Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-7b

Current with legislation from the 2024 Regular and Special Sessions.

Section 9-7b - (Formerly Sec. 9-368b). State Elections Enforcement Commission's duties and powers

(a) The State Elections Enforcement Commission shall have the following duties and powers:

(1) To make investigations on its own initiative or with respect to statements filed with the commission by the Secretary of the State, any town clerk or any registrar of voters or upon written complaint under oath by any individual, with respect to alleged violations of any provision of the general statutes relating to any election or referendum, any primary held pursuant to section 9-423, 9-425 or 9-464 or any primary held pursuant to a special act, and to hold hearings when the commission deems necessary to investigate violations of any provisions of the general statutes relating to any such election, primary or referendum, and for the purpose of such hearings the commission may administer oaths, examine witnesses and receive oral and documentary evidence, and shall have the power to subpoena witnesses under procedural rules the commission shall adopt, to compel their attendance and to require the production for examination of any books and papers which the commission deems relevant to any matter under investigation or in question. Until the commission determines that it is necessary to investigate a violation, commission members and staff shall keep confidential any information concerning a complaint or preliminary investigation, except upon request of the treasurer, deputy treasurer, chairperson or candidate affiliated with a committee that is the subject of the complaint or preliminary investigation. In connection with its investigation of any alleged violation of any provision of chapter 145, or of any provision of section 9-359 or section 9-359a, the commission shall also have the power to subpoena any municipal clerk and to require the production for examination of any absentee ballot, inner and outer envelope from which any such ballot has been removed, depository envelope containing any such ballot or inner or outer envelope as provided in sections 9-150a and 9-150b and any other record, form or document as provided in section 9-150b, in connection with the election, primary or referendum to which the investigation relates. In case of a refusal to comply with any subpoena issued pursuant to this subsection or to testify with respect to any matter upon which that person may be lawfully interrogated, the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford, on application of the commission, may issue an order requiring such person to comply with such subpoena and to testify; failure to obey any such order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt thereof. In any matter under investigation which concerns the operation or inspection of or outcome recorded on any voting tabulator, the commission may issue an order to the registrars of voters to impound such tabulator until the investigation is completed;

(2) To levy a civil penalty not to exceed (A) two thousand dollars per offense against any person the commission finds to be in violation of any provision of chapter 145, part V of chapter 146, part I of chapter 147, chapter 148, section 7-9, section 9-12, subsection (a) of section 9-17, section 9-19b, 9-19e, 9-19g to 9-19k, inclusive, 9-20, 9-21, 9-23a, 9-23g, 9-23h, 9-23j to 9-23o, inclusive, 9-23r, 9-26, 9-31a, 9-32, 9-35, 9-35b, 9-35c, 9-40a, 9-42, 9-43, 9-50a, 9-56, 9-59, 9-163aa, 9-168d, 9-170, 9-171, 9-172, 9-232i to 9-232o, inclusive, 9-404a to 9-404c, inclusive, 9-409, 9-410, 9-412, 9-436, 9-436a, 9-453e to 9-453h, inclusive, 9-453k or 9-453o, (B) two thousand dollars per offense against any town clerk, registrar of voters, an appointee or designee of a town clerk or registrar of voters, or any other election or primary official whom the commission finds to have failed to discharge a duty imposed by any provision of chapter 146 or 147, (C) two thousand dollars per offense against any person the commission finds to have (i) improperly voted in any election, primary or referendum, and (ii) not been legally qualified to vote in such election, primary or referendum, or (D) two thousand dollars per offense or twice the amount of any improper payment or contribution, whichever is greater, against any person the commission finds to be in violation of any provision of chapter 155 or 157. The commission may levy a civil penalty against any person under subparagraph (A), (B), (C) or (D) of this subdivision only after giving the person an opportunity to be heard at a hearing conducted in accordance with sections 4-176e to 4-184, inclusive. In the case of failure to pay any such penalty levied pursuant to this subsection within thirty days of written notice sent by certified or registered mail to such person, the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford, on application of the commission, may issue an order requiring such person to pay the penalty imposed and such court costs, state marshal's fees and attorney's fees incurred by the commission as the court may determine. Any civil penalties paid, collected or recovered under subparagraph (D) of this subdivision for a violation of any provision of chapter 155 applying to the office of the Treasurer shall be deposited on a pro rata basis in any trust funds, as defined in section 3-13c, affected by such violation.

(3)

(A) To issue an order requiring any person the commission finds to have received any contribution or payment which is prohibited by any of the provisions of chapter 155 or 157, after an opportunity to be heard at a hearing conducted in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-176e to 4-184, inclusive, to return such contribution or payment to the donor or payor, or to remit such contribution or payment to the state for deposit in the General Fund or the Citizens' Election Fund, whichever is deemed necessary to effectuate the purposes of chapter 155 or 157, as the case may be;

(B) To issue an order when the commission finds that an intentional violation of any provision of chapter 155 or 157 has been committed, after an opportunity to be heard at a hearing conducted in accordance with sections 4-176e to 4-184, inclusive, which order may contain one or more of the following sanctions:

(i) Removal of a treasurer, deputy treasurer or solicitor;

(ii) prohibition on serving as a treasurer, deputy treasurer or solicitor; and

(iii) in the case of a party committee or a political committee, suspension of all political activities, including, but not limited to, the receipt of contributions and the making of expenditures, provided the commission may not order such a suspension unless the commission has previously ordered the removal of the treasurer and notifies the officers of the committee that the commission is considering such suspension;

(C) To issue an order revoking any person's eligibility to be appointed or serve as an election, primary or referendum official or unofficial checker or in any capacity at the polls on the day of an election, primary or referendum, when the commission finds such person has intentionally violated any provision of the general statutes relating to the conduct of an election, primary or referendum, after an opportunity to be heard at a hearing conducted in accordance with sections 4-176e to 4-184, inclusive;

(D) To issue an order to enforce the provisions of the Help America Vote Act, P.L. 107-252, as amended from time to time, as the commission deems appropriate;

(E) To issue an order following the commission's determination of the right of an individual to be or remain an elector when such determination is made (i) pursuant to an appeal taken to the commission from a decision of the registrars of voters or board of admission of electors under section 9-31l, or (ii) following the commission's investigation pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection;

(F) To issue a cease and desist order for violation of any general statute or regulation under the commission's jurisdiction and to take reasonable actions necessary to compel compliance with such statute or regulation;

(4) To issue an order to a candidate committee that receives moneys from the Citizens' Election Fund pursuant to chapter 157, to comply with the provisions of chapter 157, after an opportunity to be heard at a hearing conducted in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-176e to 4-184, inclusive;

(5)

(A) To inspect or audit at any reasonable time and upon reasonable notice the accounts or records of any treasurer or principal treasurer, except as provided for in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, as required by chapter 155 or 157 and to audit any such election, primary or referendum held within the state; provided, (i) (I) not later than two months preceding the day of an election at which a candidate is seeking election, the commission shall complete any audit it has initiated in the absence of a complaint that involves a committee of the same candidate from a previous election, and (II) during the two-month period preceding the day of an election at which a candidate is seeking election, the commission shall not initiate an audit in the absence of a complaint that involves a committee of the same candidate from a previous election, and (ii) the commission shall not audit any caucus, as defined in subdivision (1) of section 9-372.

(B) When conducting an audit after an election or primary, the commission shall randomly audit not more than fifty per cent of candidate committees, which shall be selected through the process of a weighted lottery conducted by the commission that takes into account the selection frequency of a district served by the office of state senator or state representative, as applicable, for the immediately preceding three regular elections for such office and increases or decreases the likelihood that such district will be selected for audit based on such selection frequency, except that the commissioner shall audit all candidate committees for candidates for a state-wide office.

(C) The commission shall notify, in writing, any committee of a candidate for an office in the general election, or of any candidate who had a primary for nomination to any such office not later than May thirty-first of the year immediately following such election. In no case shall the commission audit any such candidate committee that the commission fails to provide notice to in accordance with this subparagraph;

(6) To attempt to secure voluntary compliance, by informal methods of conference, conciliation and persuasion, with any provision of chapter 149, 151 to 153, inclusive, 155, 156 or 157 or any other provision of the general statutes relating to any such election, primary or referendum;

(7) To consult with the Secretary of the State, the Chief State's Attorney or the Attorney General on any matter which the commission deems appropriate;

(8) To refer to the Chief State's Attorney evidence bearing upon violation of any provision of chapter 149, 151 to 153, inclusive, 155, 156 or 157 or any other provision of the general statutes pertaining to or relating to any such election, primary or referendum;

(9) To refer to the Attorney General evidence for injunctive relief and any other ancillary equitable relief in the circumstances of subdivision (8) of this subsection. Nothing in this subdivision shall preclude a person who claims that he is aggrieved by a violation of any provision of chapter 152 or any other provision of the general statutes relating to referenda from pursuing injunctive and any other ancillary equitable relief directly from the Superior Court by the filing of a complaint;

(10) To refer to the Attorney General evidence pertaining to any ruling which the commission finds to be in error made by election officials in connection with any election, primary or referendum. Those remedies and procedures available to parties claiming to be aggrieved under the provisions of sections 9-323, 9-324, 9-328 and 9-329a shall apply to any complaint brought by the Attorney General as a result of the provisions of this subdivision;

(11) To consult with the United States Department of Justice and the United States Attorney for Connecticut on any investigation pertaining to a violation of this section, section 9-12, subsection (a) of section 9-17 or section 9-19b, 9-19e, 9-19g, 9-19h, 9-19i, 9-20, 9-21, 9-23a, 9-23g, 9-23h, 9-23j to 9-23o, inclusive, 9-26, 9-31a, 9-32, 9-35, 9-35b, 9-35c, 9-40a, 9-42, 9-43, 9-50a, 9-56 or 9-59 and to refer to said department and attorney evidence bearing upon any such violation for prosecution under the provisions of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as amended from time to time;

(12) To inspect reports filed with town clerks pursuant to chapter 155 and refer to the Chief State's Attorney evidence bearing upon any violation of law therein if such violation was committed knowingly and wilfully;

(13) To intervene in any action brought pursuant to the provisions of sections 9-323, 9-324, 9-328 and 9-329a upon application to the court in which such action is brought when in the opinion of the court it is necessary to preserve evidence of possible criminal violation of the election laws;

(14) To adopt and publish regulations pursuant to chapter 54 to carry out the provisions of section 9-7a, this section, and chapters 155 and 157; to issue upon request and publish advisory opinions in the Connecticut Law Journal upon the requirements of chapters 155 and 157, and to make recommendations to the General Assembly concerning suggested revisions of the election laws;

(15) To the extent that the Elections Enforcement Commission is involved in the investigation of alleged or suspected criminal violations of any provision of the general statutes pertaining to or relating to any such election, primary or referendum and is engaged in such investigation for the purpose of presenting evidence to the Chief State's Attorney, the Elections Enforcement Commission shall be deemed a law enforcement agency for purposes of subdivision (3) of subsection (b) of section 1-210, provided nothing in this section shall be construed to exempt the Elections Enforcement Commission in any other respect from the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act, as defined in section 1-200;

(16) To enter into such contractual agreements as may be necessary for the discharge of its duties, within the limits of its appropriated funds and in accordance with established procedures;

(17) To provide the Secretary of the State with notice and copies of all decisions rendered by the commission in contested cases, advisory opinions and declaratory judgments, at the time such decisions, judgments and opinions are made or issued;

(18) To receive and determine complaints filed under the Help America Vote Act, P.L. 107-252, as amended from time to time, by any person who believes there is a violation of any provision of Title III of P.L. 107-252, as amended. Any complaint filed under this subdivision shall be in writing, notarized and signed and sworn by the person filing the complaint. At the request of the complainant, there shall be a hearing on the record, conducted in accordance with sections 4-167e to 4-184, inclusive. The commission shall make a final determination with respect to a complaint prior to the expiration of the ninety-day period beginning on the date the complaint is filed, unless the complainant consents to a longer period for making such determination. If the commission fails to meet the applicable deadline under this subdivision with respect to a complaint, the commission shall resolve the complaint within sixty days after the expiration of such ninety-day period under an alternative dispute resolution procedure established by the commission.

(b) In the case of a refusal to comply with an order of the commission issued pursuant to subdivision (3) or (4) of subsection (a) of this section, the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford, on application of the commission, may issue a further order to comply. Failure to obey such further order may be punished by the court as a contempt thereof.

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 9-7b

(P.A. 74-213, S. 2, 9; P.A. 75-202; 75-571, S. 32, 34; P.A. 76-249; P.A. 78-61, S. 1-4; 78-88, S. 1, 2; 78-106; 78-280, S. 6, 127; P.A. 79-363, S. 32, 38; 79-631, S. 6, 111; P.A. 80-212, S. 1, 4; P.A. 81-359, S. 1, 2; 81-447, S. 18, 23; P.A. 82-472, S. 23, 183; P.A. 83-583, S. 1, 6; P.A. 84-319, S. 4, 49; 84-437, S. 1, 4; 84-511, S. 3, 15; P.A. 85-489, S. 1; P.A. 86-1, S. 1, 5; 86-412, S. 1, 2; P.A. 87-532, S. 1, 10; P.A. 88-113; 88-230, S. 1, 12; 88-317, S. 52, 107; 88-347, S. 3, 4; P.A. 90-98, S. 1, 2; P.A. 93-30 , S. 8 , 14 ; 93-142 , S. 4 , 7 , 8 ; 93-192 , S. 1 , 3 ; 93-386 , S. 3 , 5 ; P.A. 94-121 , S. 31 , 33 ; P.A. 95-122 , S. 1 ; 95-220 , S. 4 -6; P.A. 97-47 , S. 17 ; 97-107 , S. 1 , 2 ; 97-154 , S. 2 , 27 ; P.A. 00-43 , S. 10 , 19 ; P.A. 01-195 , S. 15 , 181 ; P.A. 03-223 , S. 2 ; 03-241 , S. 53 , 65 ; P.A. 04-74 , S. 4 ; P.A. 05-235 , S. 6 ; Oct. 25 Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-5 , S. 42; P.A. 08-2 , S. 1 ; P.A. 11-20 , S. 1 ; 11-48 , S. 300 , 301 ; 11-173 , S. 28 ; P.A. 12-56 , S. 12 ; P.A. 13-180 , S. 12 , 24 ; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2 , S. 275 .)

Amended by P.A. 23-0204, S. 182 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2023 Regular Session, eff. 12/1/2023. Changed effective date of amendment by P.A. 23-0005.

Amended by P.A. 23-0005, S. 32 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2023 Regular Session, eff. 7/1/2023.

Amended by P.A. 17-0002, S. 275 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2017 Special Session, eff. 10/31/2017.

Cited. 204 C. 551 . Subsec. (a): Composition of Elections Enforcement Commission as provided by Subsec. and Sec. 9-7a(a) does not violate separation of powers doctrine. 255 Conn. 78 .