LD 440
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LD 440 Title Page RESOLUTION, To Amend the Constitution of Maine To Change the Number of Senators... Page 2 of 3
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LR 943
Item 1

 
Constitutional amendment. Resolved: Two thirds of each branch of the
Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the
Constitution of Maine be proposed:

 
Constitution, Art. II, §4 is amended to read:

 
Section 4. Time of state election; absentee voting. The
election of Senators and Representatives shall be on the Tuesday
following the first Monday of November biennially forever except
as provided in this Section.__Beginning with the general election
held in 2006, the election of Senators and the election of
Governor shall be on the Tuesday following the first Monday of
November every 4 years, except that the term of a Senator from an
odd-numbered legislative district remains as a 2-year term until
2008, after which time the election of all Senators must be held
every 4 years. The Legislature under proper enactment shall
authorize and provide for voting by citizens of the State absent
therefrom in the Armed Forces of the United States or of this
State and for voting by other citizens absent or physically
incapacitated for reasons deemed sufficient.

 
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Second, §1 is amended to read:

 
Section 1. Number of Senators. The Senate shall consist of
an odd number of 32 Senators, not less than 31 nor more than 35,
elected at the same time and for the same term as Representatives
as provided in Article II, Section 4 by the qualified electors of
the districts into which the State shall be from time to time
divided.

 
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Second, §2 is amended to read:

 
Section 2. Submission of reapportionment plan to Secretary of
Senate; Legislature's action on commission's plan; division of
State into Senatorial Districts; division by Supreme Judicial
Court. The Legislature which shall convene in the year 1983 2009
and every 10th year thereafter shall cause reapportion the State
to be divided into districts for the choice of a Senator from
each district, using the same method as provided in Article IV,
Part First, Section 2 for apportionment of Representative
Districts so that the Senate districts coincide with the counties
of the State. The voters of each county shall vote for 2
Senators.

 
The apportionment plan of the commission established under
Article IV, Part Third, Section 1-A shall be submitted to the
Secretary of the Senate no later than 120 calendar days after the
convening of the Legislature in which apportionment is required.
In the preparation of legislation implementing the plan, the
commission, following a unanimous decision by commission members,
may adjust errors and inconsistencies in accordance with the
standards set forth in this Constitution, so long as substantive


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