Environment
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateConnecticutEnacted
SB 393: AN ACT CONCERNING SPECIAL ELECTIONS TO FILL VACANCIES DUE TO THE DEATH OF CERTAIN ELECTED OFFICIALS.
Rob Sampson
SB 393 status: Enacted — SIGNED BY GOVERNOR (updated Jun 4, 2026).
Source
OpenStates
Confidence
Low
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
80OUT OF 100
Score:80/100 civic fit
Risk:Low Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 40/100
Constitutionality95%
Bipartisan70%
Public opinion80%
Bill summary
What changes
The bill creates a formal, standardized procedure for conducting special elections to fill vacancies occurring due to the death of an elected official.
Who is affected
State and local government officials, town clerks, and candidates for office in municipalities experiencing such a vacancy.
Requirements and enforcement
Local and state entities must adhere to the new standardized election timeline and procedures for special vacancy elections.
Costs and funding
Municipalities may incur costs associated with running unscheduled special elections, though the source does not provide specific budget figures.
When it takes effect
The bill is enacted and effective as of the signing date of June 4, 2026.
Potential benefits
It removes legal and procedural uncertainty regarding how to fill vacancies, potentially improving democratic accountability and public trust in local governance.
Risks and tradeoffs
The primary concerns involve the logistical and financial strain on local town clerks and municipal budgets caused by the mandate for a special election.
What is still unknown
The specific administrative protocols and the exact interaction between state-level requirements and local election infrastructure remain subject to interpretation.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Society
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Technology Industry
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Civic Accountability
Positive outlook
80%
Benefits
- Provides clear legal guidance for vacancy replacement
- Reduces ambiguity in local and state election timelines
- Ensures consistent application of election law statewide
Risks
- Increases mandatory local election administration expenses
- Potential for compressed schedules for candidate filings
- Centralizes administrative oversight under the Secretary of the State
Public Health & Safety
No direct effect
Neutral — no direct effect identified.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
OpenStates
Official bill text or data from OpenStates.
Confidence
Low
Information is limited or incomplete.
Analysis basis
OpenStates summary
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
Potential for increased municipal fiscal impact due to mandatory special elections.
Analysis scope
Analysis based on a brief abstract; full statutory language not reviewed.
04
Where it stands
Official recordSIGNED BY GOVERNOR
- IntroducedComplete
- CommitteeComplete
- Chamber votesComplete
- Final agreementComplete
- GovernorComplete
- EnactedComplete
05
How it affects your district
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06
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