Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 3, 2021

CONTACT: press@secure-democracy.org

Connecticut Senate Passes H.J. 58, Advancing No-Excuse Absentee Voting Amendment

65% of Connecticut voters support a constitutional amendment to remove the excuse requirement for vote by mail, yet proposal will face more hurdles before reaching the voters

Hartford, Conn— This afternoon, the Connecticut Senate passed H.J. 58, a resolution that would potentially place a constitutional amendment allowing no-excuse absentee voting on the ballot before Connecticut voters in 2024.

The Connecticut House passed H.J. 58 by a vote of 104 to 44 on May 11, 2021. Because it passed with less than a 75% vote, the amendment will not reach the ballot in 2022. But now that the Senate has also passed H.J. 58, the general assembly can vote on a no-excuse absentee voting constitutional amendment again in 2023, with the potential to place the issue before voters as early as 2024.

“Connecticut is one of only seventeen states that requires voters to provide a legal excuse to vote by mail,” said Sarah Walker, executive director of Secure Democracy. “Nearly two in three Connecticut voters would support an amendment to pass no-excuse absentee voting, and today, Connecticut Senators listened. We hope the legislature continues to advance common sense reforms that will modernize Connecticut elections and expand voting options in the state, and that they take this important issue back up as soon as possible.”

ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND

Connecticut is one of just 17 states that require a legal excuse to vote by mail. In 33 states, voters may cast a ballot by mail without requiring an excuse to do so. This includes Republican-controlled states like Florida, Georgia, and Oklahoma and northeastern states like Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. Five of the 33 states automatically mail ballots to every registered voter for every election.

Connecticut voters overwhelmingly support expanding voting options and are ready to approve the necessary constitutional changes. Connecticut voters strongly support giving voters the right to cast their ballots in the manner of their choosing and support amending the constitution to make this a reality. A Secure Democracy survey conducted in January of 2021 found that among registered voters in Connecticut:

  • 65% would support a constitutional amendment to remove the excuse requirement for vote by mail (with only 29% opposed)

  • 79% support allowing all voters to vote in person prior to Election Day

  • 81% (including 63% of Republican participants) said that it was important for the government to provide all voters with alternatives to in-person voting and 70% support allowing all voters to request mail ballots

  • 78% would support a constitutional amendment to allow in-person early voting

Expanding voting options like no-excuse absentee voting would allow greater participation, especially by vulnerable populations. Election Day voting is inaccessible for millions of voters in the country. Seniors, people with disabilities, essential workers, working parents, and rural voters who live far from the polls stand to benefit most from options like no-excuse absentee voting. In 2016, 14.3% of non-voting registered voters (2.7 million people) cited busy or conflicting schedules as their main reason for not voting. Voters who work long hours or inflexible schedules, have long commutes, or live further from polling places might have to wait in long lines on Election Day — causing problems with work or childcare — or miss their Election Day voting window altogether. Seniors and disabled voters also suffer when voting options are limited. In 2016, only 40% of polling locations nationally were handicapped accessible, likely impeding millions of voters.

Connecticut’s election system needs to be modernized. Connecticut’s election system remains constrained by a provision of the state constitution unchanged since its adoption over half a century ago. This provision unnecessarily prevents the legislature from modernizing the state’s administration of elections — restricting the freedom to vote before Election Day to those who are physically absent from their municipality of residence, are unable to appear at the polls on Election Day due to sickness or physical disability, or are forbidden by their religion to engage in secular activity on Election Day.

In 2012 and 2013, bipartisan coalitions in both chambers of the general assembly voted to put the issue of no-excuse absentee to voters. The November 2014 measure lost narrowly, 52.03% to 47.97%.

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About Secure Democracy

Secure Democracy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to improve election integrity across the United States. We educate policymakers and the public about what it takes to safeguard our voting systems. We collaborate with state leaders, election administrators, election integrity experts, and allies to ensure that all eligible citizens have the freedom to vote how they choose.