House Bill No. 5434 seeks to amend the laws governing the recognition and nomination processes for minor parties in Connecticut. The bill proposes to repeal and replace Section 9-453b of the general statutes, stipulating that the Secretary of the State will only issue nominating petition forms for candidates starting on the first business day of the election year. It mandates a written application for these forms, which must include verified candidate names from the town clerk, signed consent statements from each candidate, and a party designation if applicable. Importantly, the bill specifies that applications submitted after November 3, 1981, cannot include a party designation unless a reservation is in effect or the designation corresponds with that of a minor party qualified for other offices on the same ballot.

Furthermore, the bill revises the definition of "minor party" in Section 9-372, clarifying 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 regular election for the relevant office. It streamlines the process for minor parties to gain ballot access by allowing candidates to qualify based on any candidate from their party receiving at least 1% of the votes for a state office in the last election, rather than requiring qualification on a case-by-case basis. The bill also includes technical amendments to existing laws related to party definitions and provisions, with an effective date of January 1, 2027, and it is designed to enhance electoral participation for minor parties without imposing additional costs on the state or municipalities.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 9-453b, 9-372, 9-66
GAE Joint Favorable: 9-453b, 9-372, 9-66
File No. 519: 9-453b, 9-66