§ 9-368i — Definitions. Construction of certain words and phrases.

(a) As used in this section and sections 9-368j to 9-368q, inclusive: (1) “Alternative method of election” means a method of electing candidates to the legislative body of a municipality other than an at-large method of election or a district-based method of election, and includes, but is not limited to, proportional ranked-choice voting, cumulative voting and limited voting; (2) (A) “At-large method of election” means a method of electing candidates to the legislative body of a municipality in which such candidates are voted upon by all electors of such municipality; (B) “At-large method of election” does not include any alternative method of election; (3) “District-based method of election” means a method of electing candidates to the legislative body of a municipality in which, for municipalities divided into districts, a candidate for any such district is required to reside in such district and candidates representing or seeking to represent such district are voted upon by only the electors of such district; (4) “Federal Voting Rights Act” means the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, 52 USC 10301 et seq., as amended from time to time; (5) “Government enforcement action” means any denial of administrative or judicial preclearance by the state or federal government, pending litigation filed by a state or federal entity, final judgment or adjudication, consent decree or other similar formal action; (6) “Legislative body” means the board of aldermen, council, board of burgesses, representative town meeting, board of education, district committee, association committee or other similar body, as applicable, of a municipality; (7) “Municipality” or “municipal” means any town, city or borough, whether consolidated or unconsolidated, any local or regional school district, any district, as defined in section 7-324 or any other district authorized under the general statutes; (8) “Organization” means a person other than an individual; (9) “Protected class” means a class of citizens who are members of a race, color or language minority group, as referenced in the federal Voting Rights Act; (10) “Divergent voting patterns” means voting in which the candidate or electoral choice preferred by protected class members diverges from the candidate or electoral choice preferred by electors who are not protected class members; and (11) “Vote” or “voting” includes any action necessary to cast a ballot and make such ballot effective in any election or primary, including, but not limited to, admission as an elector, application for an absentee ballot and any other action required by law as a prerequisite to casting a ballot and having such ballot counted, canvassed or certified properly and included in the appropriate totals of votes cast with respect to candidates for election or nomination and to referendum questions. (b) In the construction of this section and sections 9-368j to 9-368q , inclusive, words and phrases that are not defined in subsection (a) of this section, but that are used in the federal Voting Rights Act and interpreted in relevant case law, including, but not limited to, “political process” and “prerequisite to voting”, shall be construed in a manner consistent with such usage and interpretation.

Legislative History

(P.A. 23-204, S. 410.) History: P.A. 23-204 effective July 1, 2023.