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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 316H.P. 216House of Representatives, February 3, 2025
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of
Maine to Create Equity in State Senate Representation
Received by the Clerk of the House on January 30, 2025. Referred to the Committee on
State and Local Government pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint
Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative CAMPBELL of Orrington. (BY REQUEST)
Cosponsored by Representatives: DRINKWATER of Milford, GIFFORD of Lincoln,
GRIFFIN of Levant, RUDNICKI of Fairfield, SOBOLESKI of Phillips, STROUT of
Harrington. Page 1 - 132LR1290(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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6 Senators, not less than 31 nor more than 35, except that, on or after December 2, 2026, the
7 Senate consists of 32 Senators, elected at the same time and for the same term as
8 Representatives by the qualified electors of the districts into which the State shall be from
9 time to time divided, except that beginning with the general election held in 2026, Senators
10 are elected as provided in Article II, Section 4.
11is amended to read:
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15 in the year 2013, and also the Legislature which shall convene in the year 2021 and every
16 tenth year thereafter, shall cause the State to be divided into districts for the choice of a
17 Senator from each district, using the same method as provided in Article IV, Part First,
18 Section 2 for apportionment of Representative Districts, and the Legislature that convenes
19 on January 5, 2026 shall reapportion the State so that the Senatorial Districts coincide with
20 the counties of the State, resulting in the voters of each county having the right to vote for
21 2 Senators.
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24 respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding
25 a statewide election, at a statewide election held in the month of November following the
26 passage of this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment proposed in this
27 resolution by voting upon the following question:
28 "Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to reduce the size of
29 the Senate from no more than 35 members to 32 members by
30 reapportioning senatorial districts to coincide with the counties of the
31 State, effective December 2, 2026?"
32 The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question
33 and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within the corresponding square
34 below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared
35 in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in
36 the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the
37 returns. If it appears that a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the amendment,
38 the Governor shall proclaim that fact without delay and the amendment becomes part of
39 the Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation.
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41 shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of
42 this resolution necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum. Page 2 - 132LR1290(01)
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2 This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to reduce the size of the
3 Senate from no more than 35 members to 32 members as a result of reapportioning to 2
4 Senators per county. The resolution also requires the redrawing of district lines in 2026 to
5 coincide with the counties of the State.
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