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ACLU Sues To Ensure All Connecticut Voters Receive Mail-In Ballots

Matt Rourke
/
AP
A father and son drop off their mail-in ballots for the Pennsylvania primary election in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Connecticut Secretary of the State Denise Merrill wants to make absentee ballots available to all registered voters during the pandemic.

The ACLU of Connecticut has filed a federal lawsuit that seeks to make absentee mail-in voting available to every eligible state voter during the COVID-19 pandemic. An earlier lawsuit filed in the state Supreme Court claims such a move would violate Connecticut’s constitution.

Linda Szynkowicz is the founder of Fight Voter Fraud, the local political not-for-profit that filed the state Supreme Court lawsuit. She claims Connecticut’s constitution limits the use of absentee ballots.

“And if we allow the secretary of state to change the law, as well as the governor, to change the law against our constitution, what other rights in our constitution are going to go out the window as well?”

Secretary of the State Denise Merrill won’t comment on the ongoing lawsuits. But she has said that no Connecticut voter should be forced to choose between protecting their health and casting their ballot during the pandemic. Merrill and Governor Ned Lamont have asked state lawmakers to pass legislation that would allow for the unrestricted use of absentee ballots. when they meet in a special session later this month. 

As WSHU Public Radio’s award-winning senior political reporter, Ebong Udoma draws on his extensive tenure to delve deep into state politics during a major election year.
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