Previous PageTable Of ContentsNext Page

PUBLIC LAWS OF MAINE
First Regular Session of the 121st

CHAPTER 447
H.P. 1134 - L.D. 1548

An Act To Amend the Election Laws

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

     Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §1, sub-§1-A is enacted to read:

     1-A. Affidavit. "Affidavit" with respect to an absentee ballot envelope means the portion of the envelope that includes the voter's signature, the aide certificate and the witness certificate.

     Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §1, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended to read:

     7. Challenged ballot. "Challenged ballot" means a ballot cast by one whose eligibility to vote has been questioned during election day.

     Sec. 3. 21-A MRSA §1, sub-§48-A is enacted to read:

     48-A. Voting indicator. "Voting indicator" means the space provided for marking a vote in accordance with a particular type of ballot.

     Sec. 4. 21-A MRSA §23, sub-§14, as amended by PL 1997, c. 436, §11, is further amended to read:

     14. Destruction of records. After the records and other materials have been kept for the required period, they may be destroyed. Posted notices, sample ballots and instruction posters may be destroyed as soon as the election to which they pertain is past. Ballots must be destroyed using a method that makes the contents unreadable.

     Sec. 5. 21-A MRSA §115, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1995, c. 459, §13, is further amended to read:

     2. Voting restricted to district. In a municipality that has voting districts, a voter may, except as provided in section 630, vote using only the ballot or ballots for the district in which the voter resides on election day.

     Sec. 6. 21-A MRSA §122, sub-§7, ¶A, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 307, §1, is amended to read:

     Sec. 7. 21-A MRSA §122, sub-§7, ¶B, as amended by PL 1997, c. 436, §23, is further amended to read:

     Sec. 8. 21-A MRSA §307, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1999, c. 450, §11, is further amended to read:

     3. Use established party's designation. Incorporate the designation or an abbreviation of the designation of a party that is qualified to participate in a primary or general election under section 301; and

     Sec. 9. 21-A MRSA §307, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 450, §12, is amended to read:

     4. Use independent designation. Consist of the word "independent" without another descriptive word or words. The designation "independent," without another descriptive word or words, is reserved for use by candidates that are not enrolled in any qualified or proposed party.; and

     Sec. 10. 21-A MRSA §307, sub-§5 is enacted to read:

     5. Use obscene designation. Consist of or comprise language that is obscene or violates any other provision of the laws of this State with respect to names.

     Sec. 11. 21-A MRSA §337, sub-§2, ¶D, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended to read:

     Sec. 12. 21-A MRSA §354, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1997, c. 436, §50, is further amended to read:

     1. Content. A nomination petition must contain the name of only one candidate, the candidate's place of residence, the office sought and electoral division. A nomination petition may contain as many separate papers as necessary and may contain the candidate's consent required by section 355. It may also contain the candidate's political designation, which. This designation may not exceed 3 words in length, and may not incorporate the candidate's name, or the designation or an abbreviation of the designation of a party that is qualified to nominate candidates by primary election and may not consist of or comprise language that is obscene or violates any other provision of the laws of this State with respect to names. A candidate who intends to form a new party about that person's candidacy must use the proposed party's designation.

     Sec. 13. 21-A MRSA §673, sub-§1, ¶A, as amended by PL 1997, c. 436, §96, is further amended to read:

     Sec. 14. 21-A MRSA §674, sub-§1, ¶B, as repealed and replaced by PL 1993, c. 473, §18 and affected by §46, is amended to read:

     Sec. 15. 21-A MRSA §674, sub-§1, ¶¶B-1 and B-2 are enacted to read:

     Sec. 16. 21-A MRSA §674, sub-§2, ¶A, as repealed and replaced by PL 1993, c. 473, §18 and affected by §46, is amended to read:

     Sec. 17. 21-A MRSA §674, sub-§2, ¶B, as repealed and replaced by PL 1993, c. 473, §18 and affected by §46, is repealed.

     Sec. 18. 21-A MRSA §674, sub-§3, ¶B, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 473, §18 and affected by §46, is amended to read:

     Sec. 19. 21-A MRSA §674, sub-§3, ¶¶B-1 to B-3 are enacted to read:

     Sec. 20. 21-A MRSA §674, sub-§3, ¶C, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 473, §18 and affected by §46, is amended to read:

     Sec. 21. 21-A MRSA §674, sub-§3, ¶D is enacted to read:

     Sec. 22. 21-A MRSA §682, as amended by PL 2001, c. 310, §37, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

§682. Political activities

     Certain activities are prohibited on election day.

     1. Instruction limited. Within the voting place, a person may not instruct another in the method of marking the ballot, except as provided in section 672.

     2. Influence prohibited. Within 250 feet of the entrance to the voting place as well as within the voting place itself, a person may not:

These limitations do not prohibit a candidate from attending the voting place and orally communicating with voters as long as the candidate does not attempt to influence their vote. A candidate may not state the name of the office sought or request a person's vote.

     2-A. Application. This subsection governs the application of subsection 2.

     3. Advertising prohibited. A person may not display advertising material; operate an advertising medium, including a sound amplification device; or distribute campaign literature, posters, palm cards, buttons, badges or stickers containing a candidate's name or otherwise intending to influence the opinion of any voter within 250 feet of the entrance to either the voting place or the registrar's office. The term "sound amplification device" includes, but is not limited to, sound trucks, loudspeakers and blowhorns.

     4. Devices for audible communication. Party workers or others may not use cellular phones, voice pagers or similar devices to make audible voice communication within the voting place that is in violation of subsection 2.

     5. Violation. A person who knowingly engages in activities prohibited by this section commits a Class E crime.

     Sec. 23. 21-A MRSA §698, sub-§2-A, as amended by PL 2001, c. 310, §45, is further amended to read:

     2-A. Used ballots placed in tamper-proof containers. The election clerks shall place the used state ballots, envelopes containing challenge certificates, including spoiled ballots, defective ballots, void ballots, used absentee ballots, used absentee envelopes with the applicable applications attached, envelopes containing challenge certificates, and the official tally tape from the electronic tabulating system in one or more tamper-proof ballot containers. The ballot containers must be furnished by the Secretary of State. Ballots and election materials for municipal elections conducted at the same time as a state election must be sealed separately from state ballots and other state election materials. If municipalities wish to use tamper-proof containers to seal municipal election materials, they must obtain the containers and locks at their own expense.

If a state-supplied tamper-proof container or lock becomes defective, lost or destroyed, the clerk must apply in writing to the Secretary of State for another. The Secretary of State shall supply or approve a replacement at the expense of the municipality.
A tamper-proof ballot container must be locked and sealed with a numbered seal before leaving the precinct. The lock and seal numbers must correlate with a certificate identifying the person sealing the container and the time of the sealing. The locks, seals and identifying certificates must be furnished by the Secretary of State.

     Sec. 24. 21-A MRSA §698, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended to read:

     6. Ballot security. The municipal clerk shall take appropriate security measures to ensure the safety and protection security of all ballots before, during and after the election. Ballots and voting equipment must be secured in an area that is accessible only by the clerk or the clerk's designee.

     Sec. 25. 21-A MRSA §737-A, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1995, c. 459, §68, is further amended to read:

     1. Deposit for recount. All deposits required by this section must be made with the Secretary of State when a recount is requested by a losing candidate. Once the State Police have taken custody of the ballots and other election materials from the municipalities, the deposit made by the candidate requesting the recount is forfeited to the State if the resulting count fails to change the outcome of the election. If the recount reverses the election, the deposit must be returned to the candidate requesting the recount. The amount of the deposit is calculated as follows.

     Sec. 26. 21-A MRSA §737-A, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 473, §31 and affected by §46, is amended to read:

     4. Time of recount and designated recount candidates. The recount must be held as soon as reasonably possible at a time and place that affords the designated recount candidates a reasonable opportunity to be present. For purposes of this section, "the designated recount candidates" means the leading candidate and each candidate who has requested a recount and paid the applicable fee in accordance with this section. The recount involves a new count of the results for the designated recount candidates only. Once a candidate has requested a recount, the other candidates for that elective office must be notified of the request as soon as possible. Candidates for that elective office whose vote totals fall between the totals of the leading candidate and the requesting candidate must be provided with an opportunity to be included in the recount as a designated recount candidate by making a written request to join the recount and paying the applicable fee, either within 5 business days after the election or, if the recount request is made on the last day of that period, by the close of business on the next business day. Candidates for that elective office other than the designated recount candidates may be present to observe the recount but are not included in the recount, and their vote totals remain as indicated in the official results reported by the municipalities.

     Sec. 27. 21-A MRSA §737-A, sub-§9, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 473, §31 and affected by §46, is amended to read:

     9. Package resealed and marked. After a recount, the Secretary of State shall reseal the packages of ballots and incoming voting lists, noting the fact and date of the recount on the packages. All challenged and disputed ballots must be packaged separately. The challenged and disputed ballots must be kept until released to the court or to the Senate or the House of Representatives, if applicable, in case of an appeal.

     Sec. 28. 21-A MRSA §753-A, sub-§3, ¶¶A, B and C are enacted to read:

     Sec. 29. 21-A MRSA §753-A, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 645, §6, is amended to read:

     4. Application by telephone. A voter may make a telephone request application for the voter's own ballot. In this case, the voter may not designate an immediate family member or a 3rd person to deliver the ballot on the voter's behalf. The clerk shall ask the voter for the information required on the application and complete the application, with the exception of the voter's signature, and shall write "telephone request" on the application. The clerk shall also obtain the voter's birth date and write it on the application. The clerk shall verify that it is the voter who is requesting the ballot by making the voter confirm confirming the voter's residence address and birth date on the voting list with the information in the voter's record. A telephone application must be accepted by the clerk if it contains the voter's name, the voter's date of birth, the voter's residence address or other address sufficient to identify the voter and, if applicable, a different address to which the applicant requests the ballot be sent or delivered.

     Sec. 30. 21-A MRSA §753-B, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1999, c. 645, §6, is amended to read:

     1. Application or written request received. Upon receipt of a completed an application or a, written request or telephone application for an absentee ballot signed by the voter or an immediate family member that is accepted pursuant to section 753-A, the clerk shall immediately issue an absentee ballot and return envelope by mail or in person to the applicant or to the immediate family member or to a 3rd person designated in a written application or request made by the voter. Upon completion of a telephone request, the clerk shall issue an absentee ballot by mail or in person to the voter at the address requested by the voter. The clerk shall type or write in ink the name and the legal residence address of the voter in the designated section of the return envelope.

     Sec. 31. 21-A MRSA §753-B, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2001, c. 310, §53, is further amended to read:

     4. Duplicate application. If the clerk receives a duplicate application or request from a person from whom the clerk has received a return envelope apparently containing a statewide absentee ballot, the clerk may not furnish another statewide absentee ballot for that person. The clerk may issue a 2nd statewide state absentee ballot to an applicant if the applicant requests one by an acceptable method outlined in this subchapter and:

The clerk may also issue a 2nd state absentee ballot to a voter from whom the clerk has received a return envelope apparently containing a state absentee ballot when the State has provided the clerk with replacement ballots to reflect the removal of a candidate's name or the addition of a new candidate's name or the correction of an error. When a 2nd state absentee ballot is issued to a voter under this section, the clerk must write the words "second ballot issued" on the return envelope.

     Sec. 32. 21-A MRSA §756, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2001, c. 310, §56, is further amended to read:

     5. Envelopes and lists delivered. On election day, the clerk shall deliver or have delivered the return envelopes prescribed by section 752, subsection 3, with the applications, when required, attached and a copy of the list required by section 753-B, subsection 6, to the warden of the voting district in which the voter is registered, except in those municipalities where the municipal officers have authorized the clerk to process or the clerk's designee processes the absentee ballots centrally. If more than one return envelope is received from the same voter, the clerk shall deliver or have delivered to the warden for counting only the return envelope bearing the earliest date and time. In those municipalities where the absentee ballots are processed centrally, the clerk shall deliver or have delivered the materials described in this subsection to the person authorized by the clerk to process absentee ballots at the designated central location. After processing the absentee ballots, the warden or the clerk shall attach the copy of the list of absentee voters to the incoming voting list and seal it as provided in section 698.

This subsection does not apply to municipalities with 2 or more voting precincts where absentee ballots are counted at a place other than the voting district.

     Sec. 33. 21-A MRSA §756, sub-§6 is enacted to read:

     6. Procedure when duplicate envelopes received from same voter. If more than one return envelope is received from the same voter who was authorized to receive a 2nd state absentee ballot pursuant to section 753-B, then the clerk or warden shall process and count the ballot from the envelope marked "second ballot issued" or bearing the latest date and time and shall reject and keep sealed the first absentee envelope. If more than one return envelope is received from the same voter who was not authorized to receive a 2nd state absentee ballot pursuant to section 753-B, then the clerk or warden shall process and count the ballot from the envelope bearing the earliest date and time. If only one return envelope is received from a voter who was authorized to receive a 2nd state absentee ballot pursuant to section 753-B, then the clerk or warden shall process and count that ballot for all offices or questions for which the voter was entitled to vote.

     Sec. 34. 21-A MRSA §829, as amended by PL 1993, c. 473, §39 and affected by §46, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

§829. Violation and penalty

     1. Altering voting machine. A person may not alter, adjust, operate, move, unlock or unseal a voting machine or any part of a voting machine with the intent of changing the outcome of any election.

     2. Attempting to alter voting machine. A person may not attempt to alter, adjust, operate, move, unlock or unseal a voting machine or any part of a voting machine with the intent of changing the outcome of an election.

     3. Penalty. A person who violates this section commits a Class B crime.

     Sec. 35. 21-A MRSA §860, as amended by PL 1995, c. 459, §112, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

§860. Violation and penalty

     1. Tampering with voting device. Before, during or after an election, a person may not intentionally or knowingly:

     2. Penalty. A person who violates subsection 1 commits a Class B crime.

     Sec. 36. 21-A MRSA §1004, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1989, c. 504, §§2 and 31, is further amended to read:

     2. False statements. No A person, candidate, treasurer or political action committee may not make a false statement in any a report required by this chapter.

     Sec. 37. 21-A MRSA §1004, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

     3. Contributions in another's name. A person may not knowingly:

     Sec. 38. 21-A MRSA §1004, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended to read:

     4. Registration; political action committees. No A political action committee required to be registered under section 1053 may not operate in this State unless it is so registered.

Effective September 13, 2003, unless otherwise indicated.

Revisor of Statutes Homepage Subject Index Search 121st Laws of Maine Maine Legislature

About the 2003 Laws Of Maine

Previous PageTop Of PageTable Of ContentsNext Page

Office of the Revisor of Statutes
State House, Room 108
Augusta, Maine 04333

Contact the Office of the Revisor of Statutes