News Clips

"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."

Jess Zaccagnino, policy counsel for the ACLU of Connecticut, also wants any early voting plan that considers hours, number of polling locations, and accessibility for the elderly and people with disabilities. The group supports at least 14 days, with at least one Saturday and one Sunday. She said the group would back even more, noting that 23 is the average number of early voting days in the other 46 states that allow it.

Lawmakers and civil rights advocates called Tuesday for the passage of a Connecticut Voting Rights Act designed to remove barriers to voting in Black and brown communities or for those who do not speak English as a first language. The bill, which will be heard in the Government Administration and Elections Committee, aims to codify in Connecticut elements of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a landmark piece of civil rights legislation, which has been weakened by recent Supreme Court rulings. During the press conference, Jess Zaccagnino, policy counsel for the ACLU of Connecticut, said communities of color now have less voting access protections than they did in 1965 and Connecticut was no exception.

"People that don't speak English as their first language but want to exercise their right to vote have every right to go there and be able to get it explained to them in their native tongue, if it happens to be Spanish. I will be very frank. Some places are accommodating, others are not." [State Representative] Reyes said that if approved, the proposal, named after the late U.S. Rep. John R. Lewis, could make Connecticut a national leader in ballot access.