(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) or (c) of this section, at any election, primary or referendum, all absentee ballots shall, within existing resources, be counted in the manner provided in section 9-150a at a central location designated by the registrars of voters in writing to the municipal clerk at least twenty days before the election, primary or referendum, which location shall be published in the warning for the election, primary or referendum. Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, if unaffiliated electors are authorized under section 9-431 to vote in the primary of either of two parties, all absentee ballots shall be separated, counted, tallied and placed in depository envelopes by voting district. Any member of the public may observe the counting of absentee ballots at such central location.
(b) At any election, primary or referendum, all absentee ballots may be counted in the manner provided in section 9-150a in the respective polling places if the registrars of voters agree that such absentee ballots should be so counted. If unaffiliated electors are authorized under section 9-431 to vote in the primary of either of two parties, absentee ballots may be counted in the respective polling places if the parties agree that such absentee ballots should be so counted. Any election official serving in a polling place may observe the counting of absentee ballots at such polling place.
(c) (1) For the state election in 2020, absentee ballots may be processed before the day of the election in the manner provided in section 9-150e. Any such processing shall take place at a central location designated by the registrars of voters in writing to the municipal clerk at least ten days before the election, which location shall be published in the warning for the election.
(2) If absentee ballots are to be processed pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, the registrars of voters and municipal clerk shall jointly certify such fact in writing to the Secretary of the State at least ten days before the election. Such written certification shall (A) include the name, street address and relevant contact information associated with the designated central location, and (B) list the name and address of each absentee ballot counter appointed pursuant to section 9-147c. The Secretary shall approve or disapprove such written certification not later than two days after receipt of such certification and may require the appointment of one or more additional absentee ballot counters.
(3) In the case of absentee ballots delivered to the registrars on the day of the election, nothing in this subsection shall preclude the counting of such absentee ballots in the respective polling places pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.
(P.A. 75-300, S. 1, 9; P.A. 77-187, S. 4, 9; P.A. 78-75, S. 2, 3; 78-153, S. 19, 32; P.A. 79-363, S. 17, 38; P.A. 81-424, S. 2; P.A. 84-319, S. 18, 49; P.A. 85-592, S. 4; P.A. 86-179, S. 16, 53; P.A. 87-509, S. 22, 24; P.A. 18-124, S. 1; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-4, S. 3.)
History: P.A. 77-187 changed time of receipt referring to before or after “five p.m.” of day before election to “eleven a.m.” where appearing, changed time of delivery by town clerk from “two p.m.” to “twelve noon” on election day; P.A. 78-75 changed “town” to “municipal” clerk where appearing, and provided for delivery of ballots at five p.m. on election day at request of registrars and in any case at close of polls; P.A. 78-153 replaced town clerk with municipal clerk; P.A. 79-363 changed “five” to “six” p.m. on election day where appearing; P.A. 81-424 provided for optional sorting and checking of ballots on a daily basis for seven days prior to the election; P.A. 84-319 divided section into Subsecs. and amended provisions to provide uniformity in procedures for checking and counting absentee ballots; P.A. 85-592 applied provisions of section to primary elections and referenda; P.A. 86-179 added subsection re counting of absentee ballots at polling place or central counting location and deleted provisions re timetable and procedures for counting; P.A. 87-509 prohibited central counting of absentee ballots if unaffiliated electors authorized to vote in primary of either of two parties, unless both parties decide to have central counting and designate same room for central counting; P.A. 18-124 deleted former Subsec. (a) re counting of absentee ballots and election official observing counting of ballots, redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as new Subsec. (a) and amended same to add exception re Subsec. (b), replace “may” with “shall, within existing resources”, delete provisions re prohibition on counting absentee ballots at central location unless both parties agree to designate same room for counting and delete provision re return of absentee ballots by voting district, added new Subsec. (b) re counting of absentee ballots in respective polling places and election official observing counting of absentee ballots, and made technical and conforming changes, effective June 6, 2018; Sept. Sp. Sess. P.A. 20-4 amended Subsec. (a) to add exception re Subsec. (c) and “in the manner provided in section 9-150a”, amended Subsec. (b) to add “in the manner provided in section 9-150a” and added Subsec. (c) re state election in 2020, effective October 2, 2020.