Connecticut lawmakers are considering allowing early voting during state elections and eliminating cross endorsements by minor parties. “I strongly support early voting,” said Secretary of State Denise Merrill on Monday.”We need to modernize our voting practices. If a voter has made up their mind, why wait till [Election Day]? More than 30 other states have enacted early voting with great success.” Through testimony and remarks submitted Monday to the government administration and elections committee, early voting garnered considerable support, while eliminating cross endorsements drew sizable opposition.
“I think this is a solution in search of a problem,” said Miles Rapoport, a former Connecticut secretary of state, referring to ending cross endorsements.
“This is a step backward. By preventing cross endorsement, it will cast minor parties into a completely irrelevant force,” said Rapoport, who now runs DEMOS, a policy think tank in New York City
Under the early voting bill, a municipal building would be used for balloting for up to eight days before the election. Another section mandates that voters cannot be made to stand in line for more than 15 minutes to cast a ballot.
A separate bill working its way through committees would establish a pilot program for early voting during municipal elections.
Full Article: Lawmakers mull early voting and cross endorsements – Connecticut Post.