Bill Text: CT SB00848 | 2015 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: An Act Concerning Polling Places For Primaries.

Spectrum: Committee Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-26 - Vote to Hold Until Next Meeting [SB00848 Detail]

Download: Connecticut-2015-SB00848-Introduced.html

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General Assembly		Raised Bill No. 848
January Session, 2015		LCO No. 3127
		*03127_______GAE*
Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND ELECTIONS
Introduced by:
(GAE)

AN ACT CONCERNING POLLING PLACES FOR PRIMARIES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 9-438 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

[In] (a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (b) of this section, in each municipality or voting district, the polling place or places for [primaries] a primary held under sections 9-382 to 9-450, inclusive, shall be the same as those used for the election to be held.

(b) (1) The number of polling places required under subsection (a) of this section may be reduced in accordance with the provisions of this subsection.

(2) If the registrars of voters of a municipality agree to reduce the number of polling places, the registrars of voters shall, not later than sixty days prior to a primary held under sections 9-382 to 9-450, inclusive, designate the polling place or places for such primary. Such polling place or places may be the same as or different than the polling places used for the election to be held.

(3) Not earlier than sixty days, but not later than forty-five days, prior to such primary, such registrars of voters shall notify the Secretary of the State and the candidates seeking nomination to an office in such primary of the change in the polling place or places. If a candidate petitions for nomination to an office after the registrars of voters have notified candidates of such change, the registrars of voters shall immediately notify the petitioning candidate of such change. If any candidate objects to a change in the polling place or places, the candidate shall notify the Secretary of such objection not later than four o'clock p.m. on the thirtieth day prior to the primary. Such notification from the candidate shall be in the form of a written letter, signed by the candidate, and shall be held confidential by the Secretary. The Secretary shall promptly notify such registrars of voters and each candidate seeking nomination to an office in such primary that the Secretary has received a letter of objection. Such notification shall not identify the candidate who objected. If such a candidate so objects, the polling place or places shall be the same as those used for the election to be held.

(4) Not later than twenty-five days prior to such primary, the registrars of voters shall send notification of the polling place for the primary, by mail, to each elector whose polling place for the primary will be different than the elector's polling place for the election. The registrars of voters shall not be required to so notify an elector for any subsequent primary if the primary polling place for such elector remains the same as that provided in the initial notification.

(5) If any polling place that would otherwise be open pursuant to subsection (a) of this section is closed pursuant to this subsection, the registrars of voters shall ensure that a sign is posted at such polling place providing electors with information to redirect such electors to the open polling place or places for the primary.

(6) Notwithstanding any provision of this title or title 7, any special act, charter or ordinance, if the number of polling places is reduced pursuant to the provisions of this subsection, the number of moderators required for such primary may be reduced, if the registrars of voters so agree, provided at least one certified moderator serves each polling place.

(c) When unaffiliated electors are authorized under section 9-431 to vote in the primary of [either] any one of two or more parties, [both] all such parties shall hold their primaries in the same room of each [such] polling place.

(d) On the day of the primary, the polls shall remain open for voting from six o'clock a.m. until eight o'clock p.m.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	from passage	9-438

Statement of Purpose:

To allow municipalities to reduce the number of polling places for primaries.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]