(a) If, after applying the provisions of sections 9-249a and 9-453r, the number of party designations and petitioning candidate rows on the ballot exceeds nine, the Secretary of the State may authorize (1) two or more party designations and petitioning candidates to appear on the same row of the ballot, beginning with the ninth row on the ballot and, if necessary, then moving up one or more rows, (2) that an office take two or more columns on the ballot, and (3) that the party designation, or an abbreviation of it, be repeated on the ballot.

(b) Notwithstanding any provision of § 9-135a to the contrary, the secretary may prescribe that the provisions of subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to the absentee ballot.