for members of each District Committee? Time will tell.