Sec. 9-235. Unofficial checkers. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 9-235. Unofficial checkers. (a) At least forty-eight hours prior to each election to be held in a municipality, each registrar of voters in such municipality may appoint for each line of electors in each voting district therein, to serve as unofficial checkers, not more than four electors enrolled in the party with which the registrar is enrolled, provided a registrar may establish two or more shifts for unofficial checkers, in which case such registrar may appoint not more than four such unofficial checkers for each line of electors in each district for each shift. The persons so appointed shall be designees of the town chairman of the party with which such registrar is enrolled, provided such town chairman shall submit the names of such designees in writing to such registrar at least forty-eight hours before the election. A registrar of voters shall, at the request of the town chairman of the party with which such registrar is enrolled, change such appointments of designees of such town chairman, at any time before the closing of the polls on the day of an election.

      (b) Except for rows of candidates entitled to unofficial checkers under subsection (a) of this section, each group of three or more electors whose names appear in one single row on the voting machine ballot label in a voting district, may designate not more than two electors of the town in which the voting district is located, to serve as unofficial checkers on behalf of the candidates whose names appear in such row. Such candidates shall submit a list of the names of such designees to the registrars of voters at least forty-eight hours prior to the election. The registrars shall verify that each such designee is an elector of the town and shall appoint not more than two such designees to serve each such row of candidates. The registrars shall, at the request of such a group of three or more electors, change such designations at any time before the closing of the polls on the day of an election.

      (c) If such designation is not so made with respect to unofficial checkers for any voting district at an election, such registrar may appoint for such district not more than four electors of his own choice to serve as unofficial checkers, provided a registrar may establish two or more shifts for unofficial checkers, in which case such registrar may appoint not more than four such unofficial checkers for each line of electors in each district for each shift, such appointment to be made at least twenty-four hours before the election, provided any candidates entitled to unofficial checkers under subsection (b) of this section are deemed to have waived their rights under this section if names of designees are not filed in a timely manner.

      (d) No candidate for an office in an election may be an unofficial checker at such election. In municipalities divided into two voting districts in which registrars are elected for each district, such appointments may be made by the registrars in each district. Such unofficial checkers may remain within the polling place for the purpose of checking their own copy of the registry list to indicate the names of electors who have voted, and may enter and leave the restricted area surrounding the polling place during the hours of election or referendum for the purpose of taking such information outside said area or may communicate such information from the polling place by means of telephones provided by the party for which such checkers were appointed. If any such unofficial checker interferes with the orderly process of voting or attempts to influence any elector, he shall be evicted by the moderator. An unofficial checker appointed pursuant to this section may receive compensation from the municipality in which the election is held.

      (e) At least forty-eight hours before the opening of the polls at a referendum, the registrars of voters may jointly appoint for each voting district not more than eight electors of the town to serve as unofficial checkers, provided the registrars notify (1) each committee and person on whose behalf a political committee statement of organization or a certificate of exemption has been filed for the referendum with the town clerk in accordance with chapter 155 and (2) each other group known to be for and each other group known to be against the referendum issue, of the right of such committee, person or group to submit designees to the registrars of voters. Any person for or against a referendum question may request consideration for such appointment by notifying the registrars of voters at least forty-eight hours before the opening of the polls at the referendum, indicating his position on the referendum question. The registrars may appoint designees of one side alone if the other side chooses not to submit designees. A list of the names of persons who request such appointment and persons, groups or committees who are notified pursuant to this subsection shall be maintained by the registrars as a public record. If there are no requests or submissions for such appointments, the registrars shall not appoint any such unofficial checkers.

      (f) No election or referendum official shall perform the functions of an unofficial checker pursuant to this section.

      (1957, P.A. 494, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 498; 1969, P.A. 500, S. 4; 1971, P.A. 97, S. 1; P.A. 75-271; 75-488, S. 1, 3; P.A. 83-391, S. 16, 24; P.A. 87-471, S. 1; P.A. 88-173, S. 1; P.A. 93-384, S. 14; P.A. 95-171, S. 9, 14.)

      History: 1963 act changed time limit for appointing party checkers from 24 to 48 hours prior to election and increased number from two to four and authorized party chairmen to designate whom they wished to have serve; 1969 act provided for appointment of party checkers for each established shift; 1971 act provided for use of telephones provided by the party for use of party checkers; P.A. 75-271 changed term "party" to "unofficial" checkers, provided for unofficial checkers for groups having three or more names on single row on the ballot label and provided that no unofficial checkers receive compensation from the municipality in which election was held, for performing this function; P.A. 75-488 added references to checkers for each "line" of electors; P.A. 83-391 amended section to permit compensation of unofficial checkers and added Subsec. (e) prohibiting election officials from performing the functions of unofficial checkers; P.A. 87-471 amended Subsecs. (a) and (b) to authorize changes in appointments or designations of unofficial checkers; P.A. 88-173 amended Subsecs. (a) and (c) to allow a registrar to establish two or more shifts for unofficial checkers where previously two shifts for election officials under the provisions of Sec. 9-258a were permitted; P.A. 93-384 inserted "of designees of such town chairman" in last sentence of Subsec. (a), inserted new Subsec. (e) authorizing registrars to appoint unofficial checkers at a referendum and relettered former Subsec. (e) as Subsec. (f), adding reference to referendum officials; P.A. 95-171 amended Subsec. (d) by adding "two" re municipalities divided into voting districts, effective January 8, 1997.