Voters

AARP Connecticut State Director Nora Duncan provided the following statement in response to the biennial budget Governor Lamont proposed today:

Connecticut voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing lawmakers to introduce early voting, and recent laws make it easier to vote absentee.

Many important races will be decided in the Nov. 8 election, including the offices of the governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general, as well as seats in the U.S. and Connecticut Senate and House.

Connecticut’s Nov. 8 general election includes federal races for the U.S. House and Senate, plus contests for the state legislature, governor, attorney general and several other offices.

For the Connecticut primaries on Tuesday, Aug. 9, and the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 8, it will be easier to vote due to new laws that have expanded eligibility for absentee voting to include sickness from COVID-19. 

AARP’s mission is to empower people to choose how they live as they age, and an important part of choosing how we live as we age is being able to choose where we live as we age. Most older adults want to remain in their own home and community as they age, but financial barriers and limited service options can make this difficult. We were pleased that the Connecticut legislature passed a state budget and several pieces of legislation that will support older adults who wish to age in place.

AARP Connecticut issued the following comment in response to the passage of House Bill 5262 in the Senate:

AARP Connecticut will work with lawmakers during the state’s 2022 legislative session to support and advocate on a variety of important policies and issues that affect residents and their families.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, AARP Connecticut and other organizations fought for changes that will allow Connecticut voters to cast their ballots in 2021 without risking their health. Once again, like in 2020, every Connecticut voter will have access to an absentee ballot by checking the COVID-19 reason on their absentee ballot application. This change will be in effect through the November 2nd, 2021 municipal elections.

2021 was a very unusual year at the Connecticut General Assembly. The Connecticut Capitol may have been closed to the public because of COVID-19 restrictions, but AARP Connecticut staff and volunteers were still vocal and active, virtually advocating on behalf of older adults and submitting nearly 50 pieces of legislative testimony. Below is a summary of the AARP Connecticut-supported bills that successfully passed both the House and Senate and are expected to be signed into law.