Connecticut HB 5544: AN ACT ALLOWING MUNICIPALITIES TO HOLD MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN CONJUNCTION WITH STATE ELECTIONS.

Bill Text

LCO 1 of 5

General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 5544
February Session, 2026

AN ACT ALLOWING MUNICIPALITIES TO HOLD MUNICIPAL
ELECTIONS IN CONJUNCTION WITH STATE ELECTIONS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 9-164 of the general statutes is 1
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 2
1, 2027): 3
(a) (1) (A) On and after January 1, [2022] 2027, and notwithstanding 4
any contrary provision of law, there shall be held in each municipality, 5
biennially, a municipal election either (i) on the Tuesday after the first 6
Monday of November of the odd-numbered years, except that such 7
municipal election may be held on the first Monday of May of the odd-8
numbered years if the legislative body of such municipality so 9
determines by a three-fourths vote, or (ii) in conjunction with the state 10
election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of the 11
even-numbered years if the legislative body of such municipality so 12
determines by a majority vote. 13
(B) In any municipality where the legislative body determines to hold 14
its municipal election on the first Monday of May of the odd-numbered 15
years in accordance with the provisions of subparagraph (A)(i) of this 16
subdivision, such legislative body may subsequently determine by a 17
majority vote to hold such municipal election on the Tuesday after the 18
first Monday of November of the odd-numbered years or in conjunction 19

Substitute Bill No. 5544

LCO 2 of 5

with the state election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in 20
November of the even-numbered years. 21
(2) In any municipality where the term of any incumbent municipal 22
elected official would expire prior to the next regular election held 23
under the provisions of this section, the term of such official shall be 24
extended to conform to the beginning of the succeeding term under 25
section 9-187a, as amended by this act. 26
Sec. 2. Section 9-164c of the general statutes is repealed and the 27
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2027): 28
On and after January 1, [2022] 2027, (1) any municipality may change 29
the date of its municipal election in accordance with the provisions of 30
section 9-164, as amended by this act, (2) in any municipality that 31
changes from the November municipal election date in the odd-32
numbered years specified in said section to the May municipal election 33
date in the odd-numbered years specified in said section, the terms of 34
incumbent municipal elected officials shall be diminished to conform to 35
such change, [but for a period of not more than nine months, and] (3) in 36
any municipality that changes from the May municipal election date in 37
the odd-numbered years specified in said section to the November 38
municipal election date in the odd-numbered years specified in said 39
section, the terms of incumbent municipal elected officials shall be 40
extended to conform to such change, [but for a period of not more than 41
nine months] (4) in any municipality that changes from the November 42
municipal election date in the odd-numbered years specified in said 43
section to the November municipal election date in the even-numbered 44
years specified in said section, the terms of incumbent municipal elected 45
officials shall be diminished to conform to such change, and (5) in any 46
municipality that changes from the May municipal election date in the 47
odd-numbered years specified in said section to the November 48
municipal election date in the even-numbered years specified in said 49
section, the terms of incumbent municipal elected officials shall be 50
diminished to conform to such change. 51

Substitute Bill No. 5544

LCO 3 of 5

Sec. 3. Section 9-187a of the general statutes is repealed and the 52
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2027): 53
Except as provided in sections 9-164b to 9-164f, inclusive, as amended 54
by this act, the term of each elected municipal official shall begin within 55
seventy days after the municipal election at which such official is 56
elected, on the day within such period prescribed by special act or 57
charter provision, or, in the absence of such special act or charter 58
provision, on the day within such period as is prescribed by action of 59
the legislative body of such municipality, provided (1) in each 60
municipality which holds its municipal election on the [first Monday of] 61
May date in the odd-numbered years specified in section 9-164, as 62
amended by this act, in the absence of such special act or charter 63
provision, or action of the legislative body, such terms shall begin on the 64
first day of July following the municipal election at which such official 65
is elected, [and] (2) in each municipality which holds its municipal 66
election on the [Tuesday after the first Monday of] November date in 67