As a Connecticut resident, I value a democracy where every eligible vote counts and every citizen can have full confidence in the results. Fair, secure, and transparent elections are essential to our shared civic life. That is why I am concerned about legislation passed this year in Hartford that expanded no-excuse absentee voting and placed greater emphasis on access than on safeguards.
I appreciate the Republican representatives who voted “no” on these changes. Their position is grounded in facts, recent experiences here in Connecticut, and simple common sense. Weakening existing safeguards does not truly expand voting rights — it risks undermining them by creating new opportunities for fraud and eroding public confidence.
Nationwide, inaccurate voter rolls remain a serious concern. Audits in states such as Virginia, Texas, Georgia, and Michigan have identified non-citizens, deceased individuals, and duplicate registrations still listed as active voters. These are not minor clerical issues; they require consistent maintenance to keep elections clean. Relaxing standards in Connecticut would overlook these important lessons.
Mail-in and absentee ballots carry known vulnerabilities.
Hellbound and Down 