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SB 491

AN ACT CONCERNING THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NO-EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Josh Elliott and 1 co-sponsor

Bill directs Connecticut's Secretary of State to study and recommend procedures for implementing statewide no-excuse absentee voting to expand voter access.

FILE NO. 581
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Bill Summary · SB 491

Legislative bill overview

SB 491 directs Connecticut's Secretary of the State to develop and provide recommendations for implementing no-excuse absentee voting statewide. The bill does not immediately establish no-excuse absentee voting itself, but rather requires the Secretary to study the issue and submit recommendations to the legislature on how such a system could be implemented. This represents a preliminary step toward potentially expanding voting access beyond current absentee voting restrictions.

Why is this important

No-excuse absentee voting would allow any registered voter to cast a ballot by mail without providing a specific reason, significantly increasing voting accessibility and convenience. This could affect voter turnout, election administration procedures, and resource allocation for election officials across all Connecticut municipalities. The recommendations phase allows policymakers to understand implementation costs, logistical challenges, and comparative experiences from other states before committing to full adoption.

Potential points of contention

  • Election security vs. accessibility: Concerns about mail-in ballot security, voter verification, and fraud prevention compared to in-person voting safeguards
  • Cost and resource burden: Implementation expenses for expanded mail voting infrastructure, training, and staffing, particularly for smaller municipalities
  • Election timeline and deadlines: Questions about mail delivery reliability, ballot return deadlines, and how to handle late-arriving ballots in close races

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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