News Clips

A legislative panel on election policy advanced three bills on Wednesday all intended to implement an early voting system allowed by a constitutional amendment approved overwhelmingly by Connecticut voters last year. The Government Administration and Elections Committee approved the policies during a lengthy afternoon meeting. Rep. Matt Blumenthal, a Stamford Democrat who co-chairs the panel, said proponents hoped to put the proposal before both the House and Senate in time to have an early voting option in place for this year’s election.

The Secretary of the State is recommending 10 days, but Common Cause in Connecticut recommends at least 14 days.

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."