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131st MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2023
Legislative Document No. 1109H.P. 705 House of Representatives, March 9, 2023
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of
Maine to Create Consistent Election Dates for Citizen-initiated
Referenda in Even-numbered Election Years
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative BRADSTREET of Vassalboro.
Cosponsored by Representatives: ARATA of New Gloucester, CARLOW of Buxton,
DUCHARME of Madison, LANDRY of Farmington, POIRIER of Skowhegan, SARGENT of
York. Page 1 - 131LR1541(01)1
2 Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the Constitution of Maine be
3 proposed:
4is amended to read:
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8 number of signatures shall not be less than 10% of the total vote for Governor cast in the
9 last gubernatorial election preceding the filing of such petition. The date each signature
10 was made shall be written next to the signature on the petition. A signature is not valid if
11 it is dated more than one year prior to the date that the petition was filed in the office of the
12 Secretary of State. The measure thus proposed, unless enacted without change by the
13 Legislature at the session at which it is presented, shall be submitted to the electors together
14 with any amended form, substitute, or recommendation of the Legislature, and in such
15 manner that the people can choose between the competing measures or reject both. When
16 there are competing bills and neither receives a majority of the votes given for or against
17 both, the one receiving the most votes shall at the next statewide election to be held in
18 November of an even-numbered year not less than 60 days after the first vote thereon be
19 submitted by itself if it receives more than 1/3 of the votes given for and against both. If
20 the measure initiated is enacted by the Legislature without change, it shall not go to a
21 referendum vote unless in pursuance of a demand made in accordance with the preceding
22 section. The Legislature may order a special election on any measure that is subject to a
23 vote of the people.
24is amended to read:
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26 proclamation, order any measure proposed to the Legislature as herein provided, and not
27 enacted by the Legislature without change, referred to the people at an election to be held
28 in November of the even-numbered year in after which the petition is filed. If the Governor
29 fails to order a measure proposed to the Legislature and not enacted without change to be
30 submitted to the people at such an election by proclamation within 10 days after the recess
31 of the Legislature to which the measure was proposed, the Secretary of State shall, by
32 proclamation, order such measure to be submitted to the people at an election as requested,
33 and such order shall be sufficient to enable the people to vote.
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36 respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding
37 a statewide election, at a statewide election held in the month of November following the
38 passage of this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment proposed in this
39 resolution by voting upon the following question:
40 "Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to hold elections on
41 citizen-initiated referenda only in November of even-numbered years?"
42 The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question
43 and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within the corresponding square
44 below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared Page 2 - 131LR1541(01)
45 in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in
46 the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the
47 returns. If it appears that a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the amendment,
48 the Governor shall proclaim that fact without delay and the amendment becomes part of
49 the Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation.
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7 shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of
8 this resolution necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum.
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10 This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to require that all direct
11 initiatives of legislation appear on an election ballot for the election to be held in November
12 of even-numbered years.
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