Whereas, current law regarding the announcement of elections is unclear as to the application of that law to city referenda when the municipal charter requirements are different; and

Whereas, it is important to clarify the method for calling city referenda; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §2551, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 and Pt. C, §106 and amended by PL 1989, c. 6; c. 9, §2; and c. 104, Pt. C, §§8 and 10, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

§2551. Warrant or notice for city election

Except as otherwise required by municipal charter, each city election must be called by a warrant or by a notice of election posted in compliance with Title 21-A, section 621-A. The warrant must meet the requirements listed in Title 21-A, section 622-A.

Sec. 2. Retroactivity. This Act applies retroactively to all city elections held on or after January 1, 2003.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill clarifies the procedure for calling an election in a city, if the municipal charter does not specify the procedure, by allowing notification of the election to be done by warrant or by notice of election.