HB 5816 Summary

• Eliminates the dual envelope system for absentee ballots by replacing separate inner and outer envelopes with a single serially-numbered envelope for ballot return.

• Simplifies absentee ballot procedures by removing the inner envelope requirement while maintaining voter privacy and ballot security measures.

• Modifies regulations for ballot handling, verification, and counting to accommodate the single-envelope system across all election types (primaries, general elections, referendums).

• Updates provisions for presidential ballots, overseas ballots, and challenged ballots to use the single-envelope format instead of nested envelopes.

• Repeals section 9-139 of the general statutes and makes conforming amendments throughout Connecticut election law to reflect the envelope system changes, effective upon passage.