Seeking reform after primary controversy
In light of the present alleged absentee ballot scandal in Bridgeport, the task at hand is to remedy this issue.
The objectives for accomplishing this task must include:
1) Giving the absentee ballot voter the same ballot security that the voter in the polling place receives.
2) Political operatives must be prohibited from "influencing" absentee ballot voters and replaced by neutral coordinators under the auspices of the registrars.
3) Supervised absentee balloting must be expanded.
In order to do this:
We call upon the secretary of the state to construct informational videos on all facets of the absentee ballot. How to apply, fill out, mail properly and who can and cannot not handle the absentee ballot.
We believe that supervised balloting must be expanded and supervised by coordinators, duly appointed by registrars that are neutral parties.
We believe that the state Legislature is the entity that must remedy the corrupt absentee ballot process through effective anti-fraud legislation.
Therefore we call upon the state Legislature to restore the "Pilot program for absentee voting" described in state statute Sec. 9-163k. This pilot program took place in 2003 in which three towns participated. That pilot program limited the distribution of absentee ballot applications to town clerks, registrars of voters, and absentee ballot coordinators (a position the bill creates). It also allows municipal clerks, registrars of voters, and absentee ballot coordinators to help voters complete their absentee ballot applications.
Presently, it is mandated that the registrars provide supervised absentee ballot voting to veterans' health care facilities, residential care homes, health care facilities for people with disabilities, nursing homes, rest homes, mental health facilities, alcohol or drug treatment facilities, or school infirmaries.
What is also allowed at the discretion of the registrar is supervised absentee voting under the rules set by Public Act 05-235 subsection L:
“Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, if a town clerk receives 20 or more absentee ballot applications from the same street address in a town, including, but not limited to, an apartment building or complex, absentee ballots voted by the electors submitting such applications may, at the discretion of the registrars of voters of such town, be voted under the supervision of such registrars of voters or their designees in accordance with the same procedures set forth in this section for supervised absentee voting at institutions."
Therefore, an inventory of residential buildings having at least twenty electors residing in a building with the same address existing within a municipality should be taken and the town clerk notified that they qualify for supervised balloting.
We ask the State Elections Enforcement Commission to interview a proper sampling of the approximately 2,400 absentee voters that participated in the Bridgeport primary to ascertain if wrongdoing occurred. The SEEC has the power to subpoena people if need be if wrongdoing is suspected.