Senate Bill No. 352, reported by the Committee on Government Administration and Elections, concerns the right to view a ballot during recanvass procedures. The bill proposes an amendment to subsection (b) of section 9-311 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes, effective July 1, 2024. The amendment includes the insertion of File No. 389 and specifies that all recanvassing procedures must be open to public observation. It also grants party representatives the right to view each ballot as it is being recanvassed, ensuring they can discern the markings on the ballot. Furthermore, the bill introduces a new legal provision: any moderator or recanvass official who interferes with this right will be subject to a fine of five hundred dollars.

The fiscal impact statement indicates that the bill may result in minimal revenue loss for the State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) due to the fixed penalty of $500 for each violation, replacing the previous maximum penalty of up to $2,000 per violation. The bill does not have a municipal impact. The bill analysis clarifies that the recanvass process occurs after a primary or election when necessary due to discrepancies or close votes. The bill's imposition of a $500 fine for interference with the right to view ballots during a recanvass is a specific amount that the SEEC must impose for a violation of this right, effective from July 1, 2024. The Government Administration and Elections Committee has given a joint favorable recommendation for the bill.