State Senator Calls CT Early Voting An 'Unfunded Mandate'

HARTFORD, CT — State Senator Jeff Gordon (R-35th District), Friday scoffed at the state's early voting funding system, calling it an "unfunded mandate" for municipalities.

Gordon, a member of the legislative Appropriations Committee, did so while voicing support for his bill, — S.B. 17, An Act Concerning Funding for Municipalities for Early Voting Costs — at a public hearing. The bill aims to provide municipalities with the necessary funding to cover what he called "the high costs associated with the state-mandated early voting system."

Gordon added, "Right now, Connecticut's early voting law is an unfunded mandate that forces towns into financial distress with no help from the state. This is about fairness for our towns. The state cannot continue forcing expensive mandates on our municipalities without providing the necessary funding. I've heard from registrars across the state who are struggling to cover the high costs of early voting. If this goes unfunded, towns will be left with no choice but to raise property taxes or cut essential services to comply with the law. That is unacceptable."

S.B. 17 seeks to fully fund the costs of early voting at the municipal level

"It ensures that local taxpayers are not left shouldering the burden," Gording said.

The legislation introduced by Gordon appropriates funds to the state Office of Policy and Management for distribution to municipalities, thus "making them whole for any additional costs incurred due to early voting," Gordon said.

Gordon also favors reducing the length of early voting from 14 days to five-to-seven days to "lower costs," while still maintaining accessible voting options for residents.

"I am proud that the Appropriations Committee has moved this important legislation forward by giving it a public hearing. Now, we need to get it over the finish line," Gordon said. "This is common-sense legislation that protects taxpayers and ensures our towns don’t have to make impossible budget decisions because of Hartford’s mandates."