# Connecticut SB 00491: AN ACT CONCERNING THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NO-EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING.

Connecticut SB 00491, AN ACT CONCERNING THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NO-EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING., is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Government Administration and Elections Committee; status failed, last action 2026-04-09 (File Number 581) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00491-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Connecticut SB 00491
- State: Connecticut
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: AN ACT CONCERNING THE SECRETARY OF THE STATE'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF NO-EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-03-12
- Last action: 2026-04-09, File Number 581
- Sponsor: Government Administration and Elections Committee
- Cosponsors: 2
- Subjects: government administration and elections
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 1 (0 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

To implement the Secretary of the State's recommendations for implementation of no-excuse absentee voting, including provisions regarding (1) removal of the statutory restrictions on absentee voting, (2) distribution of absentee ballot applications, (3) use of a single envelope and other aspects of returning absentee ballots, (4) ability to cure absentee ballots in cases where voters have not signed the statement on the return envelope, and (5) tracking of absentee ballots and applications throughout the process.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Government Administration and Elections Committee
- Cosponsor: Josh Elliott (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Kadeem Roberts (Democratic), House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-23 | Senate | GAE Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute) | pass |   |   |   |

## Actions (9)

- 2026-04-09: File Number 581 (legislature)
- 2026-04-09: Senate Calendar Number 347 (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate (Senate)
- 2026-04-09: Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office (legislature)
- 2026-04-02: Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 04/08/26 5:00 PM (legislature)
- 2026-03-23: Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office (legislature)
- 2026-03-23: Joint Favorable Substitute (legislature)
- 2026-03-13: Public Hearing 03/18 (legislature)
- 2026-03-12: Referred to Joint Committee on Government Administration and Elections (legislature)

## Bill text

- File No. 581, 2026-04-09: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/FC/PDF/2026SB-00491-R000581-FC.PDF)
- GAE Joint Favorable Substitute, 2026-03-23: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TOB/S/PDF/2026SB-00491-R01-SB.PDF)
- Raised Bill, 2026-03-12: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TOB/S/PDF/2026SB-00491-R00-SB.PDF)
- Bill Analysis For File Copy 581: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/BA/PDF/2026SB-00491-R000581-BA.PDF)
- Fiscal Note For File Copy 581: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/FN/PDF/2026SB-00491-R000581-FN.PDF)
- GAE Joint Fav. Rpt: [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/JFR/S/PDF/2026SB-00491-R00GAE-JFR.PDF)
- GAE Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute): [PDF](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TS/S/PDF/2026SB-00491-R00GAE-CV108-TS.PDF)

## Related bills

- SB 00488: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE TREASURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REVISIONS TO THE UNCLAIMED PROPERTY PROGRAM AND SECOND INJURY FUND. (signed)
- SB 00475: AN ACT CONCERNING JUDICIAL BRANCH OPERATIONS. (signed)
- SB 00484: AN ACT CONCERNING DISTRACTED DRIVING AND THE SAFE OPERATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE IN A HIGHWAY WORK ZONE. (signed)
- SB 00444: AN ACT AUTHORIZING CERTAIN MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES TO SERVE ON MUNICIPAL BOARDS OF FINANCE. (signed)
- SB 00370: AN ACT CONCERNING THE HOURLY COMPENSATION FOR ADJUNCT FIRE INSTRUCTORS. (signed)
- SB 00400: AN ACT CONCERNING PROBATE COURT OPERATIONS. (signed)

## Sources
- [File No. 581 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/FC/PDF/2026SB-00491-R000581-FC.PDF)
- [GAE Joint Favorable Substitute (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TOB/S/PDF/2026SB-00491-R01-SB.PDF)
- [Raised Bill (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TOB/S/PDF/2026SB-00491-R00-SB.PDF)
- [Bill Analysis For File Copy 581 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/BA/PDF/2026SB-00491-R000581-BA.PDF)
- [Fiscal Note For File Copy 581 (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/FN/PDF/2026SB-00491-R000581-FN.PDF)
- [GAE Joint Fav. Rpt (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/JFR/S/PDF/2026SB-00491-R00GAE-JFR.PDF)
- [GAE Vote Tally Sheet (Joint Favorable Substitute) (PDF)](https://www.cga.ct.gov/2026/TS/S/PDF/2026SB-00491-R00GAE-CV108-TS.PDF)

## Related
- [SB 00488: AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE TREASURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REVISIONS TO THE UNCLAI…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00488-2026)
- [SB 00475: AN ACT CONCERNING JUDICIAL BRANCH OPERATIONS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00475-2026)
- [SB 00484: AN ACT CONCERNING DISTRACTED DRIVING AND THE SAFE OPERATION OF A MOTOR VEHICLE…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00484-2026)
- [SB 00444: AN ACT AUTHORIZING CERTAIN MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES TO SERVE ON MUNICIPAL BOARDS OF…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00444-2026)
- [SB 00370: AN ACT CONCERNING THE HOURLY COMPENSATION FOR ADJUNCT FIRE INSTRUCTORS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00370-2026)
- [SB 00400: AN ACT CONCERNING PROBATE COURT OPERATIONS.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00400-2026)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/CT-SB00491-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).