September 12, 2022

Editorial: Amending the Constitution of the State

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Dear Friends and Neighbors,

As we look ahead to the start of Fall, there so many things to prepare for: cooler weather, pumpkins, and colorful leaves, but the most significant of all is how we prepare for the 2022 General Election on November 8, 2022. Readying ourselves for Election Day by reading candidate profiles and knowing district and state issues is very important. This year, there is a question on the ballot being asked of voters, “Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the General Assembly to provide for early voting?”

Let me give you some background so you can better understand what you are being asked. During the 2019-2020 Legislative Session, the state legislature considered ways to implement early voting measures. The required 75% supermajority was not reached in the initial bill; therefore, a similar amendment (HJ No.59) was introduced in the 2021-2022 session for an additional vote. The House and Senate approved the measures; however, our constitution requires CT voters to grant the legislature authority to begin the lawmaking process for early voting measures. Therefore, I want you to be prepared for your ballot to see the question: “Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the General Assembly to provide for early voting?”.

It is essential to know what you are voting for when answering this question. A vote “no”, means that you do not think state lawmakers should have the open-ended ability to define early voting in Connecticut. On the other hand, a vote “yes” declares that you authorize state lawmakers to determine what they believe early voting should look like.

Therefore, what this question determines isn’t whether you are in favor of early voting, but it decides if our legislators can have complete control over how we cast our future votes.

If voters approve this amendment, our state could see a loose mixture of three early voting styles. The first is “in-person” which means voters can cast their ballot prior to Election Day. The second, is “no-excuse absentee,” permitting voters to apply for an absentee ballot without a common out-of-state excuse. The third would allow the State to reinstate mailing absentee ballot applications to households, despite voters participating at the polls or via absentee, which many experienced at the height of COVID-19. For these methods, more specifically the third, the pandemic was a catalyst for engineering new ways to access voting.

It’s our responsibility to instill voter confidence, making sure there are checks and balances to protect the integrity of our election process. By giving authority to the state legislature, the definition of early voting will be unpredictable without a clear outline on intentions and ultimately, interpretation.

As always, please contact me should you have any questions about this important issue or concerns on any other topics relating to state government at Kathy.Kennedy@housegop.ct.gov or at 800-842-1423.