(a) As used in this section and section 9-31b, “permanently physically disabled person” means a person who, by reason of a major defect or infirmity of body, whether congenital or acquired by accident, injury or disease, is permanently physically incapacitated to a degree that prevents him and will continue to prevent him from appearing in person at the office of the town clerk or registrars of the town where he temporarily or permanently resides.

(b) Any permanently physically disabled person may, in the manner prescribed under this section and upon a form as prescribed under section 9-31b, apply to the town clerk or either registrar of voters of such town for examination and admission as an elector of any Connecticut town. (1) In the case of a permanently physically disabled person whose qualifications as to age, citizenship or residence in such town are attained on or before the last session for admission of electors prior to an election to be held in the town, the application shall be submitted so that it will be received by such town clerk or either registrar of voters not later than such last session. Upon receipt of the application, the town clerk or either registrar of voters shall notify the applicant of the day, and the hour, such day to be within ten days of the receipt of the application, at which an admitting official shall meet with the applicant at the temporary or permanent residence of the applicant. (2) In the case of a permanently physically disabled person whose qualifications as to age, citizenship or residence in such town are attained after the last session for admission of electors prior to an election to be held in the town, the application shall be submitted so that it will be received by such town clerk or either registrar of voters not later than the opening of the limited session for the admission of electors held, under section 9-17, on the last weekday prior to the election. Upon receipt of the application, the town clerk or either registrar of voters shall notify the applicant of the day, and the hour, such day and hour to be not later than 5:00 p.m. on the last weekday before the election, at which an admitting official shall meet with the applicant at the temporary or permanent residence of the applicant.

(c) Such admitting official shall meet at the appointed time with the applicant for the purpose of examining his qualifications as an elector and for the purpose of admitting him as an elector if the applicant is found qualified. Such official shall make available to the applicant at such time, upon request, a copy of the statement that specifies each eligibility requirement and contains an attestation that the applicant meets each such requirement (1) in video form in accordance with procedures established by the registrars of voters and (2) in braille, large print and audio form. Such official shall provide the applicant with a written notice of approval or disapproval at that time, except as otherwise provided in section 9-19e. Any person making application for registration under this section shall be entitled to the privileges of an elector and party enrollment, if applicable, from the time such application for admission as an elector is approved by the town clerk or registrars of voters of his voting residence.

(1959, P.A. 200, S. 1, 2, 5; 1969, P.A. 198, S. 1; 1971, P.A. 768, S. 10; P.A. 75-567, S. 59, 80; P.A. 83-391, S. 7, 24; P.A. 84-319, S. 8, 49; P.A. 85-613, S. 89, 154; P.A. 88-48, S. 3; P.A. 89-234, S. 2; P.A. 91-351, S. 25, 28; P.A. 94-121, S. 21, 33.)

History: 1969 act provided that application by mail may be made to either registrar as well as town clerk, to be mailed so as not to be received later than three weeks, in lieu of three months, prior to next regular election and that upon receipt, applicant to be notified of day and hour within two weeks, in lieu of two months, of receipt at which time, at place of confinement applicant to be examined by either town clerk or a registrar and made admission conditioned on approval of application by board; 1971 act added “at the office of the town clerk or registrars” to any session held by board, as places where physical incapacity prevents attendance, substituted admitting official for town clerk or registrars and deleted reference to admission subject to approval of board; P.A. 75-567 deleted reference to Sec. 9-31c re applicability of definitions; P.A. 83-391 eliminated references to board for admission of electors and to Secs. 9-16 and 9-22; P.A. 84-319 amended section to provide uniformity in statutes pertaining to on-location admissions sessions for handicapped persons, students and patients at hospitals and nursing homes; P.A. 85-613 made technical changes; P.A. 88-48 divided section into Subsecs. And added Subsec. (b)(2) establishing procedure for admission of permanently physically disabled persons after last session for admission prior to election; P.A. 89-234 amended Subsec. (c) to require admitting official to make elector's oath available in video, braille, large print and audio form; P.A. 91-351 substituted “ten days” for “two weeks” in Subsec. (b); P.A. 94-121 amended Subsec. (c) by substituting “admitting him as an elector” for “administering the elector's oath” and “statement that specifies each eligibility requirement and contains an attestation that the applicant meets each such requirement” for “elector's oath”, effective January 1, 1995.