(a) Upon the presentation to the town clerk or either registrar of voters of any town of the signed application of twenty-five or more persons who are employed by the same employer at the same place of employment in such town, or twenty-five or more persons who attend the same school, college or university which is located in such town, or who reside at the same hospital, residential care home, rest home, nursing home or convalescent home located in such town and who believe that they possess the qualifications for admission as electors, which application may be made at any time except during the period between seven days before the last session for the admission of electors prior to an election and the day following such election, and shall be in form substantially as provided in § 9-19d; an admitting official, within the time hereinafter specified, shall go to such place of employment, school, college, or university or hospital, residential care home, rest home, nursing home or convalescent home for the purpose of taking and acting upon applications for admission as electors of any persons who reside in any Connecticut town and who are authorized to be on the premises. No application need be accepted by such town clerk or registrars from persons working at any such place of employment, attending any such school, college or university or residing at any such hospital, residential care home, rest home, nursing home or convalescent home if a session for the admission of electors has been held on such premises within one hundred twenty days prior to the making of such petition. Such official to whom such application is presented shall, within seven days after the receipt of such application, inform each registrar of voters and the employer, or chief administrative officer of the school, college or university or hospital, residential care home, rest home, nursing home or convalescent home of the date and time at which he will go to such place for such purpose, which date shall be not less than seven days nor more than ten days after the sending of the notice by such official to such employer or chief administrative officer, except that no session shall be held after the last session for admission of electors prior to an election. The official with whom the application is filed may request any other admitting official to go in his stead.

(b) Such employer, or chief administrative officer, upon receipt of such notice, shall provide a suitable place for the taking of applications for admission as electors and shall forthwith cause a prominent notice to be posted on the bulletin board or other place where general notices to employees, students or residents are customarily posted, which notice shall specify the date, place and hour at which such official will receive such applications, and such notice shall remain posted through the day of such taking of applications. Procedures under this section shall conform as nearly as may be to the procedures for applications for admission submitted pursuant to sections 9-19b, 9-19e, 9-20 and 9-23a. No employer shall penalize or refuse to pay an employee who proceeds under this section and § 9-19d, and any employee proceeding under said sections shall be entitled to be paid at his regular rate for up to one-half hour for the purpose of making application to become an elector.