Secretary of the State Denise Merrill today pitched the Government Administration & Elections Committee for a bill that would require candidates to certify their cross-endorsement, whether they are minor or major party members. “Currently because of a change made by this General Assembly in 2011, the minor party candidates are required to sign a certification of their endorsement…The signature is not required of major party candidates running for the same local office as the minor party candidates. We have proposed this bill because of confusion created in 2013 (in places such as Bethel, Westport and Easton) when minor party candidates did not realize a change in the law in 2011 required their signature on endorsement paperwork.” The result was incorrect guidance from local voting officials and confusion from candidates who were unused to the new law.
Merrill’s proposal would require all candidates, for local and state office to sign endorsement paperwork.