Substitute Bill No. 1535 aims to enhance early voting procedures in Connecticut, effective July 1, 2025, by establishing specific early voting periods for various elections. Early voting for regular elections will commence 15 days prior and end 2 days before the election, while primaries will have early voting starting 8 days before and concluding 2 days before. Special elections and presidential preference primaries will allow early voting starting 5 days before and ending 2 days prior. The bill also permits unaffiliated voters to participate in early voting at primaries if they enroll with a political party by a specified deadline. Additionally, it modifies the responsibilities of registrars of voters, requiring them to submit annual written certifications of early voting locations to the Secretary of the State by February 15, with updates required within seven days if changes occur.

The bill further streamlines the voting process by removing the requirement for voters to declare under oath that they have not previously voted in the election or primary, focusing instead on verifying eligibility through the state-wide voter registration system. It mandates that electors mark their early voting ballots in the presence of registrars without revealing their choices and deposit them directly into a voting tabulator. The bill also establishes restrictions on solicitation and campaigning near early voting locations, prohibits election officials from engaging in party services on appointed days, and modifies same-day registration procedures to enhance voter accessibility. Key amendments include extending the deadline for party enrollment eligibility and ensuring that individuals with certain criminal convictions cannot serve as moderators, thereby reinforcing the integrity of the election process.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 9-163aa, 9-163bb, 9-19j, 9-228a, 9-56, 9-250, 9-169
GAE Joint Favorable Substitute: 9-163aa, 9-163bb, 9-19j, 9-228a, 9-56, 9-169
File No. 663: 9-163aa, 9-163bb, 9-19j, 9-228a, 9-56, 9-169
APP Joint Favorable: 9-163aa, 9-163bb, 9-19j, 9-228a, 9-56, 9-169