After hearing an update on how New Haven will navigate voting this year, alders passed a resolution urging the state legislature to relax restrictions on absentee balloting.
The Board of Alders City Services and Environmental Policy Committee of the Board of Alders voted 4 – 2 in favor of the resolution at a committee hearing held Thursday night. It will now go to the full Board of Alders for approval.
“BE IT RESOLVED that the New Haven Board of Alder hereby urges New Haven’s delegation to the General Assembly to safeguard the right to vote by amending the criteria for applying for an absentee ballot,” reads the resolution, which was amended at the hearing.
“BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, duly adopted by the Board of Alders, be forwarded to New Haven’s delegation to the Connecticut General Assembly.”
According to Secretary of State Denise Merrill, who attended Thursday’s virtual hearing, Connecticut’s restrictions are “the most restrictive” in the country, and result in a low percentage of absentee ballots cast.
Currently under state law, citizens can vote absentee if they are out of town on Election Day, have religious commitments, are physically disabled, serve actively in the armed forces, or are ill. These restrictions do not allow people to vote absentee due to underlying conditions or fears about contracting illness at polling locations — new concerns brought to light by the coronavirus pandemic.
Absentee voting restrictions have been relaxed for the Aug. 11 primaries due to an executive order by Gov. Lamont; voters registered with major parties will get absentee ballot applications in the mail and will be able to obtain a ballot due to health fears related to the coronavirus.
But restrictions remain in place for the Nov. 3 general election. The resolution therefore looks toward November’s general election, at which time alders say the virus itself or concerns about the virus will still be circulating.
The resolution alsdo looks toward longer-term permanent changes allowing universal mail-in voting. That will require an amendment to the state constitution, beginning with a vote by the state legislature followed by a voter referendum.
Thursday night’s alders meeting.
Downtown Alder Abby Roth, who presented the resolution, urged the committee not to be “complacent” about slowing rates of Covid-19 infections and risk a “reactionary” policy if a second wave arrives in the fall. Other alders agreed that citizens should not have to make a decision between voting and risking their health.
Secretary of State Denise Merrill agreed that she is “very concerned” about voters facing such a decision. Merrill cited other safety precautions to be taken at in-person polling sites, including enforcement of social distancing and personal protective equipment for poll workers. These additional expenses will be paid for in part by federal funding from the federal CARES Act.
A handful of residents shared testimony in support of the resolution, echoing calls to expand or lift absentee voting restrictions and calling for a more robust voter information campaign.
Alders Honda Smith and Gerald Antunes voted against the resolution. Smith wanted more “clarity” and a chance for further “discussion,” she later told the Independent. Antunes said he hopes the resolution would be amended to fix some “convoluted” wording when brought before the Board of Alders meeting in July. Aside from the need for fine-tuning, both Smith and Antunes said they agree wholeheartedly with the intent behind the resolution.
