Circulating petition restrictions for convicted persons
Summary
The Connecticut General Assembly's Government Administration and Elections Committee introduced SB-459 to prohibit individuals convicted of crimes under Title 9 of the Connecticut General Statutes from circulating primary and nominating petitions and distributing absentee ballot applications for a specified period of time. The bill implements recommendations from the Secretary of the State. The proposal is currently in draft form, having received Joint Favorable Substitute status and referred to the Office of Legislative Research and Fiscal Analysis.
What changed
Connecticut SB-459 proposes to restrict individuals convicted of crimes under Title 9 of the General Statutes from circulating primary and nominating petitions and distributing absentee ballot applications for a period of time. The bill originated from the Secretary of the State's recommendations and passed the Government Administration and Elections Committee as a Joint Favorable Substitute on March 23, 2026. The specific duration of the restriction period and exact scope of qualifying convictions are to be determined as the bill progresses.
Political campaigns, party organizations, and petition circulators should monitor SB-459's progress through the Connecticut legislature. If enacted, organizations that use petition circulators or distribute absentee ballot applications will need to verify that individuals performing these activities do not have qualifying convictions under Title 9. The bill does not yet have a compliance deadline as it remains in the legislative process.
What to do next
- Monitor SB-459 progress through the Connecticut legislature
- Review internal petition circulation and absentee ballot application distribution practices
- Assess whether current staff or contractors would be affected by restrictions on individuals with Title 9 convictions
Source document (simplified)
Raised S.B. No. 459
AN ACT CONCERNING THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE'S RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE CIRCULATION OF PRIMARY AND NOMINATING PETITIONS AND DISTRIBUTION OF ABSENTEE BALLOT APPLICATIONS.
To prohibit for a period of time certain individuals convicted of crimes under title 9 of the general statutes from circulating primary and nominating petitions and distributing absentee ballot applications.
Introduced by:
Government Administration and Elections Committee
| | New today | | 2-4 days old | | 5 days & older |
| | Text of Bill |
| | Raised Bill [doc] |
| | Committee Actions |
| | GAE Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute) |
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Bill History
| | Date | | Action Taken |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | 3/31/2026 | (LCO) | Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/07/26 5:00 PM |
| | 3/23/2026 | (LCO) | Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office |
| | 3/23/2026 | (GAE) | Joint Favorable Substitute |
| | 3/9/2026 | | Public Hearing 03/13 |
| | 3/6/2026 | | Referred to Joint Committee on Government Administration and Elections |
Co-sponsors of SB-459
Sen. Derek Slap, 5th Dist. NOTE: Please direct all inquiries regarding the status of bills to the Office of the House Clerk and/or Senate Clerks' Office.
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