Housing Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: HB-5120
AN ACT REQUIRING HOUSING AUTHORITIES TO PROVIDE VOTER
Title: REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS TO PROSPECTIVE TENANTS.
Vote Date: 3/10/2020
Vote Action: JF To Floor
PH Date: 2/18/2020
File No.:
Disclaimer: The following JOINT FAVORABLE Report is prepared for the benefit of the
members of the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and
explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber
thereof for any purpose.
SPONSORS OF BILL:
The Housing Committee
Co Sponsors: Rep. Gary A. Turco, 27th Dist. & Sen. Saud Anwar, 3rd Dist.
REASONS FOR BILL:
This bill would provide voter registration applications to new tenants of housing authority
properties. By providing them with this application it encourages those who are changing the
address for where they are registered to vote or registering for the first time while they are
filling out all the other paperwork for their new housing. This is an important way to make
sure that housing paperwork includes all aspects of moving to a new address and helps
voters to keep their addresses up to date.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
None Stated.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Kathleen Flaherty ESQ, Executive Director Connecticut Legal Rights Project, Inc. P.O.
Box 351, Silver Street, Middletown, CT 06457 supports we support efforts to encourage
all CT residents to register to vote and participate in the political process.
Raphael L. Podolsky - Public Policy Advocate Connecticut Legal Services - 16 Main Street,
2nd floor, New Britain, CT 06051 support - This bill would give housing authority residents
the opportunity to register to vote (or to re-register at a new address) at the time of initial
move-in to a housing authority apartment or at annual recertification. It is modeled on a
program already in effect at the New Haven Housing Authority and is analogous to the
existing state Motor Voter registration program, voter registration forms at government
offices, door-to-door registration, and other outreach intended to encourage more
Connecticut residents to register to vote. Universal voting and therefore universal
registration is a fundamental commitment of democracies. While this bill expands the
opportunity to register at public agencies (a housing authority is a public agency), it is worth
noting that a number of cities across the country have gone much farther to promote voter
registration. An internet search, for example, reveals that cities as diverse as Minneapolis
and St. Paul, Minnesota, Seattle, Washington, East Lansing, Michigan, and Tacoma Park,
Maryland, require all landlords, not just housing authorities, to provide new tenants with voter
registration forms.
Yvonne Senturia, Election Law Specialist - LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF
CONNECTICUT, INC. 1890 Dixwell Avenue, Suite 203 Hamden, CT 06514-3183 support
The League of Women Voters of Connecticut believes that the political process must be open
to all citizens and that the right to vote with confidence in the election process must be
guaranteed for all. The expansion of opportunities for the registration of potential voters via
applications provided to prospective tenants by housing authorities is especially beneficial to
those new to voting rolls and to those previously registered who have recently moved within
the state.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
None Stated.
Reported by: Karen Godbout Date: 03/09/2020
Page 2 of 2 HB-5120


Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 9-19h