Senate Bill No. 1163 aims to enhance the qualifications for individuals appointed as moderators at elections and primaries. The bill prohibits registrars of voters from designating or appointing anyone as a moderator if they have been convicted of, or have pleaded guilty or no contest to, any felony involving fraud, forgery, larceny, embezzlement, bribery, or any criminal offense under the state's election laws. This change is reflected in the amendments to subsection (d) of section 9-229 and section 9-169 of the general statutes, which also require that any new moderator must attend instructional and certification sessions conducted by the registrars.

The bill also clarifies the responsibilities of registrars of voters in appointing moderators and ensures that if a designated moderator is unable to serve, a certified alternate must take their place. If there is a lack of a moderator due to various reasons, registrars are tasked with appointing a new one, adhering to the new disqualification criteria. The effective date for these changes is set for January 1, 2026. Overall, the bill seeks to maintain the integrity of the electoral process by ensuring that individuals with certain criminal backgrounds are not placed in positions of authority during elections.

Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 9-229, 9-19j, 9-147c
GAE Joint Favorable Substitute: 9-169
File No. 531: 9-169