What would the amendment do?
The amendment would authorize the Connecticut State Legislature to provide by law for no-excuse absentee voting. No-excuse absentee voting allows any voter to request a mail-in ballot after sending in an application. The voter may then return the completed ballot by mail or by using a designated deposit site.
Currently, Connecticut voters can request an absentee ballot if they cannot make it to the polls on election day for one of the following reasons:
- Active military service;
- Absence from town of residence during voting hours;
- Illness or physical disability;
- Religious beliefs precluding secular activity on election day; or
- Performance of duties as an election official at a different polling place during voting hours.
An absentee ballot must be returned either in person by the close of business the day before the election or by mail. If returned by mail, the ballot must be received by the close of polls on election day
What are supporters and opponents saying about this amendment?
The amendment would authorize the Connecticut State Legislature to provide In favor of the amendment, State Sen. Mae Flexer (D) said, “It would be the next step in the process in allowing all voters in the state of Connecticut to cast a vote via absentee ballot, regardless of the reason.” State Sen. Tony Hwang (R) said, “As we move forward, I wish we had more collaboration of ideas, ideas that make our voting process better, more inclusive, more transparent, more engaged.”
State Sen. Robert C. Sampson (R), who voted against the amendment, said, “We have to be able to trust those votes without question. I have some concerns about trying to move our voting process away from the way it’s been traditionally done where people vote on one specific day in person. In the last election, we saw all campaigns across this state mailing ballot applications like crazy to people, and also sending out companion mail to say, ‘Yes, you can check the box for sickness. You can vote by absentee.’ It was a mess.”