SP0523
LD 1626
PUBLIC Law, Chapter 445

on - Session - 129th Maine Legislature
 
 
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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.   No later than December 1st of the year prior to a presidential election year, the state committee of each party shall notify the Secretary of State of the enrollment qualifications, subject to the restrictions in section 144, for voters eligible to vote in that party's presidential primary election. If no notice is received by that date, only voters enrolled in a political party may vote in that 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 442. The Secretary of State shall determine if a petition meets the requirements of sections 335, 336 and 442, subject to challenge and appeal under section 337.

Sec. 5. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

SECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF

Bureau of Administrative Services and Corporations 0692

Initiative: Provides funding for printing and delivering presidential primary ballots to municipalities.

GENERAL FUND 2019-20 2020-21
All Other
$122,000 $0
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GENERAL FUND TOTAL $122,000 $0

Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 129th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.


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