OLR Report 2014-R-0221 explains how the law requires the Office of Legislative Research to prepare a concise explanatory text describing the content and purpose of a proposed constitutional amendment that will be voted on by electors at a general election. The text is subject to approval by the Government Administration and Elections (GAE) Committee—the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance over constitutional amendments. Once approved, the secretary of the state must print and send the explanatory text, together with the language of the proposed amendment, to town clerks and registrar of voters in each town in sufficient supply for public distribution. The secretary must also print the text on posters, of a size she determines, and mail each town enough so that registrars can display at least three in each polling place (CGS § 2-30a).
During the 2013 legislative session, the General Assembly passed HJ 36 (Resolution Approving an Amendment to the State Constitution to Grant Increased Authority to the General Assembly Regarding Election Administration), requiring it to be placed on the ballot for the November 4, 2014 general election.
For more information, including the text that will appear on the ballot, read the full report.
