Fined If You Don't Vote? CT Lawmakers Mull Election Reform

CONNECTICUT — Should it be easier to vote? Or harder? And if you choose not to vote, should you be fined?

Bills that would take elections in all those directions have been submitted to the General Assembly for the current session.

The state Constitution restricts absentee ballots to the sick, the out-of-town, and the military, but a resolution proposing an amendment to change that is already far down the pipeline in Hartford. The so-called "Early Voting amendment bill" has passed the General Assembly once. If it passes again — it would need to pass with a 75 percent super majority — the bill would go before voters on the 2022 ballot. If it passes with a simple majority, it would have to pass again in 2023 or 2024 and then be on the 2024 ballot for voters to decide.

A bill introduced by first-term Republican Rep. Cindy Harrison of the 69th District would require absentee ballot counters to verify voters' signatures on returned absentee ballot inner envelopes. That's a speed bump meant to thwart attempts at election fraud.

Sophomore Democrat Sen. Will Haskell of the 26th District is floating a new law not seen much outside of Australia, Belgium or ancient Athens: compulsory voting. His proposed legislation would charge citizens $20 if they failed to cast a ballot in any local, state or federal election. Those refusing to make their voice heard would be tracked by the Secretary of State, and the truant citizens given a chance to plead their case via mail. Acceptable excuses would include travel, illness, and conscientious objection, according to the proposed legislation.

The senator has already said on Twitter that he views his proposed "Act Concerning Universal Civic Duty Voting" as more of a conversation-starter than a bill with any real chance to be signed into law. On Twitter, he posted that those who expressed their opposition to the legislation have made the case that "working parents, seniors, people with disabilities and commuters may not be able to vote conveniently" under his bill.

So no, this bill isn’t going to become law. But I hope it started a conversation about how our state can finally assume the responsibility of making sure everyone not only has the right to vote, but also has the opportunity to vote.
— Will Haskell (@WillHaskellCT) January 28, 2021

Haskell, who is vice chair of the Government Administration & Elections Committee, is also proposing legislation which would allow any voters to electronically request an absentee ballot through the Secretary of the State's website.

Another Haskell bill would count incarcerated persons as residents of their last town of residence rather than as residents of the town in which the correctional facility is located has Haskell's name on it, as well. If passed, that bill could have a significant effect on how the local political maps are drawn, ultimately impacting the makeup of the State Assembly.

Before you race onto social media to rally your horn-helmeted shamen or balaclava-clad anarchists, know that the state legislature is still in early innings for this session. Few of even the most buzz-worthy bills will make it onto the floor of either the House or Senate.

What do you think? Is Connecticut long-overdue for election reform rules? Or are we better off leaving well-enough alone when it comes to the ballot box? Leave your comments in the space below.