CT Mirror recently published an article about “no-excuse” absentee ballot voting and the language to be used to explain the referendum.
Early voting in Connecticut was used in the recent primary elections, and although turnout was low, it appears there were no significant issues, other than staffing and unbudgeted costs. Ranging from four to 14 days depending on election type, early voting is the solution for increased ballot access. There is no longer a need for changing our constitution for no-excuse absentee ballots.
For those with special circumstances not corrected via early voting, Connecticut’s current absentee ballot process will still allow those people to vote.
Of greater concern for costs and vote integrity, no-excuse absentee voting is an opportunity for a continued erosion of the public’s confidence in vote tallies. Long time rumors of late night ballot dumps and other shenanigans were validated by the events captured on video in Bridgeport during the Ganim / Gomes election for mayor.
Additionally, appropriate chain of custody for absentee ballots, drop-boxes and validation requirements will add to the complexity and costs of administering elections in each of our 169 towns. The towns and the state do not have the financial resources to administer these incremental requirements. Given that our towns are already dealing with unfunded mandates, this is a chance for citizens to say “no” to yet another financial burden.
The sanctity of voting in this experiment in self-government called USA requires that we all have confidence in the system. No-excuse absentee ballots will further erode confidence in vote integrity.
No excuse absentee ballots do not add up to a good excuse for changing our Constitution.
Robert Ham lives in Cheshire.
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