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--- version:JUD Joint Favorable+++ version:(document, no version)@@ -1,325 +1,305 @@-LCO 1 of 10--General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 463-February Session, 2026--AN ACT CONCERNING SECURITY OF ELECTION ADMINISTRATION-PROCESSES, ELECTIONS SITES, ELECTION WORKERS AND-ELECTORS.-Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General-Assembly convened:--Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2026) (a) As used in this section: 1-(1) "Election" has the same meaning as provided in section 9 -1 of the 2-general statutes; 3-(2) "Elections site" means (A) a polling place on the day of an election, 4-primary or referendum, (B) a location designated for the conduct of 5-early voting during the period of early voting at an election or primary, 6-(C) a location for same-day election registration on the day of a regular 7-election, or (D) a drop box designated for the deposit of absentee ballots 8-during the period beginning on the first day of issuance of absentee 9-voting sets and ending at the close of the polls at an election, primary or 10-referendum; 11-(3) "Primary" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-372 or 9-12-463 of the general statutes, as applicable; and 13-(4) "Referendum" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-1 of 14-the general statutes. 15-Substitute Bill No. 463--LCO 2 of 10--(b) (1) No officer or agent of any organization or entity authorized by 16-the federal government or by any state to use force against, search, 17-detain or arrest individuals, and no person authorized by the federal 18-government or by any state to order, bring, keep or have under such 19-person's authority or control any such officer or agent, shall (A) 20-knowingly be within two hundred fifty feet of any elections site, unless 21-(i) the Governor deems such force necessary to repel armed enemies of 22-the United States or of the state, (ii) in the case of any such search, 23-detention or arrest, such officer, agent or person (I) is acting in an official 24-capacity, (II) has given notice to the Secretary of the State and the 25-Attorney General not less than twenty -four hours prior to such search, 26-detention or arrest, and (III) is authorized by a judicial warrant or 27-judicial order of a court of competent jurisdiction to specifically conduct 28-such search, detention or arrest within two hundred fifty feet of such 29-elections site, and at the specific location at which such search, detention 30-or arrest is to be conducted, provided such officer, agent or person is 31-within such two hundred fifty feet only for as long as reasonably 32-necessary to conduct such search, detention or arrest, (iii) exigent 33-circumstances reasonably require the presence of any such officer, agent 34-or person to protect against a serious threat to life or property, provided 35-such officer, agent or person is within such two hundred fifty feet only 36-for as long as reasonably necessary to protect against such threat, or (iv) 37-the Secretary of the State or moderator (I) requests such force to 38-suppress disorder, or (II) has given permission for such an officer, agent 39-or person to be present and such permission has not been withdrawn, 40-(B) knowingly be within two hundred fifty feet of an elections site for 41-the purpose of attempting to examine the qualifications to vote of any 42-individual at such elections site, or (C) knowingly loiter or remain 43-within two hundred fifty feet of an elections site. 44-(2) Nothing in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be construed to 45-(A) prevent any officer, agent or person described in said subdivision, 46-when off duty, from voting in accordance with the provisions of title 9 47-of the general statutes or otherwise engaging in protected political 48-expression, or (B) prohibit any such officer, agent or person from 49-Substitute Bill No. 463--LCO 3 of 10--passing within two hundred fifty feet of an elections site only for as long 50-as necessary to be within such two hundred fifty feet while on the way 51-to a place or location other than such elections site. 52-(c) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, no 53-person shall wear any mask or other covering that obscures the face, 54-head or identity of such person within two hundred fifty feet of any 55-elections site. 56-(2) A person may wear such a mask or other covering within such 57-two hundred fifty feet if the wearing of such mask or other covering (A) 58-is reasonable given the weather conditions, provided such person 59-complies with any request from the moderator to remove such mask or 60-other covering, or (B) is medically necessary or of religious significance. 61-(d) (1) No person shall be required to present any form of 62-identification within two hundred fifty feet of any elections site. 63-(2) Nothing in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be construed to 64-prevent any election, primary or referendum official from performing 65-any duty under title 9 of the general statutes. 66-(e) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be 67-guilty of a class C felony and shall be disfranchised. 68-Sec. 2. (NEW) ( Effective July 1, 2026 ) (a) As used in this section, 69-"person", "possess", "firearm", "deadly weapon" and "peace officer" have 70-the same meanings as provided in section 53a -3 of the general statutes; 71-"election" and "referendum" have the same meanings as provided in 72-section 9-1 of the general statutes; and "primary" has the same meaning 73-as provided in section 9 -372 or 9 -463 of the general statutes, as 74-applicable. 75-(b) A person is guilty of possession of a weapon near an elections site 76-when, knowing that such person is not permitted by law to do so, such 77-person possesses a firearm or deadly weapon within two hundred fifty 78-feet of any (1) polling place on the day of an election, primary or 79-Substitute Bill No. 463--LCO 4 of 10--referendum, (2) location designated for the conduct of early voting 80-during the period of early voting at an election or primary, (3) location 81-designated for same -day election registration on the day of a regular 82-election, (4) central location designated for the counting of absentee 83-ballots, early voting ballots or same -day election registration ballots at 84-an election, primary or referendum, as applicable, (5) place where a 85-recanvass is being conducted, or (6) drop box designated for the deposit 86-of absentee ballots during the period beginning on the first day of 87-issuance of absentee voting sets and ending at the close of the polls at 88-an election, primary or referendum. 89-(c) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to 90-the otherwise lawful possession of a firearm or deadly weapon: 91-(1) On private property that is not part of any elections site described 92-in subdivisions (1) to (6), inclusive, of subsection (b) of this section; 93-(2) That is (A) not loaded, and (B) in a locked container, or a locked 94-firearms rack, that is on a motor vehicle; 95-(3) In the case of any elections site described in subdivisions (1) to (6), 96-inclusive, of subsection (b) of this section that is in or on the real 97-property comprising a public or private elementary or secondary 98-school, by a person (A) for use in a program approved by school officials 99-in or on such school property, (B) in accordance with an agreement 100-entered into between school officials and such person or such person's 101-employer, or (C) while traversing such school property for the purpose 102-of gaining access to public or private lands open to hunting or for other 103-lawful purposes, provided such firearm or deadly weapon is not loaded 104-and the entry on such school property is permitted by the local or 105-regional board of education; 106-(4) By a peace officer while engaged in the performance of such peace 107-officer's official duties; and 108-(5) By a person passing within two hundred fifty feet of an elections 109-site described in subdivisions (1) to (6), inclusive, of subsection (b) of 110-Substitute Bill No. 463--LCO 5 of 10--this section only for as long as necessary to be within such two hundred 111-fifty feet while on the way to a place or location other than such elections 112-site. 113-(d) Possession of a weapon near an elections site is a (1) class D felony 114-for a first offense, and (2) class B felony for any subsequent offense. 115-Sec. 3. Section 9 -364a of the general statutes is repealed and the 116-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 117-(a) As used in this section, "election worker" means any municipal 118-clerk, assistant municipal clerk, registrar of voters, deputy registrar of 119-voters, election official described in section 9 -258, primary official 120-described in section 9 -436 or recanvass official described in section 9 -121-311, and "personal identifying information" has the same meaning as 122-provided in section 53a-129a. 123-(b) Any person who influences or attempts to influence by force or 124-threat the vote, or by force, threat, bribery or corrupt means [,] the 125-speech, of any other person at a primary, caucus, referendum, 126-convention or election; any person who influences or attempts to 127-influence by force, threat or harassment any election worker in the 128-performance of any duty under the provisions of this title related to 129-election administration at a primary, referendum, election or recanvass; 130-any person who wilfully and fraudulently suppresses or destroys any 131-vote or ballot properly given or cast, whether so given or cast by mail, 132-by deposit in a secure drop box or in person at a polling place or 133-designated early voting or same -day election registration location, or 134-who, in counting such votes or ballots, wilfully miscounts or 135-misrepresents the number thereof; and any presiding or other officer of 136-a primary, caucus or convention who wilfully announces the result of a 137-ballot or vote of such primary, caucus or convention, untruly and 138-wrongfully, shall be guilty of a class C felony. 139-(c) Any person who, with intent to harass, terrorize or alarm any 140-election worker, or to improperly influence any election worker in the 141-performance of any duty under this title related to election 142-Substitute Bill No. 463--LCO 6 of 10--administration at a primary, referendum, election or recanvass, publicly 143-discloses the personal identifying information of such election worker 144-shall be guilty of a (1) class A misdemeanor for a first offense, and (2) 145-class C felony for any subsequent offense. 146-(d) Any election worker described in subsection (b) or (c) of this 147-section, as applicable, shall have a civil cause of action against the 148-person who, with respect to such election worker, violated said 149-subsection. 150-Sec. 4. Section 9 -352 of the general statutes is repealed and the 151-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 152-(a) Any election official who, with intent to cause or permit any 153-voting tabulator to fail to correctly register all votes cast thereon, (1) 154-tampers with or disarranges [such tabulator] in any way such tabulator 155-or any part or appliance thereof, or (2) causes such tabulator to be used 156-or consents to its being used for voting at any election with knowledge 157-of the fact that the same is (A) not in order, or (B) not perfectly set and 158-adjusted to correctly register all votes cast thereon, [or] shall be guilty of 159-a class D felony. 160-(b) Any election official who, for the purpose of (1) defrauding or 161-deceiving any elector, or [of] (2) causing it to (A) be doubtful for what 162-candidate or candidates or proposition any vote is cast, or [causing it to] 163-(B) appear upon such tabulator that votes cast for one candidate or 164-proposition were cast for another candidate or proposition, removes, 165-changes or mutilates any ballot shall be guilty of a class D felony. 166-(c) Any election official who provides to any third party that has not 167-been authorized by the Secretary of the State any tabulator or any part 168-or appliance thereof shall be guilty of a class D felony. 169-Sec. 5. (NEW) ( Effective July 1, 2026) Any person who knowingly (1) 170-tampers with, alters, destroys or unlawfully carries away a drop box 171-designated for the deposit of absentee ballots; (2) changes or destroys a 172-ballot after it has been deposited in such a drop box; (3) adds one or 173-Substitute Bill No. 463--LCO 7 of 10--more ballots to those which have been lawfully deposited in such a drop 174-box, whether before or after such ballots have been counted, by 175-fraudulently depositing such additional ballot or ballots into such drop 176-box in a manner not authorized by law and falsely claiming that such 177-additional ballot or ballots were lawfully deposited into such drop box, 178-with the intent to interrupt or invalidate an election, primary or 179-referendum; or (4) adds one or more ballots to those which have been 180-retrieved from such a drop box by fraudulently introducing such 181-additional ballot or ballots while such ballots are being counted or 182-recanvassed, with intent to affect the result of an election, primary or 183-referendum or to enter any ballot into evidence at any hearing held 184-pursuant to chapter 149 or 152 of the general statutes for the contest of 185-such election, primary or referendum, shall be guilty of a class D felony. 186-Sec. 6. (NEW) ( Effective July 1, 2026 ) If any municipal official, 187-including any election worker, as defined in section 9 -364a of the 188-general statutes, as amended by this act, receives from any private or 189-governmental entity, individual or official a subpoena, warrant or other 190-request for or to inspect any record or recording of or produced at, or 191-any tabulator, ballot box or other device used in the conduct of, any 192-election, primary or referendum, such municipal official shall, not later 193-than thirty-six hours after the receipt of such subpoena, warrant or other 194-request, provide a copy of such subpoena, warrant or other request to 195-the offices of the Attorney General and the Secretary of the State. The 196-offices of the Attorney General and the Secretary of the State shall post 197-notice, on each of said offices' Internet web sites, of the methods by 198-which a municipal official may provide such copy to said offices. In the 199-case of the Secretary of the State receiving such a subpoena, warrant or 200-other request, the Secretary shall immediately provide a copy of such 201-subpoena, warrant or other request to the office of the Attorney General. 202-Sec. 7. (NEW) ( Effective July 1, 2026 ) (a) As used in this section, 203-"election worker" means any municipal clerk, assistant municipal clerk, 204-registrar of voters, deputy registrar of voters or election official 205-described in section 9-258 of the general statutes. 206-Substitute Bill No. 463--LCO 8 of 10--(b) The Attorney General may seek preliminary or permanent 207-injunctive, declaratory or other appropriate equitable relief to prevent 208-or redress interference in connection with any election for presidential 209-electors, a senator in Congress or representative in Congress by bringing 210-a complaint to any judge of the Supreme Court, in which the Attorney 211-General shall set out the claimed interference. The Attorney General 212-shall file a certification attached to the complaint indicating that a copy 213-of the complaint has been sent by first -class mail or delivered to the 214-Secretary of the State, the State Elections Enforcement Commission and 215-any other interested party. If such complaint is made prior to such 216-election, such judge shall proceed expeditiously to render judgment on 217-the complaint and shall cause notice of the hearing to be given to the 218-Secretary of the State and the State Elections Enforcement Commission. 219-If such complaint is made subsequent to the election, it shall be brought 220-not later than fourteen days after the election. Upon receipt of such 221-complaint, such judge shall forthwith order any injunctive or 222-declaratory relief necessary to preserve or restore the status quo, 223-including, but not limited to, ordering that an election worker retain 224-custody of any record or recording of or produced at, or any tabulator, 225-ballot box or other device used in the conduct of, such election. Upon a 226-showing of exigent circumstances, such judge may issue an immediate 227-ex parte order granting such relief as such judge deems appropriate. 228-Such judge shall forthwith order a hearing to be had upon such 229-complaint, upon a day not more than five or less than three days from 230-the making of such order, and shall cause notice of not less than three or 231-more than five days to be given to any candidate or candidates whose 232-election may be affected by the decision upon such hearing, to any 233-election worker who may be affected by the decision upon such hearing, 234-to the Secretary of the State, to the State Elections Enforcement 235-Commission and to any other party or parties whom such judge deems 236-proper parties thereto, of the time and place for the hearing upon such 237-complaint. Such judge, with two other judges of the Supreme Court to 238-be designated by the Chief Court Administrator, shall, on the day fixed 239-for such hearing and without unnecessary delay, proceed to hear the 240-parties. If sufficient reason is shown, such judges may order that the 241-Substitute Bill No. 463--LCO 9 of 10--State Elections Enforcement Commission maintain custody of any 242-record or recording of or produced at, or any tabulator, ballot box or 243-other device used in the conduct of, such election. If sufficient reason is 244-shown, such judges may order permanent injunctive, declaratory or 245-other appropriate equitable relief in connection with the State Elections 246-Enforcement Commission or election worker custody of any record or 247-recording of or produced at, or any tabulator, ballot box or other device 248-used in the conduct of, such election. 249-Sec. 8. Subsection (a) of section 3-129g of the 2026 supplement to the 250-general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 251-thereof (Effective July 1, 2026): 252-(a) The Attorney General may investigate, intervene in or bring a civil 253-or administrative action in the name of the state, seeking injunctive or 254-declaratory relief, damages, and any other relief that may be available 255-under law, whenever any person is or has engaged in a practice or 256-pattern of conduct, or has established a policy, that: 257-(1) Subjects, or causes to be subjected, other persons to the 258-deprivation of any rights, privileges or immunities secured by the 259-constitutions or laws of this state or the United States; or 260-(2) Interferes, or attempts to interfere, by threats, intimidation , [or] 261-coercion or physical obstruction, with the exercise or enjoyment by other 262-persons of any rights, privileges or immunities secured by the 263-constitutions or laws of this state or the United States. 264-This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following-sections:--Section 1 July 1, 2026 New section-Sec. 2 July 1, 2026 New section-Sec. 3 July 1, 2026 9-364a-Sec. 4 July 1, 2026 9-352-Sec. 5 July 1, 2026 New section-Sec. 6 July 1, 2026 New section-Sec. 7 July 1, 2026 New section-Substitute Bill No. 463--LCO 10 of 10--Sec. 8 July 1, 2026 3-129g(a)--GAE Joint Favorable Subst.-JUD Joint Favorable+Researcher: MHF Page 1 4/9/26++OLR Bill Analysis+sSB 463++AN ACT CONCERNING SECURITY OF ELECTION+ADMINISTRATION PROCESSES, ELECTIONS SITES, ELECTION+WORKERS AND ELECTORS.++SUMMARY+This bill makes various changes in the state’s election laws, including,+among other things, to penalty and enforcement provisions. Generally,+the bill does the following:+1. (a) prohibits certain officers or agents from knowingly being+within 250 feet of an elections site (with specified exceptions) or+taking certain actions within this perimeter, (b) generally+prohibits anyone from obscuring their identity with a mask or+covering within this perimeter, and (c) subjects violators to a class+C felony and disenfranchisement (§ 1);+2. criminalizes carrying a firearm or deadly weapon within 250 feet+of an elections site, with certain exceptions (such as for peace+officers engaged in official duties) (§ 2);+3. modifies the penalties for harassing election workers and extends+these protections to include assistant municipal clerks (§ 3);+4. makes it a class D felony for an election official to give an+unauthorized third party any tabulator or tabulator part or+appliance (§ 4);+5. prohibits tampering with absentee ballot drop boxes and related+ballots and establishes criminal penalties (§ 5);+6. requires municipal officials and election workers to notify the+attorney general (AG) and the secretary of the state (SOTS) of+subpoenas, warrants, and other requests for certain election+records they receive by giving them a copy of the request (§ 6);+2026SB-00463-R000570-BA.DOCX++Researcher: MHF Page 2 4/9/26++7. authorizes the AG to file election interference complaints with+the state supreme court (§ 7); and+8. broadens the AG’s general authority to bring actions based on+alleged civil rights violations (§ 8).+EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2026+§ 1 — PROHIBITED ACTS NEAR AN ELECTIONS SITE+The bill generally prohibits certain acts near elections sites and+subjects violators to a criminal penalty. Under the bill, an “elections site”+includes (1) a polling place on the date of an election contest, (2) an early+voting location during the early voting period, (3) a same -day election+registration location on election day, and (4) an absentee ballot drop box+during an absentee voting period.+First, the bill generally prohibits officers and agents authorized by+any state or the federal government to use force against, search, detain,+or arrest people, and those that supervise or oversee these officers, from+knowingly being within 250 feet of any elections site. However, these+individuals may be within this perimeter if:+1. voting while off-duty as allowed by state law;+2. engaging in protected political expression while off-duty;+3. in transit to another location;+4. the governor deems it necessary for them to use force to repel+armed enemies of the U.S. or the state;+5. the person conducting the search, detention, or arrest (a) is acting+in their official capacity, (b) notified SOTS and the AG at least 24+hours before, (c) has a legal judicial warrant or order to+specifically conduct these activities within the 250-foot perimeter+and at the specific location, and (d) is present only as along as+reasonably necessary to conduct the activity;+6. exigent circumstances reasonably require it to protect against a+2026SB-00463-R000570-BA.DOCX++Researcher: MHF Page 3 4/9/26++serious threat to life or property, but only as long as reasonably+necessary to do so; or+7. SOTS or the moderator (a) requests force to suppress disorder or+(b) gives permission (and the permission has not been+withdrawn).+Additionally, the bill specifically prohibits these officers, agents, and+supervisors from knowingly (1) being within 250 feet of an elections site+to attempt to examine voter qualifications or (2) loitering or remaining+within this perimeter. Relatedly, the bill specifies that no person may be+required to present any identification within 250 feet of an elections site,+but this provision does not prevent election, primary, or referendum+officials from performing their election duties under state law.+The bill also prohibits any person from wearing a mask or covering+that obscures their face, head, or identity within 250 feet of an elections+site unless it is (1) medically necessary or of religious significance or (2)+reasonable given the weather conditions, as long as the person complies+with a moderator’s request to remove the mask or covering.+Under the bill, any violation of these provisions is a class C felony,+punishable by up to 10 years in prison, up to a $10,000 fine, or both.+Further, any person who violates these provisions must be+disenfranchised. (The bill does not specify the process for+disenfranchising a person, such as providing notice to election officials+that a person may not vote or hold public office. It is also unclear how+the state's existing electoral rights forfeiture and restoration laws apply+to this provision (CGS §§ 9-46 & 9-46a).)+§ 2 — POSSESSION OF A WEAPON NEAR AN ELECTIONS SITE+The bill creates a new crime of possession of a weapon near an+elections site, which is when someone possesses a firearm or deadly+weapon within 250 feet of certain elections sites when the person knows+it is unlawful to do so. A first offense is a class D felony ( punishable by+up to five years in prison, up to a $5,000 fine, or both) and subsequent+offenses are a class B felony (punishable by up to 20 years in prison, up+2026SB-00463-R000570-BA.DOCX++Researcher: MHF Page 4 4/9/26++to a $15,000 fine, or both).+Under the bill, “elections sites” include the following:+1. polling places on the day of an election contest,+2. early voting locations during an early voting period,+3. same-day election registration locations on election day,+4. central ballot counting locations,+5. recanvass locations, and+6. drop boxes during the absentee voting period.+The bill exempts the lawful possession of a firearm or deadly weapon+in the following circumstances:+1. on private property that is not part of an elections site;+2. when unloaded and on a motor vehicle in a locked container or+firearms rack;+3. for election sites on school grounds, (a) as part of a program+approved by school officials; (b) a ccording to an agreement+between school officials and a person or that person’s employer;+or (c) when traversing school property to gain access to public or+private lands open to hunting or for other lawful purposes, if+entry is allowed by a local or regional board of education and the+firearm is unloaded;+4. by a peace officer engaged in official duties; and+5. by a person passing within the restricted perimeter for only as+long as needed to travel to another location.+Under existing law and the bill, a “deadly weapon” includes any+weapon, loaded or unloaded, from which a shot may be fired, or a+switchblade knife, gravity knife, billy, blackjack, bludgeon, or metal+2026SB-00463-R000570-BA.DOCX++Researcher: MHF Page 5 4/9/26++knuckles. It does not include an electronic defense weapon (taser) used+by a peace officer.+Under existing law, unchanged by the bill, a person possessing a+firearm or deadly weapon in or on public or private elementary or+secondary school property, or at a school -sponsored activity, knowing+they are not authorized to do so is guilty of a class D felony (CGS § 53a-+217b).+§ 3 — HARASSMENT OF ELECTION WORKERS+Under current law, it is a class A misdemeanor (punishable by up to+364 days in prison, up to a $2,000 fine, or both) to publicly disclose an+election worker’s personal identifying information (such as name,+birthdate, and Social Security number) with the intent to harass,+terrorize, or alarm the worker or influence them in performing their+election administration duties. The bill makes subsequent offenses a+class C felony.+It also expands the definition of “election worker” to include assistant+municipal clerks, in addition to municipal clerks; registrars of voters;+deputy registrars; and election, primary, and recanvass officials as+under current law. In doing so, the bill:+1. extends the above penalties to anyone who publicly discloses an+assistant municipal clerk’s personal identifying information as+described above;+2. subjects anyone who influences (or attempts to) an assistant+municipal clerk performing election administration duties to a+class C felony, as is the case for other election workers under+current law (this includes influencing the election worker by+force, threat, or harassment); and+3. gives assistant municipal clerks a civil cause of action against+violators of the above provisions, as is the case for other election+workers under current law.+2026SB-00463-R000570-BA.DOCX++Researcher: MHF Page 6 4/9/26++§ 4 — PROHIBITION ON SHARING TABULATORS OR TABULATOR+PARTS WITH UNAUTHORIZED THIRD PARTIES+Under existing law, it is generally a class D felony for an election+official to tamper with voting tabulators or alter ballots read by the+tabulators. The bill additionally makes it a class D felony for an election+official to give a third party any tabulator or tabulator part or appliance+(unless authorized by SOTS).+§ 5 — ABSENTEE BALLOT DROP BOX TAMPERING+State law authorizes voters to cast their absentee ballots by depositing+them in designated drop boxes during the absentee voting period. The+bill establishes a new criminal penalty for certain acts related to these+drop boxes. Specifically, it makes it a class D felony to knowingly do the+following:+1. tamper with, alter, destroy, or unlawfully carry away a drop box;+2. change or destroy a ballot after it has been deposited;+3. fraudulently deposit additional ballots into a drop box with those+lawfully deposited, before or after they have been counted, and+falsely claiming the additional ballots were lawfully deposited,+with the intent to interrupt or invalidate an election contest; or+4. fraudulently add a ballot to those retrieved from drop boxes+during the counting or recanvassing of ballots, with the intent of+affecting the election contest or to enter any ballot as evidence in+election complaint hearings.+§ 6 — NOTIFICATION OF ELECTION -RELATED SUBPOENAS,+WARRANTS, AND REQUESTS+The bill requires notification to certain state officials by all municipal+officials and election workers that receive a subpoena, warrant, or other+request for or to inspect any record or recording related to an election,+primary, or referendum (including related to tabulators, ballot boxes, or+other devices used to conduct them) (hereinafter “election records”).+This includes all requests made by any private or governmental entity,+individual person, or official.+2026SB-00463-R000570-BA.DOCX++Researcher: MHF Page 7 4/9/26++Municipal officials and election workers must give a copy of the+request to the AG and SOTS within 36 hours of receiving it. Both the AG+and SOTS must post notice on their respective websites on how these+copies may be given to them. If SOTS directly receives the request, she+must give the AG’s office a copy.+§ 7 — ATTORNEY GENERAL RELIEF FOR ELECTION+INTERFERENCE+The bill authorizes the AG to seek preliminary or permanent+injunctive, declaratory, or other appropriate equitable relief (hereinafter+“relief”) to prevent or resolve interference in elections for presidential+electors and congressional offices. He may do so by filing (1) a complaint+alleging the interference with the Connecticut Supreme Court and (2) an+attached certification that a copy of the complaint was sent by first-class+mail or delivered to SOTS, the State Elections Enforcement Commission+(SEEC), and all other interested parties. (The bill does not specify how+other interested parties are determined at this point in the complaint+process).+If the AG makes the complaint (1) after the election, it must be+brought within 14 days of the election or (2) before the election, the+judge must quickly proceed to render judgment and provide notice to+SOTS and SEEC of the scheduled hearing.+The court, once it has received the complaint, must order any+injunctive or declaratory relief necessary to preserve or restore the+current situation (including ordering election workers to retain custody+of certain election records).+Further, if exigent circumstances are shown, the court may make an+immediate ex parte order (an order without a hearing) granting relief it+deems appropriate. If it does so, within 3 -5 days of making the order,+the court must hold a complaint hearing and provide 3-5 days’ notice of+the hearing’s time and place to any affected candidates and election+workers, SOTS, SEEC, and to any parties the judge deems proper.+The hearing must be conducted without unnecessary delay by the+issuing judge and two other state supreme court judges designated by+2026SB-00463-R000570-BA.DOCX++Researcher: MHF Page 8 4/9/26++the chief court administrator. If sufficient cause is shown, the judges+may order (1) SEEC to maintain custody of any election records and (2)+permanent relief in connection with an election worker’s or SEEC’s+custody of election records.+§ 8 — ATTORNEY GENERAL AUTHORITY TO BRING AN ACTION+Existing state law authorizes the AG to investigate, intervene in, and+bring civil or administrative actions on behalf of the state seeking+injunctive or declaratory relief, damages, and any other relief that may+be available under law, whenever there is a practice or pattern of+conduct that:+1. deprives persons of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured+by the U.S. or Connecticut constitutions or laws (civil rights) or+2. interferes, or attempts to interfere by threats, intimidation, or+coercion, with another persons’ exercise or enjoyment of any+rights, privileges, or immunities secured by the U.S. or+Connecticut constitutions or laws.+The bill expands the AG’s authority to take these actions on behalf of+the state by also allowing him to do so when anyone has established a+policy that deprives or interferes with another person’s civil rights in the+ways described above. It also specifie s that interfering with another+person’s civil rights (or attempting to) includes doing so by physical+obstruction.+BACKGROUND+Peace Officers+By law, the following people are designated peace officers: state and+local police, Division of Criminal Justice inspectors, state marshals+exercising statutory powers, judicial marshals performing their duties,+conservation or special conservation officers, constables who perform+criminal law enforcement duties, appointed special police officers, adult+probation officers, Department of Correction officials authorized to+make arrests in a correctional institution or facility, investigators in the+State Trea surer’s Office, certified Department of Motor Vehicles+2026SB-00463-R000570-BA.DOCX++Researcher: MHF Page 9 4/9/26++inspectors, U.S. marshals and deputy marshals, U.S. special agents+authorized to enforce federal food and drug laws, and certified police+officers of a law enforcement unit created and governed under a state -+tribal memorandum (CGS § 53a-3(9)).+Related Bills+sSB 91, favorably reported by the Judiciary Committee, restricts+taking people into custody based on a civil offense in state or municipal+facilities and protected areas.+sSB 397, favorably reported by the Judiciary Committee, restricts+taking people into custody for a civil offense in state or municipal+facilities or protected areas and prohibits, with certain exceptions,+wearing a facial covering or personal disguise when interacting with the+public and performing law enforcement duties.+sHB 5001, §§ 33 -35, favorably reported by the Government+Administration and Elections (GAE) Committee, has nearly identical+provisions on (1) expanding certain election -related protections to+assistant municipal clerks, (2) required notifications to certain state+officials of election -related requests a municipal official or election+worker receives, and (3) th e AG’s authorization to address certain+election inference claims.+sHB 5533, favorably reported by GAE Committee, has identical+provisions.+COMMITTEE ACTION+Government Administration and Elections Committee+Joint Favorable Substitute+Yea 13 Nay 6 (03/23/2026)
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