Substitute Senate Bill No. 390 with File No. 476 proposes amendments to the general statutes to enforce stricter penalties for election-related crimes, effective from October 1, 2024. The bill introduces a mandatory minimum term of twelve months imprisonment for class D felonies, which cannot be suspended or reduced, for various offenses including tampering with voting tabulators, making false statements or returns, printing unauthorized ballots, neglecting election duties, and absentee ballot fraud. The bill also distinguishes between first and second-degree offenses for false statements in absentee balloting, with both classified as class D felonies subject to the same minimum imprisonment term. Additionally, the bill penalizes the distribution of misleading voting instructions and attempts to disenfranchise voters with the same minimum term.

The bill's fiscal impact statement suggests potential minimal costs to the Department of Correction and the Judicial Department due to the incarceration or probation of offenders, as well as potential minimal revenue gains from fines. The bill repeals and substitutes language in the general statutes to reflect these changes, aiming to ensure more stringent and consistent penalties for election-related offenses. The Government Administration and Elections Committee passed the bill with a vote of 13 to 6. The bill analysis specifies that the mandatory minimum term applies to class D felonies, with one exception being a class E felony, and lists the specific offenses that will carry the mandatory minimum imprisonment term.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 9-352, 9-353, 9-354, 9-355, 9-359, 9-359a, 9-363, 9-364, 9-365, 9-366
GAE Joint Favorable: 9-352, 9-353, 9-354, 9-355, 9-359, 9-359a, 9-363, 9-364, 9-365, 9-366
File No. 476: 9-352, 9-353, 9-354, 9-355, 9-359, 9-359a, 9-363, 9-364, 9-365, 9-366