You might be able to register to vote on Election Day, as well as register online to vote under some legislation the governor is proposing.
Gov. Dannel Malloy, Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman, Secretary of the State Denise Merrill and Common Cause Board Chair Dr. Bilal Sekou announced the plan on Monday, in commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
“Today, I can think of no better statement to make in memory of Dr. King than to expand and assure access to voting rights, given everything he stood and worked so hard for,” Malloy said. “Voting is a great responsibility, and an enormous opportunity, and, following in the footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we have an obligation to make every effort to preserve citizens’ access to the polls.”
The proposals calls for web-based voter registration for Connecticut residents who have a valid and current driver’s license; Election Day registration to improve voter turnout; and for absentee ballots to be governed by statute, which would give legislators the ability to adopt laws that address voters who cannot get to polling locations on Election Day.
The legislation would also increase penalties on any effort to block or impede voter access.
The proposal will be introduced for the legislative session beginning on Feb. 8.
