Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §1, sub-§40-A is enacted to read:

40-A.__Run-off election.__"Run-off election" means a special election for an office conducted when no candidate for that office received more than 50% of the votes cast for that office in the general election.__In a run-off election, the voters choose between the 2 candidates that received the most votes in the original election.

Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §723, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2001, c. 516, §15, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

2.__Other elections.__In an election other than a primary election, the person who receives more than 50% of the votes cast for election to any office is elected to that office, except that write-in candidates must also comply with section 722-A.__If the Secretary of State determines that no one received more than 50% of the votes cast for election to an office, a run-off election between the 2 candidates receiving the most votes cast in that election must be conducted within 30 days of the original election.__The procedure for a run-off election must be in accordance with this chapter.

SUMMARY

This bill requires that if no one receives more than 50% of the votes in a race in a general election, a run-off election between the 2 candidates receiving the most votes in the original election must be conducted.