In 2019, Democratic lawmakers in Connecticut pushed for legislation that would make elections fairer and more accessible. Unfortunately, the Connecticut GOP has thwarted every Democratic attempt to expand voting rights.
Connecticut is now one of 11 states without any early voting. Democratic legislators tried to remedy that restrictive voting practice by passing an early voting bill (HRJ 161). However, a constitutional amendment is required to enact early voting, and Connecticut Democrats did not garner enough votes to put the issue on the ballot in 2020. This early voting bill must be passed in the next session in order to make it onto the 2022 ballot. Early voting is not just about making voting more accessible, it gives the elderly, disabled, working class, and others a realistic opportunity to vote. Similarly, a bill to amend the Connecticut Constitution (SJR 27) to permit no excuse absentee voting failed to advance.
Secretary of State Denise Merrill, a Let America Vote Board of Advisors member, led the fight to pass legislation (HB 7160) to codify automatic voter registration (AVR) in Connecticut, but the bill did not pass. In 2016, Secretary Merrill administratively implemented AVR at Connecticut DMVs, but this bill would have codified the existing system and expanded AVR to higher education offices and other social services agencies. There have been widespread calls for AVR in Connecticut, and we hope this legislation will move forward in the next session.
Democratic bills that would have extended same day voter registration (HB 5818, HB 6045, SB 1046) also did not advance. Other measures that would have made voting more accessible and fairer also failed to advance this session due to Republican opposition, including: giving voters time off on Election Day to vote (SB 358), requiring housing authorities to provide voter registration application to tenants (HB 5844), and allowing polling places on college campuses (SB 266).
Connecticut Republicans also blocked an array of legislation that would have restored voting rights or made voting fairer and more accessible for justice impacted individuals. One Democratic bill (HB 7213) would have restored voting rights to all formerly incarcerated people regardless of whether they owe fines or are on parole. Separate Senate bills that failed to advance would have re-enfranchised parolees (SB 25) and would have restored voting rights to formerly incarcerated individuals without requiring them to pay fines first (SB 22). Even a Democratic bill that would have informed formerly incarcerated individuals of their right to vote upon release (HB 5636) failed due to Republican opposition.
Finally, a more comprehensive bill (SB 53) that would have restored voting rights to all incarcerated individuals also failed this session. One of the bill’s sponsors, state Sen. Gary Winfield, explained the importance of SB 53 powerfully and succinctly: “Voting is a fundamental right of every American and we should not be in the business of limiting it for our citizens who are incarcerated. While a person may be incarcerated they do not lose all of their rights during this time and the right to vote upholds all other rights.”
Yet on the voter suppression side of the legislative aisle, Republicans attempted to pass a bill (HB 6048, SB 268) that would make it harder for voters to register on Election Day. One Republican legislator introduced a bill that would eliminate same day registration entirely (HJR 41)
We need to turn out to the polls in 2020 to ensure Connecticut Democrats are able to push for voting rights without Republican obstruction.