Fasano, Yaccarino Explain Opposition to Early Voting Ballot Question

Hartford, CT – State Senator Len Fasano (R-North Haven) and State Representative Dave Yaccarino (R- North Haven) released the following joint statement today re: the state ballot question proposing constitutional changes to allow early voting in future elections.

“This is not a question about access to voting. This is a question about eliminating constitutional protections and giving the legislature an open invitation to revamp the constitution however the majority of either party sees fit. We oppose this amendment because it would not only magnify the risk of system abuse and fraud, but it would also grant lawmakers too much freedom in changing voting rules without public input or consent.

“The proposed changes, if approved, would enable the General Assembly to remove important constitutional protections that guard our elections from fraud and ensure that everyone is given equal and fair access to voting. This question would not make any immediate changes to the constitution. Rather, it would give the legislature complete freedom to make changes to voter rights in any way they chose – a freedom that would allow whatever party is in the majority to change our voting laws without consulting the people on specifics.

“In recent years, we’ve seen chilling abuses of our voting system. From illegal absentee ballots in New Haven to voter fraud in Bridgeport, these events show that we should be strengthening, not weakening, voter protections. If this ballot question is passed, the potential for fraud would grow significantly.

“Currently, absentee ballots can only be used by people physically unable to get to the polls because of age, disability, military service or absence from the town during voting hours. Polls are open for extended hours on Election Day to allow everyone to vote before or after work. If absentee ballots were accessible to more people and if early voting was allowed, we would be opening up the doors to new kinds of abuse and loopholes would be inevitable.

“The sad truth is that there will always be people who try to play the system and undermine the voting rules that keep elections fair. But that does not mean we can ignore these individuals. We have to make sure we do whatever we can to sure up our system and protect the election process. The November ballot question puts too many of our protections in jeopardy, which is why we cannot support the measure.”