We need YOU to testify via Zoom to stop the legislature from passing an unconstitutional law that compromises our Election Integrity.
Once again, the ruling elite in Hartford are trying to rewrite the Connecticut Constitution without a proper referendum. Bill SB No. 184 seeks to use COVID 19 as an excuse for voting absentee. Since 2020, this illegal change to our law has resulted in a 5 time increase in the number of absentee ballot applications and ballots that our election officials must process—shutting down all other duties and virtually eliminating their ability to vet the accuracy of the incoming applications.
I call on you to join me and sign up for this debate on Friday, March 4th at 10 a.m. and remind our lawmakers that the emergency is over and that the safest way to ensure every vote counts is in person, at the polls.
STEP 1: How to prepare written testimony
- Keep it short, to the point and polite. Try to limit your testimony to one page
- Be clear whether you oppose or support the bills
- Give personal reasons why these bills are important to you
- Point out the effects these bills will have on you or groups of people
- Any testimony is better than none. Don't worry about the format
- View Sample Testimony or talking points
STEP 2: How to email your written testimony
- Email written testimony (preferably as a Word or PDF attachment) to the Government Administration and Elections Committee at:
- Try to email your testimony at least 24 hours before the hearing
Understand the Issues
What is the bill? An unconstitutional modification adding a 7th eligibility for voting absentee in Connecticut.
S.B. No. 184 (RAISED) AN ACT EXTENDING THROUGH NOVEMBER 8, 2022, SEVERAL CHANGES REGARDING ELECTION ADMINISTRATION AS A RESULT OF COVID-19 AND CONCERNING ELIGIBILITY TO VOTE BY ABSENTEE BALLOT.
Relevant excerpt of the proposed legislation
• 79 for [the state election in 2020, and] any election, primary or referendum held on or
• 80 after [June 23, 2021, but prior to November 3, 2021] the effective date of
• 81 this section but prior to November 9, 2022, the sickness of COVID-19.
• 82 As used in this section, "COVID-19" means the respiratory disease
• 83 designated by the World Health Organization on February 11, 2020, as
• 84 coronavirus 2019, and any related mutation thereof recognized by said
• 85 organization as a communicable respiratory disease
This same proposal was used in Pennsylvania in 2020 and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania overturned the legislation as UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Absentee Ballots compromise chain of custody:
- In 2020 51,000 Absentee Ballots were requested, mailed to voters, and were never received back. No research has been done to find out what happened to these absentee ballots. Were the lost? Stolen? Or did the voter simply not vote or vote in person? We must understand what happened.
- In Enfield 200 Absentee Ballots were lost in the mail.
- In Stamford 81 applications for absentee ballots were arrived AFTER the election.
The Absentee Process can be hijacked
- Bridgeport landlord stole the identity of his tenants and forged Absentee Ballots for his councilman race.
- Connecticut 2021 Municipals - 15 or more SEEC complaints over Democratic Town Committees not following the rules regarding distribution of ABs and poor guidance from Ted Bromley. When the rules are changed, problems are inevitable.
Absentee Ballots cannot be properly vetted with our current election infrastructure
- Generally 2% of each year’s absentee ballots are rejected for incomplete or wrong information. In 2020 that rate of rejection dropped magically to 0.94% despite a 5X increase in ballot volume.
- Town and City Clerks must defer their statutory duties and dedicate their staff and hire new, inexperienced people to process the increased volume.
- No state money is available to offset the unplanned cost so towns and cities must shoulder the burden making this an UNFUNDED Mandate.
Diminished Voter Engagement
- With Connecticut primaries finishing in the first week of August and absentee ballot voting beginning October 1st, campaigns have less than 7 weeks to reach voters with their message before tens of thousands of votes are cast.
