Join Me for a Bipartisan Discussion

September 6, 2022
As we welcome the rain and the start of Fall, I wanted to let you know about an upcoming event this week and share information about last week’s Government Administration and Elections Committee meeting.
 
Please join me this Thursday in a virtual discussion about how we can work towards ending political polarization! An organization called Braver Angels, together with CT Public and the Governor M. Jodi Rell Center for Public Service at the University of Hartford, have come together to facilitate this week’s conversation.
 
On Thursday, September 8 from 7:30PM - 9:00PM, I will join Representative Stephen Harding to discuss what life experiences have influenced our policy views, how polarization has impacted government, and what can be done to address it. Register by clicking the button below.

The Braver Angels Goals for our Discussion:

  • Improve understanding of the experiences values and beliefs of members of the other political party
  • Discover areas of commonality and differences
  • Discuss current challenges in state politics
  • Explore ideas for reducing polarization

To learn more about Braver Angels, check out last weekend’s interview with Connecticut volunteers and the national leader of Braver Politics by clicking the button below.

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This November, voters will be asked if they support a change to Connecticut’s Constitution to allow for early voting.

The question will read:

"Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the General Assembly to provide for early voting?"
 
Last week, the Government Administration and Elections Committee met to approve the explanatory document to accompany the ballot question. Prepared by the non-partisan Office of Legislative Research, as directed by statute, the document explains the changes to be made and reads as follows.

"Currently, the Connecticut Constitution does not permit in-person, early voting. If this amendment is approved, it would allow the General Assembly to pass legislation establishing in-person voting before the day of an election."

"Additionally, approval of the amendment would eliminate the constitutional requirement that certain copies of election results, when sent to the Secretary of the State, be under seal. It would not change the statutory requirement that these copies be sent under seal."

Further Explanation

The State Constitution contains several provisions about the time, place, and manner of elections in Connecticut. These provisions currently require voters to cast their ballots at their polling place on the day of an election unless they qualify to vote by absentee ballot. Because these are constitutional requirements, the General Assembly cannot pass legislation establishing a form of voting that conflicts with them.

If this amendment is approved, it would specifically allow the General Assembly to pass legislation establishing in-person, early voting. This authority would apply both to choosing candidates for office and to voting on referendum questions at an election.

Relatedly, the amendment would eliminate a requirement that town election officials receive the votes at elections for state officers and state legislators only on the day of the election.

The preceding explanatory text was prepared by the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Research

You will have the opportunity to vote on this question on your ballot this election.