Connecticut secretary of state issues new guidance giving police more discretion at election sites

Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant on Aug 8, 2026

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

HARTFORD, Conn. — Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas issued new guidance Thursday regarding a controversial law that prohibits police officers from coming within 250 feet of election sites.

In a letter to Farmington Police Chief Paul Melanson, who also serves as legislative chair of the Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, Thomas granted police permission to respond to non-urgent incidents within 250 feet of an election site “as is necessary” as long as it does not interfere “with the elections site or the administration of any primary, election, or referendum.”

While Thomas cannot change the law, the law grants her the authority to give permission for officers to be present within 250 feet of an election site.

Thomas did not have further comments beyond the letter. Before issuing the changes, Thomas had written that “an officer responding to non-exigent circumstances within the 250-foot restricted area … does not have the protection from the law necessary to take such action.”

State Rep. Greg Howard, a Stonington Republican, said he “appreciated the Secretary of State’s Office taking a look and exercising some reason and common sense.”

“Her decision to grant that authority is a valuable contribution to public safety,” he said.

Several police chiefs previously expressed frustrations that the provisions in the law required that officers respond to an incident or crime within 250 feet of an election site only in urgent circumstances requiring the presence of an officer to protect against a serious threat to life or property unless they get permission from the moderator.

Many police chiefs have told officials the law would deter police from responding to non-urgent incidents as they wanted to ensure conformity with the law and non-compliance is classified as a Class C felony.

Those concerns have been allayed, with Melanson saying that “the likelihood of officers potentially violating this has been drastically reduced.”

Following meetings held between law enforcement heads and the Secretary of State’s Office, the Office of the Attorney General and the Chief State’s Attorney, the new guidance was issued.

Rep. Matt Blumenthal, a Stamford Democrat and co-author of the bill, said the intent of the law is to prevent any attempt at election interference by any agency or department that has not earned the trust of state and local elections officials, citing that the federal administration has threatened to engage in activities around elections that they fear would threaten their integrity or intimidate voters.

“The law was very clear that if they coordinated with local election officials, police activities would not be affected in any way,” he said. “I’m very glad there is clear guidance now to ensure that police feel comfortable understanding the law. The Trump administration’s unprecedented statements and actions threatening our elections have required unprecedented steps to safeguard them.”

Thomas’ letter also addressed another concern in the new law, which allows for an off-duty officer to pass “within two hundred fifty feet of an elections site only for as long as necessary to be within such two hundred fifty feet while on the way to a place or location other than such elections site,” the law said, leaving chiefs of police with questions about what that constitutes.

Thomas wrote, “The Office of the Secretary of State interprets ‘as long as necessary’ as the amount of time required to fully complete the task.”

“In other words, selecting a book, eating a meal or visiting a relative takes the time it takes,” Thomas wrote.

Melanson said he appreciated the guidance and collaboration with the Secretary of State’s Office, the Office of the Attorney General and the Chief State’s Attorney’s office to address the issue.

House Republican leader Vincent Candelora said Thomas’ guidance “mitigates the challenges for police officers, whether they are on duty or off duty, of when and where they could go during elections within their communities,” he said.

Democratic lawmakers and Gov. Ned Lamont’s office have said that the law is not intended to prohibit police officers from carrying out their routine duties but to ensure elections are conducted without disruption. HB 5001, which the governor signed into law in May, was approved in a party line vote with no Republicans voting for the bill.