HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Voters are deciding whether to give state legislators the go-ahead to consider creating an early in-person voting system in Connecticut — one of only six states in the U.S. with no form of early voting.
If a majority of voters on Tuesday approve changing the state constitution to allow it, the 2023 General Assembly will be authorized to draft legislation that would implement an early voting system. It could potentially be in place as early as 2024. Voters defeated a similar proposal in 2014.
Currently, the constitution has several provisions that dictate the time, place and manner of elections, essentially requiring voters to cast their ballots at their local polling place on Election Day unless they qualify for an absentee ballot.
The question has become a key issue in the race for secretary of the state.
The Democratic candidate, state Rep. Stephanie Thomas, said a variety of voters, from senior citizens to young mothers, have told her that they want more options for when they can cast their ballots. Her Republican opponent, Dominic Rapini, has raised concerns about the potential costs and criticized the ballot question for not including any details.
“We don’t know if it’s going to be three days, five days. We don’t know if it’s going to be 45 days,” he said in a recent debate. “We don’t know because the lawmakers who are going to decide that haven’t even been elected yet.”
Thomas said Connecticut’s lawmaking process requires the state’s constitution to be changed first to allow for early voting before legislation can be passed outlining the details.
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