Gov. Lamont signs 'Absentee Voting For All' law
Voters amended the state constitution to lift restrictions on voting by mail. On Tuesday, Gov. Ned Lamont signed a new law making the change official.
Voting by mail is convenient – and, as of Tuesday, anyone in Connecticut can do it.
Gov. Ned Lamont signed a new “Absentee Voting For All” law at the Old State House in Hartford.
Although critics have raised concerns about multiple ballot fraud cases in Bridgeport, supporters believe the new law actually makes it harder to cheat.
REMOVING VOTE-BY-MAIL RESTRICTIONS
Removing vote-by-mail restrictions has been a decade-long process that required amending the state constitution.
Until now, voters needed an excuse – like being sick, in the military or out-of-town – to qualify for an absentee ballot. In 2024, Connecticut voters removed those restrictions from the state constitution. Two weeks ago, lawmakers voted to change state law.
“I think it’s great,” said Norwalk voter Ethel Boykin. “It will give everybody a chance to express themselves.”
The new law also simplifies the absentee ballot process by using just one envelope instead of two. It’s now easier for voters to correct mistakes too.
“That’s what today is all about, making it a little easier for you to be able to vote and exercise your right,” Lamont said.
Connecticut also allowed early in-person voting starting in 2024.
“Connecticut residents now have more flexibility to choose what method of voting works best for them,” said Jess Zaccagnino, policy director with the American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut. “Voting absentee by mail, voting early in-person or voting at the polls on Election Day.”
To vote by absentee ballot, qualified voters must request an application and provide it to their town clerk or submit it online.
“BRIDGEPORT EMBARASSMENT”
But what about the ballot stuffing scandals in Bridgeport?
Nearly a dozen campaign operatives – including several city council members and former Democratic Town Committee vice chair Wanda Geter-Pataky – face hundreds of ballot tampering charges related to the 2019 and 2023 elections.
“Gov. Lamont has seen the viral videos of ‘Wanda’ stuffing Bridgeport ballot boxes which made Connecticut a national punchline. But this law does nothing to address that Bridgeport embarrassment,” said Connecticut Senate GOP leader Stephen Harding (R-Brookfield) and state Sen. Rob Sampson (R-Wolcott). “Rather than restoring confidence, this expands mail-in voting and makes sweeping changes to election law without putting meaningful safeguards in place to protect election integrity.”
The new law makes tampering with absentee ballot drop boxes a Class D felony. But campaign workers can still distribute ballot applications, the main source of fraud in Bridgeport.
“In theory, it makes sense. In practice, all we need to do is look at what’s happened to Bridgeport – the fact that no one’s actually gone to jail,” said John O'Neill, a Norwalk voter.
Voter reform groups pushed for tougher restrictions on campaigns, but they believe making absentee ballots available without an excuse will lead to less voter confusion.
“In Bridgeport, absentee voting has been fraught with scandal,” said Gemeem Davis with Bridgeport Generation Now. “But with the signing of HB5001, voters have the option to use an absentee ballot without an excuse. And that is a good thing.”
“Increasing access is the number one thing we can do to deter misconduct,” added state Rep. Matt Blumenthal (D-Stamford). “It increases deterrence because anyone who wants to engage in misconduct will never know if the person whose vote they’re trying to tamper with actually voted themselves.”
RESTRICTIONS ON FEDERAL AGENTS
The new law also bans federal immigration agents from within 250 feet of polling places without a court order, prohibits wearing masks and stiffens penalties for intimidating voters or election workers.
“Connecticut’s response is clear today. Eligible voters should never be threatened, intimidated, or made afraid to participate in our democracy,” said Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas, Connecticut’s top elections official, told reporters.
“These laws cannot stand,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said. “The new law also violates the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney General Brett Shumate.
“State interference with federal operations is precisely what the Supremacy Clause was intended to prevent, as the Supreme Court has recognized for centuries,” he said.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong has vowed to defend the law.
“The state’s actions are both fully lawful and necessary to protect public safety and we will vigorously defend the law,” Tong said in a statement.
