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Bill

SB 661

AN ACT REQUIRING THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE TO ANNUALLY VERIFY THE CITIZENSHIP OF ELECTORS.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Rob Sampson

Requires Connecticut Secretary of State to annually verify all registered voters' citizenship status and remove ineligible non-citizens from voter rolls.

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON Government Administration and Elections
#citizensandcitizenship #voters
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Bill Summary · SB 661

Legislative bill overview

SB 661 would require Connecticut's Secretary of State to annually verify the citizenship status of registered voters in the state. The bill mandates a systematic process to check that individuals on the voter rolls meet citizenship requirements, with the implication that ineligible non-citizens would be identified and removed from voting registrations.

Why is this important

Voter eligibility verification directly affects election integrity and public confidence in voting systems. The bill addresses concerns about non-citizen registration, though the scope and frequency of such issues in Connecticut remains a factual question that would affect the practical necessity and cost of implementation.

Potential points of contention

  • Implementation costs and methods: Annual verification requires resources and database infrastructure; unclear whether Connecticut has reliable citizenship verification mechanisms or data-sharing agreements with federal agencies
  • False positives and eligible voter disenfranchisement: Automated citizenship verification systems can incorrectly flag eligible citizens, potentially blocking legitimate voters from registration or voting
  • Existing safeguards debate: Connecticut already has citizenship verification at registration; proponents may argue this adds redundancy while supporters may counter that ongoing verification catches registration errors or status changes
  • Privacy and data security: Expanded annual citizenship checks could involve more frequent data collection and cross-agency information sharing, raising privacy questions

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

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