Roland Lemar

Last week, the Government Administration & Elections Committee (GAE) advanced a series of bills aimed at protecting our elections by preventing the interference or intimidation of voters. These measures are meant to ensure that the sacred right to vote is safeguarded without fear at home or at the polls.

House Bill 5533: An Act Concerning Protection of Election Administration Processes, Elections Sites, Election Workers, and Electors

The bill would:

• Bar federal law enforcement within 250 feet of a polling place without permission from state election officials or a court order
• Require coordination with the Connecticut Secretary of the State and the Attorney General before federal agents conduct operations near a polling place
• Establish state penalties for violations to ensure protections are taken seriously

Senate Bill 463: An Act Concerning Security of Election Administration Processes, Election Sites, Election Workers, and Electors 

The bill would:

• Keep weapons away from polling places
• Protect election workers from harassment
• Prevent tampering with voting equipment

House Bill 5001: An Act Concerning Absentee Voting For All and Various Other Reforms to the Administration of Elections

The bill would:

• Implement Absentee Voting For All two years after Connecticut voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment
• Allow eligible voters to request an absentee ballot without providing a reason

Currently, absentee ballots are limited to voters who meet specific criteria. Removing those restrictions will make voting more accessible, increase participation, and ensure voters have safe and flexible options for casting their ballots.

House Bill 5342: An Act Concerning the Use of Artificial Intelligence and Other Means To Generate Deceptive Synthetic Media and Elections

The bill would:

• Prohibit deceptive AI-generated media intended to influence an election
• Apply to manipulated videos, audio, or images that falsely depict a candidate
• Cover the 90 days leading up to an election or primary, when misinformation can have the biggest impact

With approval from the GAE Committee, all four of the measures move to the House and Senate floor for further consideration if they are called before the end of session on May 6.

Last week, legislation that could support commuters, especially those who have limited ways to get around, moved closer to the House and Senate floor.

Senate Bill 9 would provide funding for microtransit services across the state, including Via NHV here in New Haven. Advocates note that now is the time to act because current funding for the program is slated to run out on June 30.

The Transportation Committee advanced the measure with a 32-4 vote. The rest of the Connecticut General Assembly has an opportunity to weigh in on the bill if it gets called before the end of session.

For less than $2 a ride, Via NHV offers affordable shared rides on-demand. Riders can book a ride through the Via NHV app or by calling 475-303-5467. Service hours are 7 days a week from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.  

Microtransit services like this help residents who may not have access to a car and rely on public transportation to reach work, medical appointments, grocery stores, and other essential destinations.

Click here for more information on Via NHV.

New Haven Harbor is home to several major polluting facilities that can impact the health and well-being of the community. Residents have a right to understand what is affecting their air quality.

The City of New Haven and Save the Sound are urging the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to use specialized equipment to measure hazardous air pollutant emissions from these sources.

Unusual or foul odors can signal elevated levels of air pollution. You can play an important role in documenting these issues and prompting action by reporting any odors you notice over the next month. Community reports help demonstrate that residents are aware of and concerned about local air quality.

If you detect a foul odor in the New Haven Harbor area, you can file a complaint with DEEP by calling (860) 424-3436 (available 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) or by emailing deep.aircomplaints@ct.gov.

After submitting your complaint, please also notify Save the Sound and share any follow-up from DEEP. You can contact Gabriel Slaughter at gslaughter@savethesound.org.

To make your report as effective as possible, include the date, time, and location where you noticed the odor, along with a brief description of what it smelled like.

You do not need to be a New Haven resident to file a report, visitors and commuters are encouraged to participate as well.

Click here to register and to get all your race information.