Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 145 - Absentee Voting
Section 9-137. - Inner envelope for return of ballot; statement under false statement penalty. Exception for certain elections, primaries and referenda held in 2020 and 2021.

(a) Each absentee ballot shall be returned to the municipal clerk, inserted in an inner envelope which shall be capable of being sealed and which shall have printed on its face a form containing the following statements:

“I hereby state under the penalties of false statement in absentee balloting that I am eligible to vote at the primary, election or referendum in the municipality in which this absentee ballot is to be cast and that I expect to be unable to appear at my polling place during the hours of voting at such primary, election or referendum for one or more of the following reasons: (1) My active service in the armed forces; (2) my absence from the town in which I am eligible to vote during all of the hours of voting; (3) my illness or physical disability; (4) the tenets of my religion which forbid secular activity on the day of the primary, election or referendum; or (5) my duties as a primary, election or referendum official.
Date ….
…. (Signature)”
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, for the state election in 2020, and any election, primary or referendum held on or after June 23, 2021, but prior to November 3, 2021, each inner envelope in which an absentee ballot is returned to the municipal clerk shall have printed on its face a form containing the following statements:
“I hereby state under the penalties of false statement in absentee balloting that I am eligible to vote at the primary, election or referendum in the municipality in which this absentee ballot is to be cast and that I expect to be unable to appear at my polling place during the hours of voting at such primary, election or referendum for one or more of the following reasons: (1) My active service in the armed forces; (2) my absence from the town in which I am eligible to vote during all of the hours of voting; (3) my illness or physical disability; (4) the tenets of my religion which forbid secular activity on the day of the primary, election or referendum; (5) my duties as a primary, election or referendum official; or (6) the sickness of COVID-19.
Date ….
…. (Signature)”
(1949 Rev., S. 1141; 1953, 1955, S. 624d; 1963, P.A. 42, S. 2; 93, S. 1; February, 1965, P.A. 74, S. 2; 1967, P.A. 678, S. 2; 1969, P.A. 2, S. 2; 69, S. 3; 1971, P.A. 871, S. 69; P.A. 74-96, S. 2, 9; P.A. 75-595, S. 3, 5; P.A. 79-189, S. 6, 9; 79-363, S. 13, 38; P.A. 82-247, S. 2, 14; P.A. 83-254, S. 3, 4; P.A. 86-179, S. 6, 53; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-3, S. 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 128.)
History: 1963 acts changed the technical language of statement by elector and eliminated requirement inner envelope be sealed by elector; 1965 act added to form “or because the tenets of any religion forbid secular activity on said election day”, effective January 1, 1966; 1967 act added status as student at institution of higher learning in another town in state and also because of a temporary abode at town other than voting residence occasioned by membership in a religious community, effective January 1, 1968; 1969 acts added spouse of and living with a student at institution of higher learning located outside town of residence and added those removed from town but with continuance of registration under certain circumstances, effective January 1, 1970; 1971 act changed penalties of “perjury” to “false statement”; P.A. 74-96 added “in absentee balloting” after “false statement”, effective January 1, 1975; P.A. 75-595 added confinement in correctional facility provided privileges as an elector are not forfeited, effective January 1, 1976; P.A. 79-189 deleted those removed from town but with continuance of registration; P.A. 79-363 changed wording of form; P.A. 82-247 changed absence from state to absence from town of voting residence effective January 1, 1983 and deleted reasons for absence from town; P.A. 83-254 amended form to include reference to performance of duties of election official; P.A. 86-179 added references to primaries and referenda, deleted requirement that municipal clerk inscribe name of town, city or borough on statement signed by voter and made technical changes; July Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-3 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re state election in 2020, effective July 31, 2020; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (b) to add provision re certain elections, primaries and referenda held prior to November 3, 2021, effective June 23, 2021.

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