SP0523
LD 1626
Session - 129th Maine Legislature
 
LR 2289
Item 1
Bill Tracking, Additional Documents Chamber Status

An Act To Implement a Presidential Primary System in Maine

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

Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §335, sub-§5, ¶B-3  is enacted to read:

B-3 For a candidate for the office of President of the United States, at least 2,000 and not more than 3,000 voters.

Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §335, sub-§6,  as amended by PL 2015, c. 474, §2, is further amended to read:

6. When signed.   Except as provided in subchapter 7 8, a petition may not be signed before January 1st of the election year in which it is to be used.

Sec. 3. 21-A MRSA §335, sub-§8,  as amended by PL 2015, c. 474, §3, is further amended to read:

8. When filed.   Except as provided in subchapter 7 8, a primary petition must be filed in the office of the Secretary of State before 5 p.m. on March 15th of the election year in which it is to be used.

Sec. 4. 21-A MRSA c. 5, sub-c. 8  is enacted to read:

SUBCHAPTER 8

PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTIONS

§ 441 Determination and date of primary; voter eligibility

1 Determination of primary.   No later than November 1st of the year prior to a presidential election year, the state committee of each party shall certify whether there is a contest among candidates for nomination as the presidential candidate. Upon receiving the certification from one or more parties, the Secretary of State shall announce the parties that will have a presidential primary election, which must be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March of the presidential election year.
2 Eligible voter.   Notwithstanding section 340, subsection 1, only a voter who is enrolled in a party may vote in the party's presidential primary election.

§ 442 Petitions

On or before November 1st of the year prior to a presidential election year, the Secretary of State shall prepare and make available petitions for circulation by a person desiring to be a candidate in the state presidential primary election of any party. This petition must be completed and filed no later than 5:00 p.m. on December 21st of the year prior to a presidential election year in the manner provided in sections 335 and 336.

§ 443 Ballot preparation

The Secretary of State shall prepare ballots for a presidential primary election. A ballot must include the name of a person who files a petition with the Secretary of State in accordance with section 432. The Secretary of State shall determine if a petition meets the requirements of sections 335, 336 and 432, subject to challenge and appeal under section 337.

SUMMARY

This bill implements a presidential primary election to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March of the presidential election year, and provides a process for the parties to participate if they certify to the Secretary of State by November 1st of the year prior to the presidential election year that they have a contest among candidates for nomination.


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