Press Releases
04/08/2025
Secretary Thomas Tells Congress “Invest, Don’t Interfere”
(Washington, D.C.) – In testimony today before the U.S. Subcommittee on Elections of the Committee on House Administration, Connecticut Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas delivered a forceful case for protecting state-led election systems that work — and warned that new federal mandates, like the proposed SAVE Act and the recent executive order could destabilize voter security and undo years of bipartisan progress.
Speaking to members of Congress at 2025’s first of several planned “Revisiting the 2024 Election with Secretaries of State” hearings, Secretary Thomas emphasized that Connecticut’s election system has long been defined by thoughtful planning, bipartisan cooperation, and a commitment to public trust. Her remarks came at a time when misinformation and polarization continue to fuel national debates over election security.
“At a time when mistrust in elections was dominating the headlines, Connecticut took a different path,” said Secretary Thomas. “We expanded voting access — including launching early voting for the first time — while strengthening the trust of our citizens in how elections are run. That didn’t happen by accident. It happened because we prepared, we collaborated, and we respected the role that trust and transparency play in democracy.”
Secretary Thomas pointed to Connecticut’s 2024 election cycle as proof that secure, accessible, and trustworthy elections are not only possible, but thriving. In its first year offering early voting, Connecticut saw more than 740,000 voters — more than 40% of all those who voted — cast their ballots ahead of Election Day.
The rollout was smooth, secure, and widely embraced by the public. Despite a non-existent budget for public education about the change, the Secretary’s office reached over 100 community groups and partnered with more than 250 businesses and civic institutions through the Civically Engaged Organizations (CEO) program. These partnerships enabled wide distribution of voting education materials and helped ensure voters knew what to expect.
At the hearing, Secretary Thomas detailed how her office held monthly coordination meetings with election officials and law enforcement partners beginning in 2023. These collaborative sessions led to the development of targeted trainings — such as scenario drills for emergency response and guidance for law enforcement at polling places — designed to ensure consistency, safety, and preparedness across all 169 towns.
“Our structure may be unique — every town administers its own election, run by both an elected Republican and a Democrat — but it works,” Thomas told the committee. “That bipartisan model, paired with Connecticut’s steady, security-forward traditions like paper ballots and regular audits, helped us roll out early voting with confidence and fairness.”
Despite the state’s success, Thomas raised serious concerns about recent federal proposals, including the SAVE Act and a new executive order, which she warned could disrupt the very systems Connecticut has built to ensure secure and trusted elections. Both Democratic and Republican local officials in Connecticut, she noted, are concerned about federal overreach and the risks of more unfunded mandates.
“These proposals override years of thoughtful planning and could ultimately make our elections less secure,” said Secretary Thomas. “Connecticut officials aren’t asking for more rules. They’re asking for the resources to do the job right. We need stable funding for election infrastructure, national threat monitoring, stronger civic education, and help recruiting the next generation of election workers.”
She pointed to a recent study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation showing that 70% of Americans would fail a basic civic literacy quiz, underscoring the urgent need for civic education as part of the long-term solution.
Closing her remarks, Secretary Thomas urged Congress to shift its focus from mandates to meaningful investment in democracy.
“My message is simple,” she concluded. “Don’t complicate what states are already doing well. Invest in what’s truly needed: education, security, staffing, and civic engagement. Let’s build a democracy resilient enough to serve every voter, in every town, across every generation.”
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