Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 146 - Elections
Section 9-164. - Regular and special municipal elections.

(a)(1)(A) On and after January 1, 2022, and notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, there shall be held in each municipality, biennially, a municipal election on the Tuesday after the first Monday of November of the odd-numbered years, except that such municipal election may be held on the first Monday of May of the odd-numbered years if the legislative body of such municipality so determines by a three-fourths vote.

(B) In any municipality where the legislative body determines to hold its municipal election on the first Monday of May of the odd-numbered years in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (A) of this subdivision, such legislative body may subsequently determine by a majority vote to hold such municipal election on the Tuesday after the first Monday of November of the odd-numbered years.
(2) In any municipality where the term of any elected official would expire prior to the next regular election held under the provisions of this section, the term of such official shall be extended to the date of such election.
(b) Upon the occurrence of a vacancy in a municipal office or upon the creation of a new office to be filled prior to the next regular election, a special municipal election may be convened either by the board of selectmen of the municipality or upon application of twenty electors of the municipality filed with the municipal clerk. The date of such election shall be determined by the board of selectmen of the municipality, and notice of such date shall be filed with the municipal clerk. In determining the date of such election, the board of selectmen shall allow the time specified for holding primaries for municipal office in section 9-423 and the time specified for the selection of party-endorsed candidates for municipal office in section 9-391. On application of twenty electors of the municipality, the date of such election, as determined by the board of selectmen, shall be not later than the one hundred fiftieth day following the filing of such application, provided, if such date of such election is not more than thirty days before a regular election is to be held in such municipality, the Secretary of the State may combine such special municipal election with the regular election. Except as otherwise provided by general statute, the provisions of the general statutes pertaining to elections and primaries shall apply to special municipal elections. No such election may be held unless the municipal clerk first files notice of the office or offices to be filled at such election with the town chairman of the town committee of each major and minor party within the municipality and with the Secretary of the State at least three weeks in advance of the final time specified for the selection of party-endorsed candidates for municipal office in section 9-391. The municipal clerk shall forthwith warn such election in the same manner as the warning of municipal elections pursuant to section 9-226.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of subsection (b) of this section to the contrary, any town which by charter provides that a vacancy in its legislative body shall be filled by a special election held no later than forty-five days after the effective date of the vacancy shall hold such election not later than forty-five days after the occurrence of the vacancy. No such election may be held unless the municipal clerk forthwith upon the occurrence of the vacancy files notice of the office to be filled at the election with the town chairman of the town committee of each major and minor party within the municipality and with the Secretary of the State. Nominations by political parties for such office shall be made as the rules of such parties which are filed with the town clerk provide, in accordance with section 9-390. Such nominations may be made and certified at any time after the vacancy occurs but not later than the thirty-sixth day before the day of the election. No such nomination shall be effective until the presiding officer and secretary of the town committee certify the nomination to the town clerk. No primary shall be held for the nomination of any political party to fill any vacancy in such office and the party-endorsed candidate so certified shall be deemed the nominee of such party. Nominations may also be made by petition in the manner provided in sections 9-379 and 9-453a to 9-453p, inclusive, which petitions shall be submitted to the town clerk of the town in which the signers reside not later than the thirty-sixth day before the day of the election and filed in the office of the Secretary of the State not later than two days thereafter. The municipal clerk shall forthwith warn such election in the same manner as the warning of municipal elections pursuant to section 9-226.
(1949 Rev., S. 491, 492; 1953, 1955, S. 646d; November, 1955, S. N111; 1957, P.A. 518, S. 39; 1963, P.A. 393, S. 7; 1967, P.A. 675, S. 1; P.A. 75-206, S. 2, 7; P.A. 77-245, S. 3; P.A. 84-319, S. 25, 49; P.A. 87-382, S. 18, 55; P.A. 93-202, S. 1; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-2, S. 49; P.A. 13-260, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 116.)
History: 1963 act provided for issuance of warning for special election by town clerk rather than selectmen; 1967 act provided for municipal elections biennially on the first Monday of May or the Tuesday after the first Monday in November in odd-numbered years as designated by the legislative body and in event such action not taken, election to be held in November and further provided where, under the act, term of an elected official would expire before the election, term extended to date of election, effective June 1, 1968; P.A. 75-206 changed day for holding special town election from not earlier than “ninetieth” to “one hundred fifth” day following day town clerk issues warning thereof, where appearing; P.A. 77-245 changed “town” to “municipal” clerk where appearing; P.A. 84-319 changed calendar re special municipal elections to conform with changes made by 1983 legislation; P.A. 87-382 changed deadline for filing by clerk to be in advance of “final” time specified for selection of party-endorsed candidates for municipal office and required clerk to warn such election “forthwith” instead of “within the time provided for” pursuant to 9-226; P.A. 93-202 added Subsec. (c) re calendar and procedures for special election to fill vacancy in legislative body of any town which by charter provides that such vacancy shall be filled by special election held within 45 days after vacancy; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-2 made a technical change in Subsec. (b); P.A. 13-260 amended Subsec. (b) by adding provision re combination of special municipal election with a regular election, effective July 11, 2013; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (a) to replace provisions re holding of municipal elections in November or May as determined by legislative body with provisions re requirement on and after January 1, 2022, to hold municipal elections in November unless legislative body determines by three-fourths vote to hold such elections in May, designate such provisions as Subdiv. (1)(A), add Subdiv. (1)(B) re towns where legislative body previously determined to hold municipal elections in May and subsequently determined to hold such elections in November and designate existing provisions re extension of election officials' terms as Subdiv. (2), effective January 1, 2022.

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