(a) The registrars of voters in the several towns and, in towns where there are different registrars for different voting districts, the registrars of voters in such districts shall appoint the moderators of regular and special state and municipal elections in their respective towns or districts. For the purpose of providing a reserve group of persons who may serve as moderators, the registrars shall designate alternate moderators from among those persons chosen as official checkers, or tabulator tenders, in the following minimum numbers: In towns with one or more but not exceeding three voting districts, one alternate moderator; in towns with four or more but not exceeding eight voting districts, two alternate moderators; in towns with more than eight voting districts, a number of alternate moderators equal to one-fourth of the number of voting districts rounded off to the nearest multiple of four. In case the registrars fail to agree in the choice of a moderator or alternate moderator, the choice shall be determined between such registrars by lot. In the case of a primary, the registrar, as defined in section 9-372, shall so appoint such moderators and alternate moderators. Moderators and alternate moderators shall be appointed at least twenty days before the election or primary. The registrars shall submit a list of the names of such moderators and alternate moderators to the municipal clerk, which list shall be made available for public inspection by such clerk. Each person appointed to serve as moderator or alternate moderator shall be certified by the Secretary of the State in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, except as provided in subsection (d) of this section or section 9-436.
(b) (1) The Secretary of the State shall: (A) Request registrars of voters to volunteer to serve as instructors for moderators and alternate moderators; (B) select registrars from among such volunteers to serve as such instructors; (C) establish a curriculum for instructional sessions for moderators and alternate moderators; (D) establish the number of such instructional sessions to be held, provided at least one such instructional session shall be held in each congressional district in each calendar year; and (E) train the instructors for such sessions. The curriculum for such instructional sessions shall include, without limitation, procedures for counting and recording absentee ballots, “hands on” training in the use of voting tabulators, and the duties of a moderator in the conduct of a primary and election. The Secretary may employ assistants on a temporary basis within existing budgetary resources for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this section. Such assistants shall not be subject to the provisions of chapter 67. The instructors shall conduct instructional sessions for moderators and alternate moderators in accordance with their training by the Secretary of the State and the curriculum for such sessions.
(2) The Secretary of the State shall also: (A) Coordinate with each regional election monitor under contract pursuant to section 9-229b to hold regional instructional sessions for moderators and alternate moderators, in accordance with the curriculum established under subdivision (1) of this subsection; (B) establish the number of such regional instructional sessions to be held, provided at least one such regional instructional session shall be held within each planning region at the facilities of the regional council of governments prior to each regular election; and (C) train and certify each regional election monitor for purposes of performing the duties of the position. The Secretary shall certify as a regional election monitor each individual who successfully completes training under subparagraph (C) of this subdivision, except the Secretary shall not so certify any individual who has been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, in a court of competent jurisdiction, any (i) felony involving fraud, forgery, larceny, embezzlement or bribery, or (ii) criminal offense under this title. Any such initial certification granted under this subdivision shall expire two years after the date of its granting. Prior to expiration of the initial or any subsequent certification, a regional election monitor may undergo an abridged recertification process prescribed by the Secretary, and upon successful completion thereof, such certification shall be renewed for two years after the date of such completion. Only certification in accordance with this subdivision shall satisfy the requirement of subdivision (4) of subsection (b) of section 9-229b, and the Secretary may revoke any such certification, with or without cause, at any time.
(3) The duties of each regional election monitor shall include, but not be limited to: (A) Holding the regional instructional sessions described in subdivision (2) of this subsection; (B) communicating with registrars of voters to assist, to the extent permitted under law, in preparations for and operations of any election, primary or recanvass, or any audit conducted pursuant to section 9-320f; and (C) transmitting any order issued by the Secretary of the State, pursuant to subsection (b) of section 9-3.
(4) Any elector may attend one or more of the sessions held under subdivision (1) or (2) of this subsection. Each instructor or regional election monitor, as the case may be, shall provide the Secretary of the State with the name and address of each person who completes any such session.
(c) The Secretary shall conduct certification sessions for moderators and alternate moderators each year at times and places to be determined by said Secretary, provided at least eight such sessions shall be held each calendar year and at least one such session shall be conducted prior to every primary. The Secretary shall certify each person who successfully completes an instructional session or regional instructional session, as the case may be, conducted in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of this section and an examination administered by the Secretary, as eligible to serve as moderator or alternate moderator at any election or primary held during the time such certification is effective, except the Secretary shall not certify any person as moderator or alternate moderator who has been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to, in a court of competent jurisdiction, any felony involving fraud, forgery, larceny, embezzlement or bribery or any criminal offense under this title. Before July 1, 2019, (1) any initial certification granted under this subsection shall expire two years after the date of its granting, and (2) prior to expiration of an initial or subsequent certification, a moderator or alternate moderator may undergo an abridged recertification process prescribed by the Secretary, and upon successful completion thereof, such certification shall be renewed for two years after the date of such completion. On and after July 1, 2019, (A) any initial certification granted under this subsection shall expire four years after the date of its granting, and (B) prior to expiration of an initial or subsequent certification, a moderator or alternate moderator may undergo an abridged recertification process prescribed by the Secretary, and upon successful completion thereof, such certification shall be renewed for four years after the date of such completion. Only those persons who are certified in accordance with this subsection shall be eligible to serve as moderators on election or primary day, except as provided in subsection (d) of this section or section 9-436. The Secretary of the State may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, as the Secretary deems necessary to implement the certification process under this section.
(d) If the person designated as moderator is unable to serve for any reason, a certified alternate moderator shall serve as moderator. If such certified alternate moderator is not called upon to serve as moderator, he shall serve in another capacity as an election official on election or primary day. If any town or voting district lacks a moderator due to the death, disability or withdrawal of a certified moderator or alternate moderator, or due to the disqualification of a moderator for any reason, including failure to attend an instructional session as required by this section, the registrars of voters shall appoint a new moderator for such town or voting district in the manner provided in this section. Such new moderator shall attend an instructional session and a certification session conducted in accordance with the provisions of this section. If all such sessions have been conducted at the time of appointment of the new moderator, the new moderator shall receive instruction from the registrars who appointed the new moderator.
(1949 Rev., S. 1057; 1953, S. 706d; P.A. 81-467, S. 3, 8; P.A. 82-426, S. 5, 14; P.A. 85-274; P.A. 87-472, S. 11; P.A. 93-384, S. 2; P.A. 95-185, S. 1; P.A. 11-20, S. 1; 11-46, S. 1; P.A. 13-21, S. 1; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 443; P.A. 19-67, S. 1.)
History: P.A. 81-467 required appointment and instruction of alternate moderators, required instruction of moderators and added provisions re certification of moderators and alternates; P.A. 82-426 extended provisions of section to moderators at primaries; P.A. 85-274 amended section to require “successful” completion of instructional session and an examination and to allow electors to attend one or more of such instructional sessions; P.A. 87-472 added provisions re five-year certifications for qualifying moderators and alternate moderators; P.A. 93-384 changed duration of terms for moderators and alternate moderators from three or five years to four years; P.A. 95-185 divided section into Subsecs., changed the conductor of instructional sessions from the Secretary of the State to registrars who volunteer as instructors, established the secretary's and registrars' duties re moderator instruction, and the curriculum for such sessions, required eight certification sessions annually and made technical changes; pursuant to P.A. 11-20, “machine” and “machines” were changed editorially by the Revisors to “tabulator” and “tabulators”, respectively, in Subsecs. (a) and (b), effective May 24, 2011; P.A. 11-46 amended Subsec. (c) by making certification effective for 2, rather than 4, years on or after October 1, 2011, by authorizing Secretary of the State to adopt regulations re certification process and by making technical changes, effective June 13, 2011; P.A. 13-21 amended Subsec. (c) to provide that a person who has been convicted of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to an offense described in Subdivs. (1) and (2) may not be certified as a moderator, effective May 24, 2013; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 amended Subsec. (b) by designating existing provisions as new Subdivs. (1) and (4), deleting provision re certification of moderators and alternate moderators in Subdiv. (1), adding new Subdivs. (2) and (3) re regional election monitors and making conforming changes, and amended Subsec. (c) by adding reference to regional instructional session, replacing provision re certification made on or after October 1, 2011, with provisions re initial certification, abridged certification process and certification renewal and replacing provision re attendance and certification at instructional session with provision re certification in accordance with Subsec., effective January 1, 2016; P.A. 19-67 amended Subsec. (c) to delete Subdiv. (1) and (2) designators, add “Before July 1, 2019”, designate existing provisions re initial certification as Subdiv. (1), designate existing provisions re abridged recertification process as Subdiv. (2), add provisions re certification on and after July 1, 2019, and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 2019.
See Sec. 9-249 re instruction of election officials in use of voting tabulator.
Moderator not liable for decision made in good faith. 76 C. 678; 82 C. 324.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Section 9-164. - Regular and special municipal elections.
Section 9-164a. - Transitional terms of office.
Section 9-164b. - Deferred terms.
Section 9-164c. - Change of municipal election date.
Section 9-164d. - Notification to secretary.
Section 9-164e. - Proposed action to be submitted to municipal attorney.
Section 9-164f. - Election of registrars unaffected.
Section 9-167a. - Minority representation.
Section 9-168. - Place of holding elections.
Section 9-168b. - Designation of polling places in adjacent voting districts.
Section 9-168c. - Accessibility of polling places to physically disabled voters.
Section 9-168e. - Parking spaces at polling places for handicapped and infirm elderly persons.
Section 9-169. - Voting districts.
Section 9-169a. - Split voting districts.
Section 9-169b. - Effective date of changes in voting districts.
Section 9-169c. - At-large election of members of legislative bodies of certain towns.
Section 9-169f. - Reapportionment required for certain municipal legislative bodies.
Section 9-170. - Eligibility to vote at town elections.
Section 9-171. - Eligibility to vote at city elections.
Section 9-172. - Eligibility to vote at state elections.
Section 9-172a. - Revised registry list defined for purposes of special elections.
Section 9-172b. - Updated list and registration deadline for special election or referendum.
Section 9-173. - Plurality required for election.
Section 9-174a. - Emergency contingency plan for elections. Model plan.
Section 9-174b. - Notification re extension of hours of polling place.
Section 9-175. - Presidential and vice presidential electors. Write-in candidates and ballots.
Section 9-176. - Meeting of presidential electors.
Section 9-177. - Compensation of presidential electors.
Section 9-178. - Senator in Congress.
Section 9-179. - Representative in Congress.
Section 9-180. - Representative at large.
Section 9-181. - State officers.
Section 9-183. - Justices of the peace.
Section 9-183a. - Number of justices of the peace, exceptions.
Section 9-184. - Vacancy in office of justice of the peace when justice nominated by a major party.
Section 9-185. - Municipal officers.
Section 9-186. - Electoral status of municipal officers and justices of the peace.
Section 9-187a. - Date term to begin.
Section 9-189. - Town clerks, treasurers and tax collectors.
Section 9-189a. - Four-year terms for town clerks, registrars and treasurers.
Section 9-190. - Registrars of voters.
Section 9-190a. - Election of registrars at state elections.
Section 9-190b. - Temporary relief of registrar by Secretary of the State; procedure.
Section 9-190c. - Removal of registrar.
Section 9-191. - Election of registrars for each voting district.
Section 9-192b. - Designation of registrar, deputy or an assistant to receive instruction.
Section 9-193. - Registrar's oath.
Section 9-194. - Compensation of registrars, deputies and assistants.
Section 9-195. - Compensation of registrars and town clerks for duties as to enrollment.
Section 9-199. - Boards of assessment appeals. Alternate and additional members.
Section 9-201. - Election of five-member boards of police commissioners.
Section 9-202. - Board of finance.
Section 9-203. - Number and term of members of boards of education.
Section 9-204. - Minority representation on board of education.
Section 9-204a. - Nomination and voting for full number of board members to be elected authorized.
Section 9-204b. - Optional alternative system for towns with four-year terms for board of education.
Section 9-205. - Election of board of education when number of members revised.
Section 9-206a. - Optional number of members and terms of boards of education.
Section 9-207. - Library directors.
Section 9-208. - Election of library directors on change from annual to biennial election.
Section 9-209. - Certificate filed with secretary when planning or zoning members to be elected.
Section 9-210. - Incompatible town offices.
Section 9-211. - United States senator; vacancy.
Section 9-212. - Representative in Congress.
Section 9-213. - Secretary, Treasurer, Comptroller and Attorney General.
Section 9-214. - State representative.
Section 9-215. - Member or member-elect of the General Assembly.
Section 9-216. - Nomination by petition.
Section 9-217. - List of candidates.
Section 9-218. - Probate judge.
Section 9-219. - Justice of the peace.
Section 9-221. - Municipal office vacancy election provisions inapplicable in certain circumstances.
Section 9-223. - Notice of vacancy in municipal office.
Section 9-224. - Special election on same day as regular election.
Section 9-224a. - No election if only one candidate in special election to fill vacancy.
Section 9-224b. - Registration as write-in candidate in special election to fill vacancy.
Section 9-225. - State elections; exception for certain elections held in 2020 and 2021.
Section 9-226. - Municipal elections; exception for certain elections held in 2021.
Section 9-227. - Record of warning of municipal election.
Section 9-228. - Municipal elections.
Section 9-229b. - Regional election monitors. Contract. Memorandum of understanding.
Section 9-230. - Authority of registrars and moderators to prevent or suppress disorder.
Section 9-231. - Oath of election officials.
Section 9-232a. - Remedy for denial of voting rights.
Section 9-232b. - Penalty for false statement.
Section 9-232c. - Moderator to keep memorandum of challenge; form.
Section 9-232d. - Request for challenged ballot.
Section 9-232e. - Casting of challenged ballot, procedure.
Section 9-232f. - Preservation and counting of challenged ballots.
Section 9-232j. - Provisional ballot packets for elections for federal office.
Section 9-232k. - Secretary of the State to prescribe and provide provisional ballots.
Section 9-232l. - Applications for provisional ballots.
Section 9-232m. - Casting of provisional ballots.
Section 9-232o. - Counting of provisional ballots.
Section 9-233. - Voting tabulator tenders.
Section 9-234. - Presence of registrars. Official checkers. Checking of elector's name.
Section 9-235. - Unofficial checkers.
Section 9-235a. - Temporary absence of election officials.
Section 9-235c. - Voluntary service by election, primary or referendum officials.
Section 9-235e. - Secretary of the State allowed access to polling place.
Section 9-236a. - Spare voting tabulator or ballot box for educational use of students.