Government Administration and Elections Committee
JOINT FAVORABLE REPORT
Bill No.: SB-353
Title: AN ACT CONCERNING MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.
Vote Date: 3/29/2021
Vote Action: Joint Favorable
PH Date: 3/10/2021
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 require every municipality in Connecticut to hold its biennial municipal
election in November of odd-numbered years, unless two-thirds of the municipalitys
legislative body votes otherwise. Currently, four municipalities in Connecticut hold their
municipal elections in May rather than in November. The bill intends to bring a degree of
uniformity in terms of the timing for Connecticuts municipal elections.
RESPONSE FROM ADMINISTRATION/AGENCY:
Denise W. Merrill, Secretary of the State of Connecticut: By making Election Day in
November the default date for municipal elections in Connecticut, Secretary Merrill states that
this change would eliminate voter confusion, increase turnout and make for more efficient use
of the resources in her office. She acknowledged that a municipality may choose to hold their
municipal elections in May, only after a supermajority of the municipal legislative body votes
in favor of such. She is supportive of the bill.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT:
Andover Democratic Town Committee: Andover is just one of four towns in Connecticut
that conducts May elections. The Andover Democratic Town Committee supports the
discontinuance of May municipal elections based on the sheer cost, nominal turnout, and
unnecessary nature of these elections. Acknowledging the widely held belief that May
elections give candidates more exposure in the local paper and thus leads to a higher
turnout, the Andover Democratic Town Committee dispels this notion by citing the
consecutive low turnout numbers obtained from the Registrars.
Beth Heller, Woodbridge First Selectman: First Selectman Heller expressed support for
the bill allowing municipalities that hold elections in May to opt instead to hold November
elections. Year after year, she stated that Woodbridge experiences low voter turnout because
their elections are not held in November. Citing voter confusion, she believes that providing
municipalities with the opportunity to move election day from May to November would have a
positive impact on voter turnout. Additionally, moving the municipal elections to November
would allow the Town of Woodbridge to make more effective and efficient use of the
resources provided by the Secretary of the States office.
NATURE AND SOURCES OF OPPOSITION:
Chuck Pyne, Chairman, Woodbridge Republican Town Committee: In a vote at a
committee meeting on March 9th, the Woodbridge Republican Committee rejected the idea of
moving the municipal election from May to November. The Woodbridge Republican Town
Committee believes that this bill is an overreach of the power of the state government. The
committee expressed their strong desire for municipalities to be able to exercise their own
discretion when determining the timing for their municipal elections.
Reported by: Trevor Hoffman Date: 03/29/2021
Page 2 of 2 SB-353


Statutes affected:
Committee Bill: 9-164a, 9-164b, 9-164c
GAE Joint Favorable: 9-164a, 9-164b, 9-164c
File No. 442: 9-164a, 9-164b, 9-164c