Hartford - Connecticut lawmakers moved closer Monday toward the possibility of allowing people to vote in elections by absentee ballot, without having to offer up an excuse such as being out of town on Election Day.

The General Assembly's Government Administration and Elections Committee approved the proposed constitutional amendment on an 11-4 vote, sending it to the House of Representatives for further action.

But some Republicans who voted against the item said they worry such a change would usher in a number of other alterations to state elections, such as allowing early and online voting. He said the voters - who would have to approve any change to the state's constitution - may not realize the ramifications of loosening the rules for absentee ballots.

"I don't feel that we should change the constitution, lower the bar of bumpers that are around election law within the constitution, until we're clear where they're going with it," said Sen. Michael McLachlan, R-Danbury, the committee's ranking Senate Republican. "They're changing the constitution so a whole plethora of new statutes could be implemented."

McLachlan said he has concerns in particular about allowing early voting.

"A lot can happen in the last two weeks of a campaign," he said. "Why would you want to give up your right to see the whole campaign before you make your decision."

Sen. Gayle Slossberg, D-Milford, co-chairwoman of the GAE committee, said she agrees that changing the constitution to allow so-called "no excuses" absentee ballots could lead to other changes in how Connecticut voters could someday cast their ballots. But she stressed that the legislature is "far away from making any of those substantive changes" and "many other things" would have to happen first.

"But it's time to have that discussion," she said. "We're in favor of giving people who have the legitimate right to vote the right to vote."

If the proposal, backed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, both Democrats, ultimately passes both the House and the Senate by three-quarters of each chamber this session, the matter could be brought to the voters this November. The ballot would ask voters whether they want to remove language in the state constitution that only allows absentee voting for specific reasons.

If the measure passes each chamber by less than three-quarters this session, the General Assembly would have to take up the resolution again in 2013 and pass it a second time by a simple majority. The question would then appear on the 2014 ballot.

Merrill has said that allowing "no excuses" absentee ballots will make it easier for people to vote, boost participation and make it easier for election officials on Election Day. She said the 35 states that have implemented early voting or "no excuses" absentee ballots have seen both higher voter turnout and less pressure on election officials.

In written testimony to the GAE Committee, Merrill said the proposal under consideration does not commit the state to any specific change in how Connecticut voters eventually cast their ballots. She said current state election laws would remain effective unless the legislature votes to modify them. Also, she said any changes would be made as part of a multi-step process.

"We don't want to rush through this reform. We want to be deliberate, hold hearings, study the best practices in other states," Merrill said. "And should this constitutional amendment get ratified by the voters, we will have about a year to study these changes intently and come up with the best policy that first our voting system in Connecticut. But make no mistake, the time has come to make this change."

Slossberg said she believes voters want more options to vote.

"Anybody who lives in a commuter town or has ever not been able to get an absentee ballot because they were caring for somebody else, who was sick or broke their leg the day before the election, or for whatever reason was unable to get a ballot, call your legislator and tell them to vote for this," she said.

"This is the only way we even get to have the conversation."