‘RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Require That Signatures on a Direct Initiative of Legislation Come from Each Congressional District’
| SP0272 LD 742 |
Session - 127th Maine Legislature C "B", Filing Number S-356, Sponsored by
|
LR 1029 Item 8 |
|
| Bill Tracking, Additional Documents | Chamber Status | ||
Amend the resolution by striking out the title and substituting the following:
‘RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Require That Signatures on a Direct Initiative of Legislation Come from Each Congressional District’
Amend the resolution by striking out all of subsection 2 (page 1, lines 5 to 24 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
‘2. Referral to electors unless enacted by the Legislature without change; number of signatures necessary on direct initiative petitions; dating signatures on petitions; competing measures. For any measure thus proposed by electors, the number of signatures of voters from each congressional district shall not be less than 10% of the total vote for Governor cast in that congressional district in the last gubernatorial election preceding the filing of such petition. The date each signature was made shall be written next to the signature on the petition. A signature is not valid if it is dated more than one year prior to the date that the petition was filed in the office of the Secretary of State. The measure thus proposed, unless enacted without change by the Legislature at the session at which it is presented, shall be submitted to the electors together with any amended form, substitute, or recommendation of the Legislature, and in such manner that the people can choose between the competing measures or reject both. When there are competing bills and neither receives a majority of the votes given for or against both, the one receiving the most votes shall at the next statewide election to be held not less than 60 days after the first vote thereon be submitted by itself if it receives more than 1/3 of the votes given for and against both. If the measure initiated is enacted by the Legislature without change, it shall not go to a referendum vote unless in pursuance of a demand made in accordance with the preceding section. The Legislature may order a special election on any measure that is subject to a vote of the people.’
Amend the resolution in the question in the 2nd line (page 1, line 33 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "registered to vote in all counties" and inserting the following: 'from each congressional district'
Amend the resolution in the 2nd paragraph from the end in the 8th line (page 1, line 42 in L.D.) by striking out the following: "the date of the proclamation" and inserting the following: 'March 1, 2017'
SUMMARY
The resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to require that signatures on a petition to directly initiate legislation be of voters from every county of the State. This amendment instead proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to require that the signatures on a petition to directly initiate legislation be of voters from each of the State's 2 congressional districts and that the number of signatures from each congressional district be not less than 10% of the total votes for Governor cast in that congressional district in the previous gubernatorial election. This amendment provides that, if the required votes are cast in favor of the proposed amendment to the Constitution, the proposed amendment becomes part of the Constitution on March 1, 2017 instead of on the date of the Governor's proclamation.