2012 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 9 - Elections
Chapter 145 - Absentee Voting
Section 9-158c - *(See end of section for amended versions of subsections (a) and (b) and effective date.) Application for ballot.

*(a)(1) Not earlier than forty-five days before the election and not later than the close of the polls on election day, each resident, or former resident who desires to vote in a presidential election under sections 9-158a to 9-158m, inclusive, may apply for a “presidential ballot” to the municipal clerk of the town in which he is qualified to vote on the form prescribed in section 9-158d. Application for a “presidential ballot” may be made in person or absentee, in the manner provided for applying for an absentee ballot under section 9-140, except as provided in said sections 9-158a to 9-158m, inclusive.

(2) A municipal clerk shall have the authority to designate a location in a municipal facility for the distribution, completion and processing of presidential ballot applications and the distribution, casting and return of presidential ballots under sections 9-158a to 9-158m, inclusive, on election day. Such municipal clerk may appoint one or more presidential ballot assistants to serve at such location, may delegate to such assistants any of the responsibilities assigned to municipal clerks under said sections, and shall train and supervise such presidential ballot assistants.

*(b) Each overseas elector who desires to vote in a federal election under subsection (b) of section 9-158b may apply for an overseas ballot not earlier than (1) the forty-fifth day preceding a federal election which is a general election or a general election held in conjunction with a special election and (2) the thirtieth day preceding a federal election which is a primary or a federal election which is a special election not held in conjunction with a general election. Application shall be made to the town clerk of the municipality in which he is so qualified to vote on a form prescribed in subsection (b) of section 9-158d.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section, in any year in which the date of a primary is advanced pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of section 9-376, overseas electors may not apply for an overseas ballot earlier than the fortieth day preceding a federal election which is a general election or a general election held in conjunction with a special election.

(1972, P.A. 196, S. 3; P.A. 86-179, S. 30, 53; P.A. 89-297, S. 16, 18; P.A. 97-154, S. 6, 27; P.A. 04-80, S. 1.)

*Note: On and after July 1, 2013, subsections (a) and (b) of this section, as amended by section 5 of public act 12-56, are to read as follows:

“(a)(1) Not earlier than forty-five days before the election and not later than the close of the polls on election day, each former resident who desires to vote in a presidential election under sections 9-158a to 9-158m, inclusive, may apply for a “presidential ballot” to the municipal clerk of the town in which such former resident is qualified to vote on the form prescribed in section 9-158d. Application for a “presidential ballot” may be made in person or absentee, in the manner provided for applying for an absentee ballot under section 9-140, except as provided in said sections 9-158a to 9-158m, inclusive.

(2) A municipal clerk shall have the authority to designate a location in a municipal facility for the distribution, completion and processing of presidential ballot applications and the distribution, casting and return of presidential ballots under sections 9-158a to 9-158m, inclusive, on election day. Such municipal clerk may appoint one or more presidential ballot assistants to serve at such location, may delegate to such assistants any of the responsibilities assigned to municipal clerks under said sections, and shall train and supervise such presidential ballot assistants.

(b) Each overseas elector who desires to vote in a federal election under subsection (b) of section 9-158b may apply for an overseas ballot not earlier than (1) the forty-fifth day preceding a federal election which is a general election or a general election held in conjunction with a special election, and (2) the thirtieth day preceding a federal election which is a primary or a federal election which is a special election not held in conjunction with a general election. Application shall be made to the town clerk of the municipality in which the elector is so qualified to vote on a form prescribed in subsection (b) of section 9-158d.”

(1972, P.A. 196, S. 3; P.A. 86-179, S. 30, 53; P.A. 89-297, S. 16, 18; P.A. 97-154, S. 6, 27; P.A. 04-80, S. 1; P.A. 12-56, S. 5.)

History: P.A. 86-179 made technical changes and added subsecs. relating to overseas balloting; P.A. 89-297 amended Subsec. (b) by changing earliest date for applying for overseas ballot from nineteenth day preceding a federal election which is a primary to thirtieth day; P.A. 97-154 amended Subsec. (a) by extending application deadline for residents from seven days before election to close of polls on election day, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 04-80 amended Subsec. (a) by designating existing provisions as Subdiv. (1) and adding Subdiv. (2), authorizing municipal clerk to designate location in municipal facility for presidential ballots and applications and to appoint presidential ballot assistants, effective July 1, 2004; P.A. 12-56 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by limiting the applicability of provisions to former residents and amended Subsec. (b) by making technical changes, effective July 1, 2013.