Connecticut moves closer to putting early voting on ballot

The state of Connecticut moved one step closer on Thursday to asking the voters whether they believe the state constitution should be amended to allow for in-person, early voting before an election or referendum.

The House of Representatives passed a resolution that would place the question before the voters in 2022 on a bipartisan vote of 115 to 26. The resolution now awaits action by the Senate.

If it ultimately passes by a majority of both chambers, the question, “Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the General Assembly to provide for early voting?” would appear on the 2022 general election ballot. A simple majority of voters would then have to vote yes, before sending the issue back to state lawmakers who would work out the details.

Some GOP lawmakers voiced concern about that process.

“This resolution is very broad. There are a lot of unanswered questions,” said Rep. Gale Mastrofrancesco, R-Wolcott. She questioned why issues such as how an early voting system will work and the cost to municipalities have not been worked out since the resolution was first approved by the General Assembly in 2019, as part of the multi-step process required when attempting to amend the state constitution.

“There’s nothing wrong with telling the voters of the state this is what our plan is,” Mestrofrancesco said.

Currently, 43 states and the District of Columbia allow their voters to cast ballots in person prior to Election Day and/or by absentee ballot without an excuse, utilizing various systems. Democratic Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, who supports the measure, said Connecticut’s constitution has an unusual provision that requires voters to appear in person on Election Day to vote unless they present a specific reason why they can’t, such as being out of town.

She said her office often receives calls from voters wondering why they can’t have the flexibility to vote early like voters in other states, given their busy lives.

“Unpredictability on any given day, particularly on Election Day, should not be a reason for someone to not be able to vote,” said House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford. “It’s important that we do all that we can to reduce the barriers to people exercising one of our most cherished and fundamental rights, their right to vote.”