Connecticut § 9-147a - Central counting of absentee ballots; designation of location by registrars of voters. Exception for counting in respective polling places.

§ 9-147a. Central counting of absentee ballots; designation of location by registrars of voters. Exception for counting in respective polling places.

Sec. 9-147a. Central counting of absentee ballots; designation of location by registrars of voters. Exception for counting in respective polling places. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, at any election, primary or referendum, all absentee ballots shall, within existing resources, be counted in the manner provided in section 9-150a at a central location designated by the registrars of voters in writing to the municipal clerk at least twenty days before the election, primary or referendum, which location shall be published in the warning for the election, primary or referendum. Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, if unaffiliated electors are authorized under section 9-431 to vote in the primary of either of two parties, all absentee ballots shall be separated, counted, tallied and placed in depository envelopes by voting district. Any member of the public may observe the counting of absentee ballots at such central location, provided no candidate for election or nomination shall be allowed to participate in such counting, except (1) a municipal clerk or registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the same office, and (2) a deputy registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the office of registrar of voters, performing such official's duties.

(b) At any election, primary or referendum, all absentee ballots may be counted in the manner provided in section 9-150a in the respective polling places if the registrars of voters agree that such absentee ballots should be so counted. If unaffiliated electors are authorized under section 9-431 to vote in the primary of either of two parties, absentee ballots may be counted in the respective polling places if the parties agree that such absentee ballots should be so counted. Any election official serving in a polling place may observe the counting of absentee ballots at such polling place, provided no candidate for election or nomination shall be allowed within such polling place during the hours of voting for any purpose other than casting such candidate's vote and no such candidate shall be allowed to participate in such counting, except (1) a municipal clerk or registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the same office, and (2) a deputy registrar of voters, who is a candidate for the office of registrar of voters, performing such official's duties.

(P.A. 75-300, S. 1, 9; P.A. 77-187, S. 4, 9; P.A. 78-75, S. 2, 3; 78-153, S. 19, 32; P.A. 79-363, S. 17, 38; P.A. 81-424, S. 2; P.A. 84-319, S. 18, 49; P.A. 85-592, S. 4; P.A. 86-179, S. 16, 53; P.A. 87-509, S. 22, 24; P.A. 18-124, S. 1; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-4, S. 3; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 132; P.A. 23-22, S. 18; P.A. 24-148, S. 15.)

History: P.A. 77-187 changed time of receipt referring to before or after “five p.m.” of day before election to “eleven a.m.” where appearing, changed time of delivery by town clerk from “two p.m.” to “twelve noon” on election day; P.A. 78-75 changed “town” to “municipal” clerk where appearing, and provided for delivery of ballots at five p.m. on election day at request of registrars and in any case at close of polls; P.A. 78-153 replaced town clerk with municipal clerk; P.A. 79-363 changed “five” to “six” p.m. on election day where appearing; P.A. 81-424 provided for optional sorting and checking of ballots on a daily basis for seven days prior to the election; P.A. 84-319 divided section into Subsecs. and amended provisions to provide uniformity in procedures for checking and counting absentee ballots; P.A. 85-592 applied provisions of section to primary elections and referenda; P.A. 86-179 added subsection re counting of absentee ballots at polling place or central counting location and deleted provisions re timetable and procedures for counting; P.A. 87-509 prohibited central counting of absentee ballots if unaffiliated electors authorized to vote in primary of either of two parties, unless both parties decide to have central counting and designate same room for central counting; P.A. 18-124 deleted former Subsec. (a) re counting of absentee ballots and election official observing counting of ballots, redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as new Subsec. (a) and amended same to add exception re Subsec. (b), replace “may” with “shall, within existing resources”, delete provisions re prohibition on counting absentee ballots at central location unless both parties agree to designate same room for counting and delete provision re return of absentee ballots by voting district, added new Subsec. (b) re counting of absentee ballots in respective polling places and election official observing counting of absentee ballots, and made technical and conforming changes, effective June 6, 2018; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-4 amended Subsec. (a) to add exception re Subsec. (c) and “in the manner provided in section 9-150a”, amended Subsec. (b) to add “in the manner provided in section 9-150a” and added Subsec. (c) re state election in 2020, effective October 2, 2020; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (c) to add provisions re certain elections, primaries and referenda held prior to November 3, 2021, effective June 23, 2021; P.A. 23-22 deleted former Subsec. (c) re state election in 2020, and certain elections, primaries and referenda held prior to November 3, 2021, and amended Subsec. (a) to make a conforming change; P.A. 24-148 amended Subsec. (a) to add proviso re restrictions on candidates participating in counting of ballots and exceptions thereto and amended Subsec. (b) to add provisos re restrictions on candidates being within polling place during hours of voting and re participating in counting of ballots and exceptions thereto, effective July 1, 2024.