Notwithstanding the provisions of any general statute, special act or municipal charter to the contrary, at any regular election, or at any special election held to fill a vacancy in a state, district or municipal office, the polls shall remain open for voting from six o’clock a.m. until eight o’clock p.m. No elector shall be permitted to cast his vote after the hour prescribed for the closing of the polls in any election unless such elector is in line at eight o’clock p.m. An election official or a police official of the municipality, who is designated by the moderator, shall be placed at the end of the line at eight o’clock p.m. Such official shall not allow any electors who were not in such line at eight o’clock p.m. to enter such line.

(1949 Rev., S. 1062; 1953, S. 657d; 1967, P.A. 62; P.A. 77-209; P.A. 83-391, S. 14, 24; P.A. 84-12, S. 1, 2; P.A. 88-162, S. 1, 4.)

History: 1967 act provided for polls to remain open for voting from six a.m. to eight p.m. for all elections; P.A. 77-209 provided for electors who were already in line at eight p.m. to be permitted to vote; P.A. 83-391 amended section to provide that hours for special election shall be noon to eight p.m. unless election held in conjunction with regular election; P.A. 84-12 added proviso concerning special election held on same day as municipal referendum; P.A. 88-162 required polls to open for voting in all special elections at six o’clock a.m., instead of at twelve o’clock noon, effective July 1, 1989.

Before election, requirement is mandatory if direct proceedings for its enforcement are brought, but after election, it is directory if no substantial harm shown. 20 CS 464.