Resource: The Stanford-MIT Healthy Elections Project

In May 2020, the Connecticut Secretary of State issued a Memorandum of Opinion that allowed any registered voter with a pre-existing illness to vote by absentee ballot if the illness would prevent the voter from appearing at their designated polling place safely due to COVID-19. The Memorandum of Opinion included in this category individuals who may have been in contact with a COVID-19 infected person or who otherwise feel ill due to the possibility of contact with COVID-19. Plaintiffs filed an administrative appeal seeking vacation of the Memorandum of Opinion on the basis that the Secretary of State lacked the authority to expand unilaterally the use of absentee ballots.