Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz held a sample ballot on Friday, highlighting where Hartford voters can find a crucial referendum question. This question concerns a proposed amendment to the Connecticut constitution, aimed at making absentee voting more accessible.
While the demonstration may appear straightforward, Bysiewicz emphasized the importance of ensuring voters notice the question, which can be positioned in various places on the ballot—whether at the top, bottom, side, or even on the back. We don’t want anyone to miss the ballot question, she stated.
If passed, the referendum would remove the existing restrictions in the state constitution that limit absentee voting to specific circumstances. This change would empower the General Assembly to establish no-excuse or universal absentee voting.
Voters will see the following question on their ballots: Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the General Assembly to allow each voter to vote by absentee ballot In Hartford, this question appears at the top of the ballot, while in Andover, it’s at the bottom, accompanied by three questions regarding local charter revisions. In some areas, it’s positioned alongside local spending questions, and in Stamford, it’s found on the back.
Currently, absentee ballots can be cast by mail, delivered in person, or placed in secure drop boxes typically located outside city or town halls. However, the current constitutional framework permits absentee voting only for those unable to attend the polling place due to absence from their town, illness, physical disability, or religious reasons.
In contrast, absentee voting is a universal right in about 36 other states. Governor Ned Lamont noted, This is not unique. Look around the rest of the country, especially towards the west coast, where more people are voting absentee with integrity. It’s about making it easier for people to vote, just like early voting.”
Early voting in Connecticut, authorized by a constitutional amendment in 2022, will commence on October 21.
A wide-ranging coalition, including the Connecticut AFL-CIO, League of Women Voters, Common Cause, and the Connecticut Citizen Action Group, is advocating for the referendum’s passage. AFL-CIO President Ed Hawthorne pointed to various states with universal absentee voting, stating, We can all agree that the political leanings in these states couldn’t be more different. But what all these states and their voters understand is the need to facilitate registered voters’ participation in democracy and their God-given right to vote.
Absentee voting became a contentious topic during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when former President Donald Trump criticized states promoting absentee voting. This led to a significant increase in absentee voting among Democrats compared to Republicans. However, Trump has recently changed his stance, stating in April, ABSENTEE VOTING, EARLY VOTING, AND ELECTION DAY VOTING ARE ALL GOOD OPTIONS. REPUBLICANS MUST MAKE A PLAN, REGISTER, AND VOTE!”
The resolution to place the question of universal absentee voting on the ballot passed with significant bipartisan support: 113-38 in the House and 26-8 in the Senate, with all Democrats in favor and some Republican support. However, the leaders of the Republican minority in both chambers voted against it, citing concerns about its practical implementation rather than the concept itself.
“I’m more concerned about the practical issues than the policy, said House Minority Leader Rep. Vincent J. Candelora, who had previously supported a similar measure. He expressed skepticism about the implementation of early voting. My vote was more of a protest vote,” he noted, criticizing the length of the 14 days of early voting as burdensome for cities and towns.
Senate Minority Leader Sen. Stephen Harding also expressed support for the idea but emphasized the need for clearer guidelines on how universal absentee voting would be executed if the constitution were amended. That gives me significant pause, he remarked.