Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont Names New Secretary of the State

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont on Thursday appointed Mark Kohler as the state’s new secretary of the state.

Kohler will take the place of former Secretary Denise Merrill, who announced her resignation in order to take time to care for her husband.

Read More

Connecticut Secretary of State Issues Guidance Broadening Absentee Voting Eligibility, Citing New Law

Denise Merrill

Connecticut Secretary of State Denise Merrill (D) on Friday issued an opinion regarding a new statute that expands absentee voting, emphasizing that voters need not themselves be sick or away all day to vote by mail.

Merrill said she issued the interpretation to “more closely conform” the law, which Gov. Ned Lamont (D) signed on April 8, to Article Sixth, Section 7 of the Connecticut Constitution which states, “In all elections of officers of the state, or members of the General Assembly, the votes of the electors shall be by ballot.”

Read More

Connecticut Senate Votes to Expand Absentee Voting

Connecticut’s Democrat-controlled Senate this week sent sent legislation to expand absentee voting to Gov. Ned Lamont’s (D) desk.

The bill stops short of total no-excuse absentee voting—which the Connecticut Constitution prohibits—but significantly broadens the categories of those permitted to mail in their ballots. Not only will eligibility apply to those who are ill, disabled or serving actively in the Armed Forces, but it will also include those who are absent “from the town of such elector’s or person’s voting residence; [during all of the hours of voting].” (This component largely pertains to the many state residents who work in New York City.)

Read More

Connecticut Rep. Joe Courtney Has Raised Less Than $500,000 for 2022 Election Cycle

Connecticut U.S. Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT-02) has taken in less than $500,000 for the 2022 election cycle.

As of the December 31, 2021 deadline, FEC records show that Courtney raised $482,821.54 and has $959,616.55 cash on hand in the bank. Another Democratic candidate for the Second District, U.S. Army Veteran Anthony DiLizia has raised less than $5,000 for the Democrat primary and currently has under $1,000 on hand.

Read More

First Muslim Woman Elected to Connecticut State House

Democrat Maryam Khan became the first Muslim woman elected to the Connecticut State House Tuesday after winning a special election to the 5th House District of Windsor and Hartford.

Khan won nearly 75 percent of the votes of 851 voters, with 8.7 percent turnout in the district. She defeated Charles W. Jackson (R) and Lawrence O. Jaggon, a petitioning candidate.

Read More