CT 2021 Muni Elections Update:
 Absentee Balloting Absent of Consequences

With the November Municipal Elections fast approaching, local town and city clerks across the state are using their own interpretation of the loosed absentee balloting restrictions to skirt the rules outlined by SOTS. Connecticut Republican Party Ben Proto released the following statement on the situation:

This is another case of Democratic officials choosing to skirt the law for their own political partisan gains. It seems that Democrats always prefer to ask for forgiveness in lieu of permission and it is no different this year in the case of running a push program to collect absentee ballot votes.

Instructions were given well in advance by the Secretary of the State. Either Denise Merrill should refer this matter for investigation, or the State Elections Enforcement Commission should open its own docket on the matter.

Per her memo, the Secretary of the State requires all pre-printed absentee ballot applications to have a wet signature as well as a list of recipients and a proper sequencing order known both by the Town Clerk and the person sending the applications ahead of any mailing.  

Across Connecticut, Democrat Town Chairs have provided a photocopy of their signature indicating that they ‘assisted’ the person whose name was preprinted on the application with completing the application. Not only does the law require an actual ‘wet ink’ signature, but clearly, the DTC Chair in these towns is not a person closely associated with thousands of people in their town such that they are capable or even legally allowed to provide assistance.

In addition, many Democrat Town Chairs and Town Committees failed to get sequencing numbers from their local clerk, as such, the clerk has no list of who these applications were sent to and what, if any, numbering system was used.

It is time to put an end to Absentee Ballot shenanigans. It is time for the State of Connecticut, Secretary of the State, Elections Enforcement Commission and, if necessary, Chief State’s Attorney, to step in and impose significant penalties against people who choose to ignore the laws of the State of Connecticut. 

The actions taken by democratic campaigns, town committee chairs and clerks across the state show that they do not feel any requirement to abide by the law, many of which were implemented this past year to deal with Absentee Ballot abuse. 

This is just another example of the springboard this extended state of emergency has created for the democrat’s agenda. I will be watching closely to see how the Secretary of the State and State Elections Enforcement Commission react. Sadly, I predict it will require either the state or local Republican Committees filing individual complaints. Those complaints will become cases which will sadly languish and die on the SEEC roles for the allotted 365 days.

I sincerely hope I am wrong. Our laws must have meaning, and consequence, and this is a fork in the road to see where partisan politics or the rule of law will preside. I’m not asking for anything other than a thorough investigation and determination by the agencies presiding over election administration. 

If democrats, or any individual regardless of party affiliation, are breaking the law as outlined by the Secretary of the State’s own memorandum, I expect to see appropriate fines levied and those responsible brought to justice for committing a criminal act.