Another rat adds another layer of red tape.
Tucked within the large “implementer bill” that finalized the state budget last month was a surprising policy change.
It was never asked for by the people. It was never talked about at the Capitol. It did not receive a public hearing. But now it’s here, it’s a new law, and people are not happy.
While there are many of these surprise policy changes (known as rats) buried within the implementer, the specific rat I’m talking about is a law that requires every Council of Government (COG) in Connecticut to hire a regional election monitor. This is an unfunded mandate, a financial burden on our towns. It’s also a new layer of bureaucracy in state elections that was not asked for and is not needed.
The new policy change will require each COG to hire an elections monitor, pay them and provide them with office space, supplies and equipment. It’s something our towns don’t have the budgets to cover – and something we quite frankly don’t need.
The monitor will oversee election moderators in each of the COG member towns and will be responsible for: 1) holding regional instructional sessions for moderators, 2) communicating with registrars of voters to assist with elections, recanvasses or audits, and 3) communicating with the Secretary of State regarding their instructional sessions. The monitor is completely subject to the secretary’s control and direction.
While I believe training and oversight is definitely needed when it comes to election monitoring, this new level of bureaucracy is not necessary and was not asked for by any group, any town or any COG to the best of my knowledge. In fact, Connecticut actually addressed election administration with another piece of legislation this year.
A separate bill, which had a public hearing, much discussion and received bipartisan support, will require all registrars to go through a certification program and receive professional development training. It also will make it easier to remove registrars if they’ve engaged in misconduct or did not fulfill their duties among other changes.
This was a smart policy change that improves the system, doesn’t hurt our towns, and was aired in public.
On the other hand, the process used to pass the “regional election monitor” legislation was done in complete darkness.
We deserve a transparent state government. Not discussing an idea with the public or with lawmakers and instead sneaking it into the budget at the last minute is just not right.
Adding another level of administration to the elections process is a burdensome overreach. Quietly inserting it into the budget as a rat just goes to show that this is not legislation to be celebrated. It’s more red tape, more financial strain, and more reason the state budget is bad for Connecticut.
Sen. Witkos, Senate Minority Leader Pro Tempore, represents the 8th District towns of Avon, Barkhamsted, Canton, Colebrook, Granby, Hartland, Harwinton, New Hartford, Norfolk, Simsbury and Torrington. For more information visit senatorwitkos.com orwww.facebook.com/senatorwitkos.
