An Act Prohibiting The Appearance Of Certain Candidates Or Elected Officials In Public Awareness Campaigns Of The Secretary Of The State During The Ninety-day Period Immediately Prior To A Primary Or Election .
Summary
SB 796 would amend Title 9 of the Connecticut General Statutes to restrict the Secretary of the State from using the name, image, or likeness of any candidate for public office or any elected public official, including the Secretary, in public awareness campaigns about elections or voting during the 90 days immediately before a primary or election. The bill is aimed at election-related outreach and would create a blackout period for such appearances in state-run voter education materials and campaigns.
The proposal also establishes a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for each violation of the prohibition, and makes the Secretary personally liable for payment of that penalty. In practical terms, the bill would change how the Secretary of the State can design and distribute voter education and election-information campaigns in the run-up to elections, limiting the use of recognizable political figures in those materials.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would add a new restriction to state election law governing the Secretary of the State’s public awareness and voter education campaigns. It would affect the Secretary’s office directly by limiting permissible content in election-related outreach during the 90-day pre-primary and pre-election period, and it would expose the Secretary to personal financial liability for violations. The measure would not change candidate eligibility or ballot access rules, but it would regulate state communications and could require changes to existing outreach practices, advertising, and campaign materials.
Sentiment
There is limited recorded discussion or voting history available for SB 796, so the overall sentiment cannot be measured from committee debate or roll-call votes. Based on the bill text alone, the proposal appears to reflect concern about the use of public officeholders’ images in government-sponsored election messaging close to an election, suggesting an intent to avoid perceived political advantage or influence. Because no transcripts or votes are provided, no clear bipartisan or partisan support/opposition can be confirmed from the available record.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely to be whether the Secretary of the State should be barred from featuring elected officials or candidates in voter education campaigns during the final 90 days before an election. Supporters may view the restriction as a safeguard against the appearance of electioneering or self-promotion using public resources, while opponents may argue it unnecessarily limits neutral public information campaigns and could reduce the effectiveness of voter outreach. The bill’s personal-liability penalty for the Secretary is another potentially controversial feature, as it is unusually direct and could be seen as punitive or as a strong enforcement mechanism.