21-A M.R.S. § 1121 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 14 / Section 1121
21-A §1121. Short title
Status: in_force

This chapter may be known and cited as the "Maine Clean Election Act." [IB 1995, c. 1, §17 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 32 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 1 / Section 32
21-A §32. Violations and penalties
Status: in_force

1. Class E crime. A person commits a Class E crime if that person: A. Knowingly violates a provision of this Title for which no penalty has been provided; or [PL 1993, c. 473, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).] B. Knowingly displays or distributes political advertisements in or on state-owned or state-leased property. This paragraph does not apply to acts on state highways or to displays on motor vehicles not owned by the State while temporarily parked in parking areas on land maintained by the State. This paragraph does not apply to acts in or on a state-owned or state-leased building for a period beginning 48 hours before and ending 48 hours after that building is used by a political party to conduct a political activity within the building. [PL 1993, c. 473, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).] [PL 1993, c. 473, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).]

2. Class D crime. A person commits a Class D crime if that person: A. Is a public official and knowingly fails or refuses to perform a duty required of that official under this Title. [PL 1993, c. 473, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).] [PL 1993, c. 473, §2 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).]

3. Class C crime. A person commits a Class C crime if that person misuses a state government computer system. For purposes of this subsection, a person is guilty of misuse of a state government computer system if that person knowingly uses a computer system operated by a state department or agency, the Judicial Department or the Legislature: A. To prepare materials with the intent to expressly advocate, to those eligible to vote, for the election or defeat of any candidate for a federal office, a constitutional office or elective municipal, county or state office, including leadership positions in the State Senate and the State House of Representatives; or [PL 2003, c. 176, §3 (NEW).] B. With the intent to solicit contributions reportable under chapter 13 . [PL 2003, c. 176, §3 (NEW).] For purposes of this subsection, "computer system" has the same meaning as in Title 17‑A, section 431 and "leadership positions" means the presiding officers of each House of the Legislature, party leaders, the Clerk of the House, the Assistant Clerk of the House, the Secretary of the Senate and the Assistant Secretary of the Senate. This subsection may not be construed to prohibit a public employer from deducting dues or other funds from an employee's pay, as authorized by the employee and provided through a collective bargaining agreement, and remitting those funds to an account or fund owned by the employee's collective bargaining agent, even if the funds might be used for political or legislative purposes. [PL 2009, c. 144, §1 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 673 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 673
21-A §673. Challenges
Status: in_force

A voter of a municipality or an election official may challenge the right of another to vote at an election in that municipality. [PL 2007, c. 455, §31 (AMD).]

1. How made. The challenge must be made to the warden. The challenger must state in the form of a signed affidavit setting forth, under oath administered by the warden, the challenger's name, address, party affiliation, status as a registered voter in the municipality, the name of the voter challenged, the reason the particular individual being challenged may be ineligible to vote, the specific source of the information or personal knowledge upon which the challenge of the particular individual is based and a statement that the challenger understands that making a false statement on the affidavit is punishable under penalties of perjury. A. A voter or an election official may challenge another voter only upon personal knowledge or a reasonably supported belief that the challenged voter is unqualified. Only the following reasons for challenges may be accepted by the warden. The challenged person: (2) Is not enrolled in the proper party, if voting in a primary election; (3) Is not qualified to be a registered voter because the challenged person: (a) Does not meet the age requirements as specified in section 111, subsection 2 and section 111‑A ; (b) Is not a citizen of the United States; or (c) Is not a resident of the municipality or appropriate electoral district within the municipality; (4) Registered to vote during the closed period or on election day and did not provide satisfactory proof of identity and residency to the registrar pursuant to section 121, subsection 1‑A , except that only an election official may challenge for this reason; (5) Did not properly apply for an absentee ballot; (6) Did not properly complete the affidavit on the absentee return envelope; (7) Did not cast the ballot or complete the affidavit before the appropriate witness; (8) Communicated with someone as prohibited by section 754‑A, subsection 1, paragraph B or subsection 3, paragraph B or D ; (9) Did not have the ballot returned to the clerk by the time prescribed; (10) Voted using the name of another; (11) Committed any other specified violation of this Title; or (12) Voted using the wrong ballot for the appropriate electoral district or political party, if applicable. [RR 2011, c. 2, §21 (COR).] B. A challenge made must be made at the time the voter being challenged is checking in with the election clerk in charge of the incoming voting list in accordance with section 671 but before that voter enters the voting booth, except that the registrar or clerk may complete a challenge affidavit under oath to the warden before or during election day. [PL 2003, c. 395, §2 (NEW).] C. A challenge must be made against an absentee ballot after the name of the absentee voter is announced by the warden or clerk in accordance with section 759 and before the ballot is placed into the ballot box or voting machine. [PL 2003, c. 395, §2 (NEW).] D. The merits of a challenge may not be decided at the time the challenge is made, but only after the election consistent with the provisions of section 696 . [PL 2003, c. 395, §2 (NEW).] [RR 2011, c. 2, §21 (COR).]

2. Voting list marked. As soon as the challenge has been made, the election clerk in charge of the incoming voting list shall write "Challenged" beside the voter's name on the list, and give a ballot to the warden. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

3. Ballot marked. The warden shall write a number on the outside of the ballot. The warden shall also complete a certificate on which appears the word "Challenged," the name of the voter challenged and the reason for the challenge. The challenger and the warden shall sign the certificate. After the challenger has signed the certificate, the warden shall place the number that was written on the ballot in a conspicuous place on the certificate. Only the warden and the challenged voter may know the ballot number. The warden shall place the challenge certificate and the signed affidavit under subsection 1 in a sealed envelope marked "Challenge Certificate #(certificate number)" and shall retain the envelope until it is sealed with the ballot materials pursuant to section 698 . [PL 2003, c. 395, §3 (AMD).]

3-A. List of challenged ballots. The warden shall maintain a list of all challenges made. The list must include the name of the voter challenged, the name of the challenger and the reason for the challenge. The list may not include the unique number assigned to the ballot of the challenged voter. The list must be made available for public inspection after the polls close. [PL 1997, c. 436, §98 (NEW).]

4. Proceed to vote. The challenged voter shall then proceed to vote in the usual way using the marked ballot. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

5. Regulation of challengers and challenges. A person challenging the right of another person to vote may not create a disturbance or obstruction and may not interfere with or delay the challenged voter's exercise of the right to vote once the challenge affidavit has been completed. A challenger other than a registrar, clerk or other election official may not handle or inspect registration cards or files or other materials used by the registrar or clerk except as provided in section 22 . [PL 2003, c. 395, §4 (NEW).]

5. (REALLOCATED TO TITLE 21-A, §673, sub-§6) Challenged ballots relating to court order. [RR 2003, c. 1, §12 (RAL); PL 2003, c. 407, §19 (NEW).]

6. (REALLOCATED FROM TITLE 21-A, §673, sub-§5) Challenged ballots relating to court order. In an election for federal office, if a federal or state court has issued an order extending the time established for closing the polls, any ballots cast during the period of that extension must be challenged according to this section, segregated and counted separately from all regular and challenged ballots cast during the normal polling hours. [RR 2003, c. 1, §12 (RAL).]

7. Hearing held. After the election at which a voter has been challenged, the registrar shall hold a hearing to confirm the qualifications of the challenged voter pursuant to section 161, subsection 4 . The qualifications of the voter must be resolved within a reasonable time after the election and the voter's name either retained or cancelled from the central voter registration system. [PL 2007, c. 455, §33 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 624 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 624
21-A §624. Incoming voting lists; voter lists
Status: in_force

1. Posting of. The registrar shall post a certified copy of a current voter list for each voting district at the usual voting place in that district before the polls are opened on election day. The voter list produced for purposes of this subsection must include the following information for each voter and may not include any other information: name; residence address; enrollment status; electoral district; voter status, active or inactive; voter record number; and any special designations indicating uniformed service voters, overseas voters or township voters. The portion of the voter list produced for purposes of this subsection relating to Address Confidentiality Program participants must be kept under seal and excluded from public inspection. The residence address for any voter whose address has been made confidential pursuant to section 22, subsection 3, paragraph B may not be printed on the voter list, and the words "address is confidential" must be printed on the list instead. The Secretary of State shall designate the form of the voter list produced for purposes of this subsection. [PL 2007, c. 515, §5 (AMD).]

2. Delivery of. The registrar shall deliver the necessary number of certified copies of the posted voter list described in subsection 1 and the incoming voting list to the clerk by 5 p.m. on the last business day before election day. The clerk shall give the registrar a receipt for the copies. [PL 2007, c. 515, §5 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 1012 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 13 / Section 1012
21-A §1012. Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

1. Clearly identified. "Clearly identified," with respect to a candidate, means that: A. The name of the candidate appears; [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).] B. A photograph or drawing of the candidate appears; or [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).] C. The identity of the candidate is apparent by unambiguous reference. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).] [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

2. Contribution. The term "contribution:" A. Includes: (1) A gift, subscription, loan, advance or deposit of money or anything of value made for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of any person to state, county or municipal office or for the purpose of liquidating any campaign deficit of a candidate, except that a loan of money to a candidate by a financial institution in this State made in accordance with applicable banking laws and regulations and in the ordinary course of business is not included; (3) Funds received by a candidate or a political committee that are transferred to the candidate or committee from another political committee or other source; and (4) The payment, by any person other than a candidate or a political committee, of compensation for the personal services of other persons that are provided to the candidate or political committee without charge for any such purpose; and [PL 2025, c. 224, §6 (AMD).] B. Does not include: (1) The value of services provided without compensation by individuals who volunteer a portion or all of their time on behalf of a candidate or political committee; (2) The use of real or personal property and the cost of invitations, food and beverages, voluntarily provided by an individual to a candidate in rendering voluntary personal services for candidate-related activities, if the cumulative value of these activities by the individual on behalf of any candidate does not exceed $250 with respect to any election; (3) The sale of any food or beverage by a vendor for use in a candidate's campaign at a charge less than the normal comparable charge, if the charge to the candidate is at least equal to the cost of the food or beverages to the vendor and if the cumulative value of the food or beverages does not exceed $100 with respect to any election; (4) Any unreimbursed travel expenses incurred by an individual in the course of providing voluntary personal services to a candidate and paid for by that individual, if the cumulative amount of these expenses does not exceed $350 with respect to any election; (4-A) Any unreimbursed campaign-related travel expenses incurred and paid for by the candidate or the candidate's spouse or domestic partner; (5) The payment by a party's state, district, county or municipal committee of the costs of preparation, display or mailing or other distribution of a party candidate listing; (6) Documents, in printed or electronic form, including party platforms, single copies of issue papers, information pertaining to the requirements of this Title, lists of registered voters and voter identification information, created, obtained or maintained by a political party for the general purpose of party building and provided to a candidate who is a member of that party; (7) Compensation paid by a state party committee to its employees for the following purposes: (a) Providing no more than a total of 40 hours of assistance from its employees to a candidate in any election; (b) Recruiting and overseeing volunteers for campaign activities involving 3 or more candidates; or (c) Coordinating campaign events involving 3 or more candidates; (8) Campaign training sessions provided to 3 or more candidates; (8-A) Costs paid for by a party committee in connection with a campaign event at which 3 or more candidates are present; (8-B) Wood or other materials used for political signs that are found or contributed if not originally obtained by the candidate or contributor for campaign purposes; (8-C) The use or distribution of any communication, as described in section 1014 , obtained by the candidate for a previous election and fully paid for during that election; (9) The use of offices, telephones, computers and similar equipment when that use does not result in additional cost to the provider; (10) Activity or communication designed to encourage individuals to register to vote or to vote if that activity or communication does not mention a clearly identified candidate; or (11) A purchase of apparel from a commercial vendor with a total cost of $25 or less by an individual when the vendor has received a graphic or design from the candidate or the candidate's authorized committee. [PL 2013, c. 334, §3 (AMD).] [PL 2025, c. 224, §6 (AMD).]

3. Expenditure. The term "expenditure:" A. Includes: (1) A purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value made for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of any person to state, county or municipal office, except that a loan of money to a candidate by a financial institution in this State made in accordance with applicable banking laws and regulations and in the ordinary course of business is not included; (2) A contract, promise or agreement, expressed or implied, whether or not legally enforceable, to make any expenditure; (3) The transfer of funds by a candidate or a political committee to another candidate or political committee; and (4) A payment or promise of payment to a person contracted with for the purpose of influencing any campaign as defined in section 1052, subsection 1 ; and [PL 2013, c. 334, §4 (AMD).] B. Does not include: (1) Any news story, commentary or editorial distributed through the facilities of any broadcasting station, cable television system, newspaper, magazine or other periodical publication, unless the facilities are owned or controlled by any political party, political committee, candidate or spouse or domestic partner of a candidate; (1-A) Any communication distributed through a public access television channel on a cable television system if the communication complies with the laws and rules governing the channel and all candidates in the race have an equal opportunity to promote their candidacies through the channel; (2) Activity or communication designed to encourage individuals to register to vote or to vote if that activity or communication does not mention a clearly identified candidate; (3) Any communication by any membership organization or corporation to its members or stockholders, if that membership organization or corporation is not organized primarily for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of any person to state or county office; (4) The use of real or personal property and the cost of invitations, food and beverages, voluntarily provided by an individual to a candidate in rendering voluntary personal services for candidate-related activities, if the cumulative value of these activities does not exceed $250 with respect to any election; (5) Any unreimbursed travel expenses incurred by an individual in the course of providing voluntary personal services to a candidate and paid for by that individual, if the cumulative amount of these expenses does not exceed $350 with respect to any election; (5-A) Any unreimbursed campaign-related travel expenses incurred and paid for by the candidate or the candidate's spouse or domestic partner; (6) Any communication by any person that is not made for the purpose of influencing the nomination for election, or election, of any person to state, county or municipal office; (7) The payment by a party's state, district, county or municipal committee of the costs of preparation, display or mailing or other distribution of a party candidate listing; (8) The use or distribution of any communication, as described in section 1014 , obtained by the candidate for a previous election and fully paid for during that election campaign; (9) Documents, in printed or electronic form, including party platforms, single copies of issue papers, information pertaining to the requirements of this Title, lists of registered voters and voter identification information, created or maintained by a political party for the general purpose of party building and provided to a candidate who is a member of that party; (10) Compensation paid by a state party committee to its employees for the following purposes: (a) Providing no more than a total of 40 hours of assistance from its employees to a candidate in any election; (b) Recruiting and overseeing volunteers for campaign activities involving 3 or more candidates; or (c) Coordinating campaign events involving 3 or more candidates; (10-A) Costs paid for by a party committee in connection with a campaign event at which 3 or more candidates are present; (11) Campaign training sessions provided to 3 or more candidates; (11-A) Wood or other materials used for political signs that are found or contributed if not originally obtained by the candidate or contributor for campaign purposes; (12) The use of offices, telephones, computers and similar equipment when that use does not result in additional cost to the provider; or (13) A purchase of apparel from a commercial vendor with a total cost of $25 or less by an individual when the vendor has received a graphic or design from the candidate or the candidate's authorized committee. [PL 2013, c. 334, §4 (AMD).] [PL 2013, c. 334, §4 (AMD).]

4. Exploratory committee. [PL 1991, c. 839, §3 (RP); PL 1991, c. 839, §34 (AFF).]

4-A. Influence. "Influence" means to promote, support, oppose or defeat. [PL 2011, c. 389, §8 (NEW).]

4-B. Leadership political action committee. [PL 2023, c. 244, §2 (RP).]

5. Party candidate listing. "Party candidate listing" means any communication that meets the following criteria. A. The communication lists the names of at least 3 candidates for election to public office. [PL 2005, c. 301, §9 (NEW).] B. The communication is distributed through public advertising such as broadcast stations, cable television, newspapers and similar media, and through direct mail, telephone, electronic mail, publicly accessible sites on the Internet or personal delivery. [PL 2005, c. 301, §9 (NEW).] C. The treatment of all candidates in the communication is substantially similar, except for any requirement under federal law applicable to communications regarding federal candidates. [PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, §5 (AMD).] D. The content of the communication is limited to: (1) The identification of each candidate, with which pictures may be used; (2) The offices sought; (3) The offices currently held by the candidates; (4) The party affiliation of the candidates and a brief statement, including campaign slogans, about the party's or the candidates' positions, philosophy, goals, accomplishments or biographies; (5) Encouragement to vote for the candidates identified; (6) Information about voting, such as voting hours and locations; and (7) Campaign or party logos. If the communication contains language outside the categories of this paragraph, it does not qualify as a party candidate listing. [PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, §6 (AMD).] [PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, §§5, 6 (AMD).]

6. Separate segregated fund committee. [PL 2023, c. 244, §3 (RP).]