The proposed General Assembly Committee Bill No. 1156 seeks to amend Connecticut's election laws concerning the recognition and nomination processes for minor parties. It repeals and replaces Section 9-453b, establishing that the Secretary of the State will only issue nominating petition forms starting on the first business day of the election year. The bill mandates that applications for these forms must include candidates' names, a signed consent statement, and a party designation, while allowing for applications without a specified party designation, provided they are marked accordingly. Additionally, it clarifies that party designations can only be included if a reservation is in effect or if they match a minor party qualified for other offices on the same ballot.

Moreover, the bill modifies the definition of a "minor party" in Section 9-372, stating that a minor party is one that is not classified as a major party and whose candidate received at least one percent of the votes in the last election for the relevant office. It introduces a provision allowing minor parties to qualify for nominating petitions if their candidate for a state office received at least one percent of the votes in the last election for that office. The bill also repeals Section 9-66 and updates related sections to reflect these changes, effective January 1, 2026. Overall, the intent of the bill is to streamline the nomination process for minor parties and enhance their participation in elections, promoting a more inclusive political landscape.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 9-453b, 9-372, 9-66