Senator Rob Sampson and State Representative Gale Mastrofrancesco Issue Statement After Ballot Language for No Excuse Absentee Voting is Approved

HARTFORD – State Representative Gale Mastrofrancesco (R-80th) and State Senator Rob Sampson (R-16th), ranking Members of the Government, Administration and Elections Committee, issued the following statement after the Democrat majority on the Committee approved language that will appear on the ballot in November asking voters to permit a change to the state’s Constitution that would allow for no-excuse absentee voting.

The item on the Committee’s agenda was titled “Resolution Approving a State Constitutional Amendment to Allow No-Excuse Absentee Voting.” But the question that will appear on the ballot is as follows: “Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to permit the General Assembly to allow each voter to vote by absentee ballot?”

Sen. Sampson and Rep. Mastrofrancesco issued the following statement after the Committee’s vote:

“The question to go before voters should clearly say that this is to approve no-excuse, absentee ballot voting, but as written it is not specific and will surely confuse people. Voters were provided a similar question when asked to approve Early Voting in 2022, but they had no way to know at the time that the legislature would mandate 14 days of Early Voting, which is now costing our towns.

The current question is so vaguely written, and broad, that it may even allow for the automatic mailing of absentee ballots. In fact, voters in 2014 rejected no-excuse absentee balloting when asked in a straightforward manner. Not to mention, this is also at a time when it is clear the current absentee ballot system currently in place is broken. In Bridgeport, investigations have shown that people were illegally cheating the system, yet this ballot measure would expand the use of absentee ballots, opening the door to even more fraud and misuse. People should know exactly why they are voting yes or no – this question does not even come close to explaining to them. That is why we were a ‘no’ today.”

A link to the language that was discussed today can be found here.