State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > Connecticut > Title9 > Chap147 > Sec9-241

      Sec. 9-241. Examination and approval of machines by secretary. Subsequent alteration made by voting machine companies. Use of hole-punch voting machines prohibited. Regulations. Agreement with The University of Connecticut or Connecticut State University System. (a) Any person owning or holding an interest in any voting machine, as defined in subsection (w) of section 9-1, may apply to the Secretary of the State to examine such machine and report on its accuracy and efficiency. The Secretary of the State shall examine the machine and determine whether, in the Secretary's opinion, the kind of machine so examined (1) meets the requirements of section 9-242, (2) can be used at elections, primaries and referenda held pursuant to this title, and (3) in the case of an electronic voting machine examined by the Secretary after the Voting Technology Standards Board submits the report required under section 9-242c, complies with the standards adopted by said board under section 9-242c. If the Secretary of the State determines that the machine can be so used, such machine may be adopted for such use. No machine not so approved shall be so used. Each application shall be accompanied by a fee of one hundred dollars and the Secretary of the State shall not approve any machine until such fee and the expenses incurred by the Secretary in making the examination have been paid by the person making such application. Any voting machine company that has had its voting machine approved and that subsequently alters such machine in any way shall provide the Secretary of the State with notice of such alterations, including a description thereof and a statement of the purpose of such alterations. If any such alterations appear to materially affect the accuracy, appearance or efficiency of the machine, or modify the machine so that it can no longer be used at elections, primaries or referenda held pursuant to this title, at the discretion of the Secretary of the State, the company shall submit such alterations for inspection and approval, at its own expense, before such altered machines may be used. The Secretary of the State may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, concerning examination and approval of voting machines under this section. No voting machine that records votes by means of holes punched in designated voting response locations may be approved or used at any election, primary or referendum held pursuant to this title.

      (b) The Secretary of the State may enter into an agreement with The University of Connecticut or a member of the Connecticut State University System to perform or assist in performing the following functions: (1) Any technical review, testing or research associated with the certification of voting equipment, (2) any technical review, testing or research associated with the decertification of voting equipment, (3) the development of standards for the use of voting equipment during any election, primary or referenda, (4) the development of standards to ensure the accuracy of voting equipment, (5) the development of standards and procedures for the security, set-up and storage of voting equipment, (6) the development of standards, procedures and oversight of post-election audits, (7) the development of standards for recanvass procedures to ensure the accuracy and reliability of any such recanvass, (8) the development of standards and procedures for the testing, security and use of an election management system, (9) the development of standards and procedures for the programming of ballots and voting equipment, (10) research and analysis of data formats for ballot programming and election-related electronic data, and (11) the development of any other standards necessary to protect the integrity of voting equipment.

      (1949 Rev., S. 1190; 1953, S. 718d; P.A. 73-304; P.A. 84-319, S. 33, 49; P.A. 93-384, S. 7, 28; P.A. 03-7, S. 2; P.A. 05-235, S. 14; P.A. 07-194, S. 7.)

      History: P.A. 73-304 provided for notice to secretary of the state by any voting machine company of alterations to already approved machines under certain conditions; P.A. 84-319 amended section to reflect changes made in Secs. 9-241a and 9-242; P.A. 93-384 authorized the secretary of the state to adopt regulations re examination and approval of machines, effective June 29, 1993; P.A. 03-7 prohibited use of voting machines that record votes by means of holes punched in designated locations and made technical changes, effective April 29, 2003; P.A. 05-235 inserted Subdiv. (1) and (2) designators, added Subdiv. (3) re compliance of electronic voting machines with standards adopted by Voting Technology Standards Board and made technical changes; P.A. 07-194 designated existing provisions as Subsec. (a) and added Subsec. (b) re agreement with The University of Connecticut or member of Connecticut State University system, effective July 5, 2007.