Government Administration and Elections Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: SB-138
Title: AN ACT CONCERNING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.
Vote Date: 3/30/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable
PH Date: 3/29/2021
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 Government Administration and Elections Committee
REASONS FOR BILL:
This bill seeks to nullify the electoral vote of any elector who does not cast their vote for the
candidates that they were pledged to on the ballot. The bill ensures that a faithless elector
effectively forfeits their elector status, thus resulting in a vacancy. This vacancy can be filled
by a vote conducted amongst the other electors present at the Electoral College ceremony.
The elector that is elected to replace the faithless elector must cast their electoral vote for the
candidate that the faithless elector was initially pledged to vote for.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
None expressed.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Bonita Messman: Ms. Messman views this bill as an appropriate measure to help build
confidence in our elections. She believes that a faithless elector should not be allowed to
disenfranchise Connecticut voters by casting their electoral vote for anyone other than the
candidate that won the states popular vote.
Alisa Trachtenberg: Ms. Trachtenberg believes that the bill would protect Connecticut voters
from having their vote disenfranchised as a result of faithless electors. She cited efforts from
the most recent election, where one campaign sought to have electors vote against the will of
the people in their respective states.
Yvonne Senturia, Election Law Specialist, League of Women Voters of Connecticut:
Ms. Senturia cited the Leagues commitment to building confidence in our elections. That
being said, the League of Women Voters of Connecticut supports this bill, as it will ensure
that a faithless presidential elector couldnt disenfranchise Connecticut voters.
The following individuals submitted testimony in support of SB-138. They cited
reasons similar to those stated in the aforementioned testimonies:
Linda Pryde
Marcia Eckerd
Nicole Klein
Susan Singer
Vicki Volper
Joelle Berger
Gail Berritt
Lynda Shannon Bluestein
Jan Carlsson-Bull
Susan David
Paul Bluestein
Josephine Deignan
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
None expressed.
Reported by: Trevor Hoffman Date: 3/29/2021
Page 2 of 2 SB-138


Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 9-176
GAE Joint Favorable: 9-176
File No. 440: 9-176