Connecticut proposes new election oversight bills

Connecticut lawmakers are considering new legislation to enhance oversight of elections following a voter fraud scandal in Bridgeport. The proposed bills aim to strengthen the control over local election officials and improve procedures related to absentee ballots and curbside voting. The situation arose after Bridgeport's 2023 Democratic mayoral primary was canceled due to significant election misconduct. Five Democratic officials were charged with over 150 crimes concerning the mishandling of absentee ballots. This has raised concerns about election integrity across the state. Two key bills, SB 1515 and SB 1516, are under discussion. SB 1515 seeks to increase state supervision of local clerks and registrars, who manage voting processes. SB 1516 addresses issues from the recent election complaints, such as preventing candidates from being present in vehicles with voters at curbside voting locations. Lawmakers propose that anyone convicted of election-related offenses should be barred from handling candidate petitions or absentee ballot applications for up to 12 years. This is to combat a history of absentee ballot abuses in Bridgeport, where multiple individuals have faced criminal charges during recent elections. Advocates for reform argue that simply banning convicted individuals from certain activities is insufficient. They urge lawmakers to limit the distribution of absentee ballot applications to only election officials, reinforcing that the voting process should be kept direct between voters and officials. Previous reforms last year included measures like placing surveillance cameras at ballot drop boxes and speeding up investigations into allegations of misconduct. The current proposed legislation might significantly change how Connecticut handles elections by establishing a state-run Municipal Election Accountability Board to oversee local elections. While some support tighter state control, others, including local representatives, express concern. They argue that elected local officials should maintain control over elections and that citizens can vote for new leadership if they are dissatisfied. The future of these bills and the proposed oversight board remains uncertain as discussions continue.