CT Takes New Steps to Protect Integrity of Early Voting, Elections
/Connecticut voters who take advantage of early voting this fall will notice something different, and familiar. Instead of sealing their ballot into an envelope to be counted later — part of Connecticut’s early voting practice thus far — early voters will slide their ballot directly into a tabulator, just as they do on Election Day.
The change, which became law this week when Governor Ned Lamont signed Senate Bill 298, implements the next step in early voting, which was established in 2023 when Connecticut invested $20 million in new tabulators to improve its elections infrastructure.
Other measures now law from the Governor signing Senate Bill 298 include additional updates designed to strengthen election security, improve transparency, and protect voter privacy. These include:
Updated recount procedures to ensure close races are reviewed consistently across all municipalities
Stronger safeguards around the release and use of voter registration data
Clearer statewide standards for early voting and same-day registration locations
Expanded authority for the Secretary of the State to resolve disputes before they disrupt an election
Together, the changes reflect what is described as Connecticut’s steady, incremental approach to election reform: refine what works, tighten what can be improved, and respond directly to voter experience.
“These updates are, in part, about confidence,” said Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas. “They strengthen how ballots are handled and how voter information is protected. We want every eligible voter to securely cast a ballot and walk away knowing it has been accurately counted.”
Thomas, who will be speaking to members of the CT RIver Valley Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday afternoon and the West Hartford Chamber of Commerce on Thursday this week, added that in today’s national climate, maintaining voter confidence requires more than good policy.
It requires proactive protection before confusion spreads and before misinformation takes hold, she pointed out.
Toward that end, the Secretary has proposed establishing a $2.5 million Connecticut Voter Protection Fund. The statewide initiative would focus on voter education, rapid-response communications, and public reassurance in the lead-up to the 2026 election. The proposed Fund would support:
A coordinated statewide voter information campaign explaining voter eligibility laws, how to properly cast ballots, and general information on how Connecticut ballots are secured, counted, and audited
Rapid-response communications to address viral misinformation or emerging threats in real time
Multilingual outreach to ensure all communities understand their voting rights and privacy protections
Clear guidance for voters about what to expect at polling places and how to report concerns
“More and more, voters are telling me they’re afraid that if they vote, their private information will be stolen or that their ballot somehow won’t be counted,” Secretary Thomas said. “That fear concerns me deeply, because in Connecticut, our elections are secure. We use paper ballots. Our voting equipment is not connected to the internet. We conduct rigorous pre-election testing and post-election audits. Every municipality administers elections with bipartisan oversight.”
Secretary Thomas noted that federal election cybersecurity briefings and support services that states have historically relied upon have become less consistent and less predictable, increasing the responsibility on states to ensure voters receive clear, accurate information from trusted local sources.
“When federal guidance, funding, or communication channels shift, states must be prepared to fill the gap,” she said. “Connecticut has stepped in before when federal support became uncertain. Protecting voter confidence must be our next step.”
At $2.5 million, Secretary Thomas explained, the proposed investment is modest compared to the long-term cost of rebuilding public trust once it is eroded.
“Confidence is far less expensive to protect than it is to restore,” she said. “Acting now ensures that Connecticut voters hear accurate information from trusted, local sources and aren’t being misled by viral posts or narratives that don’t reflect how Connecticut’s elections actually work.”
“This is not about politics,” Secretary Thomas added. “It is about ensuring that Connecticut — not outside actors, not misinformation, and not uncertainty — defines the integrity of our elections. Acting early demonstrates that Connecticut does not wait for instability to reach our communities. We prevent it.”
