Governor Ned Lamont announced on May 19 that he has signed legislation making absentee ballots available to all eligible voters in Connecticut. The new law, Public Act 26-42, removes previous restrictions that limited absentee voting to specific reasons such as military service, illness, or religious conflict.
The change aims to make voting more accessible for people who face challenges getting to the polls due to disability, lack of transportation, childcare responsibilities, or work schedules. This legislative move follows a constitutional amendment approved by Connecticut voters in November 2024.
Lamont said, “This change puts us in line with the overwhelming majority of states that have allowed all voters to cast absentee ballots for many years. We should be doing everything we can to encourage qualified voters to participate in elections and have their voices heard, and this is a responsible step forward in that direction. I appreciate Senator Mae Flexer and Representative Matt Blumenthal for leading this effort to get this bill passed so that I could sign it into law.”
Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz said, “Ensuring that every eligible voter can cast their ballot to elect their representation is fundamental to a healthy democracy. By expanding access to absentee ballots, we are removing unnecessary barriers and making it easier for people to participate in the process that shapes their communities. Thank you to the partnership of legislative leaders who worked to make this long overdue reform a reality.” Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas added, “Without free and fair elections, everything else is at risk. HB 5001 strengthens Connecticut’s representative democracy by expanding access to the ballot while also strengthening the systems that protect that ballot.”
State Senator Mae Flexer said she was proud “to have led the ten-year effort” toward modernizing elections: “This bill represents both the final step in that process…and it’s also a strong marker to protect our locally controlled elections.” State Representative Matt Blumenthal called voting “the fundamental right on which all other rights depend,” saying universal absentee voting is “the culmination of almost a decade of work.”
The new law also includes measures designed for election safety: increasing penalties for harassing election workers or tampering with drop boxes; restricting federal officials’ presence near polling places without permission; and empowering state authorities against interference or intimidation. Applications for absentee ballots may be submitted online through myvote.ct.gov.
