The proposed legislation, General Assembly Raised Bill No. 224, aims to exempt all ballots cast during elections, primaries, and referenda from being disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This exemption includes write-in ballots and is set to take effect on July 1, 2026. The bill clarifies that this exemption will not interfere with the processes of recanvassing or auditing as outlined in existing statutes. Additionally, it defines key terms such as "ballot," "election," "referendum," and "primary" in accordance with existing legal definitions.

Furthermore, the bill proposes a modification to the definition of "referendum" in subsection (n) of section 9-1 of the general statutes. The new language includes the addition of "home rule ordinance" to the existing definitions of what constitutes a referendum. This change, along with the exemption of ballots from FOIA disclosure, is intended to enhance the confidentiality of the voting process while maintaining the integrity of election audits.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 9-1