FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 6, 2021
Contact: Jason Novak, jnovak@skdknick.com
(203)641-6681

(Hartford, CT) – Today, the Connecticut House of Representative voted 115-26 in favor of House Joint Resolution 59. The historic resolution brings Connecticut one step closer to joining 43 states across the country that allow for early voting. The resolution previously passed both chambers of the General Assembly in 2019 and requires a simple majority vote of each chamber in order to be placed on the ballot for voters to approve in 2022. The resolution now heads to the Senate for final passage.

In response, Cheri Quickmire, Executive Director of Common Cause in Connecticut released the following statement:

“Connecticut is one of only 7 states that doesn’t allow early in-person voting – a reality that makes voting less accessible to thousands of residents who are forced to choose between missing work or family obligations and exercising their right to vote. We applaud the 115 legislators who voted in favor of this landmark resolution. Today’s vote is a critical step forward for voting rights in Connecticut, but there is so much work left to do.

We strongly urge legislators to act quickly to allow no-excuse absentee voting in Connecticut by bringing House Joint Resolution 58 to a vote, and to take action on Senate Bill 5 – legislation that would make our state a voting rights leader by codifying automatic voter registration and restoring voting rights for people on parole.”

Connecticut is currently one of only 7 states across the country that doesn’t allow early in-person voting, and one of only 16 states that doesn’t allow all voters to vote absentee. Automatic voter registration (AVR) has already been implemented in 23 states across the country. These issues are overwhelmingly popular across party lines, with recent polling showing that 79% of voters support early voting, 73% are in support of no-excuse absentee ballot voting, and 77% are in support of AVR.

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