CONNECTICUT — The Connecticut General Assembly passed five election-related bills during its 2026 regular session, which adjourned on May 6. Gov. Ned Lamont signed all five bills in May and June 2026, including HB 5001, which establishes no-excuse absentee voting.

Connecticut is the 29th state to offer no-excuse absentee or mail-in voting. In 2024, state voters approved a constitutional amendment to remove absentee voting excuse requirements from the state constitution by a margin of 58% to 42%. The Connecticut state House passed the final version of HB 5001 on April 23 by a vote of 101-49, and the state Senate approved it on May 6 by a vote of 25-11.

HB 5001 removes the requirement that voters meet one of five criteria to request an absentee ballot. It allows voters to request to automatically receive absentee ballot applications for each election. The bill also establishes a cure process for voters who do not sign the statement on their absentee ballot return envelope.

Additionally, HB 5001 prohibits law enforcement within 250 feet of election sites. It requires local election officials to notify the state attorney general and secretary of state if they receive a subpoena or warrant for election-related materials.

Another law, HB 5352, creates an exemption to the requirement that the State Elections Enforcement Commission dismiss a complaint if it does not issue a final decision within one year of receipt. This exemption applies to complaints received on or after Oct. 1, 2026, regarding potential violations of state election law.

SB 298 includes changes to the handling and tabulation of early voting ballots and requires the secretary of state to maintain a log of rejected absentee ballots. SB 393 requires a governor to issue a writ for a special election between seven and 17 days after the death of a U.S. senator, representative, or state legislator. It also requires a governor to issue a writ for a special election at least seven days after the death of a probate judge.

SB 477 requires a presidential elector to pledge to vote for their party's presidential nominee. Under this law, a presidential elector must be replaced if they do not vote for their party's presidential nominee.