An Act To Amend the Election Laws
Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §101, sub-§10, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 455, §3, is amended to read:
Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §122, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2005, c. 453, §19, is further amended to read:
Sec. 3. 21-A MRSA §181, sub-§1, ¶B, as amended by PL 2003, c. 407, §14 and amended by c. 689, Pt. B, §6, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
(1) All state agencies that provide public assistance, including the Department of Health and Human Services and the offices within the department, that provide assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program under Title 22, chapter 1053-B, the Women, Infants and Children Special Supplemental Food Program of the United States Child Nutrition Act of 1966, the federal Medicaid program and the statewide food supplemental program under Title 22, section 3104;
(2) The uniformed service recruitment offices;
(3) The public high schools;
(4) The offices of municipal clerks and registrars;
(5) The Department of Labor, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services; and
(6) All state agencies that provide state-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to persons with disabilities.
Sec. 4. 21-A MRSA §331, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
(1) When there is more than one candidate who has qualified by filing a petition and consent under sections 335 and 336;
(2) When there is at least one candidate who has qualified by filing a petition and consent under sections 335 and 336 and there is at least one candidate who has qualified as a write-in candidate in accordance with section 723, subsection 1; or
(3) When there is no candidate who has qualified by filing a petition and consent under sections 335 and 336 but there is at least one candidate who has qualified as a write-in candidate in accordance with section 723, subsection 1.
In all other instances, a candidate under this paragraph must be nominated to the general election ballot based on acceptance of the candidate's primary petitions, pursuant to section 337, subsection 1, without a primary election.
Sec. 5. 21-A MRSA §363, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2011, c. 239, §3, is further amended to read:
Sec. 6. 21-A MRSA §371, as amended by PL 2011, c. 342, §11, is further amended to read:
§ 371. Candidates for nomination; vacancy
If a candidate for nomination dies, withdraws for good cause at least 60 75 days before the primary or becomes disqualified after having filed the candidate's primary petition, so that a party has fewer candidates than there are offices to be filled, the vacancy may be filled by a political committee pursuant to section 363. Good cause for withdrawal includes a change in the health, employment or economic status of the candidate or a member of the candidate's immediate family, and the reason for withdrawal must be provided in the written notice of the withdrawal submitted to the Secretary of State pursuant to section 367. The Secretary of State shall declare the vacancy pursuant to section 362-A. Less than 60 75 days before the primary election, a candidate may withdraw from the primary by providing a written notice to the Secretary of State that the candidate is withdrawing and will not serve if elected. The candidate's name will not be removed from the ballot, but upon receipt of the notice of late withdrawal, the Secretary of State shall instruct the local election officials in the candidate's electoral district to distribute notices with absentee ballots requested after that date and to post a notice at each voting place in the district informing voters that the candidate has withdrawn and that a vote for that candidate will not be counted. Notice of the late withdrawal must also be posted on the Secretary of State's publicly accessible website.
Sec. 7. 21-A MRSA §374-A, sub-§1, ¶B, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 341, §2, is amended to read:
Sec. 8. 21-A MRSA §374-A, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2011, c. 342, §13, is further amended to read:
Sec. 9. 21-A MRSA §375, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1999, c. 426, §15, is further amended to read:
Sec. 10. 21-A MRSA §376, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1997, c. 436, §55, is further amended to read:
Sec. 11. 21-A MRSA §506 is enacted to read:
§ 506. Municipal clerk ineligible to serve
When a member of the municipal clerk's immediate family becomes a candidate for federal, state, local or county office in the electoral division in which the municipal clerk serves, the municipal clerk may not serve as the supervisor of elections during the period beginning when the candidate files a petition to be a candidate or is nominated to be a replacement candidate until the time of election. The municipal clerk shall instead appoint a deputy who must be compensated by the municipality for the duration of the deputy's temporary employment in that capacity.
Sec. 12. 21-A MRSA §626, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2011, c. 342, §18, is further amended to read:
Sec. 13. 21-A MRSA §626-A is enacted to read:
§ 626-A. Voting place report
The municipal clerk shall file a voting place report at least 60 days before each election conducted under this Title, on a form designed by the Secretary of State, with information about each voting place, including, but not limited to, the location of each voting place, the poll opening time and the number of voting booths that will be used.
Sec. 14. 21-A MRSA §671, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2003, c. 584, §9, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
Sec. 15. 21-A MRSA §671, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2009, c. 253, §26, is repealed.
Sec. 16. 21-A MRSA §671, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1997, c. 436, §95, is further amended to read:
Sec. 17. 21-A MRSA §671, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2001, c. 310, §35, is further amended to read:
Sec. 18. 21-A MRSA §682, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2009, c. 253, §27, is further amended to read:
Sec. 19. 21-A MRSA §682, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 447, §22, is amended to read:
Sec. 20. 21-A MRSA §712, as amended by PL 1993, c. 473, §27 and affected by §46, is further amended to read:
§ 712. Return not delivered
If an election return is not delivered to the Secretary of State within 3 business days by 5 p.m. on the 3rd business day after an election, the Secretary of State shall send a messenger to the municipality concerned, and the clerk shall give that messenger a certified copy of the return municipal clerk commits a civil violation for which a fine of not more than $50 for each day the return is late may be adjudged.
Sec. 21. 21-A MRSA §722-A, as amended by PL 2009, c. 253, §37, is further amended to read:
§ 722-A. Determination of declared write-in candidate
To be considered a declared write-in candidate, a person must file a declaration of write-in candidacy with the Secretary of State, on a form approved by the Secretary of State, on or before 5 p.m. on the 45th 70th day prior to the election. The candidate must meet all the other qualifications for that office.
Sec. 22. 21-A MRSA §737-A, first ¶, as amended by PL 2007, c. 515, §8, is further amended to read:
Once a recount is requested, the Secretary of State shall notify the State Police, who shall take physical control of all ballots and related materials involved in the recount as soon as possible , except that for a statewide office or statewide referendum or an office or referendum that encompasses more than one county, the Secretary of State, in agreement with the parties involved in the recount, may direct the State Police to retrieve ballots from certain voting jurisdictions so that the recount may be conducted in stages until the requesting candidate or party to the referendum concedes or until all the ballots are recounted.
Sec. 23. 21-A MRSA §737-A, 4th ¶, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 473, §31 and affected by §46, is amended to read:
If, after the official tabulation is submitted to the Governor, the apparent winner is determined the losing candidate, that candidate may request another a recount within 3 business days after the date the Governor receives the tabulation.
Sec. 24. 21-A MRSA §737-A, sub-§1, ¶¶A and B, as amended by PL 2003, c. 447, §25, are further amended to read:
Sec. 25. 21-A MRSA §760-B, as amended by PL 2013, c. 457, §4, is further amended to read:
§ 760-B. Procedures when clerk processes absentee ballots prior to election day
Any municipality or jurisdiction that conducts its own elections may opt to process absentee ballots on the beginning on the 4th day immediately prior to election day , except that processing on a Sunday is not permitted. The clerk shall use the following procedure when processing the absentee ballots during this time.
Any municipality authorized to scan absentee ballots at a state-designated central location must first open and process absentee ballots at the times and in the location within the municipality as designated in the notice of election and follow all procedures described in this section. The absentee ballots once removed from their envelopes must be secured in locked and sealed containers before being transported to the state-designated central location. The Secretary of State shall publish uniform guidelines for securing and transporting ballots and other materials under this subsection.
Sec. 26. 21-A MRSA §783, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 563, §9, is amended to read:
Sec. 27. 21-A MRSA §809-A, sub-§1-A, as amended by PL 2007, c. 455, §50, is further amended to read:
Sec. 28. 21-A MRSA §809-A, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 651, §4, is amended to read:
SUMMARY
This bill makes the following changes to the election laws.
1. It adds a restriction that a registrar may not serve during an election when an immediate family member of the registrar is a candidate for federal office, and clarifies the language regarding compensation. The restriction previously applied only for candidates for state, local or county offices.
2. It removes the provision regarding the use of a supplemental incoming voting list.
3. It updates the list of the outside agencies that must provide voter registration pursuant to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.
4. It provides that a primary election for State Senator, State Representative or county office will only be held when there is more than one candidate who has filed a candidate petition and consent; when there is at least one candidate who has filed a candidate petition and consent and at least one candidate who has qualified as a write-in candidate; or when there is no candidate who has filed a candidate petition and consent but there is at least one candidate who has qualified as a write-in candidate. Otherwise, a party candidate is nominated to the general election ballot based on acceptance of a primary petition.
5. It provides that the written acceptance for a replacement candidate must include a place for the registrar of the candidate's municipality of residence to certify the candidate's registration and enrollment status.
6. It changes the deadline for a candidate to withdraw from 60 days to 75 days before a primary or general election and allows for a replacement candidate. It also specifies that the candidate may withdraw only for good cause and must include that reason in the written notice of withdrawal filed with the Secretary of State.
7. It changes the deadline from 60 days to 75 days before the general election for a nonparty candidate for Vice President to withdraw and allow for a replacement candidate.
8. It provides that if a candidate or nominee for a federal or gubernatorial office withdraws less than 75 days before any election, the Secretary of State is not required to produce new ballots.
9. It clarifies that a candidate may withdraw after the withdrawal deadline if the candidate is incapacitated by a catastrophic condition or injury and allows for a replacement candidate. Current law provides for a candidate's withdrawal only for incapacitation due to a catastrophic illness.
10. It adds the restriction that a municipal clerk may not serve as the supervisor of an election when a member of the municipal clerk's immediate family is a candidate for federal, state, county or local office.
11. It changes the date from 30 days to 60 days prior to an election by which the municipal clerk must file a voting place report that includes the location of each voting place, the poll opening time and the number of voting booths to be used.
12. It clarifies the voting procedure by combining the steps of checking voter names on the incoming voting list and giving the ballot to the voter in the same provision of law. It prohibits the practice of handing out the ballot at a separate location from the incoming voting list.
13. It clarifies that it is a violation of law to display, as well as distribute, campaign materials within 250 feet of the voting place or the registrar's office.
14. It specifies that it is a violation of law to communicate in the voting place via text messages or e-mails that influence or attempt to influence another person's decision regarding a candidate or question on the ballot that election day.
15. It provides for a civil violation punishable by a fine for each day the municipal clerk is late in filing an election return after the election.
16. It changes the filing deadline for a declaration of write-in candidacy from 45 days to 70 days before the election.
17. It permits the Secretary of State to retrieve ballots from certain voting jurisdictions and conduct recounts of statewide or multi-county offices or referenda in stages, rather than requiring all the ballots to be retrieved at once.
18. It clarifies that an apparent winning candidate may request a recount if the official tabulation of the vote communicated to the Governor after a recount shows that candidate as the losing candidate.
19. It decreases the percentage difference required, from 2% to 1% or less of the total votes cast for the office, in order to receive a recount without requiring a deposit.
20. It provides that a municipality may opt to process absentee ballots as early as the 4th day before the election. It also authorizes the Secretary of State to make available high-speed ballot tabulators for absentee ballots and to allow a municipality to bring absentee ballots to a state-designated central location for tabulating by the high-speed ballot tabulators as long as security guidelines are properly followed.
21. It allows the Secretary of State to accept voted absentee ballots from uniformed service voters and overseas voters by an electronic means authorized by the Secretary of State.
22. It allows for the connection of individual voting devices to a central server operated or managed by the Secretary of State for voting systems equipped for individuals with disabilities by other than a wired, point-to-point telephone connection.
23. It allows for the use of the Internet to provide a ballot-marking system or software that is used for voters with disabilities, uniformed service voters or overseas voters to mark a ballot and transmit the marked ballot online, as long as the system or software does not tabulate the ballots or transmit the ballot tabulations online.