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SB 224

AN ACT EXEMPTING BALLOTS CAST AT ELECTIONS, PRIMARIES AND REFERENDA FROM DISCLOSURE UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Josh Elliott

Exempts ballots from public disclosure under Connecticut's FOIA to protect voter secrecy, balancing transparency against electoral privacy protections.

PUBLIC HEARING 0223
#ballots #disclosure #elections #freedomofinformation #primaries #referenda
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 224

Legislative bill overview

SB 224 would exempt ballots cast in elections, primaries, and referenda from disclosure under Connecticut's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Currently, ballots may be subject to public records requests, but this bill would create a categorical exemption protecting them from such disclosure.

Why is this important

This addresses the tension between government transparency (FOIA's core purpose) and ballot secrecy protections. While ballot secrecy is a fundamental democratic principle, the bill clarifies that physical ballots themselves—which could potentially identify voters through handwriting, timing, or other forensic analysis—would be protected from public scrutiny even after elections conclude.

Potential points of contention

  • Transparency vs. privacy trade-off: FOIA advocates may argue that exempting ballots reduces government accountability and public oversight, while privacy advocates counter that ballot security requires absolute protection from any disclosure mechanism
  • Audit and verification concerns: Election integrity monitors and researchers may need access to ballots for post-election audits, recounts, or statistical analysis—the bill's breadth could complicate legitimate oversight activities
  • Definition ambiguity: The bill's scope is unclear regarding whether it protects only physical ballots, ballot images, or all ballot-related records, potentially creating legal uncertainty about what materials fall under the exemption

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

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