HP0960
LD 1332
Session - 129th Maine Legislature
 
LR 1525
Item 1
Bill Tracking, Additional Documents Chamber Status

RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine To Require State and Congressional Elections To Be Decided by a Plurality of Votes Cast

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. IV, Pt. First, §4-A is enacted to read:

Section 4-A. Primary election. A primary election for Representative must be decided by a plurality of votes cast.

Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Second, §2-A is enacted to read:

Section 2-A. Primary election. A primary election for Senator must be decided by a plurality of votes cast.

Constitution, Art. V, Pt. First, §2-A is enacted to read:

Section 2-A. Primary election. A primary election for Governor must be decided by a plurality of votes cast.

Constitution, Art. IX, §26 is enacted to read:

Section 26. Congressional elections. A primary, general or special election for United States Representative or United States Senator must be decided by a plurality of votes cast.

Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question; effective date. Resolved: That the municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a statewide election, at a statewide election held in the month of November following the passage of this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment proposed in this resolution by voting upon the following question:

"Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to require that a primary election for State Representative, State Senator or Governor be decided by a plurality of votes cast and that a primary, general or special election for United States Representative or United States Senator be decided by a plurality of votes cast?"

The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within the corresponding square below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the returns. If it appears that a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the amendment, the Governor shall proclaim that fact without delay and the amendment becomes part of the Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation.

Secretary of State shall prepare ballots. Resolved: That the Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of this resolution necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum.

SUMMARY

This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to provide that a primary election for State Representative, State Senator or Governor must be decided by a plurality of votes cast. It also provides that a primary, general or special election for United States Representative or United States Senator must be decided by a plurality of votes cast.


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