Sec. 9-159s. Notice to conservators and guardians re residents' voting opportunities and voting registration. Optional notice to person with power of attorney. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 9-159s. Notice to conservators and guardians re residents' voting opportunities and voting registration. Optional notice to person with power of attorney. (a) The administrator of an institution, as defined in subsection (a) of section 9-159q, a residential facility for the mentally retarded licensed pursuant to section 17a-227, or a community residence, as defined in section 19a-507a, shall use his or her best efforts to provide written notice pursuant to subsection (b) of this section to any conservator or guardian appointed to manage the affairs of a resident of such institution, facility or residence pursuant to sections 45a-644 to 45a-663, inclusive, or sections 45a-669 to 45a-684, inclusive, at least seven days prior to the date any voter registration or voting opportunity is presented to the resident with respect to a primary, referendum or election. As used in this section, "voter registration" or "voting opportunity" includes, but is not limited to, the solicitation or completion of: (1) An application for admission as an elector; or (2) an absentee ballot, regardless of whether supervised absentee ballot voting will take place at such institution. The administrator of such institution, facility or residence shall also use his or her best efforts to provide written notice to any such conservator or guardian at least seven days prior to the date when the resident may be brought to a polling place to vote in person. The notification provisions of this section shall not apply when a member of the resident's immediate family provides the resident with an absentee ballot application or brings the resident to a polling place to vote.

      (b) Any such notice shall indicate that the resident is entitled to vote or register to vote unless the resident is determined incompetent to do so by a probate court, or unless the registrars of voters or their designees jointly conclude at a supervised voting session that the resident declines to vote the ballot or they are unable to determine how the resident desires to vote the ballot, as provided in subsection (g) of section 9-159q. The notice shall also specify that a resident who requires assistance to vote in accordance with section 9-264 by reason of blindness, disability or inability to read or write may receive assistance from a person of the resident's choosing.

      (c) The administrator of any such institution, facility or residence may also provide such notice to a person with a power of attorney for a resident of the institution, facility or residence.

      (P.A. 02-83, S. 1.)

      History: (Revisor's note: In Subsec. (a), a reference to Sec. "45a-668" in the phrase "sections 45a-668 to 45a-684, inclusive," was changed editorially by the Revisors to Sec. "45a-669" to reflect the repeal of Sec. 45a-668 by P.A. 04-54, S. 8.)

      See Sec. 45a-703 re determinations of competency to vote.