Voting Rights

Alex Knopp, a member of the state advisory board for Common Cause Connecticut, testified Wednesday on the implementation of early voting.

"This is necessary to meaningfully increase access for working people, especially single parent families, and those working multiple jobs."

"Connecticut is one of four states without early voting, effectively disenfranchising voters who can’t afford to wait in long lines or make it to their polling locations on Election Day — many of whom are people of color and people with low income. (...) Chen, a student at Yale University, was among the dozens of state residents who publicly testified in support of in-person early voting at a public hearing for the measure, in addition to a constitutional amendment that would permanently allow residents to cast mail ballots without having to provide an excuse."

"Despite those financial and logistical concerns, written testimony submitted to the panel skewed overwhelmingly in favor of implementing early voting in Connecticut and advocacy groups like the ACLU of Connecticut and the state’s chapter of Common Cause urged lawmakers to approve a longer window for ballot-casting that included weekend hours. 'The data on early voting is clear: more flexibility for voters of all backgrounds means more participation, and more participation makes for a Connecticut that works for all of us,' Cheri Quickmire, executive director of Common Cause in Connecticut, said."

“We’re asking the legislature to design an early voting system that meets the needs of all voters."

On Wednesday, February 22nd at 10:00AM there was a public legislative hearing on proposed implementation plans for Early Voting, on the proposed resolution to allow No-Excuse Absentee Voting and on improving current access to Absentee Ballots. THERE IS NO DEADLINE for submitting written testimony. PLEASE FIND BELOW our downloadable sample testimony for editing--and submit it to the public record of support!