In a rare Saturday session, the state Senate approved the contentious with a 19-16 vote and the bipartisan with a unanimous vote, according to the Hartford Courant.
The Election Day voter registration bill, which will allow residents to register to vote on Election Day and create online registration for residents with driver's licenses, was approved by the House last week and will now await Gov. Malloy's signature. Republicans and Democrats continued to clash over the bill right up until the vote because Republicans believe will make it easier for people to commit voter fraud.
“Despite the pervasive climate across the U.S. to restrict voting rights, Connecticut has moved in the opposite direction — one that ensures the integrity of our electoral process and fair, accessible elections," Malloy said in a statement released by his office. "People are the key to our democracy, and this legislation improves participation in the most fundamental way — the ballot box. I applaud the General Assembly action on this bill.”
Malloy also applauded the Senate's passing of the storm response bill, which will authorize PURA to develop standards for all utilities’ responses to emergencies, storms and natural disasters if passed.
“Emergency preparedness is a process that must continue to evolve," he said. "This bill makes sure that we’ve taken the best of the recommendations of both the and Reports and put them into practice."
The bill will now go to the House of Representatives.
