Connecticut has expanded voting by mail, allowing any voter to vote by absentee ballot for any reason. This change coincides with President Donald Trump’s assertion of federal powers to dictate the conduct of U.S. elections.
A State-Level Change
A state constitutional amendment and an act of the General Assembly have ended the state’s policy of restricting absentee voting to those unable to vote in person on election day. Absentee ballots for the Aug. 11 primaries in Connecticut will be available on July 21.
The state also has early in-person voting that begins on Aug. 3. Voters can get a ballot without leaving home by completing an application on the Connecticut Online Absentee Ballot Request Portal. The local town clerk’s office will automatically process the application and mail the ballot to the voter.
Federal Involvement
President Trump has sought to change how mail-in or absentee ballots work through an executive order that could change the process. He argues it’s an attempt to crack down on noncitizen voting, which is already prohibited by federal law and rare.
The order instructs the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to compile a state citizenship list and send it to election officials in each state. It would allow for investigating or prosecuting local officials if they provide a ballot to someone who’s ineligible to vote in a federal election.
The order also gives the U.S. Postal Service rulemaking authority on voting by mail. In response, the agency proposed a rule that would require states to submit a mail-in and absentee participation list of voters who intend to vote by mail.
Concerns and Lawsuits
Critics and election advocates argue that such restrictions could disenfranchise voters. They worry about the logistics that local election officials may need to comply with, especially those who are strapped for resources.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a lawsuit in April against the Trump administration’s moves. The lawsuit argues that the executive order and proposed rules are unconstitutional and could harm voters.
Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.
