As early voting enters its final week, Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas highlights her first-term record protecting Connecticut businesses, from fighting human trafficking and business hijacking to lowering fees and moving filings online, and pledges to keep business owners prepared as AI makes scams more sophisticated.

HARTFORD, Conn., Oct. 26, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- As scams targeting Connecticut businesses grow more sophisticated, including recent emails impersonating state offices, Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas is highlighting the protections her team has put in place for the more than half a million businesses registered in Connecticut. She is seeking a second term to build on that work as AI-powered fraud creates new risks for business owners.

"Before I was Secretary of the State, I ran a small business, so I know how scarce time and money can be," said Secretary Thomas. "That's why our team cut fees and red tape, and why I fought for new laws that let my office investigate when fraudsters hijack a Connecticut business. If someone tries to steal your business, you're not on your own. But the threats keep evolving. AI is making scams more sophisticated by the month, and I'll keep making sure business owners know what to watch for. I'm not done delivering for Connecticut businesses, and I hope you'll support me on November 3."

Protecting Connecticut Businesses

Fighting human trafficking. Through Be a Light, Secretary Thomas made Connecticut the 7th state in the country and the first in the Northeast to help businesses identify, report and prevent human trafficking. Trafficking can reach any business through its customers, employees or supply chains. PreventHumanTraffickingCT.com gives owners practical guidance on what to watch for and what to do.

Stopping business hijacking. Fraudsters have stolen login credentials, changed a business's listed owner and opened lines of credit in its name. Owners used to have only one remedy: hire a lawyer and go to court. Secretary Thomas brought the problem to the legislature. New laws now give her office the authority to investigate and the funding to build stronger protections, including screening that flags suspicious filings for human review.

Early warnings for owners. Business owners can turn on Follow Business alerts at Business.CT.gov to be notified whenever someone files a document for their business.

Lower costs, less red tape. Apostille fees are lower, and the entire process for authenticating documents for use abroad, used for about 40,000 documents a year, is now online. That makes Connecticut one of the first states to offer it. A new statewide trademark directory lets owners check a name before investing in it.

Help getting started and growing. A free monthly business newsletter gathers grants, funding and training opportunities in one place. A new Business Welcome Packet walks owners through their first steps, from tax IDs to fraud protection.

Early Voting Ends Sunday, Nov. 1

Early voting is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Sunday, Nov. 1, with extended hours from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27 and Thursday, Oct. 29. There is no early voting on Monday, Nov. 2.

Every town has at least one early voting location. Voters can find theirs at MyVote.CT.gov or by contacting their town's registrar of voters. Eligible residents who are not yet registered can register and vote the same day during early voting or on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, when polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

About Stephanie Thomas

Stephanie Thomas is Connecticut's 75th Secretary of the State and the first Black person elected to the office. Since taking office in 2023, she has secured $20 million to modernize Connecticut's election equipment, led the rollout of early in-person voting, expanded civic education through initiatives such as the Power of Civics platform and launched Be a Light, making Connecticut the first state in the Northeast to help businesses identify, report and prevent human trafficking.

Thomas is running for reelection in 2026. She serves on the Executive Board of the National Association of Secretaries of State and testified before Congress in 2025 about balancing voter access with election security.

Before becoming secretary, Thomas represented Norwalk, Wilton and Westport in the state legislature. She also ran a small business and spent nearly 30 years advising nonprofit organizations on strategy and fundraising.

Media Contact

Natasha Lopoukhine, Savvy Marketing Communications, 1 2039560920, natasha@igotsavvy.com, www.igotsavvy.com

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SOURCE Stephanie Thomas