An Act To Require Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidates To Disclose Their Federal Income Tax Returns
Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA c. 5, sub-c. 8 is enacted to read:
SUBCHAPTER 8
DISCLOSURE OF FEDERAL INCOME TAX RETURNS BY PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES
§ 441. Disclosure of federal income tax returns by presidential and vice-presidential candidates
Sec. 2. PL 2015, c. 474, §5 is amended by amending the first indented paragraph to read:
The Secretary of State shall include in the report recommendations regarding the administration of presidential primaries, including any implementing legislation. These recommendations must include, but are not limited to, provisions that address the arrangement and content of the ballot, including the order of candidates to be listed on the ballot if a party has multiple candidates; necessary changes to ensure proper and timely administration of absentee ballots for a presidential primary and compliance with the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act; and other issues as determined by the Secretary of State to be necessary for proper administration of a presidential primary in the State. The Secretary of State shall include with the report suggested legislation requiring a presidential primary candidate to provide documentation of the previous 5 years of the candidate's federal income tax returns in order for the candidate's name to appear on the general election ballot.
SUMMARY
This bill requires that, in order for a candidate for President or a candidate for Vice President to appear on a general election ballot, the candidate for President or the candidate for Vice President must disclose the previous 5 years of that candidate's federal income tax returns, which may be redacted to remove personally identifying information other than the candidate's name. It directs the Secretary of State to post the tax returns on the Secretary of State's website and to include in the secretary's report regarding presidential primaries pursuant to Public Law 2015, c. 474, section 5 suggested legislation requiring primary candidates to disclose federal income tax returns.