CT HB07228

Extends the absentee ballot processing timeline from 7 days to 14 days before an election, allowing pre-processing (envelope opening and verification) to begin as early as the fourth day before election day, with actual ballot counting still occurring on election day

Requires municipal clerks to track and report absentee ballot return methods (mail, drop box, in-person by elector, or in-person by designee/family member) to the Secretary of State after each election

Moves the deadline for electors to withdraw an already-submitted absentee ballot from 10 a.m. on election day to 5 p.m. on the fourth day before the election

Transfers responsibility for providing municipal primary petition forms from local registrars to the Secretary of State, and requires petition forms to include signature dates

Appropriates $1.32 million per year for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to the Secretary of State for early voting administration, and mandates pre-election testing of election management systems with registrar training at least 30 days before each primary and election