21-A M.R.S. § 906 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 11 / Section 906
21-A §906. Form of ballot
Status: in_force

The Secretary of State shall prepare the ballots for referendum questions according to the following provisions, subject to the authority contained in section 604‑A . [PL 1987, c. 188, §16 (AMD).]

1. Referendum questions on separate ballot. [PL 1997, c. 581, §6 (RP).]

1-A. Referendum questions on same ballot. Referendum questions may be printed on the same ballot used for the election of state candidates or municipal elections, as determined by the Secretary of State in accordance with section 604‑A . There must be a place on the ballot for the voter to designate the voter's choice. A referendum question must be arranged so that the voter may vote for or against it. [PL 2001, c. 310, §68 (AMD).]

2. Bond issues; total interest. [PL 2009, c. 253, §59 (RP).]

3. Distinctively colored. [PL 2013, c. 457, §5 (RP).]

4. Size. The Secretary of State shall determine the size of the ballots. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

5. Contents concealed. [PL 1997, c. 581, §9 (RP).]

6. Wording of ballots for people's veto and direct initiative referenda. Ballots for a statewide vote on a people's veto referendum or a direct initiative must set out the question or questions to be voted on as set forth in this subsection. A. The Secretary of State shall advise petitioners that the proper suggested format for an initiative question is a separate question for each issue. In determining whether there is more than one issue, each requiring a separate question, considerations include whether: (1) A voter would reasonably have different opinions on the different issues; (2) Having more than one question would help voters to better understand the subject matter; and (3) The questions are severable and can be enacted or rejected separately without negating the intent of the petitioners. [PL 1993, c. 352, §3 (RPR).] B. The Secretary of State shall write the question in a clear, concise and direct manner that describes the subject matter of the people's veto or direct initiative as simply as is possible. [PL 2019, c. 414, §1 (AMD).] C. The question for a direct initiative must be phrased so that an affirmative vote is in favor of the direct initiative. [PL 2019, c. 414, §1 (AMD).] D. If the Legislature adopts a competing measure, the ballot must clearly designate the competing question and legislation as a competing measure and allow voters to indicate whether they support the direct initiative, support the competing measure or reject both. [PL 1993, c. 352, §3 (RPR).] E. If there is more than one direct initiative referendum on the same general subject, the Secretary of State shall write the questions in a manner that describes the differences between the initiatives. [PL 1993, c. 352, §3 (RPR).] [PL 2019, c. 414, §1 (AMD).]

6-A. Wording of referendum questions enacted by the Legislature. The proper format for a statutory referendum enacted by the Legislature is a separate question for each issue. In determining whether there is more than one issue, each requiring a separate question, considerations include whether: A. A voter would reasonably have different opinions on the different issues; [PL 1993, c. 352, §4 (NEW).] B. Having more than one question would help voters to better understand the subject matter; and [PL 1993, c. 352, §4 (NEW).] C. The Legislature determines the questions are severable and can be enacted or rejected separately without negating the intent of the Legislature. [PL 1993, c. 352, §4 (NEW).] [PL 1993, c. 352, §4 (NEW).]

7. Order of questions on the ballot. The Secretary of State shall arrange questions on the ballot in the following order: carry-over measures from a previous election; people's veto questions; initiated measures; bond issues; constitutional amendments; and other legislatively proposed referenda. Within each group, questions must be arranged in a random order determined by a selection process conducted in public. All ballot questions must be numbered sequentially. [PL 1997, c. 581, §10 (AMD).]

8. Explanation of effect of "yes" or "no" vote. The Secretary of State shall include on the ballot for each referendum question those portions of the statement prepared by the Attorney General pursuant to Title 1, section 353 that describe what a "yes" vote favors and what a "no" vote opposes. These statements must appear directly below the relevant referendum question and above the place on the ballot for the voter to designate the voter's choice. [PL 2019, c. 414, §2 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 1052-A — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 13 / Section 1052-A
21-A §1052-A. Registration
Status: in_force

A committee shall register with the commission and amend its registration as required by this section. A registration is not timely filed unless it contains all the information required in this section. [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (AMD).]

1. Deadlines to file and amend registrations. A committee shall register and file amendments with the commission according to the following schedule. A. A political action committee as defined under section 1052, subsection 5, paragraph A , subparagraph (1) or (5) shall register with the commission within 7 days of receiving contributions or making expenditures in the aggregate in excess of $2,500. [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (AMD).] A-1. A ballot question committee shall register with the commission within 7 days of receiving contributions or making expenditures in the aggregate in excess of $5,000. [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (NEW).] A-2. A registered committee that does not qualify for an exception to registration pursuant to subsection 1‑A shall register as a political action committee or ballot question committee, as applicable, within 7 days of exceeding the $10,000 threshold specified in subsection 1‑A . [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (NEW).] B. A committee shall amend the registration within 10 days of a change in the information that committees are required to disclose under this section. [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (AMD).] C. A committee shall file an updated registration form between January 1st and March 1st of each year in which a general election is held. The commission may waive the updated registration requirement for a newly registered political action committee or other registered committee if the commission determines that the requirement would cause an administrative burden disproportionate to the public benefit of the updated information. [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (AMD).] [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (AMD).]

1-A. The following exceptions to the registration requirements in subsection 1 apply to registered committees. A. A registered political action committee that receives contributions or makes expenditures of $10,000 or less in the aggregate for the purpose of influencing one or more ballot question campaigns in a calendar year is not required to register as a ballot question committee. If a registered political action committee's only expenditures to influence ballot question campaigns in an election year are monetary contributions to registered ballot question committees, the political action committee is not required to register as a ballot question committee regardless of the aggregated amount of such contributions. [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (NEW).] B. A registered ballot question committee that receives contributions or makes expenditures of $10,000 or less in the aggregate for the purpose of influencing the nomination or election of one or more candidates in a calendar year is not required to register as a political action committee. If a registered ballot question committee's only expenditures to influence candidate elections in an election year are monetary contributions to registered political action committees, party committees or candidates, the ballot question committee is not required to register as a political action committee regardless of the aggregated amount of such contributions. [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (NEW).] [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (NEW).]

2. Disclosure of treasurer and officers. A committee must have a treasurer and a principal officer. The same individual may not serve in both positions, unless the committee is an individual registering as a ballot question committee. The committee's registration must contain the names and addresses of the following individuals: A. The treasurer of the committee; [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (AMD).] B. A principal officer of the committee; [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (AMD).] C. Any other individuals who are primarily responsible for making decisions for the committee; [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (AMD).] D. The individuals who are primarily responsible for raising contributions for the committee; and [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (AMD).] E. The names of any other candidates or Legislators who have a significant role in fund-raising or decision-making for the committee. [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (AMD).] [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (AMD).]

3. Other disclosure requirements. A committee's registration must also include the following information: A. A statement indicating the specific candidates, categories of candidates or campaigns or ballot questions that the committee expects to support or oppose; [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (AMD).] B. If the committee is formed to influence the election of a single candidate, the name of that candidate; [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (AMD).] C. The form or structure of the organization, such as a voluntary association, membership organization, corporation or any other structure by which the committee functions, and the date of origin or incorporation of the organization; [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (AMD).] D. If the committee has been formed by one or more for-profit or nonprofit corporations or other organizations for the purpose of initiating or influencing a campaign, the names and addresses of the corporations or organizations; [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (AMD).] E. The name of the account that the committee will use to deposit contributions and make expenditures pursuant to section 1054 , and the name and address of the financial institution at which the account is established; and [PL 2023, c. 244, §13 (AMD).] E-1. [PL 2023, c. 244, §14 (RP).] F. Any additional information reasonably required by the commission to monitor the activities of committees in this State under this subchapter. [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (AMD).] [PL 2023, c. 244, §§13, 14 (AMD).]

4. Acknowledgment of responsibilities. The treasurer, principal officer and any other individuals who are primarily responsible for making decisions for the committee shall submit a signed statement acknowledging their responsibilities on a form prescribed by the commission within 10 days of registering the committee. The signed acknowledgment statement serves as notification of the responsibilities of the committee to comply with the financial reporting, record-keeping and other requirements of this chapter and the potential personal liability of the treasurer and principal officer for civil penalties assessed against the committee. The commission shall notify the committee of any individual who has failed to submit the acknowledgment statement. Failure to return the acknowledgment statement is a violation of this subchapter for which a fine of $100 may be assessed against the committee. This section also applies to individuals named in an updated or amended registration required by this subsection who have not previously submitted an acknowledgment statement for the committee with the commission. [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (AMD).]

5. Resignation and removal. An individual who resigns as the treasurer, principal officer or primary decision maker of a committee shall submit a written resignation statement to the commission. An individual's resignation is not effective until the commission receives the written resignation statement from the individual. If an individual is involuntarily removed from the position of treasurer, principal officer or primary decision maker by the committee, the committee shall notify the commission in writing that the individual has been removed from the position. The commission may prescribe forms for these purposes. [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (AMD).]

6. Modified registration. The commission may adopt simplified registration procedures and forms for an individual registering as a ballot question committee to initiate or influence a ballot question. [PL 2021, c. 217, §4 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 722-A — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 722-A
21-A §722-A. Determination of declared write-in candidate
Status: in_force

1. Declared write-in candidates. To be considered a declared write-in candidate, a person must file a declaration of write-in candidacy with the Secretary of State, on a form approved by the Secretary of State, on or before 5 p.m. on the 70th day prior to the election. The candidate must meet all the other qualifications for that office. [PL 2025, c. 397, §44 (NEW).]

2. Additional requirement for presidential candidates. To be considered a declared write-in candidate for President, a person must also file with the Secretary of State on or before the deadline specified in subsection 1 a consent form under section 355 signed by the candidate for presidential elector who may receive votes for the declaring presidential candidate under section 801, subsection 1 . The designated presidential elector candidates must meet the requirements of section 352 . [PL 2025, c. 397, §44 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 103 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 3 / Section 103
21-A §103. Registration appeals board
Status: in_force

In a city or town that has a population of 5,000 or more, if a person is aggrieved by the decision of the registrar of voters to cancel that person's registration in the central voter registration system or to reject that person's voter registration application, that person may appeal in writing to the registration appeals board. The appeal must be filed within 30 days after receipt of notice of the registrar's decision. [PL 2019, c. 371, §4 (AMD).]

1. Population of 5,000 or over. The registration appeals board consists of 3 members who must be appointed as follows: The municipal committee of each of the major political parties shall nominate one member, who must be enrolled in the party of the municipal committee that nominates the member, and the municipal officers shall appoint the persons nominated by the municipal committees and the 3rd member must be nominated by the clerk of the municipality and appointed by the municipal officers. The clerk of the municipality may give the municipal committees of the political parties a list of qualifications necessary for a person to fulfill the duties of the registration appeals board, and the municipal committees shall take those qualifications into consideration when nominating members to the board. The 2 members of the board nominated by the municipal committees of the major political parties may be members of the municipal committee nominating them and of the county or state committees of the political party that nominates them and may be members of a state or county delegation to a political convention. When a municipal committee nominates a member to the registration appeals board, it shall also nominate an alternate board member, who serves if the member nominated by the municipal committee is or becomes unable to serve. The municipal clerk may not serve as a member or alternate member of the registration appeals board. [PL 1997, c. 436, §19 (AMD).]

2. Population of 4,000 to 5,000. [PL 1999, c. 426, §4 (RP).]

3. Term of office. Each member nominated by the municipal committees of the major political parties and appointed to the board shall serve for 3 years and until the member's successor is appointed and sworn. The member nominated by the clerk of the municipality and appointed to the board shall serve for 4 years and until that member's successor is appointed and sworn. [PL 1995, c. 459, §8 (AMD).]

4. Chair of the board. The member nominated by the clerk of the municipality is chair of the board. [RR 2019, c. 2, Pt. B, §35 (COR).]

5. Vacancy. When there is a vacancy on the board, the alternate board member nominated by the municipal committee of the political party of the former incumbent shall serve. If an alternate is not available, the municipal officers shall appoint a qualified person nominated by the municipal committee of the party of the former incumbent to fill the vacancy. If the vacancy is in the office of the chair of the board, the municipal officers shall appoint a qualified person nominated by the clerk of the municipality to fill the vacancy. Vacancies must be filled for the remainder of the term of office. [PL 1991, c. 466, §2 (AMD).]

6. Appeal hearing. Upon receipt of a complaint by a person aggrieved by the decision of the registrar, the chair of the registration appeals board shall immediately fix a time and place for the board to meet for a prompt hearing. The voter must be given written notice of the hearing at least 20 days in advance and must have the opportunity to testify and to present witnesses and other evidence at the hearing. The hearing is de novo. After hearing, the board may affirm, modify or reverse the decision of the registrar of voters. The board shall issue the decision to the voter in writing and shall provide information on how the voter may appeal the decision. The aggrieved person may appeal the decision of the board to the Superior Court in accordance with Rule 80B of the Rules of Civil Procedure. [PL 2009, c. 253, §9 (AMD).]

7. Actions of the registration appeals board. A registration appeals board may only act by unanimous or majority action. [PL 1995, c. 459, §10 (RPR).]

8. Removal from office. A member of the board may be removed from office at any time during the member's term by the appointing authority if the appropriate nominating authority nominates a replacement. Any replacement member shall serve out the remainder of the replaced member's term. [PL 1995, c. 459, §11 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 861 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 861
21-A §861. Application of provisions to voting by electronic voting system
Status: in_force

The provisions of this Title which are not inconsistent with this Article apply to all elections where an electronic voting system is used. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 156 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 3 / Section 156
21-A §156. Special provisions for township residents
Status: in_force

In addition to section 632 , registration, enrollment and voting by the resident of a township are governed by the following provisions. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

1. Registration and enrollment. A township resident who lives in a township for which the county commissioners have not established a voting place as provided in section 632 may register and enroll in any municipality within the applicant's representative district or, if the applicant lives in a portion of a township not easily accessible to a municipality within the representative district, the township resident may register and enroll in a more convenient municipality within or outside the county. The township resident may register and enroll on election day. The registrar shall designate the applicant as a township voter with the letter "T" in the central voter registration system and on the incoming voting list. [PL 2005, c. 568, §7 (AMD).]

2. Voting. The township voter may vote in the town in which the voter is registered in any election for offices of or questions concerning the unorganized territory in which the voter resides. The voter may not vote at a municipal election or on a liquor option question. If the voter registers in a town outside the voter's state representative district, state senatorial district, county or county commissioner district, the voter may vote for the offices of Representative to the Legislature, State Senator or any county office by using a ballot provided under section 606‑A . [PL 2011, c. 534, §10 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 858-A — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 858-A
21-A §858-A. Counting procedure for absentee ballots
Status: in_force

The procedure for processing absentee ballots for use with electronic voting systems is the same as for processing absentee ballots as provided in section 759 . [PL 1995, c. 459, §110 (NEW).]

1. Warden to review notes of clerk. [PL 1995, c. 459, §110 (RP).]

2. Accepted if correct. [PL 1995, c. 459, §110 (RP).]

3. Rejected if incorrect. [PL 1995, c. 459, §110 (RP).]

4. Primary election provisions. [PL 1995, c. 459, §110 (RP).]

5. Rejected ballots separate. [PL 1995, c. 459, §110 (RP).]

6. Ballots counted. [PL 1995, c. 459, §110 (RP).]

7. Processing before close of polls. [PL 1995, c. 459, §110 (RP).]

8. Inspection after polls close. [PL 1995, c. 459, §110 (RP).]
21-A M.R.S. § 306 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 5 / Section 306
21-A §306. Enrolled voters
Status: in_force

1. Voters enrolled in parties that fail to qualify. If the Secretary of State determines that a qualifying party has failed to meet the requirements of section 302 or 303 , the Secretary of State must change the status of voters enrolled in that qualifying party in the central voter registration system to unenrolled. [PL 2025, c. 397, §16 (NEW).]

2. Voters enrolled in qualified parties that are disqualified. Within 30 days of the Secretary of State's determination that a qualified party is disqualified under section 304 , the disqualified party may file a written notice with the Secretary of State electing to retain its enrolled voters. The written notice must certify that the party intends to seek requalification by December 31st of the year of the next general election following disqualification. A. If a notice is not timely filed by the disqualified party, the Secretary of State must change the status of voters enrolled in the disqualified party in the central voter registration system to unenrolled. [PL 2025, c. 397, §16 (NEW).] B. If a notice is timely filed by the disqualified party, the following procedures apply. (1) The Secretary of State may not automatically change the status of voters enrolled in the disqualified party in the central voter registration system to unenrolled except as permitted by subparagraph (5). Voters enrolled in the disqualified party may continue to change or withdraw their enrollment subject to the requirements of section 144 and section 145 . (2) The Secretary of State may remove the party's name from electronic versions and future printings of the voter registration application, but voters may continue to enroll in the disqualified party by writing the party name into a write-in blank on the voter registration application. (3) The disqualified party may request requalification by filing with the Secretary of State by December 31st of the year of the next general election following disqualification a certification that it has at least 5,000 voters enrolled in the party. The Secretary of State shall review the certification under the procedures in section 303, subsection 2 , and the disqualified party may appeal an adverse determination under section 303‑A . If restored to qualified status, the party must meet the requirements of section 301 to participate in subsequent primary elections and is not considered a newly qualified party for purposes of section 301, subsection 1, paragraph E . (4) In order to participate in a primary election under section 339 , the disqualified party must file a valid certification under subparagraph (3) no later than January 2nd of the year of that primary election. In order to participate in a presidential primary election under section 441 , the disqualified party must file a valid certification under subparagraph (3) no later than September 15th of the year before the presidential primary election. (5) If the disqualified party fails to submit a valid certification under subparagraph (3) by December 31st of the year of the next general election following disqualification, the Secretary of State must change the status of voters enrolled in the disqualified party in the central voter registration system to unenrolled and voters may no longer enroll in the disqualified party. Prior to disenrolling voters under this subparagraph, the Secretary of State shall generate from the central voter registration system and provide to the statewide chair of the disqualified party an electronic file containing the names, mailing addresses and residential addresses of all voters who will be disenrolled from the disqualified party. [PL 2025, c. 397, §16 (NEW).] [PL 2025, c. 397, §16 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 698 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 698
21-A §698. Packaging and return of ballots and lists
Status: in_force

As soon as the election return has been prepared, the election officials shall perform the following duties. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

1. Paper ballots wrapped. The election clerks shall wrap the tabulation of the count for each lot of ballots around that lot and secure it. Referendum ballots must be wrapped separately with their own tabulations unless the referendum ballot is combined with the candidate ballot. The tabulations must be signed by the 2 election clerks who counted that ballot lot. A. [PL 1997, c. 436, §103 (RP).] [PL 2013, c. 131, §20 (AMD).]

2. Ballots replaced in containers. [PL 1993, c. 473, §24 (RP); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).]

2-A. Used ballots secured. The election officials shall use the tamper-proof ballot security containers described in section 609 to seal the used state ballots, wrapped with their tabulations if hand counted or loose if machine tabulated; spoiled ballots; defective ballots; void ballots; envelopes containing challenge certificates; and the official tally tape from the electronic tabulating system. The containers must be further secured as follows. A. Each tamper-proof ballot security container must be secured with the security mechanism supplied or approved by the Secretary of State before leaving the voting place. Each sealed container must be recorded on a certificate identifying the container number, any unique numbers associated with the security mechanism and the person sealing the container and the time of sealing. [PL 2019, c. 371, §23 (AMD).] B. 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 and may not be sealed in the state-supplied tamper-proof ballot security containers. If municipalities wish to use tamper-proof ballot security containers to seal municipal election materials, they must obtain the containers and security mechanisms at their own expense. [PL 2019, c. 371, §24 (AMD).] The sealed tamper-proof ballot security containers of used ballots must remain sealed for at least 2 months after the election, unless the Secretary of State authorizes the clerk to open the containers prior to that date. After 2 months, the clerk shall open the containers in the presence of one or more witnesses and transfer the ballots to other containers for the remainder of the retention period described in section 23 . The new containers must be securely sealed. Except as expressly authorized in this Title, rules adopted under this Title or other applicable state or federal law, the ballot security containers of state election materials and the ballot security containers of municipal election materials must remain sealed and in the possession, custody and control of the clerk until the contents of the containers are destroyed in accordance with section 23 . [PL 2021, c. 536, §1 (AMD).]

2-B. Unused ballots placed in containers. At the close of the polls, all unused, unsealed absentee and regular ballots must be canceled by a physical mark unless all ballots are used in the course of the election. All sealed ballots must remain sealed. All unused ballots, including both the unsealed and the sealed ballots, must be placed in the containers in which the regular ballots were delivered. The containers containing the unused ballots must be clearly marked to indicate that the containers contain unused ballots. These ballots must be stored separately from the used ballots. Except as expressly authorized in this Title, rules adopted under this Title or other applicable state or federal law, the containers containing the unused ballots must remain sealed and in the possession, custody and control of the clerk until the unused ballots are destroyed in accordance with section 23 . [PL 2021, c. 536, §2 (AMD).]

3. Incoming voting lists packed separately. The warden and one election clerk from each of the major parties shall sign the incoming voting list certification as soon as the names of all persons who have voted, including persons who have voted by absentee ballot, have been checked off. The election clerks shall place the incoming voting list in a separate package outside the containers of used and unused ballots and seal the package with the signed incoming voting list certification. The incoming voting list includes any certificates entitling voters to be placed on the incoming voting list pursuant to section 122, subsection 7 . The municipal clerk shall keep these incoming voting lists sealed for 5 business days after the election or until the time for any recount conducted under section 737‑A , contested election or appeal has passed, whichever is longer. At the end of the 5th business day after the election, if the municipal clerk verifies that a recount has not been requested, the municipal clerk shall unseal the incoming voting list and keep it in the clerk's office as a public record for the time required pursuant to section 23 . [PL 2015, c. 447, §23 (AMD).]

3-A. Absentee envelopes sealed in separate containers. The election officials shall seal the used absentee envelopes from which the voted ballots have been removed and counted, with the applicable applications attached, and shall also seal the unopened envelopes containing rejected absentee ballots in one or more tamper-proof ballot security containers or other containers separate from the containers with the used or unused ballots. The municipal clerk shall keep these containers of used absentee envelopes and unopened envelopes sealed for 5 business days after the election or until the time for any recount conducted under section 737‑A , contested election or appeal has passed, whichever is longer. At the end of the 5th business day after the election, if the municipal clerk verifies that a recount has not been requested, the municipal clerk shall unseal the containers of used absentee envelopes and unopened envelopes and keep them in the clerk's office as a public record for the time required for retention of ballots under section 23 . [PL 2013, c. 131, §22 (AMD).]

4. Ballots and lists returned. The warden shall deliver the ballots and lists to the clerk immediately upon conclusion of the ballot count. In a municipality that has an island voting district, the warden must deliver the ballots and lists within 24 hours after the polls have closed. [PL 1999, c. 426, §22 (AMD).]

5. Two or more voting districts. In municipalities having 2 or more voting districts where absentee ballots are counted at a place other than the voting district, all absentee ballots, applications and envelopes may be packed together in the same container, which shall then be sealed publicly. A. The portions of subsections 2‑A and 2‑B that deal with absentee ballots do not apply to municipalities with 2 or more voting districts where absentee ballots are counted separately. [PL 2003, c. 584, §10 (AMD).] [PL 2003, c. 584, §10 (AMD).]

6. Ballot security. The municipal clerk shall take appropriate measures to ensure the safety and 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. [PL 2003, c. 447, §24 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 552 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 8 / Section 552
21-A §552. Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [IB 1993, c. 1, §1 (NEW); IB 1993, c. 1, §2 (AFF).]

1. Responsible electoral official. "Responsible electoral official" means a public official who is responsible for accepting a nomination or nomination petition for an elected office and also means a public official who is responsible for placing the name of a person nominated for public office on a ballot, ballot label, calendar or other similar instrument. [IB 1993, c. 1, §1 (NEW); IB 1993, c. 1, §2 (AFF).]

2. Term. "Term" means a full term of office or any portion of a term that began before the 3rd Wednesday in June in an odd‑numbered year served by an elected official in an office subject to the provisions of this chapter. [PL 2023, c. 289, §1 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 1062-B — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 13 / Section 1062-B
21-A §1062-B. Failure to keep records
Status: in_force

A committee that fails to keep records required by this chapter may be assessed a fine of up to $10,000 or the amount of financial activity for which no records were kept, whichever is greater. In assessing a fine, the commission shall consider, among other things, whether the violation was intentional, whether the violation occurred as the result of an error by someone outside the control of the committee, whether the committee intended to conceal its financial activity, the amount of financial activity that was not documented and the level of experience of the committee's volunteers and staff. [IB 2015, c. 1, §12 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 1017-A — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 13 / Section 1017-A
21-A §1017-A. Reports of contributions and expenditures by party committees
Status: in_force

1. Contributions. A party committee shall report all contributions in cash or in kind from a single contributor that in the aggregate total more than $200. The party committee shall report the name, mailing address, occupation and place of business of each contributor. Contributions of $200 or less must be reported, and these contributions may be reported as a lump sum. [PL 2009, c. 190, Pt. A, §8 (AMD).]

2. Expenditures to influence a campaign. A party committee shall report all expenditures made to influence a campaign, as defined in section 1052, subsection 1 . The party committee shall report: A. The name of each candidate, political action committee, ballot question committee or party committee; [PL 2019, c. 323, §11 (AMD).] B. The office sought by a candidate and the district that the candidate seeks to represent; and [PL 1991, c. 839, §23 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 839, §33 (AFF).] C. The date, amount and purpose of each expenditure. [PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, §17 (AMD).] [PL 2019, c. 323, §11 (AMD).]

3. Other expenditures. Operational expenses and other expenditures that are not made to influence a campaign, as defined in section 1052, subsection 1 must be reported separately. The party committee shall report: A. The name and address of each payee; [PL 2009, c. 190, Pt. A, §10 (AMD).] B. The purpose for the expenditure; and [PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, §17 (AMD).] C. The date and amount of each expenditure. [PL 1993, c. 715, §2 (NEW).] [PL 2011, c. 389, §17 (AMD).]

4. Filing schedule. [PL 2003, c. 302, §2 (RP).]

4-A. Filing schedule. A state party committee shall file its reports according to the following schedule. All reports required under paragraphs A , B and C must be filed by 11:59 p.m. on the day of the filing deadline. A. A state party committee shall file quarterly reports: (1) On January 15th, which must be complete up to December 31st; (2) On April 10th, which must be complete up to March 31st; (3) On July 15th, which must be complete up to June 30th; and (4) On October 5th, which must be complete up to September 30th. [PL 2019, c. 323, §12 (AMD).] B. During any year in which primary and general elections are held, a state party committee shall file primary and general election reports in addition to the reports required under paragraph A : (1) On the 11th day before the date on which the election is held, which must be complete up to the 14th day before that date; and (2) On the 42nd day after the date on which the election is held, which must be complete up to the 35th day after that date. [PL 2019, c. 323, §12 (AMD).] C. In an election year other than a year described in paragraph B , if a state party committee has received contributions or made expenditures for the purpose of influencing a ballot question election, a special election or a municipal candidate or referendum election subject to Title 30‑A, section 2502 , the committee shall file preelection and post-election reports: (1) On the 11th day before the date on which the election is held, which must be complete up to the 14th day before that date; and (2) On the 42nd day after the date on which the election is held, which must be complete up to the 35th day after that date. [PL 2019, c. 323, §12 (AMD).] D. A state party committee that files an election report under paragraph B or C is not required to file a quarterly report under paragraph A when the deadline for that quarterly report falls within 10 days of the filing deadline established in paragraph B or C . [PL 2003, c. 302, §3 (NEW).] E. If a state party committee is required to file a report 11 days before an election pursuant to paragraph B or C , the committee shall report any single contribution of $5,000 or more received or any single expenditure of $1,000 or more made after the 14th day before the election and more than 24 hours before 5:00 p.m. on the day of the election within 24 hours of that contribution or expenditure. The committee is not required to include in this report expenditures for overhead expenses or compensation paid to an employee or other member of the campaign staff who has received payments at regular intervals that have been disclosed in previously filed campaign finance reports. As used in this paragraph, "overhead expenses" includes, but is not limited to, rent, utility payments, taxes, insurance premiums or similar administrative expenses. [PL 2019, c. 323, §12 (AMD).] [PL 2019, c. 323, §12 (AMD).]

4-B. Filing schedule for municipal, district and county party committees. Municipal, district and county party committees shall file reports according to the following schedule. A. Reports filed during an election year must be filed with the commission by 11:59 p.m. on: (1) July 15th and be complete as of June 30th; (2) The 11th day before the date on which the general election is held and must be complete up to the 14th day before that date; and (3) January 15th and be complete as of December 31st. [PL 2009, c. 190, Pt. A, §12 (AMD).] B. Reports filed during a nonelection year must be filed by 11:59 p.m. on: (1) July 15th and be complete as of June 30th; and (2) January 15th and be complete as of December 31st. [PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, §17 (AMD).] C. A committee shall report any single contribution of $5,000 or more received or any expenditure of $1,000 or more made after the 14th day before a general or special election and more than 24 hours before 11:59 p.m. on the day of the election within 24 hours of that contribution or expenditure. The committee is not required to include in this report expenditures for overhead expenses or compensation paid to an employee or other member of the campaign staff who has received payments at regular intervals that have been disclosed in previously filed campaign finance reports. As used in this paragraph, "overhead expenses" includes, but is not limited to, rent, utility payments, taxes, insurance premiums or similar administrative expenses. [PL 2019, c. 323, §13 (AMD).] [PL 2019, c. 323, §13 (AMD).]

4-C. Electronic filing. State party committees shall file each report required by this section through an electronic filing system developed by the commission. The commission may make an exception to this electronic filing requirement if a party committee submits a written request that states that the party committee lacks access to the technology or the technological ability to file reports electronically. The request for an exception must be submitted by March 1st of the election year. The commission shall grant all reasonable requests for exceptions. [PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, §17 (AMD).]

5. Penalties. A party committee is subject to the penalties in section 1020‑A, subsection 4‑A . [RR 2003, c. 1, §13 (COR).]

6. Notice; forms. A state party committee shall notify all county, district and municipal party committees of the same political party of the party committee reporting requirements. The party committees shall obtain the necessary forms from the commission to complete the filing requirements. [PL 1991, c. 839, §23 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 839, §33 (AFF).]

7. Exemption. Any party committee receiving and expending less than $1,500 in one calendar year is exempt from the reporting requirements of this section for that year. [PL 1991, c. 839, §23 (NEW); PL 1991, c. 839, §33 (AFF).]

8. Municipal elections. When a party committee makes contributions or expenditures on behalf of a candidate for municipal office subject to this subchapter, it shall file a copy of the reports required by this section with the clerk in that candidate's municipality. [PL 2011, c. 389, §19 (AMD); PL 2011, c. 389, §62 (AFF).]
21-A M.R.S. § 367 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 5 / Section 367
21-A §367. Candidate withdrawal
Status: in_force

A candidate who wishes to withdraw from an elective race shall notify the Secretary of State in writing of the candidate's intent to withdraw. This notice must be signed by the candidate and submitted to the Secretary of State by the appropriate deadline provided in article 2 . The notice may be submitted by facsimile or scanned image. [PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §8 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 731 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 731
21-A §731. Tie defined
Status: in_force

There is a tie vote when 2 or more persons receive an equal number of votes, which number would entitle each one to nomination or election, except for the tie. There is a tie vote in a referendum, when a question receives an equal number of affirmative and negative votes. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 1126 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 14 / Section 1126
21-A §1126. Commission to adopt rules
Status: in_force

The commission shall adopt rules to ensure effective administration of this chapter. These rules must include but may not be limited to procedures for obtaining qualifying contributions, certification as a Maine Clean Election Act candidate, circumstances involving special elections, recounts, collection of revenues for the fund, distribution of fund revenue to certified candidates, return of unspent fund disbursements, disposition of equipment purchased with clean election funds and compliance with the Maine Clean Election Act. Rules of the commission required by this section are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A . [PL 2023, c. 211, §5 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 151 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 3 / Section 151
21-A §151. Same form
Status: in_force

An individual shall register to vote and indicate enrollment status at the same time and on the same form. If an individual chooses to enroll in a political party, the registrar shall indicate the party chosen on the registration form. The registrar shall indicate on the registration form if an individual chooses not to enroll in a political party. [PL 1989, c. 313, §4 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 321 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 5 / Section 321
21-A §321. Time and place; procedure
Status: in_force

Each party shall hold a state convention between March 1st and August 1st biennially during each general election year. [PL 2005, c. 387, §4 (AMD).]

1. Time, place and representation. The party's state committee shall determine the time, place and basis of representation for the convention, except that unenrolled voters who participate in the party's primary election must be considered members of the party for purposes of allocating delegates. Delegates must be members of the party unless otherwise permitted by party rules. [PL 2021, c. 750, §4 (AMD); PL 2021, c. 750, §14 (AFF).]

2. Proceedings at convention. The convention shall do the following: A. Elect a secretary and a chair of the convention in that order; [PL 2005, c. 387, §4 (AMD).] B. Adopt a platform for the next general election; [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).] C. Nominate the number of presidential electors to which the State is entitled; [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).] D. Determine the size of the state, district and county committees and the method of their election; [PL 2005, c. 387, §4 (AMD).] E. Elect a district committee for each congressional district; and [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).] F. Elect a county committee for each county from persons nominated at municipal caucuses held in the county, unless party rules provide for county committee members to be elected directly by their respective municipalities. If a municipality entitled to nominate a person for election to the county committee fails to do so, the convention may elect any resident of that municipality to the county committee. [PL 2005, c. 387, §4 (AMD).] [PL 2005, c. 387, §4 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 1020-A — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 13 / Section 1020-A
21-A §1020-A. Failure to file on time
Status: in_force

1. Registration. A candidate that fails to register the name of a candidate, treasurer or political committee with the commission within the time allowed by section 1013‑A, subsection 1 may be assessed a forfeiture of $100. The commission shall determine whether a registration satisfies the requirements for timely filing under section 1013‑A, subsection 1 . [PL 2019, c. 323, §18 (AMD).]

2. Campaign finance reports. A campaign finance report is not timely filed unless a properly signed or electronically submitted copy of the report, substantially conforming to the disclosure requirements of this subchapter, is received by the commission by 11:59 p.m. on the date it is due. Except as provided in subsection 7 , the commission shall determine whether a report satisfies the requirements for timely filing. The commission may waive a penalty in whole or in part if the commission determines that the penalty is disproportionate to the size of the candidate's campaign, the level of experience of the candidate, treasurer or campaign staff or the harm suffered by the public from the late disclosure. The commission may waive the penalty in whole or in part if the commission determines the failure to file a timely report was due to mitigating circumstances. For purposes of this section, "mitigating circumstances" means: A. A valid emergency determined by the commission, in the interest of the sound administration of justice, to warrant the waiver of the penalty in whole or in part; [PL 1999, c. 729, §5 (AMD).] B. An error by the commission staff; [PL 1999, c. 729, §5 (AMD).] C. Failure to receive notice of the filing deadline; or [PL 1999, c. 729, §5 (AMD).] D. Other circumstances determined by the commission that warrant mitigation of the penalty, based upon relevant evidence presented that a bona fide effort was made to file the report in accordance with the statutory requirements, including, but not limited to, unexplained delays in postal service or interruptions in Internet service. [PL 2009, c. 190, Pt. A, §13 (AMD).] [PL 2009, c. 190, Pt. A, §13 (AMD).]

3. Municipal campaign finance reports. Municipal campaign finance reports must be filed, subject to all the provisions of this subchapter, with the municipal clerk on forms prescribed by the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices. The municipal clerk shall send any notice of lateness required by subsection 6 and shall notify the commission of any late reports subject to a penalty. [PL 2011, c. 389, §22 (AMD); PL 2011, c. 389, §62 (AFF).]

4. Basis for penalties. [PL 2001, c. 470, §7 (AMD); MRSA T. 21-A §1020-A, sub-§4 (RP).]

4-A. Basis for penalties. The penalty for late filing of a report required under this subchapter is a percentage of the total contributions or expenditures for the filing period, whichever is greater, multiplied by the number of calendar days late, as follows: A. For the first violation, 2%; [IB 2015, c. 1, §7 (AMD).] B. For the 2nd violation, 4%; and [IB 2015, c. 1, §7 (AMD).] C. For the 3rd and subsequent violations, 6%. [IB 2015, c. 1, §7 (AMD).] Any penalty of less than $25 is waived. Violations accumulate on reports with filing deadlines in a 2-year period that begins on January 1st of each even-numbered year. Waiver of a penalty does not nullify the finding of a violation. A report required to be filed under this subchapter that is sent by certified or registered United States mail and postmarked at least 2 days before the deadline is not subject to penalty. [PL 2023, c. 324, §14 (AMD).]

5. Maximum penalties. [PL 2001, c. 470, §8 (AMD); MRSA T. 21-A §1020-A, sub-§5 (RP).]

5-A. Maximum penalties. Penalties assessed under this subchapter may not exceed: A. Five thousand dollars for reports required under section 1017, subsection 2, paragraph B , C , D , E or H ; section 1017, subsection 3‑A, paragraph B , C , D , D‑1 or F ; and section 1017, subsection 4 , except that if the dollar amount of the financial activity that was not timely filed or did not substantially conform to the reporting requirements of this subchapter exceeds $50,000, the maximum penalty is 100% of the dollar amount of that financial activity; [PL 2019, c. 323, §19 (AMD).] A-1. Five thousand dollars for reports required under section 1019‑B, subsection 4 , except that if the dollar amount of the financial activity that was not timely filed or did not substantially conform to the reporting requirements of this subchapter exceeds $50,000, the maximum penalty is 100% of the dollar amount of that financial activity; [PL 2019, c. 323, §19 (AMD).] B. Five thousand dollars for state party committee reports required under section 1017‑A, subsection 4‑A, paragraphs A , B , C and E , except that if the dollar amount of the financial activity that was not timely filed or did not substantially conform to the reporting requirements of this subchapter exceeds $50,000, the maximum penalty is 100% of the dollar amount of that financial activity; [PL 2019, c. 323, §19 (AMD).] C. One thousand dollars for reports required under section 1017, subsection 2, paragraphs A and F and section 1017, subsection 3‑A, paragraphs A and E ; or [PL 2011, c. 558, §4 (AMD).] D. Five hundred dollars for municipal, district and county committees for reports required under section 1017‑A, subsection 4‑B . [PL 2011, c. 558, §4 (AMD).] E. [PL 2011, c. 558, §5 (RP).] [PL 2019, c. 323, §19 (AMD).]

6. Request for a commission determination. If a candidate or a political committee files a report required under this subchapter late, a notice of preliminary penalty must be sent to the candidate or political committee whose registration or campaign finance report was not received by 11:59 p.m. on the deadline date, informing the candidate or political committee of the staff finding of violation and preliminary penalty calculated under subsection 4‑A and providing the candidate or political committee with an opportunity to request a determination by the commission. Any request for a determination must be made within 14 calendar days of receipt of the commission's notice. A candidate or political committee requesting a determination may either appear in person or designate a representative to appear on the candidate's or political committee's behalf or submit a sworn statement explaining the mitigating circumstances for consideration by the commission. A final determination by the commission may be appealed to the Superior Court in accordance with Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 7 and the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 80C. [PL 2025, c. 224, §13 (AMD).]

7. Final notice of penalty. If a determination has been requested by the candidate or political committee and made by the commission, notice of the commission's final determination and the penalty, if any, imposed pursuant to this subchapter must be sent to the candidate and the political committee. If a determination is not requested, the preliminary penalty calculated by the commission staff is final. The commission staff shall mail final notice of the penalty to the candidate and treasurer. A detailed summary of all notices must be provided to the commission. [PL 2009, c. 302, §6 (AMD).]

8. Penalties for failure to file report. If the commission staff finds that a candidate, party committee or other person has failed to file a report required under this subchapter, the commission staff shall send by regular mail and e-mail a notice to the candidate, party committee or person within 3 business days following the filing deadline informing the candidate, party committee or person that the report has not been received. If the report remains unfiled after 10 days, the commission staff shall send another notice by regular mail and e-mail. If the candidate, party committee or person has not filed the report after these 2 notices, the commission staff may refer the violation to the commission, which may, after providing notice and an opportunity to be heard, determine whether a violation has occurred and, if so, the amount of any penalty. The penalty may not exceed the maximum penalties as provided in subsection 5‑A . A candidate party committee or other person who fails to file a report as required by this subchapter after the commission has sent the first 2 notices required by this subsection is guilty of a Class E crime. As an alternative to assessing a penalty, the commission may refer the violation to the Office of the Attorney General for potential criminal prosecution. [PL 2025, c. 224, §14 (RPR).]

8-A. Penalties for failure to file report. [PL 2025, c. 224, §15 (RP).]

9. List of late-filing candidates. [PL 2025, c. 224, §16 (RP).]

10. Enforcement. A penalty assessed pursuant to this section that has not been paid in full within 30 days after issuance of a notice of the final determination may be enforced in accordance with section 1004‑B . [PL 2009, c. 302, §7 (RPR).]
21-A M.R.S. § 383 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 5 / Section 383
21-A §383. Political committees
Status: in_force

A political committee shall fill a vacancy in its membership. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

1. Secretary of State notified. [PL 2007, c. 455, §17 (RP).]
21-A M.R.S. § 1302 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 17 / Section 1302
21-A §1302. Membership - Article 1
Status: in_force

Any state of the United States and the District of Columbia may become a member of this agreement by enacting this agreement. [PL 2023, c. 628, §9 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 238 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 3 / Section 238
21-A §238. Rule of construction
Status: in_force

1. No change to authority to maintain voting lists. This subchapter may not be construed to interfere with any election official's authority or obligation, under state or federal law, to: A. Determine whether an individual is qualified to be a voter; or [PL 2019, c. 409, §6 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 409, §9 (AFF).] B. Conduct regular, nondiscriminatory voting list maintenance designed to ensure that persons who are ineligible to vote are not reflected as voters in the central voter registration system. [PL 2019, c. 409, §6 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 409, §9 (AFF).] [PL 2019, c. 409, §6 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 409, §9 (AFF).]

2. Right to opt out. This subchapter may not be construed to interfere with the right of an individual to decline for any reason to be registered to vote. [PL 2019, c. 409, §6 (NEW); PL 2019, c. 409, §9 (AFF).]
21-A M.R.S. § 162-A — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 3 / Section 162-A
21-A §162-A. Change of address confirmation notice
Status: in_force

The following provisions govern the change of address confirmation notice and procedures for updating a voter's status in the central voter registration system. [PL 2005, c. 453, §33 (AMD).]

1. Change of address confirmation notice. Except as provided in section 122, subsection 3 , a registrar, or the Secretary of State when conducting maintenance of the central voter registration system, shall send by forwardable mail a change of address confirmation notice, with a postage prepaid and preaddressed return notice, to the last known place of residence of each person the registrar or the Secretary of State has identified as having a change of address. If a registrant has moved within the municipality's jurisdiction, a registrar shall change the voter's record to reflect the new address before sending the change of address confirmation notice. If a registrant has moved outside the municipality's jurisdiction, a registrar shall also include information on voter registration procedures in the new jurisdiction. [PL 2009, c. 370, §2 (AMD).]

2. Change of voter's status. A voter's registration may be cancelled in the central voter registration system if the voter confirms that the voter has moved from the municipality's jurisdiction. If a voter fails to respond to the change of address confirmation notice, the voter must be designated on the incoming voting list and in the central voter registration system as inactive. A voter who has been designated as inactive and fails to vote for the next 2 general elections must be cancelled in the central voter registration system. If a voter who is designated as inactive votes at any election prior to cancellation in the central voter registration system, the inactive designation of the voter must be changed to active. Address verification may be requested at the polls before allowing a voter designated as inactive to vote. Cancellation of a voter’s registration record in the central voter registration system pursuant to this subsection may be performed by either the registrar for the voter’s municipality or the Secretary of State. [PL 2009, c. 370, §3 (AMD).]

3. Rule making. [PL 2001, c. 310, §14 (RP).]

3-A. Determine; approve. The Secretary of State shall determine or approve the design and contents of the notices required by this section. [PL 2001, c. 310, §15 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 1064 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 13 / Section 1064
21-A §1064. Foreign government campaign spending prohibited
Status: in_force

1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. A. "Contribution" has the meanings given in section 1012, subsection 2 and section 1052, subsection 3. [IB 2023, c. 2, §1 (NEW).] B. "Electioneering communication" means a communication described in section 1014, subsection 1, 2 or 2-A. [IB 2023, c. 2, §1 (NEW).] C. "Expenditure" has the meanings given in section 1012, subsection 3 and section 1052, subsection 4. [IB 2023, c. 2, §1 (NEW).] D. "Foreign government" includes any person or group of persons exercising sovereign de facto or de jure political jurisdiction over any country other than the United States or over any part of such country and includes any subdivision of any such group and any group or agency to which such sovereign de facto or de jure authority or functions are directly or indirectly delegated. "Foreign government" includes any faction or body of insurgents within a country assuming to exercise governmental authority, whether or not such faction or body of insurgents has been recognized by the United States. [IB 2023, c. 2, §1 (NEW).] E. "Foreign government-influenced entity" means: (1) A foreign government; or (2) A firm, partnership, corporation, association, organization or other entity with respect to which a foreign government or foreign government-owned entity: (a) Holds, owns, controls or otherwise has direct or indirect beneficial ownership of 5% or more of the total equity, outstanding voting shares, membership units or other applicable ownership interests; or (b) Directs, dictates, controls or directly or indirectly participates in the decision-making process with regard to the activities of the firm, partnership, corporation, association, organization or other entity to influence the nomination or election of a candidate or the initiation or approval of a referendum, such as decisions concerning the making of contributions, expenditures, independent expenditures, electioneering communications or disbursements. [IB 2023, c. 2, §1 (NEW).] F. "Foreign government-owned entity" means any entity in which a foreign government owns or controls more than 50% of its equity or voting shares. [IB 2023, c. 2, §1 (NEW).] G. "Independent expenditure" has the meaning given in section 1019-B, subsection 1. [IB 2023, c. 2, §1 (NEW).] H. [PL 2025, c. 224, §29 (RP).] I. "Referendum" means any of the following: (1) A people's veto referendum under the Constitution of Maine, Article IV, Part Third, Section 17; (2) A direct initiative of legislation under the Constitution of Maine, Article IV, Part Third, Section 18; (3) A popular vote on an amendment to the Constitution of Maine under the Constitution of Maine, Article X, Section 4; (4) A referendum vote on a measure enacted by the Legislature and expressly conditioned upon ratification by a referendum vote under the Constitution of Maine, Article IV, Part Third, Section 19; (5) The ratification of the issue of bonds by the State or any state agency; and (6) Any county or municipal referendum. [IB 2023, c. 2, §1 (NEW).] [PL 2025, c. 224, §29 (AMD).]

2. Campaign spending by foreign governments prohibited. A foreign government-influenced entity may not make, directly or indirectly, a contribution, expenditure, independent expenditure, electioneering communication or any other donation or disbursement of funds to influence the nomination or election of a candidate or the initiation or approval of a referendum. [IB 2023, c. 2, §1 (NEW).]

3. Solicitation or acceptance of contributions from foreign governments prohibited. A person may not knowingly solicit, accept or receive a contribution or donation prohibited by subsection 2. [IB 2023, c. 2, §1 (NEW).]

4. Substantial assistance prohibited. A person may not knowingly or recklessly provide substantial assistance, with or without compensation: A. In the making, solicitation, acceptance or receipt of a contribution or donation prohibited by subsection 2; or [IB 2023, c. 2, §1 (NEW).] B. In the making of an expenditure, independent expenditure, electioneering communication or disbursement prohibited by subsection 2. [IB 2023, c. 2, §1 (NEW).] [IB 2023, c. 2, §1 (NEW).]

5. Structuring prohibited. A person may not structure or attempt to structure a solicitation, contribution, expenditure, independent expenditure, electioneering communication, donation, disbursement or other transaction to evade the prohibitions and requirements in this section. [IB 2023, c. 2, §1 (NEW).]

6. Communications by foreign governments to influence policy; required disclosure. Whenever a foreign government-influenced entity disburses funds to finance a public communication not otherwise prohibited by this section to influence the public or any state, county or local official or agency regarding the formulation, adoption or amendment of any state or local government policy or regarding the political or public interest of or government relations with a foreign country or a foreign political party, the public communication must clearly and conspicuously contain the words "Sponsored by" immediately followed by the name of the foreign government-influenced entity that made the disbursement and a statement identifying that foreign government-influenced entity as a "foreign government" or a "foreign government-influenced entity." [IB 2023, c. 2, §1 (NEW).]

7. Due diligence required. Each television or radio broadcasting station, provider of cable or satellite television, print news outlet and Internet platform shall establish due diligence policies, procedures and controls that are reasonably designed to ensure that it does not broadcast, distribute or otherwise make available to the public a public communication for which a foreign government-influenced entity has made an expenditure, independent expenditure, electioneering communication or disbursement in violation of this section. If an Internet platform discovers that it has distributed a public communication for which a foreign government-influenced entity has made an expenditure, independent expenditure, electioneering communication or disbursement in violation of this section, the Internet platform shall immediately remove the communication and notify the commission. [IB 2023, c. 2, §1 (NEW).]

8. Penalties. The commission may assess a penalty of not more than $5,000 or double the amount of the contribution, expenditure, independent expenditure, electioneering communication, donation or disbursement involved in the violation, whichever is greater, for a violation of this section. In assessing a penalty under this section, the commission shall consider, among other things, whether the violation was intentional and whether the person that committed the violation attempted to conceal or misrepresent the identity of the relevant foreign government-influenced entity. [IB 2023, c. 2, §1 (NEW).]

9. Violations. Notwithstanding section 1004, a person that knowingly violates subsections 2 through 5 commits a Class C crime. [IB 2023, c. 2, §1 (NEW).]

10. Rules. The commission shall adopt rules to administer the provisions of this section. Rules adopted under this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. [IB 2023, c. 2, §1 (NEW).]

11. Applicability. Notwithstanding section 1051, this section applies to all persons, including candidates, their treasurers and authorized committees under section 1013-A, subsection 1; party committees under section 1013-A, subsection 3; and committees under section 1052, subsection 2. [IB 2023, c. 2, §1 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 145 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 3 / Section 145
21-A §145. Withdrawal of enrollment
Status: in_force

A voter may withdraw the voter's enrollment after 3 months from the date on which the voter enrolled through an online voter registration application or by filing a written request with the registrar. When a voter files an application to withdraw enrollment on the day of a primary election, the application is deemed received the following business day. [PL 2021, c. 439, §9 (AMD); PL 2021, c. 439, §15 (AFF).]

1. Candidates for nomination by nomination petition. If enrolled, candidates for nomination by nomination petition must withdraw their enrollment on or before March 1st of that election year. [PL 1999, c. 426, §8 (AMD).]

2. Reenrollment after withdrawal. A voter may not enroll in a different party but may enroll in the same party within 15 days after withdrawing from a party under this section. [PL 2021, c. 439, §10 (AMD); PL 2021, c. 439, §15 (AFF).]

3. Restrictions after withdrawal. A voter may not vote at a caucus, convention or primary election for 15 days after filing an application to withdraw enrollment unless the voter withdraws from enrollment at the same time that the voter changes the voter's voting residence as provided in subsection 4. [PL 2021, c. 750, §2 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 750, §14 (AFF).]

4. Change of residence. When a voter who is enrolled in a party changes residence from one municipality to another and establishes a new voting residence, the voter may choose not to enroll in a party when the voter submits a new voter registration application. [PL 2021, c. 750, §3 (NEW); PL 2021, c. 750, §14 (AFF).]

5. Holidays. If the 15th day before a primary election is a holiday, the registrar shall deem any withdrawal of enrollment submitted on the next business day to be received on the 15th day before the election for purposes of this section. [PL 2025, c. 397, §8 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 1018-B — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 13 / Section 1018-B
21-A §1018-B. Recounts of elections
Status: in_force

1. Reporting. Candidates who are involved in a recount of an election shall file a report 90 days after the election containing itemized accounts of cash, goods and services received for the recount and payments made by the candidate for the recount. The reports must be made on forms prepared and sent by the commission. Persons donating services to the candidate are required to provide the candidate with an estimate of the value of the services donated. Political action committees and party committees making expenditures for a candidate's recount shall identify on their regularly filed reports that the expenditures were made for the purposes of a recount. [PL 2005, c. 301, §21 (NEW).]

2. Limitations. After an election, candidates may receive donations for purposes of a recount. The donations must be within the limitations of section 1015 , except that no limitation applies to donations from party committees and caucus political action committees and from attorneys, consultants and their firms that are donating their services without reimbursement. Candidates may not spend revenues received under chapter 14 for recount expenditures. [PL 2019, c. 635, §3 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 1122 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 14 / Section 1122
21-A §1122. Definitions
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings. [IB 1995, c. 1, §17 (NEW).]

1. Certified candidate. "Certified candidate" means a candidate running for Governor, State Senator or State Representative who chooses to participate in the Maine Clean Election Act and who is certified as a Maine Clean Election Act candidate under section 1125, subsection 5 . [IB 1995, c. 1, §17 (NEW).]

1-A. Caucus political action committee. "Caucus political action committee" has the same meaning as in section 1001, subsection 1‑A . [PL 2019, c. 635, §5 (NEW).]

2. Commission. "Commission" means the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices established by Title 5, section 12004‑G, subsection 33 . [IB 1995, c. 1, §17 (NEW).]

3. Contribution. "Contribution" has the same meaning as in section 1012, subsection 2 . [IB 1995, c. 1, §17 (NEW).]

3-A. Election cycle. "Election cycle" means the period beginning on the day after the general election for any state, county or municipal office and ending on the day of the next general election for that office. [IB 2015, c. 1, §13 (NEW).]

4. Fund. "Fund" means the Maine Clean Election Fund established in section 1124 . [IB 1995, c. 1, §17 (NEW).]

4-A. Immediate family. "Immediate family" has the same meaning as in section 1, subsection 20 and includes a candidate's domestic partner and the immediate family of the candidate's domestic partner. [PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. B, §1 (NEW).]

5. Nonparticipating candidate. "Nonparticipating candidate" means a candidate running for Governor, State Senator or State Representative who does not choose to participate in the Maine Clean Election Act and who is not seeking to be certified as a Maine Clean Election Act candidate under section 1125, subsection 5 . [IB 1995, c. 1, §17 (NEW).]

6. Participating candidate. "Participating candidate" means a candidate who is running for Governor, State Senator or State Representative who is seeking to be certified as a Maine Clean Election Act candidate under section 1125, subsection 5 . [IB 1995, c. 1, §17 (NEW).]

7. Qualifying contribution. "Qualifying contribution" means a donation: A. Of $5 or more in the form of cash, a check or a money order payable to the fund and signed by the contributor in support of a candidate or a payment made over the Internet in support of a candidate according to the procedure established by the commission; [PL 2019, c. 323, §26 (AMD).] B. Made by a registered voter within the electoral division for the office a candidate is seeking and whose voter registration has been verified according to procedures established by the commission; [PL 2009, c. 190, Pt. B, §1 (AMD).] C. Made during the designated qualifying period; and [PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. B, §2 (AMD).] D. That the contributor acknowledges was made with the contributor's personal funds and in support of the candidate and was not given in exchange for anything of value and that the candidate acknowledges was obtained with the candidate's knowledge and approval and that nothing of value was given in exchange for the contribution, on forms provided by the commission. [PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. B, §2 (AMD).] [PL 2019, c. 323, §26 (AMD).]

8. Qualifying period. "Qualifying period" means the following. A. For a gubernatorial participating candidate, the qualifying period begins October 15th immediately preceding the election year and ends at 5:00 p.m. on April 1st of the election year. [PL 2009, c. 363, §1 (AMD).] B. For State Senate or State House of Representatives participating candidates, the qualifying period begins January 1st of the election year and ends at 5:00 p.m. on April 20th of that election year or the next business day following April 20th if the office of the commission is closed on April 20th. [PL 2009, c. 286, §5 (AMD).] [PL 2009, c. 286, §5 (AMD); PL 2009, c. 363, §1 (AMD).]

9. Seed money contribution. "Seed money contribution" means, for a gubernatorial participating candidate, a contribution of no more than $250 per individual made to the participating candidate, including the candidate or the candidate's spouse or domestic partner. For any other participating candidate, "seed money contribution" means a contribution of no more than $100 per individual made to the participating candidate, including the candidate or the candidate's spouse or domestic partner. [PL 2025, c. 296, §1 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 322 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 5 / Section 322
21-A §322. Committee functions
Status: in_force

State, congressional district and county committees of qualified political parties are governed by the following provisions. [PL 2005, c. 387, §5 (AMD).]

1. Committees to organize and report. The secretary of each committee shall notify the state committee of the name and residence of its chair and secretary within 10 days after their election. The state committee shall hold an organizational meeting within 30 days after the convention. [PL 2005, c. 387, §5 (AMD).]

2. State committee to report organization. The chair and the secretary of the state committee shall certify to the Secretary of State the names of the party's candidates for presidential elector within 30 days after the convention. The chair or the secretary of the state committee shall provide upon request by the Secretary of State the name, residence and contact information of the chair and secretary of any committee and of any committee member. [PL 2005, c. 568, §11 (AMD).]

3. Term of office and duties of committees. The committees and their officers shall hold office as prescribed in their bylaws and shall perform the duties imposed upon them by the convention and their bylaws. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

4. Certain officers of state committee. The chair, vice-chair, treasurer and finance chair of the state committee may be chosen from outside the membership of the state committee. [PL 2005, c. 387, §5 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 755 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 755
21-A §755. Deadline
Status: in_force

In order to be valid, an absentee ballot must be delivered to the municipal clerk at any time before the polls are closed. [PL 1991, c. 622, Pt. X, §9 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 1007 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 13 / Section 1007
21-A §1007. Public communication placed or promoted for a fee
Status: in_force

A public communication is considered placed or promoted for a fee when a payment is made to a website, digital device, application or advertising platform in order to increase the circulation, prominence or availability of the public communication on that website, digital device, application or advertising platform. [PL 2025, c. 224, §5 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 608 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 608
21-A §608. Field examiner
Status: in_force

The Secretary of State may appoint a field examiner who shall instruct and assist municipal election officials in their administration of this Title. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 850 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 850
21-A §850. Secrecy preserved
Status: in_force

The warden at each voting place may not remain or allow any other person to remain where the warden or person can see how anyone votes, except that a proper official may remain when the official's assistance has been requested by a voter. [PL 2009, c. 538, §15 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 651 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 651
21-A §651. Furnishing and distribution
Status: in_force

The following procedure shall be observed on election day. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

1. Election materials sent to voting place. Before the polls are opened, the clerk shall deliver or have delivered the election materials marked for each voting place to the warden at that voting place. The warden shall give the clerk a receipt noting the number of ballots received after the election officials have opened the boxes of ballots and verified the contents. A. Notwithstanding section 606, subsection 3 , in a municipality that has an island voting district, the clerk may deliver the ballots and other election materials to that district on the day before the election and leave them in the protective custody of the warden or ward clerk. [PL 2001, c. 516, §9 (AMD).] [PL 2001, c. 516, §9 (AMD).]

2. Election materials distributed and posted. At any time after the materials are received and before the polls are open, the clerk may open the packages or boxes of election materials, break the seals on the packages not marked "ballots," and use the materials for instructional purposes. On election day, the clerk or the election officials must post the voter instructional materials described in section 605‑A , if applicable to the election, as follows: A. In each voting booth: one voting instruction poster prepared under section 605‑A and a copy of the Treasurer of State's statement prepared pursuant to Title 5, section 152 ; and [PL 2017, c. 45, §1 (AMD).] B. Outside the guardrail enclosure at each voting place: (1) At least one voting instruction poster prepared under section 605‑A ; (2) One set of sample ballots for each ballot style being used in that voting place; (3) A list of any declared write-in candidates for that voting district, with the office sought, next to the sample ballots; (3-A) A supplemental notice correcting an error or providing information on a replacement candidate prepared under section 604 or a notice informing voters that a vote for a candidate will not be counted because the candidate has died or has withdrawn prepared under section 371, subsection 5 or 6 or section 374‑A, subsection 3 next to the sample ballots; (4) One voting rights poster or notice prepared under section 605‑A ; (5) One election penalty poster or notice prepared under section 605‑A ; (6) One Treasurer's Statement prepared under Title 5, section 152 ; (7) One copy, or more as determined necessary by the clerk, of the citizen's guide to the referendum election prepared under section 605‑A . The clerk shall post, in a conspicuous and public area, a notification indicating that the citizen's guide provides helpful information regarding referendum questions on the ballot and where the guide is located in the voting place for voters to read; and (8) One copy of the Office of Fiscal and Program Review's estimate of the fiscal impact prepared under Title 1, section 353 . [PL 2019, c. 636, §13 (AMD).] [PL 2019, c. 636, §13 (AMD).]

2-A. Testing electronic voting systems. [PL 1995, c. 459, §55 (RP).]

2-B. Opening of ballot packages. No more than 2 hours before the opening of the polls, the warden shall break the seals on the packages containing the ballots and distribute the ballots to the election clerks in charge of them. The breaking of the seals on the packages containing the ballots is a public proceeding and any member of the public may be present. [PL 2019, c. 371, §18 (AMD).]

3. Ballot box examined. Before opening the ballots, the warden shall open the official ballot box, examine it and show publicly that it is empty. Immediately after examination, the warden shall lock the box and deliver the key to the ward clerk who shall keep it until the polls are closed. After the box has been locked, it may not be moved until the polls are closed. [PL 1997, c. 436, §94 (AMD).]

4. Voting starts. As soon as the duties required by subsections 1 to 3 have been performed, the warden shall permit voting to start. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 823 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 823
21-A §823. Directions for voting
Status: in_force

A voter must follow the same procedure before voting as if paper ballots were being used. The voter is entitled to the same assistance in voting by machine as by paper ballot. [RR 2019, c. 2, Pt. B, §65 (COR).]
21-A M.R.S. § 353 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 5 / Section 353
21-A §353. Qualification of candidate for nomination by petition
Status: in_force

A person who seeks nomination by petition qualifies by filing a nomination petition and consent as provided in sections 354 and 355 . If enrolled, the person must also withdraw enrollment in a party on or before March 1st to be eligible to file a petition as a candidate in that election year, as provided in section 145 . The registrar in the candidate's municipality of residence must certify to that fact on a form designed by the Secretary of State. [PL 2009, c. 253, §19 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 903-A — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 11 / Section 903-A
21-A §903-A. Circulation
Status: in_force

A circulator of a petition solicits signatures for the petition by presenting the petition to the voter, asking the voter to sign the petition and personally witnessing the voter affixing the voter's signature to the petition. The circulator of the petition must comply with the provisions of section 902 . [PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §35 (AMD).]

1. Filing. [PL 2007, c. 234, §5 (RP).]

2. Invalid petition. [PL 2007, c. 234, §5 (RP).]

3. Information to circulators. An applicant for a direct initiative or a people's veto referendum pursuant to section 901 shall provide to each person who will be circulating petitions a copy of the laws and rules governing the circulation of petitions for a direct initiative or people's veto as provided by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall provide a copy of the laws and rules governing the circulation of petitions for a direct initiative or people's veto when an approved petition form is provided to an applicant for a direct initiative or people's veto referendum. The copy of the laws and rules provided by the Secretary of State may also include comments that may aid in the comprehension of those laws and rules. [PL 2005, c. 575, §1 (NEW).]

4. Circulator affidavit. A person who circulates a petition shall execute an affidavit that must include: A. The circulator's printed name, the physical address at which the circulator resides and the date the circulator signed the affidavit; [PL 2019, c. 456, §1 (NEW).] B. That the circulator read the information provided by the Secretary of State pursuant to subsection 3 and understands the laws governing the circulation of petitions in the State; [PL 2019, c. 456, §1 (NEW).] C. That the circulator was a resident of the State and a registered voter in the State at the time of circulating the petition; and [PL 2019, c. 456, §1 (NEW).] D. That the circulator understands that the circulator can be prosecuted under section 904 for violating the laws governing the circulation of petitions, including the requirement that the circulator truthfully executed the affidavit. [PL 2019, c. 456, §1 (NEW).] The circulator shall file the affidavit with the Secretary of State at the time the petition is filed. [PL 2019, c. 456, §1 (NEW).]

5. Circulator payment. A person or organization that pays individuals to circulate petitions, other than by reimbursing travel expenses, shall provide a list of those individuals to the Secretary of State along with information indicating the method by which the individuals are being compensated when the petitions are filed pursuant to the Constitution of Maine, Article IV, Part Third, Section 17 or 18. [PL 2019, c. 456, §1 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 356 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 5 / Section 356
21-A §356. Review and challenge of petitions
Status: in_force

1. Review. When presented with a nomination petition, the Secretary of State shall review it and, if the petition contains the required minimum number of certified names and is properly completed, shall accept and file it. If a petition contains more valid signatures than the maximum set forth in section 354, subsection 5 , the Secretary of State may not validate any signatures above the maximum. [PL 2025, c. 397, §24 (AMD).]

2. Challenges. The procedure for challenging the validity of a nomination petition or of names upon a petition is as follows. A. Only a registered voter residing in the electoral division of the candidate concerned may file a challenge. The challenge must be in writing and must set forth the reasons for the challenge. The challenge must be filed in the office of the Secretary of State by 5 p.m. on the 5th business day after the final date for filing petitions under section 354, subsection 8‑A . [PL 1989, c. 166, §4 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 502, Pt. D, §17 (AMD).] B. Within 5 business days after the final date for filing challenges and after due notice of the hearing to the candidate and to the challenger, the Secretary of State shall hold a public hearing on any challenge properly filed. The challenger has the burden of providing evidence to invalidate the petitions or any names upon the petitions. [PL 2025, c. 397, §25 (AMD).] C. The Secretary of State shall rule on a challenge within 5 business days after the completion of the hearing described in paragraph B. [PL 2025, c. 397, §25 (AMD).] D. [PL 2025, c. 397, §25 (RP).] E. Any aggrieved party may appeal the decision of the Secretary of State to the Law Court, on questions of law, by filing a notice of appeal within 3 business days of that decision in the same manner as an appeal taken from a judgment of the Superior Court in a civil action. The appeal must be conducted in accordance with the following procedures. (1) Any person who participated in the hearing held under paragraph B , and who is adversely affected by the final decision of the Secretary of State, is considered a party for purposes of taking an appeal. On motion, the court may allow other parties to the hearing before the Secretary of State to participate in the appeal. (2) When a law or rule regulating the taking of an appeal from the Superior Court in a civil action uses the terms "the court," "the clerk," "the clerk of the courts" or a similar term, for purposes of an appeal from the Secretary of State, those terms mean "the Secretary of State" or other appropriate term. (3) The notice of appeal must be accompanied by a brief statement of the nature of the proceeding before the Secretary of State, a copy of the decision, order or ruling complained of, a statement of the grounds upon which the decision, order or ruling is claimed to be unlawful and a certificate that the attorney for the appellant is of the opinion that there is probable grounds for the appeal as to make it a fit subject for judicial inquiry and that it is not intended for delay. (4) The Law Court has exclusive jurisdiction over appeals under this paragraph. (5) Upon receipt of a notice of appeal under this paragraph, the Law Court shall issue a scheduling order that allows for final disposition of the appeal no later than 35 days after the date of the decision by the Secretary of State. (6) An appeal under this paragraph does not automatically stay the ruling on appeal. The Chief Justice or, in the Chief Justice's absence, any other justice may enjoin or stay the effect of the ruling upon the terms and conditions as the Chief Justice determines proper. (7) Upon motion by a party filed within 3 days of the filing of the administrative record, the court may order additional evidence it determines necessary for the determination of issues to be taken before the Secretary of State upon the terms and conditions the court determines proper. A motion to take additional evidence must be accompanied by a detailed statement, in the nature of an offer of proof, of the evidence intended to be taken. The Secretary of State may, after hearing the evidence, modify or add findings as to facts and amend the original decision or order by reason of the additional evidence taken, and the Secretary of State shall file with the court that amended decision or order and those modified or new findings. If the Secretary of State modifies findings or amends the original decision or order, the appealing party or any other party aggrieved by the modified findings or amended decision or order may file with the court, within such time as the court may allow, a specification of errors claimed to have been made by the Secretary of State in the amended decision or order, and the specification of errors must be considered by the court in addition to the errors asserted in the original complaint on appeal. Upon granting a motion to take additional evidence, the court shall establish deadlines that allow for final disposition of the appeal within 35 days of the Secretary of State's original decision. (8) The clerk of the Law Court shall certify the result of the appeal to the Secretary of State no later than 35 days after the decision of the Secretary of State. [PL 2025, c. 397, §25 (AMD).] F. Only a voter of the county establishing a charter commission may challenge the nomination petition for county charter commission member. The challenge must be in writing and must set forth the reasons for the challenge. The challenge must be filed in the office of the Secretary of State before 5 p.m. on the 55th day following the order of the county officers under Title 30‑A, section 1321, subsection 1 , or the receipt of a certificate of sufficiency under Title 30‑A, section 1321, subsection 4 . [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §§63, 106 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).] [PL 2025, c. 397, §25 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 382 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 5 / Section 382
21-A §382. Representative to Legislature
Status: in_force

When there is a vacancy in the office of Representative to the Legislature, the municipal officers of any municipality affected by the vacancy may inform the Governor if there is a need to fill the vacancy before the next general election, and the Governor shall issue a proclamation declaring the vacancy and ordering a special election under section 366 . [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

1. Nominees chosen. The Governor shall order the appropriate political committees to meet and shall set the deadline for choosing nominees. The deadline may not be sooner than the 15th day after the date of the Governor's proclamation declaring a vacancy. The political committees shall follow the procedure outlined in section 363 . [PL 2021, c. 570, §3 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 753-C — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 753-C
21-A §753-C. Absentee ballots for program participants in Address Confidentiality Program
Status: in_force

Any registered voter who is certified by the Secretary of State as a program participant in the Address Confidentiality Program pursuant to Title 5, section 90‑B is entitled to receive an absentee ballot for every election during the period of the voter's participation in the program. The Secretary of State shall mail the absentee ballot for the statewide elections and the clerk shall mail the absentee ballot for the local elections to the voter at the voter's designated address as soon as possible after the regular ballots are available. The voter shall mark the absentee ballot in accordance with the procedures set forth in section 754‑A and shall return the statewide ballot to the Secretary of State and the local ballot to the registrar in the manner provided in section 754‑A , except that the voter may sign the voter's voter code under the Address Confidentiality Program on the absentee ballot envelopes instead of the voter's name. [PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §28 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 155 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 3 / Section 155
21-A §155. Advance registration and enrollment
Status: in_force

The registrar shall conditionally accept the registration and enrollment of any person who is 16 or 17 years of age and who is otherwise qualified to be a voter. The conditional registration automatically becomes effective on the person's 18th birthday and the registrant then is eligible to vote. [PL 2019, c. 409, §4 (AMD); PL 2019, c. 409, §9 (AFF).]

A person who has registered under this section and who has not attained 18 years of age may vote by absentee ballot at any election if that person attains 18 years of age on or before the date of the election and is otherwise eligible to vote by absentee ballot. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 122 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 3 / Section 122
21-A §122. Registration procedure
Status: in_force

A person may register to vote in person by appearing before the registrar by the registration deadline in section 121‑A , proving that the person meets the qualifications of section 111, subsections 1 to 3 , and completing and filing an application provided by the registrar containing the information required by section 152 or 154 , if applicable. Township residents may register as provided in section 156 . [PL 2013, c. 131, §6 (AMD).]

1. Entry into central voter registration system. The registrar shall enter the name and other information from the voter registration application of the applicant into the central voter registration system as expeditiously as possible after receipt of a voter registration application. The registrar shall register a person by first name, middle name or initial and last name, by first name or initial, middle and last name or by first name and last name. [PL 2007, c. 455, §6 (AMD).]

2. Notice of disposition. The registrar shall notify the applicant whether the application for registration is accepted or rejected by providing the applicant with a written acknowledgement notice, in the form prescribed by the Secretary of State, as expeditiously as possible after the voter's information has been entered into the central voter registration system. If a mailed notice of acceptance is returned as undeliverable within 15 days after it is sent, the registrar must reject the application and provide a new acknowledgement notice to the applicant indicating the rejection. If a mailed notice of acceptance is not returned as undeliverable within 15 days after it is sent, the voter is automatically designated as active in the central voter registration system. [PL 2005, c. 453, §14 (AMD).]

3. Notice of new registration. When an applicant states in the application that the applicant last voted in another state, the registrar shall immediately send a notice of the applicant's new registration to the registrar of that jurisdiction. The notice must contain the following: A. The voter's name; [PL 1985, c. 614, §6 (NEW).] B. The name under which registered, if changed; [PL 1985, c. 614, §6 (NEW).] C. Date of birth; and [PL 1985, c. 614, §6 (NEW).] D. Former residence and mailing address. [PL 2005, c. 453, §15 (AMD).] The Secretary of State may facilitate the delivery of such notices electronically using the central voter registration system. [PL 2005, c. 453, §15 (AMD).]

4. Election day registration. The registrar shall accept registrations of applicants who appear in person on election day. The registrar shall issue to each of these applicants a certificate entitling the applicant to be placed on the incoming voting list at the voting place. Only one certificate may be issued to a person. An applicant whose address has changed since the applicant last voted must vote using the ballot or ballots for the new voting place, if applicable, on election day. [PL 2025, c. 397, §4 (AMD).]

5. Alternative registration schedule for absentee voters. If the clerk receives a properly completed absentee ballot application that is signed by a person who is not a registered voter in the municipality, a presumption of the person's qualification as a voter is established. The clerk shall send an absentee ballot to the voter at the address indicated, along with a voter registration application under section 152 . The completed registration application must be returned to the clerk by the close of the polls on election day in order for the ballot to be counted and may not be sealed with the voted absentee ballot. If the application is received during the closed period and the registrar is not satisfied as to the person's qualification as a voter, the registrar shall follow the requirements of section 121, subsection 1‑A to place the person's name on the incoming voting list and challenge the absentee ballot. An application by telephone under section 753‑A, subsection 4 or an application by electronic means under section 753‑A, subsection 6 does not establish a presumption of qualification under this section and the requestor must submit a properly completed voter registration application before the clerk may issue an absentee ballot. [PL 2013, c. 131, §7 (AMD).]

6. Schedule for acceptance of registrations. Except as provided in paragraph A , the registrar shall accept registrations on any business day or other day that the clerk's office is open. The names and other information from the voter registration applications of any persons registering must be entered into the central voter registration system and must be placed on the incoming voting list. A. The registrar may accept only the registrations of applicants who appear in person as follows: (1) In a municipality with a population of 2,500 or fewer, on the last business day that the clerk's office is open before election day during the hours that the clerk's office is open; (2) In a municipality with a population of more than 2,500, on the last 5 business days that the clerk's office is open before election day during the hours that the clerk's office is open and for 2 hours in the evening between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. on at least one of these days; and (3) The names of voters registering during these periods must be recorded as provided under subsection 7 . [PL 2005, c. 453, §18 (AMD).] [PL 2005, c. 453, §18 (AMD).]

7. Record of names. The names of voters who register by appearing in person before the registrar during the business days before election day under subsection 6 must be recorded as provided in either paragraph A or B : A. The registrar shall, after finding an applicant qualified, issue a certificate requiring the voter's name and other required information to be written on the incoming voting list at the voting place on election day. The certificate must be attached to, or included with, the incoming voting list and sealed as provided in section 698 . Only one certificate may be recorded for any voter at an election; or [PL 2015, c. 447, §3 (AMD).] B. The registrar shall, after finding the applicant qualified, enter the voter's name and other information from the voter registration application into the central voter registration system and add it to the incoming voting list. Before the polls are opened, the registrar shall deliver the incoming voting list to the clerk. The inclusion of a person's name on the incoming voting list will entitle the applicant to vote on election day. [PL 2015, c. 447, §3 (AMD).] [PL 2015, c. 447, §3 (AMD).]

8. Change of schedule. The hourly schedule established by this section may be changed by the municipal officers according to the needs of the municipality. [PL 1985, c. 307, §1 (NEW).]

9. Regulation of registration monitors. Anyone who wishes to monitor the names and addresses of persons who are registering at the registrar's office or the clerk's office shall inform the registrar or clerk of that intent. Anyone who wishes to monitor the names and addresses of persons who are registering at the voting place shall inform the registrar or clerk of that intent by submitting a written, signed statement containing the proposed monitor's name, address and intent. The registrar or clerk may designate a place where a person monitoring registrations may stand. The registrar or clerk shall then announce the name and address of individuals registering to vote in a loud and clear voice. A person monitoring registrations shall direct any questions the person has to the registrar or clerk. These questions must be limited to information pertinent to the qualifications of an individual to register. A person monitoring registrations may not ask questions of individuals waiting to register concerning their eligibility to vote. A voting place registration monitor may not handle or inspect registration cards, files or other materials used by the registrar or clerk except as provided in section 22 . A monitor may not inhibit the work of the registrar or clerk. If the work of a registrar or clerk appears to be inhibited, the warden may request a reduction in the number of monitors present in the voting place. A registrar or clerk may require a person monitoring registrations who violates the provisions of this subsection to leave the building. [PL 2025, c. 397, §5 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 847 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 847
21-A §847. Operating instructions
Status: in_force

The clerk must hold a meeting before an election whenever it is necessary to instruct election officials in the operation of voting devices. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

1. Permission to use devices refused. The clerk may not permit a voting device to be used at any voting place unless the clerk is satisfied that the election officials at that voting place know how to operate the device properly and how to instruct a voter in operating it. [RR 2019, c. 2, Pt. B, §72 (COR).]
21-A M.R.S. § 606-A — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 606-A
21-A §606-A. Special provisions for out-of-district voters
Status: in_force

A voter who registers and votes under section 156 in a municipality outside the voter's state representative district, state senatorial district, county or county commissioner district may vote for the offices of Representative to the Legislature, State Senator or any county office by using a ballot obtained under this section. [PL 2011, c. 534, §14 (AMD).]

1. Clerk to notify. The clerk of a municipality in which voters have registered or enrolled under section 156 since the last statewide election shall notify the Secretary of State of those registrations and enrollments at least 60 days before the next statewide election. For registrations and enrollments that occur less than 60 days before a statewide election, the clerk shall notify the Secretary of State immediately. [PL 2011, c. 534, §14 (AMD).]

2. Secretary of State to furnish ballots. The Secretary of State shall review the number of votes cast at the last election of that type by persons registered and enrolled under section 156 when determining the number of ballots to be furnished to each municipality. These ballots must contain the names of the nominees or candidates for offices in the electoral divisions in which the voters registered under section 156 reside. After receiving notification from the clerk of township voter registrations or enrollments that occur less than 60 days before a statewide election, the Secretary of State shall furnish additional ballots to the municipality as needed. If there is not sufficient time to provide the municipality with the correct ballot style for a township voter, the Secretary of State shall instruct the clerk to provide a ballot to the voter in the manner prescribed by section 604 . [PL 2011, c. 534, §14 (AMD).]

3. Voter to use proper ballot. The election clerk in charge of the ballots at each voting place shall ensure that each voter registered in that municipality under section 156 who resides in a different electoral division obtains and uses the proper ballot provided under this section or a ballot provided in the manner prescribed by section 604 . [PL 2011, c. 534, §14 (AMD).]

4. How furnished. Ballots provided under this section must be furnished to voting places in accordance with section 606 . [PL 2011, c. 534, §14 (AMD).]

5. County referendum. If a township resident registers under section 156 in a municipality outside the resident's county in the case of a county referendum, the commissioners of the resident's county shall perform the duties of the Secretary of State under this section and section 752, subsection 1, paragraph B . The clerk of a municipality in which these voters have registered or enrolled under section 156 shall notify the county commissioners of those registrations and enrollments before any election for the determination of a county referendum question in the same manner as the notification to the Secretary of State under subsection 1 . [PL 2011, c. 534, §14 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 860 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 860
21-A §860. Violation and penalty
Status: in_force

1. Tampering with voting device. Before, during or after an election, a person may not intentionally or knowingly: A. Tamper with or injure a voting device, ballot or other record or equipment used in the election or interfere with the correct operation of such a device or equipment or the secrecy of voting; or [PL 2003, c. 447, §35 (NEW).] B. Attempt to interfere with the correct operation of a voting device or equipment or the secrecy of voting. [PL 2003, c. 447, §35 (NEW).] [PL 2003, c. 447, §35 (NEW).]

2. Penalty. A person who violates subsection 1 commits a Class B crime. [PL 2003, c. 447, §35 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 1013-B — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 13 / Section 1013-B
21-A §1013-B. Removal of treasurer; filling vacancy of treasurer; substantiation of records of treasurer; notification to commission
Status: in_force

A candidate may remove any treasurer that the candidate has appointed. In case of a vacancy in the position of treasurer of a candidate or treasurer of a political committee before the obligations of the treasurer have been performed, the candidate shall serve as treasurer from the date of the vacancy until the candidate appoints a successor and reports the name and address of the successor to the commission. The candidate shall file a written statement of resignation of a treasurer of a candidate or a treasurer of a political committee and until that statement has been filed, the resignation is not effective. An individual who vacates the position of treasurer by reason of removal or resignation shall certify in writing the accuracy of the treasurer's records to the succeeding treasurer. A succeeding treasurer may not be held responsible for the accuracy of the predecessor's records. [PL 2007, c. 443, Pt. A, §8 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 335 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 5 / Section 335
21-A §335. Petition requirements
Status: in_force

A primary petition shall be on a form provided by the Secretary of State and is governed by the following provisions. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

1. Content. A primary petition must contain the name of only one candidate and that candidate's municipality of residence, party, office sought and electoral division. A primary petition may contain as many separate papers as necessary and may contain the candidate's consent required by section 336 . A. When 2 United States Senators are to be nominated, the primary petition must contain the term of office sought by the candidate. [PL 2019, c. 371, §10 (AMD).] [PL 2023, c. 389, §1 (AMD).]

2. By whom signed. A primary petition may be signed only by the voters of the electoral division that is to make the nomination and who are either enrolled in the party named in the petition or, if the party so elects, unenrolled. Other signatures are void. A party may elect to allow unenrolled voters to sign nominating petitions following an affirmative vote by the party's state committee to allow unenrolled voters to sign nominating petitions or, for a party without a state committee, through a determination by an authorized representative of the party. A party must file a form with the Secretary of State no later than December 31st in the year before the primary election is to be held, except that, if the party files a certification under section 441 that there is a contest among candidates for nomination as the presidential candidate, a form must be filed no later than simultaneously with that certification. A party must make a single election for all primary elections held in that year. [PL 2025, c. 397, §18 (AMD).]

3. How signed. The voter must personally sign that voter's name in such a manner as to satisfy the registrar of that voter's municipality that the voter is a registered voter and enrolled in the party named on the petition. Either the voter or the circulator of the petition must print the voter's name. [RR 2019, c. 2, Pt. B, §42 (COR).]

4. Residence. The voter or the circulator of the petition must write or print the voter's residence address and municipality of registration. Ditto marks are permitted for residence address and municipality of registration only. [PL 2005, c. 453, §47 (AMD).]

5. Number of signatures required. Petitions must be signed by the following numbers of voters: A. For a candidate for Governor, at least 2,000 and not more than 2,500 voters; [PL 2021, c. 273, §5 (AMD).] B. For a candidate for United States Senator, at least 2,000 and not more than 2,500 voters; [PL 2021, c. 273, §5 (AMD).] B-1. [PL 1995, c. 154, §1 (RP).] B-2. [PL 2015, c. 474, §1 (NEW); MRSA T. 21-A §335, sub-§5, ¶B-2 (RP).] B-3. For a candidate for the office of President of the United States, at least 2,000 and not more than 2,500 voters; [PL 2021, c. 273, §5 (AMD).] C. For a candidate for Representative to Congress, at least 1,000 and not more than 1,250 voters; [PL 2021, c. 273, §5 (AMD).] D. For a candidate for county office other than county commissioner, at least 150 and not more than 200 voters; [PL 1991, c. 362, §1 (AMD).] E. For a candidate for county commissioner, at least 50 and not more than 75 voters; [PL 1991, c. 362, §1 (AMD).] F. For a candidate for State Senator, at least 100 and not more than 150 voters; and [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).] G. For a candidate for State Representative, at least 25 and not more than 40 voters. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).] [PL 2021, c. 273, §5 (AMD).]

6. When signed. Except as provided in subchapter 8 , a petition may not be signed before January 1st of the election year in which it is to be used. [PL 2019, c. 445, §2 (AMD).]

7. Certification of petition. A primary petition shall be verified and certified as follows. A. The circulator of a primary petition shall verify by oath or affirmation before a notary public or other person authorized by law to administer oaths or affirmations that the circulator personally witnessed all of the signatures to the petition and that to the best of the circulator's knowledge and belief each signature is the signature of the person whose name it purports to be; each signature authorized under section 153‑A was made by the authorized signer in the presence and at the direction of the voter; and each person is enrolled in the party named in the petition and is a resident of the electoral division named in the petition. [PL 2009, c. 253, §17 (AMD).] B. The registrar, or clerk at the request or upon the absence of the registrar, of each municipality concerned shall certify which names on a petition appear in the central voter registration system as registered and enrolled voters in that municipality and may not certify any names that do not satisfy subsection 3 . A municipality shall make a municipal official available to certify candidate petitions on the day of the deadline set forth in subsection 8. [PL 2025, c. 397, §19 (AMD).] [PL 2025, c. 397, §19 (AMD).]

8. When filed. Except as provided in subchapter 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. [PL 2019, c. 445, §3 (AMD).]

9. Petition validity. For a candidate to qualify for the ballot, a nomination petition must meet all of the requirements of this section. If the circulator swears an oath or affirmation in accordance with subsection 7, paragraph A that the circulator reasonably believes to be true and accurate at the time the oath or affirmation is sworn and there is no proof of fraud or a knowingly false statement by the circulator, then the voters' signatures that do not meet the requirements of subsection 7, paragraph A may not be counted, but the petition is otherwise valid. [PL 2009, c. 253, §18 (RPR).]
21-A M.R.S. § 392 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 5 / Section 392
21-A §392. Representatives to Congress
Status: in_force

When there is a vacancy in the office of Representative to Congress, the Governor shall issue a proclamation declaring the vacancy and ordering a special primary election followed by a special election to fill the vacancy as provided in section 366 . [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

1. Congress in session. If Congress is in session, the elections must be held as soon as reasonably possible. If Congress is not in session, the elections must be held before the next regular or called session. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

2. Extraordinary circumstances. If the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives announces under 2 United States Code, Section 8 that vacancies in the representation from the States in the House exceed 100, the Governor's proclamation under this section may not provide for a primary election but must instead provide for the nomination of candidates by political committee under sections 363 and 365 , by petition under subchapter 2 and by declared write-in under section 722 . The proclamation must establish deadlines as may be necessary to hold the special election within the time required by 2 United States Code, Section 8. [PL 2025, c. 397, §28 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 1105 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 13 / Section 1105
21-A §1105. Subscription to code voluntary
Status: in_force

In no event may a candidate be required to subscribe to or endorse the code. [PL 1989, c. 802, §1 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 125 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 3 / Section 125
21-A §125. Notice of schedule
Status: in_force

The registrar shall publish the schedule established under section 122, subsection 6 or as changed by the municipal officers under subsection 8 in a newspaper having general circulation in the municipality 10 to 15 business days before election day, except that, in municipalities with a population of 2,500 or fewer, publication of the time schedule may be done by another means the registrar considers sufficient to provide adequate notice to the residents of the municipality. [PL 2011, c. 534, §7 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 692 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 692
21-A §692. General election
Status: in_force

A voter shall mark the ballot at a general election as instructed in the directions on the ballot. [PL 1993, c. 473, §22 (AMD); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).]

1. Individual candidate method. The voter must mark the ballot as instructed in the directions on the ballot to indicate a vote for the name of each nominee for whom the voter wishes to vote, regardless of political designation, but must follow directions as to the number of nominees to be elected to each office. [PL 1993, c. 473, §22 (AMD); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).]

2. Write-in vote. If the voter wishes to vote for a write-in candidate, the voter must write the name of the candidate in the blank space provided next to the write-in indicator. The voter must then mark the write-in indicator as instructed on the ballot to indicate a vote for the write-in candidate. A sticker may not be used to vote for a write-in candidate. [PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §11 (AMD).]

3. Referendum question. In voting on a referendum question, the voter shall mark the ballot as instructed in the directions on the ballot. [PL 1993, c. 473, §22 (AMD); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).]
21-A M.R.S. § 781-A — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 781-A
21-A §781-A. Absentee ballot application; procedure on receipt
Status: in_force

Notwithstanding the absentee ballot application deadline in section 753‑B, subsection 2, paragraph D , upon receipt of an application or written request for an absentee ballot prior to noon on the day before election day from a uniformed service voter or overseas voter that is accepted pursuant to section 753‑A or section 783 , the clerk or the Secretary of State shall immediately issue an absentee ballot and return envelope by the authorized means designated by the voter in the application. If the ballot is to be transmitted to the voter by mail, the clerk or the Secretary of State shall type or write in ink the name and the residence address of the voter in the designated section of the return envelope. The Secretary of State shall provide a return envelope that moves free of postage under federal law. [PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §34 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 1054 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 13 / Section 1054
21-A §1054. Appointment of treasurer; segregated campaign account
Status: in_force

1. Appointment of treasurer. A committee required to register under section 1052‑A shall appoint a treasurer before registering with the commission. [PL 2021, c. 217, §6 (NEW).]

2. Segregated campaign account. A committee registered under section 1052‑A shall establish a separate account in a bank or other financial institution, referred to in this section as a "campaign account." The committee shall deposit all funds contributed to or received by the committee for the purpose of initiating or influencing a campaign in the campaign account and shall finance all of the committee's expenditures to initiate or influence the campaign through the campaign account. If a business or corporate entity has established the committee, the campaign account must be segregated from the general treasury funds of the entity that established the committee. If the committee is established by one or more individuals, the campaign account must be segregated from and not commingled with the personal funds of those individuals. [PL 2021, c. 217, §6 (NEW).]

3. Exceptions. The commission may adopt procedures by rule for waiving the requirement under subsection 2 to maintain a segregated campaign account upon a showing by a committee that a separate account would be administratively burdensome, including but not limited to committees organized outside this State or an individual who registers as a ballot question committee. If the committee was formed by another organization, that other organization may pay its employees for their campaign-related activities on behalf of the committee through its own treasury, rather than the campaign account. Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined by Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A . [PL 2021, c. 217, §6 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 809-A — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 809-A
21-A §809-A. Certain electronic connections and Internet voting prohibited
Status: in_force

1. Electronic connections prohibited. Connections of any voting devices, as defined by section 808 , via the Internet to centralized vote collection equipment may not be employed by election officials of the State. Networking of voting machines, Internet-enabled or otherwise, is prohibited. [PL 2003, c. 651, §4 (NEW).]

1-A. Prohibition not applicable. For the purpose of providing a voting system equipped for individuals with disabilities as required by section 812‑A, subsection 1 and the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002, Public Law 107-252, the prohibition in subsection 1 does not apply to the connection of individual voting devices to a central server when the central server is operated or managed by the Secretary of State. [PL 2015, c. 350, §2 (AMD).]

2. Electronic returns. A vote total that is transmitted electronically is not considered an official return. The official return of votes cast must be prepared in accordance with section 711 . Nothing in this section may be construed to prevent the electronic filing of unofficial returns. [PL 2003, c. 651, §4 (NEW).]

3. Internet voting. Use of the Internet for the casting of votes online is prohibited. This subsection does not apply to a ballot-marking system or software that is used for voters with disabilities, uniformed service voters or overseas voters to mark a ballot online and securely transmit the marked ballot to a central server operated or managed by the Secretary of State, as long as the system does not tabulate the votes marked on those ballots. [PL 2015, c. 350, §3 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 336 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 5 / Section 336
21-A §336. Consent of candidate to be filed
Status: in_force

The written consent of each candidate must be filed either with that candidate's primary petition or at any earlier time during which signatures may be collected under section 335 or, if applicable, subchapter 8 . [PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §5 (AMD).]

1. Consent. The consent must contain a statement signed by the candidate that the candidate will accept the nomination of the primary election. The Secretary of State shall provide a form on which the consent of the candidate is made that must include a list of the statutory and constitutional requirements of the office sought by the candidate. The statement may be printed as a part of the primary petition. [PL 2011, c. 239, §1 (AMD).]

2. Single filing sufficient. A candidate need file only one consent. This consent is valid even though it may be part of a primary petition which is void. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

3. Residence and party declared. The consent must contain a declaration of the candidate's place of residence and party designation and a statement that the candidate meets the qualifications of the office the candidate seeks, which the candidate must verify by oath or affirmation before a notary public or other person authorized by law to administer oaths or affirmations that the declaration is true. If, pursuant to the challenge procedures in section 337 , any part of the declaration is found to be false by the Secretary of State, the consent and the primary petition are void. Upon written request by the candidate to the Secretary of State, the Secretary of State may treat the candidate's street name and number as confidential as long as the street name and number are not material to the candidate's qualifications to serve. [PL 2023, c. 389, §2 (AMD).]

4. Registrar certification required. The Secretary of State may not accept a candidate consent form unless it includes or is accompanied by the registrar certification required by section 334 . [PL 2025, c. 397, §20 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 333 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 5 / Section 333
21-A §333. Qualification for county office
Status: in_force

A candidate for any county office must be a resident of and a voter in the electoral division the candidate seeks to represent on the date established for filing primary petitions in the year the candidate seeks election. The elected official must maintain a voting residence in that electoral division during that elected official's term of office. [RR 2019, c. 2, Pt. B, §40 (COR).]
21-A M.R.S. § 363 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 5 / Section 363
21-A §363. Political committee; choosing candidates and nominees
Status: in_force

The meeting of a political committee as required by sections 371 , 374‑A , 375‑A , 381 , 382 , 392 and 393 is governed by the following provisions. [PL 2025, c. 397, §26 (AMD).]

1. Time and place of meeting. The committee shall meet at the time and place chosen by the committee. [PL 1997, c. 436, §53 (AMD).]

2. Duties of committee. The committee shall choose a qualified person to fill the vacancy. The secretary of the committee shall immediately deliver a certificate to the Secretary of State containing the name of the person chosen, that person's residence and political party, the title of the office sought and the method by which that person was chosen. The certificate must be signed by the chair of the committee and attested to by the secretary and may be submitted by facsimile or scanned image. A. In an electoral division consisting of more than one municipality, the municipal committee of each municipality shall meet jointly, elect a secretary and a chair for the meeting and then fill the vacancy. [RR 2019, c. 2, Pt. B, §49 (COR).] [PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §7 (AMD).]

3. Acceptance filed. A person chosen under this section must file a written acceptance containing a statement that the person meets the qualifications of the office sought and declaring the person's residence and party enrollment with the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall provide a form for the candidate's acceptance that must include a list of the statutory and constitutional requirements of the office sought by the candidate. The form also must include a place for the registrar of the candidate's municipality of residence to certify the candidate's registration and enrollment status. [PL 2015, c. 447, §9 (AMD).]

4. Changes in ballot. The Secretary of State shall produce new ballots or amend or supplement ballots already printed in accordance with section 376 or 604 . [PL 2019, c. 636, §3 (AMD).]

5. Caucus. Following the proclamation of the Governor pursuant to section 382 , a municipality that has not held a biennial caucus has 15 days to hold a caucus to nominate or elect a person to fill a vacancy under section 382 . [PL 2011, c. 409, §1 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 805 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 805
21-A §805. Convention duties
Status: in_force

The duties of the presidential electors in convention are as follows. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

1. Separate ballots. When convened as required by section 804 , the presidential electors shall each cast separate ballots for President and Vice President, at least one of whom must not be a resident of this State. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

2. Presidential electors. Except as provided in subsection 2-A, the presidential electors at large shall cast their ballots for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates who received the largest number of votes in the State according to the ranked‑choice method of counting votes described in section 723‑A. The presidential electors of each congressional district shall cast their ballots for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates who received the largest number of votes in each respective congressional district according to the ranked‑choice method of counting votes described in section 723‑A. [PL 2023, c. 628, §7 (AMD).]

2-A. Presidential electors when National Popular Vote for President Act governs. Notwithstanding subsection 2, when the National Popular Vote for President Act governs the appointment of presidential electors, the presidential electors shall cast their ballots for the presidential slate designated as the national popular vote winner pursuant to section 1304. [PL 2023, c. 628, §8 (NEW).]

3. Certificate prepared and sent. The presidential electors shall make and subscribe to 6 certificates containing the number of votes cast separately for President and Vice President. They shall attach to each certificate one of the certificates of ascertainment of appointment of electors delivered to them by the Governor under section 803 . They shall seal each certificate of votes and attached certificate of ascertainment of electors in an envelope and certify on the envelope that a certificate of the votes of this State for President and Vice President is contained inside. [PL 2025, c. 397, §52 (AMD).]

4. Envelope sent immediately. [PL 1989, c. 166, §7 (RP).]

4-A. Certificates sent immediately. The presidential electors shall send immediately by registered mail one certificate to the President of the Senate of the United States and 2 certificates to the Archivist of the United States in Washington, D.C. The presidential electors shall deliver 2 certificates to the Secretary of State, who shall hold one of them subject to the order of the President of the Senate of the United States and shall retain the other for public inspection for one year. The presidential electors shall deliver one certificate to the Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Maine. [PL 1989, c. 166, §8 (NEW).]

5. Envelope sent next day. [PL 1989, c. 166, §9 (RP).]
21-A M.R.S. § 753-B — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 753-B
21-A §753-B. Procedure for issuing absentee ballot
Status: in_force

1. Issuance of absentee ballots. Upon receipt of an application or written request for an absentee ballot that is accepted pursuant to section 753‑A , and after the official ballots become available, 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, except as provided in subsection 2 . Upon receipt of the official ballots, the clerk shall immediately issue an absentee ballot and return envelope by mail to any voter who has qualified for ongoing absentee voter status under section 753‑A, subsection 7 . The clerk shall type or write in ink the name and the residence address of the voter in the designated section of the return envelope. The clerk may not make any mark visible on the outside of the return envelope for use in a general election that indicates the political party of the voter to whom an absentee ballot is issued. [PL 2021, c. 398, Pt. UUUU, §5 (AMD); PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §37 (AFF).]

2. Restrictions on issuing ballot. The clerk may not issue an absentee ballot: A. To any 3rd person who is a candidate or a member of a candidate's immediate family; [PL 2011, c. 399, §23 (NEW).] B. To an immediate family member or to a 3rd person if the absentee ballot was requested by telephone or by electronic means; [PL 2011, c. 534, §17 (AMD).] C. To a 3rd person who already has been issued 5 absentee ballots for voters in the municipality, until the 3rd person has returned one of those ballots; [PL 2021, c. 273, §17 (AMD).] D. To any voter, immediate family member or 3rd person whose request was received in the municipal office after the 3rd business day before election day, unless the voter signs an application, designed by the Secretary of State, stating one of the following reasons for requesting an absentee ballot after the deadline: (1) Unexpected absence of the voter from the municipality during the entire time the polls are open on election day; (2) Self-certification as a voter with a physical or mental disability; (3) Inability to travel to the polls if the voter is a resident of an island ward or precinct; or (4) An incapacity or illness that has resulted in the voter's being unable to leave home or a treatment facility or has resulted in the voter's caregiver's being unable to attend the polls during the entire time the polls are open on election day; or [PL 2023, c. 128, §1 (AMD).] E. To any candidate, except for the candidate's own ballot. [PL 2021, c. 273, §19 (NEW).] [PL 2023, c. 128, §1 (AMD).]

3. Return of ballot by 3rd person. A 3rd person shall, unless good cause is shown, return an absentee ballot to the clerk's office within 2 business days of the date that ballot was provided to the 3rd person or by the close of the polls on election day, whichever is earlier. The clerk shall inform the 3rd person of the deadline for the return of the ballot. [PL 2001, c. 310, §52 (AMD).]

4. Duplicate ballot. The clerk may issue a duplicate state absentee ballot to an applicant if the initially issued ballot has not already been marked and returned to the clerk, the applicant requests one by an acceptable method outlined in this subchapter and: A. The applicant states good cause, including, but not limited to, loss of, spoiling of or damage to the first absentee ballot. Good cause does not include an applicant's decision to change the applicant's vote after the applicant has returned the ballot to the clerk; or [PL 2011, c. 40, §1 (AMD).] B. An absentee ballot for the applicant that was furnished to a designated 3rd person was not returned to the clerk's office within the time limit provided in subsection 3 . If a ballot for an applicant is not returned to the clerk within that time limit, the clerk shall mail or hand deliver a ballot to that applicant and may not issue another ballot to the applicant except for good cause as provided in this subsection. This paragraph does not affect the deadline for delivery of absentee ballots under section 755 . [PL 2003, c. 447, §31 (AMD).] The clerk may 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 or when the absentee ballot envelope has a defect in the affidavit that would cause the ballot to be rejected. 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. [PL 2011, c. 534, §19 (AMD).]

5. Alternate method of absentee voting by residents of certain facilities. Residents of certain nursing homes, residential care facilities, assisted living facilities, mental health residential facilities, residential facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities and state mental health institutes may cast absentee ballots under the provisions of this subsection. This subsection applies to a licensed nursing home subject to the provisions of Title 22, chapter 405 ; a licensed level IV residential care facility with more than 6 beds subject to the provisions of Title 22, chapter 1664 ; a licensed assisted living facility with more than 6 beds subject to the provisions of Title 22, chapter 1664 ; a mental health residential facility with more than 6 beds licensed under Title 34‑B, section 1203‑A ; a residential facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities with more than 6 beds licensed under Title 34‑B, section 1203‑A ; and a state mental health institute specified in Title 22‑A, section 208 . As used in this subsection, "level IV residential care facility" means a residential care facility as defined by Title 22, section 7852, subsection 14 that has a licensed capacity of more than 6 residents. A. The municipal clerk shall designate one time during the 30-day period prior to an election during which the municipal clerk shall be present in each facility to which this subsection applies in the municipality for the purpose of conducting absentee voting by residents of these facilities. The clerk shall designate which areas in these facilities constitute the voting place, the voting booth and the guardrail enclosure. The clerk shall post a notice in the municipal office that absentee voting will be conducted as prescribed in this subsection. The clerk shall provide a notice to each facility of the date and time when absentee voting will be conducted. The notice must state that the facility is required to notify the contact person or persons, if any, for each resident that absentee voting will be conducted. Each facility shall provide notice, which may be in the form of an e-mail or an electronic newsletter, to the contact person or persons, if any, for each resident of the date and time when absentee voting will be conducted at the facility. Sections 681 and 682 apply to voting in these facilities within the areas designated by the clerk. [PL 2021, c. 570, §4 (NEW).] B. To protect public health, the Secretary of State may designate procedures for conducting absentee voting for the residents of a facility to which this subsection applies that differ from the procedures described in paragraph A if: (1) The Department of Health and Human Services declares a health emergency under Title 22, section 802, subsection 2 ; (2) The Governor declares an extreme public health emergency under Title 22, section 802, subsection 2‑A ; (3) The Department of Health and Human Services determines that a public health threat, as defined in Title 22, section 801, subsection 10 , threatens the health, welfare or safety of the municipal clerk or the residents of a facility described in this subsection; or (4) A facility described in this subsection prohibits the municipal clerk from entering the facility. Procedures designated under this paragraph remain in effect for the duration of the health emergency, extreme public health emergency or public health threat or for as long as the municipal clerk remains prohibited from entering the facility, as the case may be. [PL 2021, c. 570, §4 (NEW).] [PL 2025, c. 397, §46 (AMD).]

6. Clerk to keep list of absentee voters. The clerk shall create and maintain, in the central voter registration system, an alphabetical list, by district, of the persons who requested or were furnished absentee ballots, including the persons who voted in the presence of the clerk under subsection 8 and the persons whose ballots were issued to a 3rd person under subsection 1 . The clerk shall maintain a copy of the lists required under this subsection for a period of 2 years as a public record. A. The list of absentee voters must include each voter's name, residence address, voting district and party affiliation; the date and manner by which the voter's ballot was requested, issued and received; if the voter is unenrolled, which party's ballot the voter requested for the primary election, if applicable; and a notation of whether the ballot was accepted or rejected. If the clerk determines that there is a defect on the return envelope of an absentee ballot under section 756, subsection 2 and that defect is cured pursuant to section 756‑A , the clerk shall note whether the ballot was accepted or accepted but challenged and shall list the date that the defect was cured as the date that the ballot was received. The clerk must also indicate on the list when the absentee voter is a uniformed service voter, overseas voter or township voter. By the time that all absentee ballots have been processed on election day, the clerk must update the central voter registration system or annotate the printed list of absentee voters to reflect all ballots that were received by the close of the polls on election day, including a notation of whether the ballots were accepted, accepted but challenged or rejected and the reasons for such rejections. This list, reflecting all absentee ballots received by the close of the polls, must be made available for public inspection. Any absentee voter certified as a participant in the Address Confidentiality Program pursuant to Title 5, section 90‑B must be listed by the voter code assigned to that individual under the program instead of by the voter's name and reflect the Address Confidentiality Program address assigned to the voter. The list of absentee voters must be sorted so that the program participants appear at the end of the list and must be printed on a separate page of the list. The portion of the list of absentee voters relating to Address Confidentiality Program participants must be kept under seal and excluded from public inspection. [PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §26 (AMD); PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §39 (AFF).] B. The clerk creates the list of absentee voters as required in paragraph A by marking the records of registered voters in the central voter registration system. The clerk must sign and date each official printed copy of the list of absentee voters that is created for public inspection, certifying that the list is a true and accurate list of absentee voters for the applicable election. No additional certification is required by the registrar of voters. [PL 2005, c. 568, §18 (RPR).] C. The clerk shall also keep a list of the 3rd persons designated in applications or written requests to whom absentee ballots are sent or delivered under subsection 1 and of the number of absentee ballots sent or delivered to them. This list of 3rd person ballot carriers must include telephone numbers for contacting the 3rd persons. [PL 2001, c. 310, §54 (NEW).] D. [PL 2005, c. 364, §7 (RP).] E. Within 5 business days after each election, the clerk shall update the central voter registration system to include the changes required by paragraph A . The clerk also must update the central voter registration system to reflect any absentee ballots received after the polls have closed on election day by changing the rejection reason. When all updates have been made in the central voter registration system, the clerk shall certify this to the Secretary of State and make a final list of absentee ballots available for public inspection. [PL 2007, c. 515, §11 (AMD).] [PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §§25, 26 (AMD); PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §39 (AFF).]

7. Registration verified. If the applicant is registered, the ballot must be sent to the applicant. If the applicant has registered under section 155 and will attain 18 years of age on or before the date of the election, the registrar or clerk shall accept the application in the central voter registration system and issue a ballot to the applicant; if not, the registrar or clerk shall reject the application in the central voter registration system. Whenever an application for an absentee ballot is rejected, the municipal clerk shall immediately notify the applicant in writing or by e-mail of the reason for the rejection. [PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §27 (AMD).]

8. Absentee voting in presence of clerk. For the 30 days preceding an election, during the hours when the clerk's office is open, a person who wishes to vote by absentee ballot may, without completing an application, vote by absentee ballot in the presence of the clerk, except as provided in subsection 2 . Before issuing a ballot, the clerk shall verify that it is the voter who is requesting the ballot by confirming the voter's residence address and year of birth with the information in the voter's record. The method of voting is otherwise as prescribed in this article. After the person has voted, the clerk shall sign the affidavit on the return envelope as a witness, indicate on the envelope that the voter voted in the presence of a clerk and ensure that the affidavit on the return envelope is properly completed by the voter. During this 30-day period, the display or distribution of any advertising material intended to influence a voter's decision regarding a candidate or question on the ballot for that election is prohibited within the clerk's office and on public property within 250 feet of the entrance to the building in which the clerk's office is located. This subsection does not apply to the display or distribution of any campaign advertising material on private property that is within 250 feet of the entrance to the building in which the clerk's office is located. For purposes of this section, "private property" includes privately owned property subject to a public right-of-way that is an easement right-of-way. This subsection does not apply to campaign advertising material on automobiles traveling to and from the municipal office or parked on municipal property while the occupants are visiting the municipal office to conduct municipal business. It does not prohibit a person who is at the municipal office for the purpose of conducting municipal business or for absentee voting from wearing a campaign button when the longest dimension of the button does not exceed 3 inches. [PL 2025, c. 133, §1 (AMD).]

9. Restrictions on absentee voting in presence of clerk. Except as allowed by subsection 5 , a municipal clerk may not remove absentee ballots from the municipal office for the purpose of conducting absentee voting in the presence of the clerk except upon receipt of an application or written request from the voter. The clerk may not be assisted in delivering or providing an absentee ballot by any person who is a candidate or a member of a candidate's immediate family. Assistance includes, but is not limited to, providing transportation to a clerk who is delivering absentee ballots to a voter who is not marking the absentee ballot in the municipal clerk's office. [PL 2011, c. 342, §29 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 365 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 5 / Section 365
21-A §365. Jurisdiction
Status: in_force

The political committee that has jurisdiction over the choice of a candidate for nomination or a nominee to fill a vacancy under sections 371 , 374‑A , 381 and 382 is as follows. [PL 2019, c. 636, §4 (AMD).]

1. Municipal committee. Choices for Representative to the Legislature must be made by a municipal committee when a representative district consists of one municipality, by a joint meeting of municipal committees when a representative district consists of 2 or more municipalities or by members of a municipal committee or committees residing within a representative district when the representative district includes a part of a municipality or parts of different municipalities. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

2. County committee. A county committee makes choices for all county offices, except that committee members residing within county commissioner districts make choices for county commissioner, and committee members residing within senatorial districts make choices for State Senator. [PL 2019, c. 371, §13 (AMD).]

3. District committee. A district committee makes choices for Representative to Congress. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

4. State committee. A state committee makes choices for Governor, United States Senator and presidential elector. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 627 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 627
21-A §627. Arrangement of voting place
Status: in_force

The arrangement of a voting place is governed by the following provisions. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

1. General layout. The voting place must be arranged so that the ballot box is within view of persons present. Each voting booth must be arranged so that those outside the guardrail enclosure can see who enters and leaves it. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

2. Guardrail. A guardrail must be constructed so that only those inside its enclosure can approach within 6 feet of the ballot box and the voting booths. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

3. Flag displayed. An American flag must be displayed in each voting place at any election. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

4. Minimum size of voting place; complaint to Secretary of State. The following provisions govern the minimum size of voting places. A. A municipality shall provide a voting place large enough to allow at least one worker from each political party to remain outside the guardrail enclosure as a pollwatcher as provided in section 683, subsection 1 . [PL 2025, c. 397, §36 (NEW).] B. If the chair of any party's state committee submits a written complaint to the Secretary of State at least 90 days before an election, the Secretary of State shall authorize an inspection of the voting place considered to be too small to allow access for party workers. If the Secretary of State finds a voting place to be too small to allow access for party workers, the Secretary of State shall instruct the municipal officers to change the location of the voting place to one of a suitable size. [PL 2025, c. 397, §36 (NEW).] [PL 2025, c. 397, §36 (RPR).]

5. Rulemaking. The Secretary of State may adopt rules governing pollwatchers, additional party workers and others present in the polling place as described in subsection 4 . Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A . [PL 2021, c. 246, §5 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 674 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 674
21-A §674. Violations and penalties
Status: in_force

1. Class E crime. A person commits a Class E crime if that person: A. Knowingly removes a ballot from a voting place on election day except as authorized by this Title; [PL 1993, c. 473, §18 (RPR); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).] B. Interferes with a voter attempting to cast a vote, including by knowingly blocking or attempting to block a voter's access to a secured drop box; [PL 2023, c. 320, §1 (AMD).] B-1. Interferes with a voter in marking that voter's ballot; [PL 2003, c. 447, §15 (NEW).] B-2. Attempts to influence a voter in marking that voter's ballot; [PL 2003, c. 447, §15 (NEW).] C. Assists or offers to assist another person at the voting place in marking that other person's ballot, unless the person has been requested to do so by the warden or ward clerk; or [PL 1993, c. 473, §18 (RPR); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).] D. [PL 2011, c. 342, §23 (RP).] E. [PL 1993, c. 473, §18 (RP); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).] F. [PL 1993, c. 473, §18 (RP); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).] G. Having been entrusted with another voter's marked ballot, intentionally or knowingly discloses the content of that ballot to another person. [PL 2011, c. 342, §24 (NEW).] [PL 2023, c. 320, §1 (AMD).]

2. Class D crime. A person commits a Class D crime if that person: A. Assists another person in voting, knowing that the other person is not eligible to vote; or [PL 2021, c. 568, §5 (AMD).] B. [PL 2003, c. 474, §17 (RP).] C. [PL 1993, c. 473, §18 (RP); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).] D. [PL 1993, c. 473, §18 (RP); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).] E. Intentionally interferes by force, violence or intimidation or by any physical act with any public official who is in fact performing or who the person believes is performing an official function relating to a federal, state or municipal election. [PL 2021, c. 568, §6 (NEW).] [PL 2021, c. 568, §§5, 6 (AMD).]

3. Class C crime. A person commits a Class C crime if that person: A. Knowingly causes a delay in the registration or enrollment of another or knowingly causes a delay in the delivery of an absentee ballot or absentee ballot application with the intent to prevent a person from voting or to render that person's vote ineffective; [PL 1993, c. 473, §18 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).] B. Votes knowing that the person is not eligible to do so; [PL 2003, c. 447, §18 (AMD).] B-1. Attempts to vote knowing that the person is not eligible to do so; [PL 2003, c. 447, §19 (NEW).] B-2. Having once voted, whether within or outside this State, again votes at the same election; [PL 2003, c. 447, §19 (NEW).] B-3. Having once voted, whether within or outside this State, attempts to vote at the same election; [PL 2003, c. 447, §19 (NEW).] C. Votes by using the name of another; or [PL 2003, c. 447, §20 (AMD).] D. Attempts to vote by using the name of another. [PL 2003, c. 447, §21 (NEW).] [PL 2003, c. 447, §§18-21 (AMD).]

4. Class B crime. A person commits a Class B crime if that person: A. Tampers with ballots or voting lists or opens or breaks a seal of a sealed box or packages of ballots or voting lists with the intent of changing the outcome of any election, except as permitted by this Title. [PL 1993, c. 473, §18 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).] [PL 1993, c. 473, §18 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).]
21-A M.R.S. § 375 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 5 / Section 375
21-A §375. Presidential and vice-presidential candidates chosen by petition
Status: in_force

1. Candidate for President; death; withdrawal; disqualification. If a candidate for President who has been nominated by petition under section 354, subsection 1, paragraph B , dies, withdraws or becomes disqualified, the nomination of the presidential, vice-presidential and presidential electoral candidates is terminated. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

2. Candidate for Vice President; death; withdrawal; disqualification. If a candidate for Vice President who has been nominated by petition under section 354, subsection 1, paragraph B , dies, withdraws at least 70 days before the election or becomes disqualified, the vacancy may be filled by a new vice-presidential candidate, if the following conditions are met: A. Written resignation is filed with the Secretary of State by the previous vice-presidential candidate, if the mental and physical condition of the candidate allows; [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).] B. Written consent is filed with the Secretary of State by the new vice-presidential candidate; [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).] C. Written acceptance of the new vice-presidential candidate is filed with the Secretary of State by the presidential candidate; and [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).] D. Written acceptance of the new vice-presidential candidate is filed with the Secretary of State by each of the presidential electors. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).] [PL 2015, c. 447, §14 (AMD).]

3. Candidate for presidential elector; death; withdrawal; disqualification. If a presidential elector, who has been nominated by petition under section 354, subsection 1, paragraph B , dies, withdraws or becomes disqualified, the vacancy may be filled by a new presidential elector, if the following conditions are met: A. Written resignation is filed with the Secretary of State by the previous presidential elector, if the mental and physical condition of the elector allows; [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).] B. Written consent is filed with the Secretary of State by the new presidential elector; and [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).] C. Written acceptance of the new presidential elector is filed with the Secretary of State by the presidential candidate. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).] This subsection does not apply to a vacancy as described in section 804 . [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 23 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 1 / Section 23
21-A §23. Preservation and destruction of records
Status: in_force

The preservation and destruction of records and other materials required by this Title are governed by the following provisions. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

1. Registration and enrollment applications. The registrar shall keep registration and enrollment applications and requests and all documentation of changes in registration and enrollment as part of each active or inactive voter's permanent registration record. Records must be kept only 2 years for a voter whose registration has been cancelled or for an applicant whose registration application has been rejected. [PL 2005, c. 453, §6 (AMD).]

2. Convention certificates. The Secretary of State shall keep the certificates required by section 322 in the Secretary of State's office for 2 years. [RR 2019, c. 2, Pt. B, §28 (COR).]

3. Primary and nomination petitions. The Secretary of State shall keep primary petitions, nomination petitions and consents in the office of the Secretary of State through the end of the calendar year in which the petition was filed. [PL 2013, c. 131, §2 (AMD).]

3-A. Direct initiative of legislation and people's veto petitions. The Secretary of State shall keep direct initiative of legislation and people's veto petitions in the Office of the Secretary of State for 6 months after any appeal period has passed. [PL 2009, c. 253, §7 (NEW).]

3-B. Party formation documents. The Secretary of State shall keep party formation declarations of intent and certification forms filed pursuant to section 303 in the office of the Secretary of State for 6 months after any appeal period has passed. [PL 2013, c. 131, §3 (NEW).]

4. Receipts for ballots. The Secretary of State and each clerk shall keep a record of receipts for ballots issued and received under sections 606 and 651 in their respective offices for 6 months. [PL 2013, c. 457, §1 (AMD).]

5. Receipt of incoming voting list. The registrar shall keep the receipt for certified copies of the incoming voting list required by section 624, subsection 2 in the registrar's office for 6 months. [PL 2019, c. 371, §2 (AMD).]

6. Election tabulations. The Secretary of State shall keep election tabulations in the Secretary of State's office for 10 years. [RR 2019, c. 2, Pt. B, §29 (COR).]

7. Ballots and other election materials. For 22 months following an election in which a candidate for a federal office is on the ballot, the clerk shall keep the ballots, tabulation materials related to those ballots and challenge certificates, if any, in the clerk's office or other secure location under the control of the clerk, unless sooner released to the Secretary of State or required by the Secretary of State to be kept longer. Once released to the Secretary of State, they must be kept by the Secretary of State until any appeal period bearing on the validity of the election has expired. Notwithstanding this subsection, test ballots and documentation of preelection testing of tabulating or accessible voting devices must be kept for 6 months and ballots used for municipal elections conducted under this Title, referenda elections or special legislative elections must be kept for 2 months. [PL 2019, c. 371, §3 (AMD).]

7-A. Incoming voting lists. For 5 years following any election, the clerk shall keep the incoming voting lists in the clerk's office or other secure location under the control of the clerk. [PL 2011, c. 534, §2 (AMD).]

7-B. Absentee envelopes and applications. For 2 years following any election, the clerk shall keep the absentee ballot envelopes, including the unopened envelopes containing rejected absentee ballots, the applications for absentee ballots and the list of voters who were issued absentee ballots in the clerk's office or other secure location under the control of the clerk. [PL 2011, c. 534, §3 (NEW).]

8. Certificate of presidential electors. The Secretary of State shall keep the certificate of the votes of the presidential electors, delivered to the Secretary of State under section 805 , in the Secretary of State's office for one year. [RR 2019, c. 2, Pt. B, §30 (COR).]

9. Registration of treasurer. The Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices shall keep the registration of a treasurer under section 1013‑A in its office for 2 years. [RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. A, §52 (COR).]

10. Records and campaign finances. Each treasurer and each candidate shall keep the records required by section 1016 for 2 years following the election to which they pertain. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

11. Campaign reports. The Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices shall keep the campaign reports or report data in its office for at least 8 years. [IB 1995, c. 1, §10 (AMD).]

12. Certificate of appointment. The Secretary of State shall keep a certificate of appointment to fill a vacancy under section 363 in the Secretary of State's office for 2 years. [RR 2019, c. 2, Pt. B, §31 (COR).]

12-A. Informational filings. The Secretary of State shall keep a copy of the election-specific informational filings and reports received from the municipal clerks and registrars in the office of the Secretary of State for 6 months after the election to which they pertain, except that the return of votes cast report must be kept for 2 years. [PL 2013, c. 131, §5 (NEW).]

13. Miscellaneous. The official charged with the custody of any record not specifically provided for in this section shall keep it in that official's office for 2 years. [RR 2019, c. 2, Pt. B, §32 (COR).]

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. [PL 2003, c. 447, §4 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 856 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 856
21-A §856. Official returns
Status: in_force

Copies of the election results must be open to the public as soon as the count is completed. The warden shall prepare the official return pursuant to section 711 . The official return of each voting district is derived from the totals from the official tally tape, the totals from the hand-tallies of all red-lined or unread ballots and the tally sheets used to record all valid write-in votes. Once the clerk has made the attested copies of the precinct returns, if applicable, and the total municipality return and filed these attested copies with the Secretary of State, the return becomes the official return for that municipality. [PL 2001, c. 310, §67 (RPR).]
21-A M.R.S. § 845 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 845
21-A §845. Custody
Status: in_force

The municipal clerk has custody of voting devices used by the municipality. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

1. Storage and maintenance. The municipal clerk is responsible for the proper storage and maintenance of each device. A. The municipal clerk shall store each device in a safe, dry building. [PL 1995, c. 459, §98 (AMD).] B. The municipal clerk shall keep each device in proper operating condition. [PL 1995, c. 459, §98 (AMD).] [PL 1995, c. 459, §98 (AMD).]

2. Transfer prohibited. The municipal clerk may not transfer possession, custody or control of a voting device to any person except as expressly authorized by the Secretary of State. [PL 2021, c. 536, §6 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 1060 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 13 / Section 1060
21-A §1060. Content of reports
Status: in_force

The reports must contain the following information and any additional information required by the commission to monitor the activities of committees: [PL 2021, c. 217, §11 (AMD).]

1. Identification of candidates. The names of and offices sought by all candidates whose campaigns the committee supports or intends to influence; [PL 2021, c. 217, §11 (AMD).]

2. Identification of committees; parties. The names of all political committees or party committees supported in any way by the committee; [PL 2021, c. 217, §11 (AMD).]

3. Identification of ballot question campaigns. The ballot question campaigns that the committee intends to initiate or influence; [PL 2021, c. 217, §11 (AMD).]

4. Itemized expenditures. An itemization of each expenditure made to initiate or influence any campaign, including the date, payee and purpose of the expenditure and the name of each candidate, and each referendum or initiated petition supported or opposed by the expenditure. If expenditures were made to a person described in section 1012, subsection 3, paragraph A , subparagraph (4), the report must contain the name of the person; the amount spent by that person on behalf of the committee, including, but not limited to, expenditures made during the signature gathering phase; the reason for the expenditure; and the date of the expenditure. The commission may specify the categories of expenditures that are to be reported to enable the commission to closely monitor the activities of committees; [PL 2021, c. 217, §11 (AMD).]

5. Aggregate expenditures. [PL 2021, c. 217, §11 (RP).]

6. Identification of contributions. An itemization of each contribution of more than $50 made to or received by the committee for the purpose of initiating or influencing a campaign, including the name, occupation, places of business and mailing address of each contributor and the amount and date of the contribution; [PL 2021, c. 217, §11 (AMD).]

6-A. Funds deposited into campaign account. Any funds deposited into or transferred into the campaign account described in section 1054 , including but not limited to funds from the general treasury of an organization that is required to establish a committee; and [PL 2021, c. 217, §11 (NEW).]

7. Other payments. Operational expenses and any other payments made from the campaign account described in section 1054 . [PL 2021, c. 217, §11 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 1123 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 14 / Section 1123
21-A §1123. Alternative campaign financing option
Status: in_force

This chapter establishes an alternative campaign financing option available to candidates running for Governor, State Senator and State Representative. This alternative campaign financing option is available to candidates for elections to be held beginning in the year 2000. The commission shall administer this Act and the fund. Candidates participating in the Maine Clean Election Act must also comply with all other applicable election and campaign laws and regulations. [IB 1995, c. 1, §17 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 121 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 3 / Section 121
21-A §121. Exclusive power of registrar
Status: in_force

The registrar has the exclusive power, subject to section 163 , to determine whether a person who applies for registration as a voter meets the qualifications prescribed by this Title. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

1. Oath may be required. In making this determination, the registrar may require any person who testifies before the registrar concerning the person's qualifications or those of another to swear to the truth of the person's statements. [RR 2019, c. 2, Pt. B, §36 (COR).]

1-A. Identification and proof. A person who registers in person shall show proof of identity and residency. If satisfactory proof of identity and residency cannot be provided to the registrar or deputy, the person's name is entered into the central voter registration system and placed on the incoming voting list and the ballot the person casts is a challenged ballot. If the person shows satisfactory proof of identity and residency prior to voting on election day, the person's ballot is not a challenged ballot. [PL 2025, c. 397, §2 (RPR).]

2. Political party not a qualification. The registrar shall be impartial as to the political party of the applicant in determining the applicant's voting qualifications. [PL 1989, c. 313, §1 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 753-A — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 753-A
21-A §753-A. Procedure for requesting an absentee ballot
Status: in_force

(CONTAINS TEXT WITH VARYING EFFECTIVE DATES)

1. Applications available. On request, the clerk shall furnish a reasonable number of absentee ballot applications to any person. An application may not be furnished more than 2 months before a primary election for which the application will be used or more than 3 months before any other election for which the application will be used. This subsection does not apply to a uniformed service voter or an overseas voter who requests an absentee ballot under this subchapter. [PL 2025, c. 397, §45 (AMD).]

2. Application for state and municipal ballots at same time. If a municipal election is to be held on the same date as a statewide election, absentee ballots for the municipal and statewide election may be issued in response to the same application unless the municipal ballots are not ready to be issued at the time the statewide ballot is available. The clerk may not delay the issuance of a statewide absentee ballot in order to include a municipal ballot pursuant to this subsection. [PL 1999, c. 645, §6 (NEW).]

3. Request in writing. A voter may complete an application or make a written request for the voter's own ballot by mail, in person or by facsimile. The voter may designate an immediate family member or a 3rd person to deliver the ballot on the voter's behalf. An immediate family member of a voter may also make an application or written request for an absentee ballot for the voter. A. An application or a written request for an absentee ballot must be accepted by the clerk if it contains the following information: (1) The voter's name and date of birth; (2) The voter's residence address or other address sufficient to identify the voter; (3) The signature of the voter or the voter's immediate family member who is making the application or written request. If an immediate family member is either making the application or written request or is designated in the application or written request to deliver or return the ballot to the voter, then the family relationship to the voter must also be provided; and (4) If applicable, a different address to which the applicant requests the ballot be sent or delivered. [PL 2021, c. 273, §13 (AMD).] B. If the voter needs assistance pursuant to subsection 5 , then in addition to the information required in paragraph A , the following information must be provided in order for the application or written request to be accepted by the clerk: (1) The printed name and signature of the person who helped the voter; and (2) A statement that the aide helped the voter by either reading or signing the application, or both. [PL 2003, c. 447, §28 (NEW).] C. If the voter wishes to have the ballot delivered or returned by a 3rd person, then in addition to the information required in paragraph A , the following information must be provided in order for the application or written request to be accepted by the clerk: (1) The name of the 3rd person whom the voter has designated. A 3rd person may only be designated in an application or written request that is signed by the voter. [PL 2003, c. 447, §28 (NEW).] [PL 2021, c. 273, §13 (AMD).]

4. Application by telephone. A voter may make a telephone 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 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 confirming the voter's residence address and birth date 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. [PL 2003, c. 447, §29 (AMD).]

5. Assistance to certain voters. A voter who is unable to read, sign or complete an application because of physical disability, illiteracy or religious faith may request another person, other than the voter's employer or agent of that employer or an officer or agent of the voter's union, to assist the voter in reading, signing or completing the application. If an aide assists a voter by reading or signing the application, the aide shall complete and sign the certificate on the application stating that the aide has assisted the voter. [PL 1999, c. 645, §6 (NEW).]

6. Application by electronic means. A municipal clerk shall accept absentee ballot applications by the electronic means authorized by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall design or approve the form of the absentee ballot application to be submitted by electronic means. A voter may make an application for the voter's own ballot by electronic means using the form designed or approved by the Secretary of State. The voter may not designate an immediate family member or a 3rd person to deliver the ballot on the voter's behalf. An electronic 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. The clerk shall verify that it is the voter who is requesting the ballot by confirming the voter's residence address and date of birth with the information in the voter's record. The clerk shall print the electronically submitted application and write "electronic request" on the application. [PL 2021, c. 273, §14 (AMD).]

7. Telephone and e-mail contact information. In addition to any required information, a voter applying for an absentee ballot under this section must be asked to provide that voter’s telephone number and e-mail address, if available. Notwithstanding Title 1, chapter 13, subchapter 1 , the voter’s telephone number and e-mail address are confidential and may be used only by municipal election officials to contact the voter. [PL 2021, c. 273, §15 (NEW).]

8. (TEXT EFFECTIVE UNTIL 12/31/25) Application for ongoing absentee voter status. No later than February 1, 2024, the Secretary of State shall design the ongoing absentee ballot application that allows a voter who will be at least 65 years of age by the next election or who self-identifies as having a disability to apply for status as an ongoing absentee voter. Each qualified applicant must automatically receive an absentee ballot for each ensuing statewide election, municipal election and any other election for which the voter is entitled to vote and need not submit a separate request for each election. A. An application for status as an ongoing absentee voter must be made by a voter using procedures designed by the Secretary of State. These procedures must include a process for notifying the voter that if the voter moves out of the municipality, that voter's status as an ongoing absentee voter in that municipality terminates. A voter may obtain assistance in completing an application for ongoing absentee voter status pursuant to subsection 5 . [PL 2021, c. 398, Pt. UUUU, §3 (NEW); PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §§37, 39 (AFF).] B. The clerk or Secretary of State shall terminate a voter's ongoing absentee voter status only upon: (1) The written request of the voter; (2) The death or disqualification of the voter; (3) The cancellation of the voter's registration record in the central voter registration system; (4) The return of an absentee ballot as undeliverable; (5) The failure of the voter to vote by absentee ballot for a general election; or (6) The designation of the voter's status as inactive in the central voter registration system. [PL 2021, c. 398, Pt. UUUU, §3 (NEW); PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §§37, 39 (AFF).] This subsection does not apply to uniformed service voters or overseas voters who are covered by the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 52 United States Code, Section 20302 (2019). [PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §24 (AMD); PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §§37, 39 (AFF).]

8. (TEXT EFFECTIVE 12/31/25) Application for ongoing absentee voter status. No later than February 1, 2024, the Secretary of State shall design the ongoing absentee ballot application that allows a voter to apply for status as an ongoing absentee voter. Each qualified applicant must automatically receive an absentee ballot for each ensuing statewide election, municipal election and any other election for which the voter is entitled to vote and need not submit a separate request for each election. A. An application for status as an ongoing absentee voter must be made by a voter using procedures designed by the Secretary of State. A voter may obtain assistance in completing an application for ongoing absentee voter status pursuant to subsection 5 . [PL 2023, c. 404, §1 (AMD); PL 2023, c. 404, §2 (AFF).] B. The clerk or Secretary of State shall terminate a voter's ongoing absentee voter status only upon: (1) The written request of the voter; (2) The death or disqualification of the voter; (3) The cancellation of the voter's registration record in the central voter registration system; (4) The return of an absentee ballot as undeliverable; or (6) The designation of the voter's status as inactive in the central voter registration system. [PL 2023, c. 404, §1 (AMD); PL 2023, c. 404, §2 (AFF).] This subsection does not apply to uniformed service voters or overseas voters who are covered by the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 52 United States Code, Section 20302 (2019). [PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §24 (AMD); PL 2023, c. 404, §1 (AMD); PL 2023, c. 404, §2 (AFF).]

9. Telephone and e-mail contact information. In addition to any required information, a voter applying for an absentee ballot or an ongoing absentee ballot must be asked to provide that voter's telephone number and e-mail address, if available. [PL 2021, c. 398, Pt. UUUU, §4 (NEW); PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §37 (AFF).]
21-A M.R.S. § 782 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 782
21-A §782. Absentee ballots; procedure on return
Status: in_force

On receipt of a return envelope apparently containing an absentee ballot, the clerk or the Secretary of State shall follow the procedures for regular absentee voting under this subchapter. [PL 2009, c. 563, §8 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 696 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 696
21-A §696. Challenged, defective or void ballots
Status: in_force

The counting of ballots is governed by the following provisions. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

1. Challenged ballot. A challenged ballot must be counted the same as a regular ballot. The validity of a challenged ballot need not be determined unless it affects the results of an election. If the challenged ballot affects the result of an election, the envelope containing the challenge certificate and the signed affidavit under section 673, subsection 1 must be submitted to the Supreme Judicial Court and its validity must be determined, except when final determination of the election of a candidate is governed by the United States Constitution. [PL 2003, c. 395, §5 (AMD).]

2. Invalid vote. A vote for an office, candidate or question held to be invalid by the warden, ward clerk or deputy warden may not be counted for that office, candidate or question as follows. A. Except as provided in section 723‑A for elections determined by ranked-choice voting, if a voter marks more names for an office than there are vacancies to be filled or more choices for a question than are permitted, the voter's vote for that office or question may not be counted. [PL 2019, c. 320, §5 (AMD).] B. If a voter marks the voter's ballot in such a manner that it is impossible to determine the voter's choice, the voter's vote for the office or question concerned may not be counted. [PL 1997, c. 436, §101 (AMD).] C. If a voter marks a write-in indicator for an office, but does not write the name of a declared write-in candidate in the blank space provided next to the write-in indicator, that vote for that office may not be counted, unless a determination of choice under subsection 4 is possible. [PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §12 (AMD).] D. If a voter writes in the name of a declared write-in candidate in the write-in space pursuant to section 691 , but does not mark the write-in indicator, that vote for that office may not be counted. [PL 2009, c. 253, §32 (AMD).] E. If a voter writes in a write-in space the name of a person who has not filed a declaration of write-in candidacy as provided by section 722‑A , the vote for that office may not be counted. [PL 2017, c. 141, §1 (AMD).] F. The warden, ward clerk or deputy warden shall write "Invalid vote" on the ballot and the reason the vote is invalid beside the office, candidate or question for which it is invalid and shall sign it and replace the ballot with the other ballots, to be counted for other offices or questions. [PL 2001, c. 310, §39 (AMD).] [PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §12 (AMD).]

3. Defective ballots. A ballot held to be defective by the warden, ward clerk or deputy warden may not be counted. A. A ballot that is not prepared in accordance with the requirements of this Title is defective. [PL 2001, c. 310, §40 (AMD).] B. The warden, ward clerk or deputy warden shall write "Defective ballot" and the reason that the ballot is defective on the ballot and shall sign it. The election official shall then segregate the defective ballot with any other defective ballots in an envelope labeled "Defective ballots" and shall package and return the envelope of segregated ballots in accordance with section 698 . The Secretary of State shall provide the clerk of each municipality with either a label and instructions on proper handling of defective ballots or a special envelope printed with this label and instructions. [PL 2003, c. 298, §2 (AMD).] C. A ballot is not defective if the Secretary of State has given prior approval for its use at the election. [PL 2005, c. 404, §4 (NEW).] [PL 2005, c. 404, §4 (AMD).]

4. Determination of choice possible. If a voter marks the voter's ballot in a manner that differs from the instructions at the top of the ballot but in such a manner that it is possible to determine the voter's choice, then the vote for the office or question concerned must be counted. A. [PL 2001, c. 310, §41 (RP).] [PL 2005, c. 404, §5 (AMD).]

5. Void ballots. A ballot held to be void by the warden, ward clerk or deputy warden may not be counted. A. A ballot on which a voter has made a distinguishing mark is void. [PL 2005, c. 404, §6 (AMD).] B. The warden, ward clerk or deputy warden shall write "Void ballot" and the reason that the ballot is void on the ballot and shall sign it. The election official shall then segregate the void ballot with any other void ballots in an envelope labeled "Void ballots" and shall package and return the envelope of segregated ballots in accordance with section 698 . The Secretary of State shall provide the clerk of each municipality with either a label and instructions on proper handling of void ballots or a special envelope printed with this label and instructions. [PL 2003, c. 298, §3 (AMD).] [PL 2005, c. 404, §6 (AMD).]

6. Rules. The Secretary of State is authorized to adopt rules pursuant to Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A for determining voter intent based on relevant case law and provisions of this Title. These rules must be used by election officials in tabulating the results of state and local elections and in all recounts conducted pursuant to this Title. A copy of the rules must be included with the instructional materials provided to the clerk, registrar and election officials in each municipality pursuant to section 605‑A, subsection 1 and must be used by the Secretary of State in the training of election officials pursuant to section 505 . Rules adopted pursuant to this subsection are routine technical rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A. [PL 2011, c. 342, §25 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 221 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 3 / Section 221
21-A §221. State coordinator
Status: in_force

The Secretary of State is the coordinator of the State's responsibilities under the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002, Public Law 107-252. [PL 2003, c. 407, §15 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 315 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 5 / Section 315
21-A §315. Party members to govern political committees
Status: in_force

The members of a party within a municipality shall determine the method of election, the terms of office and the duties of their political committees. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 776 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 776
21-A §776. Applicability of provisions
Status: in_force

This article applies to uniformed service voters or overseas voters who are covered by the federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, 42 United States Code, Section 1973ff (2001). The Secretary of State is responsible for carrying out the State's duties under that Act. [PL 2003, c. 407, §26 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 699 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 699
21-A §699. Sealing of ballot container
Status: in_force

When a container is required to be sealed, it shall be done so that the seal on the container must be broken before its contents can be examined. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 112 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 3 / Section 112
21-A §112. Residence for voting purposes
Status: in_force

Voting residence is governed by the following provisions. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

1. Residence. The residence of a person is that place where the person has established a fixed and principal home to which the person, whenever temporarily absent, intends to return. A. The following factors may be offered by an applicant and considered by a registrar in determining a person's residence under this section. The registrar need not find all of these factors to be present in order to conclude that an applicant qualifies to register to vote in the municipality: (1) A direct statement of intention by the person pursuant to section 121, subsection 1 ; (2) The location of any dwelling currently occupied by the person; (6) The place where any motor vehicle owned by the person is registered; (8) The residence address, not a post office box, shown on a current income tax return; (9) The residence address, not a post office box, at which the person's mail is received; (10) The residence address, not a post office box, shown on any current resident hunting or fishing licenses held by the person; (12) The residence address, not a post office box, shown on any motor vehicle operator's license held by the person; (14) The receipt of any public benefit conditioned upon residency, defined substantially as provided in this subsection; or (16) Any other objective facts tending to indicate a person's place of residence. [PL 2009, c. 253, §10 (AMD).] B. [PL 1993, c. 695, §2 (RP).] [PL 2009, c. 253, §10 (AMD).]

2. Change. A change of residence is made only by the act of removal, joined with the intent to remain in another place. A person can have only one residence at any given time. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

3. Residence retained. A person does not lose the person's residence if the person temporarily leaves home and goes to another country, state or place in this State with the intent of returning. [PL 1993, c. 695, §3 (AMD).]

4. Separate residence. The place where a person's family resides is presumed to be the person's place of residence, but a person may acquire a separate residence if the person takes another abode with the intention of remaining there. This subsection does not apply to uniformed service voters, students and others covered by subsection 7 . [PL 2003, c. 407, §5 (AMD).]

5. Spouse may have separate residence. A married person may be considered to have a residence separate from that of the person's spouse for the purposes of voting or holding office. For those purposes, residence is determined as if the person were single. [PL 1993, c. 695, §3 (AMD).]

6. Voting in another state. A person loses the person's voting residence in this State if the person registers to vote in another state or votes in another state's election, either in person or by absentee ballot. That person is not eligible to register or vote in this State until the person again qualifies under section 111 . [PL 2007, c. 455, §5 (AMD).]

7. Uniformed service voters, students, institutional patients, Indians. A person does not gain or lose a residence solely because of the person's presence or absence while employed in the uniformed service or the merchant marine of the United States, while a student in any institution of learning, while kept in any institution at public expense or while residing upon any Indian or military reservations. This subsection may not be construed to prevent a student at any institution of learning from qualifying as a voter in the municipality where the student resides while attending that institution. [PL 2003, c. 407, §5 (AMD).]

8. Voting residence retained. A person who has gained a voting residence in a municipality retains it, if the person so desires, when the person becomes a patient at a federal institution or an employee of a federal agency where the person is required to reside on land ceded to the Federal Government by the State. This subsection applies to a member of the uniformed service, merchant marine or the National Guard who is required to be in a place other than that in which the person has gained a voting residence. [PL 2003, c. 407, §5 (AMD).]

9. Federal property. A person residing on federal property, except as stated in subsection 5 , is eligible to register and vote in the voting district in which the federal property is located. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]

10. Becoming 18 on federal property. A person who becomes 18 years of age while residing on federal property as a patient at a federal institution or an employee of a federal agency, or while in the uniformed service, is considered to have gained a voting residence in the municipality in which the person resided at the time the person became such a patient, employee or member of the uniformed service. [PL 2003, c. 407, §6 (AMD).]

11. Spouse of member of uniformed service or merchant marine. A person may have the same voting residence as that person's spouse who is a member of the uniformed service or merchant marine. A member of the uniformed service or merchant marine on active duty, whose spouse has a place of residence in this State, may establish a residence in the place of residence of the spouse by filing an affidavit with the registrar declaring an intention to reside in that place upon severance from the uniformed service or merchant marine. [PL 2003, c. 407, §6 (AMD).]

12. Spouse may have separate residence. [PL 1985, c. 614, §5 (RP).]

13. Voting in another state. [PL 1985, c. 614, §5 (RP).]

14. Persons incarcerated in correctional facilities. The residence of a person incarcerated in a correctional facility, as defined in Title 34‑A, section 1001 , or in a county jail does not include the municipality where a person is incarcerated unless the person had resided in that municipality prior to incarceration. A person incarcerated in a correctional facility may apply to register to vote in any municipality where that person has previously established a fixed and principal home to which the person intends to return. [PL 1997, c. 436, §21 (AMD).]

15. Nontraditional residence. A person may have a nontraditional residence, including, but not limited to a shelter, park or underpass. A person's residency is not subject to challenge on the sole basis that the person has a nontraditional residence. [PL 1993, c. 473, §5 (NEW); PL 1993, c. 473, §46 (AFF).]
21-A M.R.S. § 503-A — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 7 / Section 503-A
21-A §503-A. Election clerks
Status: in_force

Election clerks are governed by the following provisions. [PL 2019, c. 64, §2 (NEW).]

1. Qualifications; compensation. Election clerks must be at least 18 years of age, must be registered to vote and must be residents of the municipality or the county in which they serve, except that residents of a municipality or county who are 16 years of age and who are conditionally registered to vote pursuant to section 155 also qualify to serve as election clerks. Election clerks are entitled to reasonable compensation as determined by the municipal officers. [PL 2021, c. 273, §9 (AMD).]

2. Nomination. All nominations for election clerks must be submitted to the municipal officers by April 1st of each general election year. Nominations may be submitted by the municipal, county or state committees of the parties, by the municipal clerk or by any registered voter in the municipality or county. [PL 2019, c. 64, §2 (NEW).]

3. Appointment. The municipal officers shall appoint election clerks by May 1st of each general election year to serve at each voting place during the time the polls are open and as counters after the polls close. In making the appointments, the municipal officers shall consider all nominations received by April 1st but may appoint any qualified voters. The municipal officers shall appoint a sufficient number of election clerks to meet the requirements of subsections 4 and 5 . A list of the election clerks appointed under this subsection must be posted at each voting place for each election during the 2‑year term following appointment. For each election, the municipal clerk shall select the election clerks from the list of appointees and assign their duties. [PL 2019, c. 64, §2 (NEW).]

4. Minimum number of election clerks. There must be at least 2 election clerks, one from each of the major parties, selected from the list of appointees to serve at each voting place during the entire time the polls are open and as counters after the polls close. The municipal clerk may select additional election clerks for each voting place as needed in accordance with subsection 5 . [PL 2019, c. 64, §2 (NEW).]

5. Selection of additional clerks; representation of parties. If a municipality requires more election clerks than the minimum number prescribed in subsection 4 , the municipal clerk must select additional election clerks from the list of appointees to work at each election as follows. A. The number of election clerks selected from one major party may not exceed the number of election clerks from another major party by more than one. [PL 2019, c. 64, §2 (NEW).] B. The number of election clerks selected from the major parties must comprise at least half of the total number of election clerks selected. The remaining number of election clerks may be enrolled in a minor party or may be unenrolled. [PL 2019, c. 64, §2 (NEW).] C. If the municipal officers did not appoint a sufficient number of election clerks representing the major parties or there is an insufficient number of appointees from the major parties who are available to serve at an election, the municipal clerk may select as many election clerks from minor parties or who are unenrolled as needed to serve at that election. [PL 2019, c. 64, §2 (NEW).] [PL 2019, c. 64, §2 (NEW).]

6. Vacancies. Notwithstanding subsection 5 , if a sufficient number of appointed election clerks are not available to serve on election day, the municipal clerk may appoint the necessary number of election clerks, without regard to party affiliation, to fill the vacancies at that election. [PL 2019, c. 64, §2 (NEW).]

7. Oath of office. Before assuming the duties of office, election clerks are sworn by the municipal clerk or the warden, and the oath is recorded. [PL 2019, c. 64, §2 (NEW).]

8. Term of office. An election clerk holds office for 2 years from the date of appointment and until a successor is appointed and qualified. [PL 2019, c. 64, §2 (NEW).]

9. Duties. Election clerks shall attend the voting places for which they are appointed at each election during the time the polls are open or during the counting of the ballots after the polls close, as required by the terms of their appointment. They are under the direction of the warden and shall assist the warden as requested. [PL 2019, c. 64, §2 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 815 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 815
21-A §815. Expense of storage and maintenance
Status: in_force

The municipality shall pay reasonable expenses for the storage and maintenance of the machines as authorized by the clerk. [PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW).]
21-A M.R.S. § 625 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 9 / Section 625
21-A §625. Posting of sample ballots
Status: in_force

At least 7 days before an election, the clerk shall post a sample ballot, furnished to the clerk under section 603 , in a conspicuous, public place in each voting district. [PL 2009, c. 538, §7 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 7 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 1 / Section 7
21-A §7. Use of words
Status: in_force

When used in this Title, the words "shall" and "must" are used in a mandatory sense to impose an obligation to act in the manner specified by the context. The word "may," when used in this Title, is used in a permissive sense to grant authority or permission, but not to create duty, to act in the manner specified by the context. When used in this Title, the term "may not" indicates a lack of authority or permission to act or refrain from acting in the manner specified by the context. [PL 2009, c. 538, §3 (AMD).]
21-A M.R.S. § 1101 — ME Code / Title 21-A / Chapter 13 / Section 1101
21-A §1101. Maine Code of Fair Campaign Practices
Status: in_force

1. Distribution to candidates. At the time a candidate for the office of Governor, the Senate or the House of Representatives registers with the commission as required under section 1013‑A , the commission shall give the candidate a form containing a copy of the Maine Code of Fair Campaign Practices established in this subchapter. The commission shall, at that time, inform the candidate that subscription to the code is voluntary. For the purposes of this subchapter, "code" means the Maine Code of Fair Campaign Practices. [PL 1989, c. 802, §1 (NEW).]

2. The code form. The code, printed on the form provided to candidates under subsection 1 , must read as follows: "Maine Code of Fair Campaign Practices I shall conduct my campaign and, to the extent reasonably possible, insist that my supporters conduct themselves, in a manner consistent with the best Maine and American traditions, discussing the issues and presenting my record and policies with sincerity and candor. I shall uphold the right of every qualified voter to free and equal participation in the election process. I shall not participate in and I shall condemn defamation of and other attacks on any opposing candidate or party that I do not believe to be truthful, provable and relevant to my campaign. I shall not use or authorize and I shall condemn material relating to my campaign that falsifies, misrepresents or distorts the facts, including, but not limited to, malicious or unfounded accusations creating or exploiting doubts as to the morality, patriotism or motivations of any party or candidate. I shall not appeal to and I shall condemn appeals to prejudices based on actual or perceived race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry or national origin, age or familial status. I shall not practice and I shall condemn practices that tend to corrupt or undermine the system of free election or that hamper or prevent the free expression of the will of the voters. I shall promptly and publicly repudiate the support of any individual or group that resorts, on behalf of my candidacy or in opposition to that of an opponent, to methods in violation of the letter or spirit of this code. I, the undersigned, candidate for election to public office in the State of Maine, hereby voluntarily endorse, subscribe to and solemnly pledge to conduct my campaign in accordance with the above principles and practices. ______________________ Candidate for Public Office" [PL 2021, c. 553, §14 (AMD).]