CHAPTER 143*
ELECTORS: QUALIFICATIONS AND ADMISSION

(a) Each citizen of the United States who has attained the age of eighteen years, and who is a bona fide resident of the town to which he applies for admission as an elector shall, on approval by the registrars of voters or town clerk of the town of residence of such citizen, as prescribed by law, be an elector, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section. For purposes of this section a person shall be deemed to have attained the age of eighteen years on the day of his eighteenth birthday. No mentally incompetent person shall be admitted as an elector.
(b) Any citizen who has attained the age of seventeen years may apply for admission as an elector. If such citizen is found to be qualified he shall become an elector on the day of his eighteenth birthday. The registrars shall add the name of any person applying under this subsection, if found qualified, to the registry list and, if applicable, to the enrollment list, together with the effective date of his registration. The registrars may place the name of each such person at the end of the registry and enrollment lists for the voting district.
(1949 Rev., S. 991; 1953, S. 513d; 1963, P.A. 645, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 407, S. 1; 1972, P.A. 127, S. 10; P.A. 73-630, S. 1, 19; P.A. 75-210; 75-565, S. 2, 5; P.A. 77-244, S. 1, 4; P.A. 81-350, S. 4, 17; P.A. 87-382, S. 2, 55; P.A. 94- 121, S. 9, 33; P.A. 95-171, S. 2, 14; P.A. 97-67, S. 5, 9.)
History: 1963 act deleted provision prohibiting imposition of new qualifications on present electors; 1965 act removed requirement of at least a year's residency in the state; 1972 act changed the qualifying age from twenty-one to eighteen; P.A. 73-630 removed town residency requirement of six months and substituted therefor "is a bona fide resident of the town" and removed the reading and character requirements; P.A. 75-210 substituted "mentally incompetent" for "idiot or mentally ill"; P.A. 75-565, effective January 1, 1976, added exception re Secs. 9-19e and 9-30; P.A. 77-244 added "and subsection (b) of this section" to the exceptions in P.A. 77-565, designated the previously enacted statute and amendments as Subsec. (a) and added new Subsec. (b) providing for qualifying and applying for admission as electors within the four- month period prior to an election of those attaining age eighteen on or before the day of a regular election; P.A. 81-350 extended period for preregistration of seventeen-year-olds from four to six months prior to eighteenth birthday and provided that a person is deemed to be eighteen on the day of his eighteenth birthday; P.A. 87-382 substituted "one hundred eighty days" for "six months" in Subsec. (b); P.A. 94-121 amended first sentence of Subsec. (a) by substituting "approval by the registrars of voters or town clerk of the town of residence of such citizen, as" for "taking the oath" and deleting references to Secs. 9-19e and 9-30 in the exception clause of the same sentence, effective January 1, 1995; P.A. 95-171 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting provision limiting applicability by seventeen-year-old citizens to a period of one hundred eighty days prior to election, effective October 1, 1995, and applicable to elections held on or after that date; P.A. 97-67 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision re placement of names at end of registry and enrollment lists, effective July 1, 1997.
Cited. 31 CS 454.

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Section 9-12a is repealed.
(1969, P.A. 492, S. 1; P.A. 81-350, S. 16, 17.)

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The provisions of section 53-302a shall not apply to activities conducted for the purpose of admitting electors.
(P.A. 76-128, S. 1, 11; P.A. 79-363, S. 3, 38.)
History: P.A. 79-363 substituted "sections 53-302a" for "sections 53-300 and 53-302".

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No applicant, otherwise qualified to be an elector in this state, shall be ineligible by reason of blindness or defective sight.
(1949 Rev., S. 992; 1953, S. 514d; P.A. 76-128, S. 3, 11.)
History: P.A. 76-128 deleted requirements for reading or submission of proof of previous admission as elector in any Connecticut town.

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No person shall be deemed to have lost his residence in any town by reason of his absence therefrom in any institution maintained by the state. No person who resides in any institution maintained by the state shall be admitted as an elector in the town in which such institution is located, unless he proves to the satisfaction of the admitting official that he is a bona fide resident of such institution.
(1949 Rev., S. 1000; 1953, S. 515d; P.A. 82-247, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 82-247 changed "board for admission of electors" to "admitting official" and "permanent" resident to "bona fide" resident.

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Any person in the custody of the state being held at a community correctional center or a correctional institution, whose voting rights have not been denied, shall be deemed to be absent from the town or city of which he is an inhabitant for purposes of voting, notwithstanding that such center or institution may be situated within such town or city.
(P.A. 75-595, S. 4, 5.)
See Secs. 9-135, 9-137 re absentee voting, generally.

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Section 9-15 is repealed, effective October 1, 2002.
(1949 Rev., S. 1020; 1953, S. 516d; S.A. 02-12, S. 1.)

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(a) The board for admission of electors in each town shall consist of the town clerk and the selectmen, provided the legislative body of any town may, at any time, except during the period of eight weeks prior to a regular election, vote to change the membership of such board to consist of (1) the town clerk, the selectmen and the registrars of voters or (2) the town clerk and the registrars of voters. For the purposes of this section, the term "registrars of voters", in a town where there are different registrars of voters for different voting districts, means the registrars of voters in the voting district in which, at the last- preceding election, the presiding officer for the purpose of declaring the result of the vote of the whole town was the moderator.
(b) Any member of the board for the admission of electors in any town who finds that he is unable to attend a meeting of the board shall designate another elected officer of such town to act for him by filing a statement of such designation in writing in the office of the town clerk at any time prior to the opening of the meeting, provided, if an assistant town clerk is available, he shall serve in the absence or inability of the town clerk and, if the deputy registrar of voters is available, he shall serve in the absence or inability of his registrar.
(c) A quorum of the board for the admission of electors shall consist of a bare majority of the members of such board. An assistant town clerk or a deputy registrar or any other town officer designated by, and acting for, a member of such board pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) shall be included as a member of such board for purposes of ascertaining the existence of a quorum.
(d) This section shall supersede any inconsistent provision of any charter or special act.
(February, 1965, P.A. 471; 1969, P.A. 496; P.A. 79-363, S. 4, 38; P.A. 83-391, S. 1, 24.)
History: 1969 act changed word "municipality" for "town" wherever appearing and in Subsec. (b) inserted the word "elected" before "officer"; P.A. 79-363 amended Subsec. (a) by inserting "the" before "moderator"; P.A. 83-391 amended Subsec. (b) to eliminate reference to sessions of board for the admission of electors.

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The registrars of voters in each town shall give notice of the time and place of each session for the admission of electors held pursuant to section 9-17 by publication in a newspaper published or circulated in such town not more than fifteen nor less than five days before each such session. Nothing herein shall require that such publication be in the form of a legal advertisement.
(1953, S. 517d; 1957, P.A. 441, S. 3; 1959, P.A. 684, S. 2; 1961, P.A. 266, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 393, S. 3; February, 1965, P.A. 275, S. 2; 443, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 352, S. 3; P.A. 83-391, S. 2, 24; P.A. 93-230, S. 5.)
History: 1959 act allowed town clerk's statement that applicant is an elector in lieu of proof of citizenship; 1961 act added registrar of voters to same provision; 1963 act deleted requirement of posting notice of session on signpost and changed time for giving notice by publication; 1965 acts required notice be published no more than ten nor less than five days before each session and deleted provision for notice to include requirements for presentation of naturalization or other papers; 1967 act amended notice requirement to no more than fifteen days instead of ten days prior to session; P.A. 83- 391 amended section to provide for notice of sessions to be given by registrars of voters not board for admission of electors; P.A. 93-320 specified that publication need not be in form of a legal advertisement.
See Sec. 9-25 re admission of armed forces members as electors.
See Sec. 9-31a re special admission procedure for permanently physically disabled persons.

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(a) For the purposes of this section, "primary day" means the day that a primary for state, district and municipal offices is being held in accordance with section 9-423, and "election day" means the day of each regular election. (1) The registrars of voters of each town shall hold sessions to examine the qualifications of electors and admit those found qualified on the dates and at the times set forth in this section. Such sessions shall be held on the following days during the hours indicated, except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection:

Day	Hours
Fourteenth day before primary day	any two hours between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Saturday of third week before election day	10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Fourteenth day before election day	9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The session of the registrars of voters on the fourteenth day before election day shall be the last regular session for the admission of electors prior to an election, as defined in subsection (y) of section 9-1. (2) No town having a population of less than twenty- five thousand persons shall be required to hold sessions for admission of electors on the fourteenth day before primary day.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), the registrars of voters shall hold a limited session on the last week day before each regular election from nine o'clock a.m. to twelve o'clock noon for the purpose of admitting only those persons whose qualifications as to age, citizenship or residence in the municipality were attained after the last session for the admission of electors prior to an election. The registrars shall enter the names of those electors admitted at such limited session on the proper list, with their residences by street and numbers, if any, before one o'clock p.m. of such last week day before the election.
(c) In addition to the sessions held pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the registrars of voters in each town shall hold one session each year, between the first of January and the last day of the school year, at each public high school in such town, for the admission of persons who are eligible for admission under subsection (a) or (b) of section 9-12, provided, in the case of a public high school in a regional school district, such session shall be held on a rotating basis by the registrars of voters for each town which is a member of the regional school district. The registrars of voters need not give notice of this session by publication in a newspaper.
(1949 Rev., S. 1015; 1953, 1955, S. 518d; 1957, P.A. 441, S. 4; 1963, P.A. 530, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 694, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 708; 768, S. 2; 1972, P.A. 144; P.A. 73-630, S. 2, 19; P.A. 75-12, S. 1, 2; P.A. 77-330, S. 1; 77-604, S. 83, 84; P.A. 79- 189, S. 2, 9; P.A. 83-391, S. 3, 24; P.A. 84-319, S. 5, 49; 84-546, S. 18, 173; P.A. 87-210; P.A. 89-297, S. 1; P.A. 91-351, S. 21, 23, 28; P.A. 93-230, S. 1; P.A. 94-121, S. 10, 33; 94-203, S. 1, 12; P.A. 95-171, S. 3, 14; P.A. 96-134, S. 1, 9; P.A. 97-67, S. 6, 9; P.A. 98-67, S. 4, 10.)
History: 1963 act reduced duration of session in sixth week before election from eleven to "at least four" hours, and deleted variations in length of session according to the towns' sizes; 1969 act deleted provisions for towns holding a municipal election on the first Monday in October in the even-numbered years; 1971 acts added a session "on the first Saturday after Labor Day", added clarifying language to the provision of adjournment of session on the Saturday of the sixth week, deleted reference to the third week as the case may be and added a provision for additional sessions if the Saturday of the sixth or fourth week before election falls on day on which tenets of religion forbid secular activity; 1972 act added provision for two evening sessions between the Saturdays of the sixth and fourth weeks before election; P.A. 73-630 substituted clarifying language for "rights have matured" as age citizenship or residence attained after the Saturday of the fourth week before the election; P.A. 75-12 provided for additional session on Saturday of fifth week before election and for adjournment of that session from time to time instead of provision for adjournment of the session on sixth Saturday, further provided for one evening session rather than two between the Saturday of fifth week (instead of sixth) and the Saturday of the fourth week and further substituted fifth week for sixth week in the requirement for additional session where that Saturday falls on a day on which religious tenets forbid secular activity; P.A. 77-330 provided for evening session before primary, changed provisions for hours of sessions before elections to "from at least nine o'clock a.m. to one o'clock p.m.", specified that the evening session between the fifth and fourth week be on Wednesday, provided for a session on the twenty-first day before election between the hours of nine a.m. and eight p.m., changed the hours for the session on the last weekday before election to "from at least nine a.m. to eleven a.m.", changed the purpose of that admitting session to "those persons whose qualifications as to age or citizenship were attained after the twenty-first day before the election", changed provision for extra session where religious tenet forbids secular activity on Saturday of fifth or fourth week to twenty-first day and provided that admission of electors on the last weekday before election would be determined from that next succeeding day; P.A. 77-604 made technical changes; P.A. 79-189 divided statute into three Subsecs. with Subsec. (a) including information set forth in schedule format; P.A. 83-391 amended section to delete references to board for admission of electors and eliminated certain mandatory sessions in towns having a population under twenty-five thousand; P.A. 84-319 and P.A. 84-546 made technical amendment to Subsec. (b), restoring language inadvertently omitted from 1983 revision; P.A. 87-210 added Subsec. (c) re sessions at public high schools; P.A. 89-297 changed May ninth to May twelfth in Subsec. (c); P.A. 91-351 amended Subsec. (a) to move all sessions one week closer to election day and changed ending time for last Saturday session before election day from 8:00 to 5:00 p.m; P.A. 93-230 amended Subsec. (a) to repeal requirement that session be held on Saturday of fifth week before election day and to change hours for session to be held on the Wednesday falling between fourth and third Saturdays before election day, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. to "any two hours between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m."; P.A. 94-121 deleted reference to elector's oath in Subdiv. (1) of Subsec. (a), effective January 1, 1995; P.A. 94-203 amended Subsec. (a) by changing hours of session on fourteenth day before primary day, from "7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m." to "any two hours between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.", effective July 1, 1994; P.A. 95-171 amended Subsec. (b) by extending session from eleven o'clock a.m. to noon and requiring names be entered by one o'clock p.m. rather than noon, effective October 1, 1995, and applicable to elections held on or after that date; P.A. 96-134 amended Subsec. (a) to delete references to mandatory sessions on the Saturday of fourth week before election day and the Wednesday between fourth and third Saturdays before election day and to change session hours for Saturday of third week before election day and amended Subsec. (c) to replace "May twelfth" with "the first of January" and add provision that the registrars of voters need not give notice of session by publication, effective May 29, 1996; P.A. 97-67 amended Subsec. (a) by changing hours of Saturday session from "9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m." to "10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.", effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 98-67 amended Subsec. (a) to change definition of "primary day" from day scheduled for primary to day that primary is being held, effective July 1, 1998.
Board being, under the constitution, quasi-judicial, its members acting in good faith are not liable in damages. 53 C. 527; having to act under discretion, are not subject to mandamus. 34 C. 415.

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As used in sections 9-17, 9-19b, 9- 19c(a), 9-20, 9-23a, 9-24, 9-31a, 9-31b and 9-31l, unless otherwise provided, the term "admitting official" means a town clerk, assistant town clerk, registrar of voters, deputy registrar of voters, assistant registrar of voters, special assistant registrar of voters or the board for admission of electors.
(1971, P.A. 768, S. 1; P.A. 79-363, S. 5, 38; P.A. 80-281, S. 2, 31; P.A. 81-350, S. 12, 17.)
History: P.A. 79-363 made technical changes; P.A. 80-281 added "special assistant registrar of voters"; P.A. 81-350 substituted reference to Sec. 9-31l for reference to Sec. 9-31k, repealed by the same act.

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Secs. 9-18, 9-18a and 9-19. Sessions of board during even-numbered years. Required monthly sessions. Additional sessions. Sections 9-18, 9-18a and 9-19 are repealed.
(1949 Rev., S. 1014, 1016; 1953, S. 519d, 520d; March, 1958, P.A. 27, S. 5; 1963, P.A. 530, S. 2—4; 1971, P.A. 768, S. 3; P.A. 76-128, S. 10, 11; P.A. 83-391, S. 23, 24.)

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The provisions of this chapter shall supersede any inconsistent provision of any charter or special act.
(1963, P.A. 530, S. 5; P.A. 79-363, S. 6, 38; P.A. 83-391, S. 4, 24; P.A. 84-319, S. 6, 49.)
History: P.A. 79-363 deleted reference to repealed Sec. 9-18a; P.A. 83-391 deleted reference to repealed Sec. 9-19; P.A. 84-319 amended section to provide that provisions of chapter 143, rather than of Sec. 9-17, supersede inconsistent provisions in charters and special acts.

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Sec. 9-19b. Applications for admission submitted to town clerk or registrar of voters. Locations for admission of electors. (a) Except during the period between the last session for the admission of electors prior to an election and the day following that election, the town clerk or assistant town clerk, during office hours and at the office of such official, may examine the qualifications of any person applying in person to be admitted as an elector and approve such application.
(b) Except during the period between the last session for the admission of electors prior to an election and the day following that election, either registrar of voters, or a deputy registrar, assistant registrar or special assistant registrar appointed in accordance with the provisions of section 9-192, may examine the qualifications of any person applying to be admitted as an elector in the town and, except for applications submitted pursuant to subdivision (4) of this subsection, approve such application submitted in person (1) at the office of such official; (2) at any enrollment session of the registrars of voters; (3) at any public place; (4) at any time and at any place in the town, other than a public place; or (5) at any public office of the Department of Motor Vehicles, Labor Department or Department of Social Services which is located in the town in which the registrar, deputy registrar, assistant registrar or special assistant registrar serves, if written notice of the date and time is given seven days in advance thereof to the commissioner of such department. Upon receipt of a written notice under subdivision (5) of this subsection, the commissioner of the department may designate a portion of the public office which shall be used for the admission of electors. The other registrar, or any deputy, assistant or special assistant registrar, shall be permitted to be present during the admission of any person pursuant to subdivisions (4) and (5) of this subsection. Applications accepted and examined prior to the last session for admission of electors prior to an election pursuant to subdivision (4) of this subsection may be approved after such last session. The admission of any person pursuant to subdivision (4) shall be effective on the date when both registrars approve such application. The registrar who receives such application from the applicant shall give written notice to the other registrar within one business day after such receipt and the registrars shall forthwith act on such applications. No rejection of any application under subdivision (4) of this subsection shall be effective until the registrar has mailed to the other registrar and the applicant a notice stating the reasons for the rejection. Any applicant whose application is rejected may appeal under the provisions of section 9-31l.
(c) Such registrar, deputy, assistant or special assistant registrar accepting applications in accordance with subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of this section shall provide the applicant with a receipt. Upon approval or disapproval of the application, the registrars shall send a notice thereof by first-class mail with instructions on the envelope that it be returned if not deliverable at the address shown thereon. If such notice of approval is returned undeliverable, the registrars shall take the necessary action in accordance with section 9-35 or 9-43.
(d) During the period between the last session for the admission of electors prior to an election and the opening of the limited session for the admission of electors held on the last weekday before such election under section 9-17, the town clerk or assistant town clerk during office hours and at the office of such official and either registrar of voters or a deputy or assistant registrar at the office of such official may examine the qualifications of any person applying in person to be admitted in such town and approve the application of such person whose qualifications as to age, citizenship or residence in the municipality were attained after such last session and on or before the last weekday prior to such election.
(1967, P.A. 559, S. 1; 1969, P.A. 491; 677; 1971, P.A. 768, S. 4; P.A. 73-130; 73-430; 73-630, S. 3, 19; P.A. 75-28, S. 1, 2; P.A. 77-330, S. 2; 77-604, S. 83, 84; P.A. 79-143, S. 1; 79-189, S. 3, 9; P.A. 80-281, S. 3, 31; P.A. 81-350, S. 5, 17; P.A. 82-472, S. 24, 183; P.A. 88-347, S. 2, 4; P.A. 89-297, S. 2, 18; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; P.A. 94-121, S. 11, 33.)
History: 1969 acts added provision for town clerk and registrars of voters, during the period between the last regular session and the opening of the limited session held on the last weekday before election, to process applications of persons who attained qualifications as to age, residence or citizenship during that period and added provision for enrollment at any public place where five days prior notice in newspaper published; 1971 act added assistant town clerk and a deputy or assistant registrar where appropriate, substituted "any of such admitting officials" for "the town clerk or either registrar of voters", deleted "accept the application for admission as an elector of" and deleted provisions requiring approval of application by the board for admission of electors and notification where the board's action is unfavorable; P.A. 73-130 added "with the consent of both registrars of voters" to the provision for enrollment at any public place; P.A. 73-430 defined "during office hours" where the registrars of voters do not maintain regular office hours; P.A. 73-630 deleted "residence" as qualification, attainment of which during period between last regular session and on or before the last weekday prior to election makes person eligible for special enrollment and substituted "were attained" for "matured" in context of when qualifications for enrollment arose; P.A. 75-28 clarified "office hours" and changed provisions concerning enrollment at any public place to remove requirement for consent of both registrars so that either registrar may conduct enrollment upon seven days prior notice to other registrar and the five day prior notice by newspaper, such notice to be signed by each registrar, deputy, or assistant who intends to participate; P.A. 77-330 where appearing deleted the word "regular" from "last regular session"; P.A. 77-604 made technical changes; P.A. 79-143 divided the section into Subsecs. (a) to (d), inclusive, additionally provided for enrollment at other than a public place, for admission to be effective on occurrence of certain conditions or for rejection of application, for provision of receipt to applicant upon administration of oath, for notice of action taken on application, for application for reexamination where application has been rejected and deleted references to newspaper notice; P.A. 79-189 added "residency in the municipality" to qualifications as to age or citizenship to be attained during the period between the last session and the opening of the limited session held on the last weekday before election in order for person to be registered during that time; P.A. 80-281 made technical changes; P.A. 81-350 required notice of location and opportunity to be present be given to registrar of other party by registrar conducting door-to-door registration and allowed rejected applicants to appeal under Sec. 9-31l, replacing provision allowing them to apply for reexamination under Sec. 9-31j; P.A. 82-472 added the reference to Sec. 9-43 in Subsec. (c); P.A. 88-347 added Subdiv. (5) to Subsec. (b), re examination of qualifications of applicants for admission at offices of motor vehicles, labor and income maintenance departments, effective April 1, 1989; P.A. 89-297 amended Subsec. (b) by providing that the admission of any person pursuant to Subdiv. (4), instead of pursuant to "this subdivision", shall be effective one week after receipt of application, except as otherwise provided; P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 94-121 applied provisions of Subsec. (a) to any person applying "in person" and substituted "approve such application" for "administer the elector's oath" in Subsec. (a), amended Subsec. (b) by substituting "in the town and, except for applications submitted pursuant to subdivision (4) of this subsection, approve such application submitted in person" for "and administer the elector's oath", deleting requirement of advance notice to other registrar in Subdivs. (3), (4) and (5), and amending Subdiv. (4) to require place to be "in the town", allow approval of applications received prior to last session for admission of electors to occur after such last session, make application effective only on date when both registrars approve it and require registrars to act forthwith on such applications, amended Subsec. (c) by substituting "accepting applications" for "administering the elector's oath", and applied provisions of Subsec. (d) to any person applying "in person" and "in such town" and substituted "approve the application" for "administer the elector's oath", effective January 1, 1995; (Revisor's note: In 1997 a reference in Subsec. (b) to "Department of Labor" was replaced editorially by the Revisors with "Labor Department" for consistency with customary statutory usage).

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Sec. 9-19c. Application for admission at place of employment, residence or study. (a) Upon the presentation to the town clerk or either registrar of voters of any town of the signed application of twenty-five or more persons who are employed by the same employer at the same place of employment in such town, or twenty-five or more persons who attend the same school, college or university which is located in such town, or who reside at the same hospital, residential care home, rest home, nursing home or convalescent home located in such town and who believe that they possess the qualifications for admission as electors, which application may be made at any time except during the period between seven days before the last session for the admission of electors prior to an election and the day following such election, and shall be in form substantially as provided in section 9-19d; an admitting official, within the time hereinafter specified, shall go to such place of employment, school, college, or university or hospital, residential care home, rest home, nursing home or convalescent home for the purpose of taking and acting upon applications for admission as electors of any persons who reside in any Connecticut town and who are authorized to be on the premises. No application need be accepted by such town clerk or registrars from persons working at any such place of employment, attending any such school, college or university or residing at any such hospital, residential care home, rest home, nursing home or convalescent home if a session for the admission of electors has been held on such premises within one hundred twenty days prior to the making of such petition. Such official to whom such application is presented shall, within seven days after the receipt of such application, inform each registrar of voters and the employer, or chief administrative officer of the school, college or university or hospital, residential care home, rest home, nursing home or convalescent home of the date and time at which he will go to such place for such purpose, which date shall be not less than seven days nor more than ten days after the sending of the notice by such official to such employer or chief administrative officer, except that no session shall be held after the last session for admission of electors prior to an election. The official with whom the application is filed may request any other admitting official to go in his stead.
(b) Such employer, or chief administrative officer, upon receipt of such notice, shall provide a suitable place for the taking of applications for admission as electors and shall forthwith cause a prominent notice to be posted on the bulletin board or other place where general notices to employees, students or residents are customarily posted, which notice shall specify the date, place and hour at which such official will receive such applications, and such notice shall remain posted through the day of such taking of applications. Procedures under this section shall conform as nearly as may be to the procedures for applications for admission submitted pursuant to sections 9-19b, 9-19e, 9-20 and 9-23a. No employer shall penalize or refuse to pay an employee who proceeds under this section and section 9-19d, and any employee proceeding under said sections shall be entitled to be paid at his regular rate for up to one-half hour for the purpose of making application to become an elector.
(1969, P.A. 412, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 768, S. 5; P.A. 75-17, S. 1; 75-565, S. 3, 5; P.A. 76-128, S. 4, 11; P.A. 77-330, S. 3; 77-604, S. 83, 84; P.A. 79-363, S. 7, 38; P.A. 87-382, S. 3, 55; P.A. 97-112, S. 2.)
History: 1971 act in Subsec. (a) changed enumeration of town clerk, assistant, either registrar of voters or their deputies to "an admitting official", deleted reference to "all members of the board for admission as electors", deleted reference to enumerated officials to go to the place of employment and provided that the officer with whom application is filed may request any other admitting official to go in his stead; P.A. 75-17 in Subsec. (a) to signed request of twenty-five added attendance at same school, college or university, residence at same hospital, home for aged, rest home, nursing home, convalescent home all of which located in same town where admission as elector desired, also these terms added to other appropriate references, changed the period during which a request may not be made from sixty to forty-five days prior to a regular election, changed limiting date of notice from no more than fourteen to ten days and in Subsec. (b) added "or chief administrative officer" following "employer" and "students or residents" following "employee"; P.A. 75-565 in Subsec. (a) provided for taking and acting upon applications of employees, students or residents whether residents of that or any other Connecticut town, effective January 1, 1976; P.A. 76-128 removed language restricting the request signed by twenty-five to residents of such town and also restriction for admission only in that same town, changed the time during which request may not be made to the period between the last regular session and the day following the election, changed limitation to applications of employees, students or residents to any persons authorized to be on the premises and residing in any Connecticut town and provided that requests need not be accepted where session has been held on premises within four months prior to making of the petition; P.A. 77-330 changed period during which request may not be made to between seven days before the last session and the day following the election and added exception that no session shall be held after the last session; P.A. 77-604 made technical changes; P.A. 79-363 changed "request" to "application" throughout Subsec. (a), in Subsec. (b) where word "applications" first appears "for admission as electors" was added and where "applications" next appears "for admission as electors" was deleted; P.A. 87-382 substituted "one hundred twenty days" for "four months" in Subsec. (a); P.A. 97-112 replaced "home for the aged" with "residential care home".

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The application provided for in section 9-19c shall be in form substantially as follows:

To .... (name), Town Clerk,	of the Town of
Registrar of Voters,	...., Connecticut,

We the undersigned, being citizens of the United States of voting age, are

[    ] employed, and all being employees of .... (name of employer)

or

[    ] students attending .... (name of school, college or university)

or

[    ] residing at the (name of hospital, residential care home, rest home, nursing home or convalescent home) .... in said town and each of us believing that he or she possesses the qualifications for admission as an elector, do hereby request you to come to our place of employment, or school, college or university or residence, as the case may be,újy at .... (address), in said town, for the purpose of receiving applications for admission as an elector.

.... (signatures) .... (addresses)

Dated at ...., Connecticut, this .... day of ...., 20...
(1969, P.A. 412, S. 2; P.A. 73-630, S. 4, 19; P.A. 75-17, S. 2; P.A. 76-128, S. 5, 11; P.A. 97-112, S. 2.)
History: P.A. 73-630 removed the words "now reside, and for at least six months have resided, in" and substituted "are bona fide residents of" in the application; P.A. 75-17 changed format of application to provide three alternatives, one to be indicated, of categories including employees, students of institutions of higher learning or residents of certain health care facilities; P.A. 76-128 removed recital of residency in town in which as employees, students or residents the signers request a voter-making session and deleted recital of possession of qualification for admission as an elector "in said town"; P.A. 97-112 replaced "home for the aged" with "residential care home"; (Revisor's note: In 2001 the reference in this section to the date "19.." was changed editorially by the Revisors to "20.." to reflect the new millennium).

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Except during the period between the last session for the admission of electors prior to an election and the day following that election, an admitting official of any town, as defined in section 9-17a, may, at the times and places prescribed by law, accept applications for admission as an elector from persons who reside in any Connecticut town and examine their qualifications. Each such application for admission shall be made on a form prescribed by the secretary of the state and shall provide a space for application for enrollment in a political party as provided in section 9-23a. Such admitting official shall hand a receipt to the applicant and immediately mail the application to the town clerk or registrars of voters of the town of residence of the applicant. The town clerk or registrars of voters of the town of residence of such applicant shall act upon such application, upon its receipt, and shall note on such copy his or their action and the date thereof, and if disapproved, his or their reasons therefor. If the town clerk acts on the application, he shall deliver such copy to the registrars as provided in section 9-20 and whoever acts upon the application shall immediately send written notification to the applicant, and if the application is disapproved, he or they shall send such notification by certified mail. No person shall be admitted as an elector under this section unless his application has been approved by the town clerk or registrars of voters of his town of residence. Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit an admitting official to approve applications for admission as an elector in places located outside the boundaries of the municipality or district of which he is an official. Appeals may be taken from the action of such town clerk or registrars of voters under this section in accordance with section 9-31l. Any person making application for registration under this section shall be entitled to the privileges of an elector and party enrollment, if applicable, from the time such application for admission as an elector is approved by the town clerk or registrars of voters of his voting residence, provided if such application is made after twelve o'clock noon on the last business day before a primary, such applicant shall be entitled to the privileges of party enrollment immediately after the primary and provided if such application is made on the day of a caucus or convention, such applicant shall be entitled to the privileges of party enrollment immediately after the caucus or convention.
(P.A. 75-565, S. 1, 5; P.A. 77-216, S. 1; 77-298, S. 12; 77-330, S. 4; 77-604, S. 83, 84; P.A. 78-87, S. 1, 2; P.A. 80- 281, S. 4, 31; P.A. 81-350, S. 13, 17; P.A. 83-213, S. 2; P.A. 84-118, S. 1, 5; P.A. 94-121, S. 12, 33.)
History: P.A. 77-216 deleted requirement that application be in quadruplicate, provided for retention of a copy by admitting official, mailing of one copy to town clerk or registrars of voters of town of residence of applicant and furnishing of a receipt to applicant, allowed either town clerk or registrar of voters of residence of applicant to act on the application, inserted provision that no application be approved after last session for admission before election, provided that official acting on application send written notification to applicant and, if disapproved, send it by certified mail and that if action taken by town clerk, copy to be delivered to the registrars, inserted "registrars of voters" to follow "town clerk" except in the preceding context; P.A. 77-298 made "fourteenth day" rather than "third Saturday" before a primary the date after which enrollment does not become effective until immediately after the primary; P.A. 77-330 changed "last regular session" to "last session" in delineating period before day following election during which admitting officials may not accept applications; P.A. 77-604 made technical changes; P.A. 78-87 deleted provision forbidding approval of applications after last session for admission of electors; P.A. 80-281 substituted "registration" for "enrollment" and simplified wording in provision re effective dates of electoral privileges; P.A. 81-350 made technical changes; P.A. 83-213 amended section to provide that admitting official may accept but not approve applications for admission as an elector in places located outside of his district or municipality; P.A. 84-118 changed time limit for enrollment from fourteenth day to noon of last business day before primary; P.A. 94-121 deleted provisions authorizing admitting official to administer elector's oath and requiring such official to retain copy of application and required such official to mail application, instead of copy of application, to clerk or registrars of town of residence of applicant, effective January 1, 1995.

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The registrar of voters or the deputy or any assistant registrar of voters of any town may, upon the request of the registrar of voters of any other town, assist such registrar or deputy or assistant registrar at any session for the admission of electors held pursuant to section 9-19b or subsection (a) of section 9-19c in the town in which the requesting registrar resides.
(P.A. 76-128, S. 2, 11.)

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Notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-19b, during the period between the last session for the admission of electors prior to an election and the opening of the limited session for such admission held on the last weekday before the election, the town clerk or assistant town clerk during office hours and at the office of such official, and either registrar of voters or a deputy or assistant registrar at the office of such official, may examine the qualifications of any person applying in person to be admitted as an elector in such town and act on such application, except the privileges of an elector shall not attach to any such applicant until written approval is sent to him by such official no earlier than two days following the election. If the application is disapproved, such official shall send notification thereof by certified mail no earlier than two days following the election. At the time of application, the official examining the applicant shall retain a copy of the application and shall hand a receipt thereof to the applicant.
(P.A. 79-357, S. 1; P.A. 94-121, S. 13, 33.)
History: P.A. 94-121 applied provisions of section to any person applying "in person" and substituted "in such town and act on such application" for "and administer the elector's oath to any person found qualified", effective January 1, 1995.

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Sec. 9-19h. Availability of admissions information and materials at certain state agencies and libraries. Application for admission through Department of Motor Vehicles. (a) The Department of Social Services, the Labor Department and the Department of Motor Vehicles shall make voter registration information and materials available to the public. Such information and materials shall be placed in public areas of the offices of such departments. The State Library and the libraries of the state's public institutions of higher education shall also make such information and materials available to users of the libraries. The Secretary of the State shall provide such departments, such libraries and any libraries open to the public with suitable nonpartisan literature, materials and voter registration application forms authorized under sections 9-23g and 9-23h. The secretary shall also provide to the Department of Social Services, the Labor Department and the Department of Motor Vehicles any furniture needed to display such literature, materials and forms.
(b) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles, not later than January 1, 1994, shall include an application for the admission of an elector with each application form provided for a motor vehicle operator's license and a motor vehicle operator's license renewal, which are issued under subpart (B) of part III of chapter 246, and with each application form provided for an identity card issued under section 1-1h. Such application form for the admission of an elector (1) shall be subject to the approval of the Secretary of the State, (2) shall not include any provisions for the witnessing of the application, and (3) shall contain a statement that (A) specifies each eligibility requirement, (B) contains an attestation that the applicant meets each such requirement, and (C) requires the signature of the applicant under penalty of perjury. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall accept any such completed application for admission which is submitted in person or by mail. The applicant shall state on such form, under penalty of perjury, the applicant's name, bona fide residence address, date of birth, whether the applicant is a United States citizen, party enrollment, if any, prior voting address, if registered previously, and that the applicant's privileges as an elector are not forfeited by reason of conviction of a felony. No Social Security number on any such application form for the admission of an elector filed prior to January 1, 2000, may be disclosed to the public or to any governmental agency. The commissioner shall indicate on each such form the date of receipt of such application to ensure that any eligible applicant is registered to vote in an election if it is received by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles by the last day for registration to vote in an election. The commissioner shall provide the applicant with an application receipt, on a form approved by the Secretary of the State and on which the commissioner shall record the date that the commissioner received the application, using an official date stamp bearing the words "Department of Motor Vehicles". The commissioner shall provide such receipt whether the application was submitted in person or by mail. The commissioner shall forthwith transmit the application to the registrars of voters of the applicant's town of residence. If a registration application is accepted within five days before the last day for registration to vote in a regular election, the application shall be transmitted to the registrars of voters of the town of voting residence of the applicant not later than five days after the date of acceptance. The procedures in subsections (c), (d), (f) and (g) of section 9-23g which are not inconsistent with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time, shall apply to applications made under this section. The commissioner is not an admitting official and may not restore, under the provisions of section 9-46a, electoral privileges of persons convicted of a felony.
(P.A. 88-347, S. 1, 4; P.A. 92-238; P.A. 93-262, S. 32, 87; 93-384, S. 27; P.A. 94-121, S. 14, 33; P.A. 99-268, S. 39, 46; P.A. 00-169, S. 22; P.A. 01-26, S. 6; P.A. 02-83, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 88-347, S. 1 effective April 1, 1989; P.A. 92-238 designated existing section as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) requiring commissioner to include application for admission of an elector with each operator's license and license renewal application and identity card application; P.A. 93-262 replaced references to department on aging and department of income maintenance with references to department of social services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-384 substantially revised application form requirements and procedure under Subsec. (b); P.A. 94-121 amended Subsec. (b) by requiring application form to contain statement instead of elector's oath, changing penalty of false statement to penalty of perjury, deleting requirement that applicant submit satisfactory identification to commissioner, requiring commissioner to indicate date of receipt on application, to "forthwith transmit", instead of "promptly forward", application to registrars, and to so transmit application within five days if accepted within five days before last day for registration to vote in a regular election, amending Subsec. references to Sec. 9-23g and inserting provision re consistency with National Voter Registration Act of 1993, effective January 1, 1995; P.A. 99-268 amended Subsec. (b) by repealing requirement that form include request for applicant to furnish Social Security number and extending prohibition on disclosure of Social Security numbers on forms to the public or to any governmental agency, effective January 1, 2000; P.A. 00-169 revised effective date of P.A. 99-268 but without affecting this section; P.A. 01-26 made technical changes and eliminated an obsolete reporting requirement in Subsec. (b); P.A. 02-83 amended Subsec. (b) to make a technical change and require Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to accept completed applications for admission submitted by mail and to provide applicants with application receipts, effective January 1, 2003.

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Sec. 9-19i. Change of address form submitted for purposes of motor vehicle operator's license to serve as notification of change of address for voter registration purposes; exception; procedure. Any change of address form submitted by a person in accordance with law for purposes of a motor vehicle operator's license shall serve as notification of change of address for voter registration for the person unless the person states on the form that the change of address is not for voter registration purposes. The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall forthwith transmit such change of address information to the registrars of voters of the town of the former address of the person. If the name of the person appears on the registry list of the town, and if the new address is also within such town, the registrars shall enter the name of such elector on the registry list at the place where he then resides. If the name of the person appears on the registry list of the town and if the new address is outside such town, the registrars shall remove the name of such elector from the registry list and send the elector the notice, information and application required by section 9-35.
(P.A. 94-121, S. 5, 33.)
History: P.A. 94-121 effective January 1, 1995.

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(a) Each person who applies for admission as an elector in person to an admitting official shall, upon a form prescribed by the Secretary of the State and signed by the applicant, state under penalties of perjury, his name, bona fide residence by street and number, date of birth, whether he is a United States citizen, whether his privileges as an elector are forfeited by reason of conviction of crime, and whether he has previously been admitted as an elector in any town in this or any other state. Each such applicant shall present his birth certificate, drivers' license or Social Security card to the admitting official for inspection at the time of application. Notwithstanding the provisions of any special act or charter to the contrary, the application form shall also, in a manner prescribed by the Secretary of the State, provide for application for enrollment in any political party. The form shall indicate that such enrollment is not mandatory.
(b) The applicant's statement shall be delivered to the registrars immediately and shall be kept by the registrars as a public record in a safe depository, except that no Social Security number obtained by the registrars prior to January 1, 2000, may be disclosed to the public or to any governmental agency. Any such statement of an elector whose name has been removed from the registry list for a period of at least five years may be placed on microfilm, destroyed or otherwise disposed of by such registrars, in the manner provided in section 7-109. Upon the request of any elector, or if the applicant does not present a birth certificate, drivers' license or Social Security card as required by subsection (a) of this section, at the time an application is made in person to an admitting official or prior to the approval of such an application, any admitting official shall require the applicant to prove his identity, place of birth, age and bona fide residence by the testimony under oath of at least one elector or by the presentation of proof satisfactory to such admitting official. Each person found qualified shall thereupon be admitted as an elector, except as provided in sections 9-12, 9-19e, 9-19g and 9-30. The registrars may request an elector whose date of birth is missing from their records to voluntarily furnish his date of birth. Any admitting official may administer oaths in any matter coming before him under section 9-12, 9-17, 9-19b, subsection (a) of section 9-19c, section 9-19e, 9-19g, 9-23, 9-23a, 9-25, 9-31a, 9-31b, 9-31l, 9-40a or this section. Said admitting official shall prohibit any activity which interferes with the orderly process of admission of electors.
(c) The application for admission as an elector shall include a statement that (1) specifies each eligibility requirement, (2) contains an attestation that the applicant meets each such requirement and (3) requires the signature of the applicant under penalty of perjury. Each registrar of voters and town clerk shall maintain a copy of such statement in braille, large print and audio form. The Commission on the Deaf and Hearing Impaired shall produce a videotape presenting such statement in voice and sign language and provide the videotape to the Secretary of the State who shall make copies of the videotape and provide a copy to the registrars of voters of any municipality, upon request and at a cost equal to the cost of making the copy. If a person applies for admission as an elector in person to an admitting official, such admitting official shall, upon the request of the applicant, administer the elector's oath.
(1949 Rev., S. 1017; 1949, S. 251b; 1953, S. 523d; 1957, P.A. 441, S. 1; 1959, P.A. 684, S. 1; 1961, P.A. 74; 266, S. 2; 1963, P.A. 645, S. 2; February, 1965, P.A. 407, S. 2; 1967, P.A. 100; 390, S. 1; 559, S. 2; 831, S. 2; 1969, P.A. 694, S. 2; 1971, P.A. 768, S. 6; P.A. 73-99; 73-630, S. 5, 19; P.A. 75-47, S. 1, 5; 75-174, S. 1, 3; 75-565, S. 4, 5; P.A. 77-216, S. 2; 77-244, S. 2, 4; P.A. 78-153, S. 5, 32; 78-331, S. 5, 58; P.A. 79-357, S. 2; P.A. 81-350, S. 6, 17; P.A. 83-391, S. 5, 24; P.A. 89-234, S. 1; P.A. 93-230, S. 2, 8; P.A. 94-121, S. 15, 33; P.A. 97-154, S. 26, 27; P.A. 99-268, S. 40, 46; P.A. 00- 169, S. 22.)
History: 1959 act provided as an alternative to presenting a certificate of citizenship or a passport issued on or after 1948 to prove citizenship a written statement by a town clerk of previous admission as an elector in some other town; this was expanded to include such a statement by a registrar of voters by 1961 act which also provided for delivery of applicant's statement to registrars and retention by them; provisions for proof of citizenship were deleted by 1963 act and placed in present section 9-20a and 1963 act further deleted requirement married applicant state whether her husband was alien or native born; 1965 act removed requirement for recital of residency in the state; 1967 acts substituted "member of board" for "selectmen" in administering oaths, deleted "occupation" from application and added "whether he is a United States citizen" and where applicant a married woman deleted requirement for date of marriage and birthplace of husband and added provision for furnishing maiden name, added to the provision re elector's request that board require proof of certain qualifications of an applicant requirement that this request be made at time of application or prior to its approval and made permissive selection of lines to be read by applicant, removed reference to three lines in testing literacy of applicant and provided instead for reading of any article of constitution or section of statutes; 1969 act permitted registrars to administer oaths in matters concerning Sec. 9-19b and deleted provision empowering board members or town clerk to select materials to be read in literacy test; 1971 act substituted "admitting official" for "board", "town clerk" or "registrar"; P.A. 73-99 provided that statements on applications of electors whose names have been removed from registry list for at least five years may be placed on microfilm or destroyed; P.A. 73-630 included provision on application for bona fide residence by street and number and deleted provision for length of time of continuous residence in town in which he applies; P.A. 75- 47 added provision for application form to contain application for optional enrollment in any party, effective January 1, 1976; P.A. 75-174 added reference to disposal of electors' statements under Sec. 7-109; P.A. 75-565 added reference to quadruplicate statements and made other minor changes; P.A. 77-216 removed requirement for inclusion of marital status and maiden name; P.A. 77-244 provided for preregistration within a four-month period prior to the election of those becoming eighteen years of age on or before the day of the election; P.A. 78-153, 78-331 and 79-357 made technical changes; P.A. 81-350 divided section into Subsecs. and amended provisions to require positive identification by birth certificate, drivers' license or social security card at time of registration or to provide testimony of an elector under oath to establish identity of person seeking to become an elector; P.A. 83-391 deleted references to board for admission of electors; P.A. 89-234 added Subsec. (c) re braille, large print, audio and video forms of elector's oath; P.A. 93-230 added provisions to Subsec. (a) re request for applicant to furnish his Social Security number, effective January 1, 1994; P.A. 94-121 applied provisions of Subsecs. (a) and (b) to persons applying "in person to an admitting official", amended Subsec. (a) by substituting "penalties of perjury" for "oath" and deleting requirement that applicant state his birthplace on form, amended Subsec. (b) by deleting authorization for qualified person to take oath, and amended Subsec. (c) by adding provision re statement required to be included in application, substituting "such statement" for "the elector's oath" and requiring official to administer oath upon request of applicant, effective January 1, 1995; P.A. 97-154 authorized registrars to request elector to voluntarily furnish birthdate when missing from their records, effective June 24, 1997; P.A. 99-268 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) by repealing requirement that form include request for applicant to furnish Social Security number and extending prohibition on disclosure of Social Security numbers to the public or to any governmental agency, effective January 1, 2000; P.A. 00-169 revised effective date of P.A. 99-268 but without affecting this section.
Cited. 2 Conn. Cir. Ct. 204.
Social custom of woman changing name upon marriage, recognized. 30 CS 385.

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If the applicant is a naturalized citizen, or if the applicant has acquired citizenship by reason of being born abroad to a United States citizen parent or has derived citizenship through the naturalization of a parent or spouse, the certificate of his naturalization, under the seal of the court issuing the same, or a copy thereof issued by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service in lieu of the original certificate, or a certificate of citizenship issued by the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service, or a passport issued by the State Department of the United States on or after January 1, 1948, or a written statement signed by a town clerk or registrar of voters of a town of this state or by an election official of another state in the United States or a town or political subdivision of such state that the records of such state, town or political subdivision show that such applicant has previously been admitted as an elector therein, shall be conclusive proof of citizenship. Any applicant submitting documentary evidence of citizenship shall make oath that he is the person named therein.
(1963, P.A. 645, S. 3; February, 1965, P.A. 548, S. 1; 1967, P.A. 390, S. 2, 6.)
History: 1965 act added provision for a written statement signed by election official of another state, town or subdivision that their records show applicant previously admitted as an elector as alternative to naturalization papers or passport issued after January 1, 1948 where citizenship is by naturalization, derived through naturalization of parent or spouse, or applicant born abroad of a U.S. citizen parent; 1967 act clarified provisions for conclusive proof of citizenship by certificates of citizenship, passport or statement by election officials from other states or town clerk or registrars of any Connecticut towns that records show applicant previously admitted as elector, applicant submitting such documentary evidence to make oath that he is person named therein, effective January 1, 1968.
See historical note to Sec. 9-20.

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(a) If any applicant for admission as an elector in any town has previously been admitted as an elector in any other town in this state, or in any other state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, Guam or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, he shall, under penalties of perjury, so declare, and shall also declare by what name and in what town and state, district or territory he was last admitted as an elector and the street address from which he last voted therein. The admitting official shall within forty-eight hours thereafter transmit a notice of cancellation of such registration, upon a form prescribed by the Secretary of the State to the registrars of such other town or, in the case of a town in another state, district or territory, to the appropriate registration official or officials in such other town. Upon receipt of such notice of cancellation of registration, the registrars of the town from which such elector has removed shall forthwith erase the name of such elector from the registry list of the town, if the same has not been erased therefrom.
(b) When the Secretary of the State receives information from a registration official of another state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, Guam or the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands that an elector of this state has registered in such other state, district or territory, the Secretary of the State may transmit a notification of such registration to the registrars of the town where such individual may be an elector in this state. If the registrars determine that the individual identified in the notice is an elector in this state, the registrars shall remove the name of such elector from the registry list.
(1949 Rev., S. 1018; 1953, S. 522d; 1971, P.A. 768, S. 7; P.A. 73-630, S. 6, 19; P.A. 83-213, S. 3; P.A. 84-319, S. 7, 49; P.A. 94-121, S. 16, 33; P.A. 96-134, S. 7, 9.)
History: 1971 act replaced reference to "registrars" with "admitting official"; P.A. 73-630 added provision for notification to election officials in another state as well as any other town in Connecticut of cancellation of previous registration in such other state or town where applicant was previously admitted as elector elsewhere; P.A. 83-213 amended section to include references to United States districts and territories; P.A. 84-319 amended section to require cancellation of registration by admitting official instead of applicant; P.A. 94-121 substituted "penalties of perjury" for "oath" and "transmit" for "mail", effective January 1, 1995; P.A. 96-134 lettered existing section as Subsec. (a) and added new Subsec. (b) re notification of registration of an elector in another state or voting venue, effective January 1, 1997.
See Sec. 9-31 re inapplicability of this section to electors admitted under provisions of Secs. 9-26 to 9-30, inclusive.

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(a) The Secretary of the State, at such times as he determines, may cause a search to be made of computerized voter registration records to identify electors who may be registered in more than one town. The secretary may compile, from such search, a list of possible duplicate registrations in any town or towns and transmit such list to the registrars of voters of the appropriate town or towns.
(b) Upon receipt of such list from the secretary, the registrars may make such additional investigation as they deem necessary to determine if any elector in their town whose name appears on such list has subsequently registered in another town. The registrars shall send to each elector on the registry list in their town, who the registrars determine to be the same person who subsequently registered in another town, a notice of duplicate registration in a form prescribed by the Secretary of the State stating that (1) based on a computer search of voter registration records it appears that the elector has registered to vote in another town after having registered in the registrars' town, (2) as the result of such subsequent registration, the elector is no longer entitled to remain on the registry list in the registrars' town, and (3) unless the elector contacts the registrars within thirty days to confirm that he is still entitled to be on the registry list in the registrars' town, his name shall be removed from the list. The notice of duplicate registration shall include a form on which the elector may confirm that he is entitled to be on an active registry list because he is a bona fide resident of the registrars' town and either is not the person whose name appears on the registry list of another town, or has registered in the registrars' town after registering in any other town.
(c) When an elector whose name appears on the inactive list files the confirmation provided for in this section, his name shall be restored to the active list. No elector shall be removed from the registry list pursuant to this section unless both registrars agree that such elector has subsequently registered to vote in another town.
(P.A. 97-154, S. 21, 27.)
History: P.A. 97-154 effective July 1, 1997.

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Section 9-22 is repealed.
(1955, S. 521d; P.A. 83-391, S. 23, 24.)

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Sec. 9-23. Data identifying elector to be entered by, or filed with, town clerk. Exceptions. (a) In towns which do not have full-time registrars of voters with regular office hours, the name, residence, place and date of birth and date of admission of each person admitted as an elector shall be entered by the town clerk in the records of such town, which shall be prima facie evidence that each such person possesses the requisite qualifications of an elector. In towns which do have full-time registrars of voters with regular office hours, such registrars shall file in the office of the town clerk a record of each person admitted as an elector, bearing the name, residence, place and date of birth and date of admission of such person. For purposes of this section, full-time registrars of voters include those registrars whose offices maintain daily office hours.
(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply in towns whose registrars maintain all applications for admission as an elector on file as permanent records, in manual files or on microfilm, pursuant to a retention schedule approved by the Public Records Administrator, or maintain an inactive elector file as a permanent record, by means of electronic data processing, pursuant to a retention schedule approved by the Public Records Administrator.
(1949 Rev., S. 1019; 1953, S. 525d; 1971, P.A. 768, S. 8; 1972, P.A. 39, S. 1; P.A. 79-363, S. 8, 38; P.A. 90-156, S. 3.)
History: 1971 act following "... persons admitted as electors" deleted "at any session of the board for admission of electors held for that purpose"; 1972 act provided for application of section by adding "In towns which do not have full- time registrars of voters with regular office hours"; P.A. 79-363 added requirements that information to be recorded by town clerk to include residence, date and place of birth and date of admission of electors and added provision for towns having full-time registrars which includes those whose offices maintain daily office hours, such registrars to file that information in the office of town clerk; P.A. 90-156 added Subsec. (b) re exceptions to Subsec. (a).
See Sec. 11-8(b) re appointment of Public Records Administrator.

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Sec. 9-23a. When person admitted as an elector permitted to vote in primary. Exception. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, no person admitted as an elector after twelve o'clock noon on the last business day before a primary shall be permitted to vote in such primary.
(b) An applicant for admission or enrollment under section 9-26 shall be entitled to vote in a primary if he files his application for admission or enrollment with the town clerk before the day of the primary and is otherwise eligible to vote in the primary.
(1967, P.A. 559, S. 3; 1969, P.A. 678; 1971, P.A. 768, S. 9; P.A. 75-47, S. 2, 5; 75-269, S. 1; P.A. 76-128, S. 7, 11; P.A. 77-298, S. 13; P.A. 78-153, S. 4, 32; P.A. 79-357, S. 3; 79-363, S. 33, 38; P.A. 84-118, S. 2, 5; P.A. 87-509, S. 2, 24; P.A. 94-121, S. 17, 33; P.A. 97-67, S. 3, 9.)
History: 1967 act, effective January 1, 1968; 1969 act provided for application for enrollment in a political party at any time before board has acted on applicant's admission thus entitling applicant privileges of party enrollment from time his admission is approved; 1971 act further provided for offering applications for enrollment upon administration of elector's oath and for immediate entitlement to the privileges of party enrollment; P.A. 75-47 provided for combined application for registration and enrollment and further provided that person applying for enrollment is entitled to privileges of party enrollment upon administration of elector's oath, effective January 1, 1976; P.A. 75-269 provided that if application for enrollment is made after session held on third Saturday before primary, applicant shall only be entitled to privileges of party enrollment immediately after primary; P.A. 76-128 provided that where qualification for age or citizenship for admission is attained following the third Saturday before primary and prior to day of primary such person shall upon being made an elector and applying for enrollment be immediately entitled to all privileges of party membership; P.A. 77-298 changed "third Saturday" to "fourteenth day" before a primary where appearing; P.A. 78-153 provided that if application for enrollment made on day of caucus or convention, entitlement to privileges of party enrollment arises immediately after caucus or convention, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 79-357 added "residence" to "age" or "citizenship" qualifications where, if attained after the fourteenth day before a primary and prior to day of primary, admission as elector and application for enrollment immediately entitles elector to all privileges of party enrollment; P.A. 79-363 made technical changes; P.A. 84-118 changed time limit for enrollment from fourteenth day to noon of last business day before primary, deleting obsolete proviso entitling certain persons to enroll after fourteenth day before primary; P.A. 87-509 deleted provision requiring admitting official to initial both copies of application for enrollment, deliver one copy to registrars of voters and return one copy to elector and added sentence providing that no person admitted after twelve o'clock noon on last business day before primary shall be permitted to vote in such primary; P.A. 94-121 deleted provision requiring admitting official to notify applicant re application for enrollment, substituted "on an application for admission as an elector shall upon acquisition of electoral privileges" for "in such manner shall upon administration of the elector's oath" in second sentence, inserted reference to Sec. 9-59 and applied Subdivs. (1) and (2) to application for enrollment filed with registrars of applicant's town of residence instead of application made by applicant, effective January 1, 1995; P.A. 97-67 repealed provisions re entitlement to privileges of party enrollment for person applying for enrollment on application for admission as an elector, designated remaining provision as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re exception for an applicant under Sec. 9-26 to vote in a primary, effective July 1, 1997.
See Sec. 9-57 re application for enrollment by new elector at time of admission and attachment of party privileges.

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Reserved for future use.

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(a) In addition to the procedures for admission of electors under sections 9-19b, 9-19c, 9-19e, 9-20 and 9-31, any person may apply to a registrar of voters of the town of his residence for admission as an elector in accordance with the provisions of this section and section 9-23h.
(b) The Secretary of the State shall prescribe, and provide to registrars of voters, town clerks and voter registration agencies, as defined in section 9-23n, application forms and other materials necessary to complete such application and admission process. The Secretary of the State, registrars of voters and town clerks shall provide a reasonable number of such forms and materials to any elector who requests such forms and materials. The secretary shall also, in the course of the secretary's elections duties, prepare instructions and related materials describing procedures for such application and admission process and shall provide the materials to registrars of voters and town clerks. The application shall contain the information required under section 9-23h. All statements of the applicant shall be made under the penalties of perjury. The application for admission as an elector shall include a statement that (1) specifies each eligibility requirement, (2) contains an attestation that the application meets each such requirement, and (3) requires the signature of the applicant under penalty of perjury. Nothing in this section or section 9-23h shall require that the application be executed in the state. An applicant who is unable to write may cause the applicant's name to be signed on the application 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 the agent's own signature. The completed application may be mailed or returned in person to the office of the registrars of voters or the office of the town clerk of the applicant's town of residence or a voter registration agency. If the applicant entrusts the applicant's application to another person or to such a voter registration agency for mailing or return to the registrars of voters, such person or agency shall immediately mail or return the application. Any such voter registration agency shall also provide the applicant with an application receipt, on which the agency shall record the date that the agency received the application, using an official date stamp bearing the name of the agency. The agency shall provide such receipt whether the application was submitted in person or by mail. The town clerk shall promptly forward any application which the town clerk receives to the registrars of voters. Such application form shall be provided by or authorized by the Secretary of the State.
(c) Forthwith upon receipt of a registration application in the office of the registrars of voters, the registrar shall mark such date on the application and review the application to determine whether the applicant has properly completed it and is legally qualified to register. Forthwith upon completing his review, the registrar shall (1) indicate on the application whether the application has been accepted or rejected, (2) mail a notice to the applicant, (3) indicate on the application the date on which such notice is mailed, and (4) provide a copy of such notice to the other registrar. If the registrar determines that the applicant has not properly completed the application or is not legally qualified to register, the notice shall indicate that the application has been rejected and shall state the reason for rejection. If the registrar determines that the applicant has properly completed the application and is legally qualified to register, the notice shall indicate that the application has been accepted. A notice of acceptance or a notice of rejection shall be sent (A) within four days of receipt of an application during the period beginning on the forty-ninth day before an election and ending on the twenty-first day before such election, (B) on the day of receipt of an application if it is received (i) during the period beginning on the twentieth day before such election and ending on the fourteenth day before such election, (ii) during the period beginning on the thirteenth day before an election and ending on election day if the application has been received by the fourteenth day before an election by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles or by a voter registration agency, (iii) during the period beginning on the twenty-first day before a primary and ending on the fifth day before a primary, or (iv) during the period beginning on the fourth day before a primary and ending at twelve o'clock noon on the last weekday before a primary, if the application has been postmarked by the fifth day before the primary and is received in the office of the registrars of voters during such period or if the application is received by the fifth day before a primary by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles or by a voter registration agency, and (C) within ten days of receipt of an application at any other time. A notice of acceptance shall be sent by first-class mail with instructions on the envelope that it be returned if not deliverable at the address shown on the envelope. A notice of acceptance shall indicate the effective date of the applicant's registration and enrollment, the date of the next regularly scheduled election or primary in which the applicant shall be eligible to vote and the applicant's precinct and polling place. If a notice of acceptance of an application is returned undelivered, the registrars shall forthwith take the necessary action in accordance with section 9-35 or 9-43, notwithstanding the May first deadline in section 9-35. An applicant for admission as an elector pursuant to this section and section 9-23h may only be admitted as an elector by a registrar of voters of the town of his residence. Not later than December thirty-first, annually, the Secretary of the State shall establish an official calendar of all deadlines set forth in this subsection for regularly scheduled elections and primaries to be held in the following calendar year.
(d) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the privileges of an elector for any applicant for admission under this section and section 9-23h shall attach immediately upon approval by the registrar, and the registrars shall enter the name of the elector on the registry list.
(2) Except as provided in subdivision (3) of this subsection, if a mailed application is postmarked, or if a delivered application is received in the office of the registrars of voters, after the fourteenth day before an election or after the fifth day before a primary, the privileges of an elector shall not attach until the day after such election or primary, as the case may be.
(3) If an application is received after the fourteenth day before an election or after the fifth day before a primary by the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles or by a voter registration agency, the privileges of an elector shall not attach until the day after the election or primary, as the case may be, or on the day the registrar approves it, whichever is later.
(4) If on the day of an election or primary, the name of an applicant does not appear on the official check list, such applicant may present to the moderator at the polls either a notice of acceptance received through the mail or an application receipt that was previously provided to the applicant pursuant to section 9-19e, subsection (b) of section 9-19h, subsection (b) of this section or section 9-23n. If an applicant presents said notice or receipt, and either the registrars of voters find the original application or the applicant submits a new application at the polls, the registrar, or assistant registrar upon notice to and approval by the registrar, shall add such person's name and address to the official check list on such day and the person shall be allowed to vote if otherwise eligible to vote and the person presents to the checkers at the polling place a preprinted form of identification pursuant to subparagraph (A) of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 9-261.
(e) A registration application filed under this section shall be rejected if the application (1) has not been signed or dated by the applicant or the authorized agent of the applicant pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, (2) does not indicate the applicant's date of birth or bona fide residence, (3) does not indicate United States citizenship, or (4) is determined by the Secretary of the State to be substantially defective. No registration application filed under this section shall be rejected if the application fails to provide the applicant's Social Security number or the zip code of the applicant's bona fide residence.
(f) Upon admission of an applicant under subsection (d) of this section, who indicated on his registration application that he changed residence since voting last in Connecticut, the registrar shall notify the registrar who accepted the voter's last registration, and the registrar in the voter's place of last residence, if different. Notification shall be made upon a form prescribed by the Secretary of the State. A registrar receiving such a notification shall delete the elector's name from the registry list.
(g) All provisions of the general statutes relating to electors, which are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section, shall apply to electors admitted under the provisions of this section.
(h) The Secretary of the State may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to carry out the purposes of this section and section 9-23h.
(P.A. 87-409, S. 1, 3; P.A. 88-344, S. 1, 5; P.A. 91-351, S. 24, 28; P.A. 93-386, S. 1, 5; P.A. 94-121, S. 18, 33; P.A. 97-67, S. 1, 9; 97-154, S. 20, 27; P.A. 99-112, S. 1; P.A. 02-83, S. 4, 5.)
History: P.A. 88-344 inserted new Subsec. (a) defining "witnessing official", relettered former Subsec. (a) as Subsec. (b) and substituted "in accordance with the provisions of this section and sections 9-23h and 9-23i" for "by mail" in Subsec. (b), relettered former Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (c) and amended Subsec. (c) to require each application form to have a receipt attached and secretary to prepare and provide materials, to substitute "witnessing official" for "notary public, commissioner of the superior court or justice of the peace", to substantially modify procedure for execution of application, to allow application to be returned in person instead of by mail only and to office of town clerk instead of to registrar of voters only and to restrict reproduction of form, inserted new Subsec. (d) re restriction on witnessing and certifying execution of applications by candidates, relettered former Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (e) and substantially amended procedures in Subsec. (e) for review of applications and notification of applicants, repealed former Subsec. (d) and substituted new Subsec. (f) re time of attachment of privileges of an elector, relettered former Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (g) and substantially revised provisions re when an application shall be rejected, not rejected, relettered former Subsec. (f) as Subsec. (h) and former Subsec. (g) as Subsec. (i) and added Subsec. (j) re adoption of regulations; P.A. 91-351 added clause (i) to Subpara. (B) of Subsec. (e) re notice requirement for application received during period beginning on twentieth day before election and ending on fourteenth day before election and substituted "fourteenth" for "twenty-first" day in Subdiv. (2) of Subsec. (f); P.A. 93-386 repealed requirement that execution of applications be witnessed, deleting former Subsecs. (a) and (d) and all other references to witnessing officials and relettering remaining Subsecs. accordingly, amended relettered Subsec. (b) to require that applicant's statements be made under penalties for false swearing before election officials instead of false statement and that elector's oath be self-administered by applicant, to provide that this section and Sec. 9-23h do not require application to be executed in the state and to allow member of immediate family of applicant or designee of ill or disabled applicant to mail or return application, amended relettered Subsec. (c) by adding "Forthwith" and requiring registrars to take necessary action in accordance with Sec. 9-35 or 9-43 if notice of acceptance of application is returned undelivered, instead of requiring registrars to reject if so returned within ten days, amended Subdiv. (1) of relettered Subsec. (d) to require privileges of an elector to attach immediately upon approval of application by registrar instead of on tenth day after registrar mails notice of acceptance to applicant and deleted former Subdiv. (3) and amended relettered Subdiv. (3) for consistency, amended Subdiv. (2) by substituting "If a mailed application is postmarked, or if a delivered application is received" for "If an application is received" and amended relettered Subsec. (e) to prohibit an application from being rejected for failure to provide applicant's Social Security number, effective January 1, 1994; P.A. 94-121 amended Subsec. (b) by adding references to voter registration agencies, repealing requirements that form have receipt attached, be completed by applicant and be returned by specified persons and that applicant self-administer the oath, substituting "penalties of perjury" for "penalties for false swearing", adding sentence re statement required to be included in application, and repealing restrictions on reproduction of form and adding sentence requiring form to be provided by or authorized by secretary of the state, amended Subsec. (c) by inserting new subclause (ii) re application received by fourteenth day before election by commissioner of motor vehicles or voter registration agency and requiring registrars to act "forthwith" if notice is returned, "notwithstanding the May first deadline in section 9-35", and renumbering former subclause (ii) to subclause (iii), amended Subsec. (d) by inserting new Subdiv. (3) re application received after fourteenth day before an election by commissioner of motor vehicles or voter registration agency and renumbering former Subdiv. (3) to Subdiv. (4), and