Connecticut’s two U.S. senators, Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy, support a move to change the state’s Constitution and allow for universal no-excuse absentee voting. They say they will lobby state lawmakers to get that done next year.
More than 650,000 Connecticut voters took advantage of no-excuse absentee ballots allowed in Tuesday's election because of the coronavirus. Murphy says that’s proof that it’s time for universal no-excuse absentee voting in Connecticut.
“My hope is that while we pat ourselves on the back for a big turnout and a well-run election. That we choose in 2021 to get Connecticut’s voting laws out of the stone age,” Murphy said.
Blumenthal said Connecticut is one of only six states that does not allow early voting or no-excuse mail-in ballots.
“Now as you know the Legislature passed by a majority... the constitutional amendment necessary for early voting. We are advocating for a constitutional amendment that would provide for no-excuse absentee voting,” Blumenthal said.
State lawmakers would have to pass such an amendment with a supermajority for it to be on the ballot for voter ratification in the 2022 election.
Democrats are likely to have supermajorities in both houses of the Connecticut General Assembly next year.
