Source: http://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/bills_129th/billtexts/HP009601.asp
Timestamp: 2019-09-16 02:21:48
Document Index: 55126213

Matched Legal Cases: ['§1', '§27', '§1', '§1', '§27', '§1', '§32', '§1', '§1', '§35', '§2', '§144', '§2', '§27', '§144', '§3', '§2', '§334', '§16', '§338', '§6', '§ 339', '§351', '§4', '§353', '§19', '§354', '§7', '§12', '§354', '§8', '§13', '§355', '§1', '§12', '§363', '§3', '§365', '§13', '§371', '§11', '§372', '§6', '§373', '§23', '§374', '§12', '§ 374', '§376', '§15', '§ 441', '§ 442', '§ 443', '§601', '§2', '§24', '§601', '§2', '§3', '§601', '§4', '§29', '§673', '§1', '§21', '§723', '§1', '§5', '§723', '§1', '§723', '§8', '§ 723', '§732', '§1', '§6', '§812', '§5', '§6', '§825', '§1', '§6', '§843', '§4', '§6']

HP0096, LD 114, item 1, An Act To Establish Open Primaries for Certain Federal and State Offices
Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §1, sub-§27-C, as repealed and replaced by PL 2017, c. 316, §1, is amended to read:
A. Primary elections for the offices of United States Senator, United States Representative to Congress, Governor, State Senator and State Representative ; .
Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §1, sub-§§27-D and 27-E are enacted to read:
27-D. Elections subject to an open primary. "Elections subject to an open primary" means the elections for the offices of United States Senator, United States Representative to Congress, Governor, State Senator and State Representative.
27-E. Open primary election. "Open primary election" means, in elections subject to an open primary, the regular election for the election of 2 candidates, regardless of enrollment status, who will appear on the ballot for the general election.
Sec. 3. 21-A MRSA §1, sub-§32, as amended by PL 1987, c. 423, §1, is further amended to read:
32. Primary election. "Primary election" means the regular election for the election of nominees of a party for the general election or, for an election subject to an open primary, the open primary election.
Sec. 4. 21-A MRSA §1, sub-§35-A, as enacted by IB 2015, c. 3, §2, is amended to read:
35-A. Ranked-choice voting. "Ranked-choice voting" means the method of casting and tabulating votes in an open primary election in which voters rank candidates in order of preference, tabulation proceeds in sequential rounds in which last-place candidates are defeated and the candidate 2 candidates with the most votes in the final round is elected are nominated to appear on the ballot for the general election.
Sec. 5. 21-A MRSA §144, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2005, c. 453, §27, is further amended to read:
2. Party designation removed. On receipt of the application, the registrar shall remove the party designation of the applicant from the central voter registration system. The registrar shall indicate in the central voter registration system that the applicant is ineligible to vote at a caucus or primary election , other than an open primary election, for 15 days by designating the party enrollment field with the letter "X." Fifteen days after receiving the application, the registrar shall enroll the applicant in the party requested and enter the new party designation in the party enrollment field.
Sec. 6. 21-A MRSA §144, sub-§3, as repealed and replaced by PL 2013, c. 457, §2, is amended to read:
3. Restrictions during change of enrollment. Except as provided in subsection 4, a voter may not vote at a caucus, convention or primary election , other than an open primary election, for 15 days after filing an application to change enrollment. A voter may sign a primary nomination petition during the 15-day period after filing an application to change enrollment, and the voter's signature must be counted as valid, as long as the 15-day period has elapsed by the time the petition is certified pursuant to section 335, subsection 7 and the voter otherwise is qualified to sign a petition for that office. Notwithstanding subsection 4, a voter must file an application to change enrollment prior to January 1st to be eligible to file a petition as a candidate in that election year.
Sec. 7. 21-A MRSA §334, as amended by PL 2009, c. 253, §16, is further amended to read:
A candidate for nomination by primary election , other than an open primary election, must file a primary petition and consent under sections 335 and 336. The candidate must be enrolled, on or before March 15th, in the party named in the petition and must be eligible to file a petition as a candidate for nomination by primary election under section 144, subsection 3. The registrar in the candidate's municipality of residence must certify to that fact on a form designed by the Secretary of State.
Sec. 8. 21-A MRSA §§338 and 339, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, are amended to read:
A Except as provided in section 442 for an open primary election, a person whose name will not appear on the printed primary ballot because he the person did not file a petition and consent under sections 335 and 336, but who fulfills the other qualifications under section 334, may be nominated at the primary election as a write-in candidate in accordance with section 723, subsection 1.
§ 339. Time and nature of election
The primary election shall must be held on the 2nd Tuesday of June of each general election year and , other than an open primary election, is considered to be a separate election for each party which that takes part in it. This includes the duties of public officials in announcing the election, providing forms and ballots, keeping records and any other matter necessary to effect the purpose of a primary election. A primary election shall must be conducted the same as the general election, as nearly as practicable , for each party.
Sec. 9. 21-A MRSA §351, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4. Elections subject to an open primary. A person may file a nomination petition pursuant to this subchapter as a candidate for the open primary election in an election subject to an open primary. A person may not file a nomination petition pursuant to this subchapter as a candidate for the general election in an election subject to an open primary.
Sec. 10. 21-A MRSA §353, as amended by PL 2009, c. 253, §19, is further amended to read:
A person who seeks nomination by petition in an election other than an election subject to an open primary 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.
Sec. 11. 21-A MRSA §354, sub-§7, ¶B, as amended by PL 2013, c. 131, §12, is further amended to read:
B. Petitions Except for petitions for nomination in an open primary, petitions must be delivered to the registrar, or clerk at the request or upon the absence of the registrar, for certification by 5 p.m. on May 25th in the election year in which the petitions are to be used, except that petitions for a slate of candidates for the office of presidential elector must be delivered for certification by 5 p.m. on July 25th in the election year in which the petitions are to be used.
Sec. 12. 21-A MRSA §354, sub-§8-A, as amended by PL 2013, c. 131, §13, is further amended to read:
8-A. Filed with the Secretary of State. A nomination petition must be filed in the office of the Secretary of State by 5 p.m. on June 1st in the election year in which it is to be used, except that a nomination petition for a candidate for an election subject to an open primary must be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State by 5 p.m. on March 15th of the election year in which it is to be used and petitions for a slate of candidates for the office of presidential elector must be filed in the office of the Secretary of State by 5 p.m. on August 1st in the election year in which the petitions are to be used.
Sec. 13. 21-A MRSA §355, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2011, c. 534, §12, is further amended to read:
1. Consent. The consent must contain a statement signed by the candidate that the candidate will accept the nomination of the general election except that the consent signed by a candidate for an election subject to an open primary must contain a statement signed by the candidate that the candidate will accept the nomination of the open 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 nomination petition.
Sec. 14. 21-A MRSA §363, first ¶, as amended by PL 1993, c. 447, §3, is further amended to read:
Sec. 15. 21-A MRSA §365, first ¶, as amended by PL 2003, c. 510, Pt. A, §13, is further amended to read:
Sec. 16. 21-A MRSA §371, as amended by PL 2015, c. 447, §11, is further amended to read:
If For a primary other than an open primary election, if a candidate for nomination dies, withdraws at least 70 days before the primary or becomes disqualified after having filed the candidate's primary petition, so that a party has fewer candidates than there are offices to be filled, the vacancy may be filled by a political committee pursuant to section 363. The Secretary of State shall declare the vacancy pursuant to section 362-A. Less than 70 days before the primary election, a candidate may withdraw from the primary by providing a written notice to the Secretary of State that the candidate is withdrawing and will not serve if elected. The candidate's name will not be removed from the ballot, but upon receipt of the notice of late withdrawal, the Secretary of State shall instruct the local election officials in the candidate's electoral district to distribute notices with absentee ballots requested after that date and to post a notice at each voting place in the district informing voters that the candidate has withdrawn and that a vote for that candidate will not be counted. Notice of the late withdrawal must also be posted on the Secretary of State's publicly accessible website. A candidate who withdraws from an open primary election at least 70 days before the primary or becomes disqualified after having filed the candidate's petition may not be replaced.
Less than 70 days before the primary election, a candidate may withdraw from a primary by providing a written notice to the Secretary of State that the candidate is withdrawing and will not serve if elected. The candidate's name will not be removed from the ballot, but upon receipt of the notice of late withdrawal, the Secretary of State shall instruct the local election officials in the candidate's electoral district to distribute notices with absentee ballots requested after that date and to post a notice at each voting place in the district informing voters that the candidate has withdrawn and that a vote for that candidate will not be counted. Notice of the late withdrawal must also be posted on the Secretary of State's publicly accessible website.
Sec. 17. 21-A MRSA §372, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is repealed.
Sec. 18. 21-A MRSA §373, as amended by PL 2001, c. 310, §23, is repealed.
Sec. 19. 21-A MRSA §374-A, as amended by PL 2015, c. 447, §§12 and 13, is further amended to read:
§ 374-A. Withdrawal of candidates
1. Withdrawal and replacement of nominees for certain state offices. The Secretary of State shall declare the vacancy as provided in section 362-A and a political committee may make a replacement nomination following a candidate's withdrawal only if a person nominated for an office, other than United States Senator, United States Representative to Congress or , Governor, State Senator or State Representative, at a primary election or by a political committee:
2. Deadline for replacement of nominee. A political committee may make a replacement nomination:
3. Deadline for withdrawal. A candidate for an office on the general election ballot must withdraw at least 70 days before the general election in order for the candidate's name to be removed from the ballot. Less than 70 days before the general election, a candidate may withdraw from the election by providing a written notice to the Secretary of State that the candidate is withdrawing and will not serve if elected. The candidate's name will not be removed from the ballot, but upon receipt of the notice of late withdrawal, the Secretary of State shall instruct the local election officials in the candidate's electoral district to distribute notices with absentee ballots requested after that date and to post a notice at each voting place in the district informing voters that the candidate has withdrawn and that a vote for that candidate will not be counted. Notice of the late withdrawal must also be posted on the Secretary of State's publicly accessible website.
4. Replacement of candidates nominated in an open primary election. If a candidate nominated for the office of United States Senator, United States Representative to Congress, Governor, State Senator or State Representative withdraws at least 70 days before the general election, the Secretary of State shall remove the name of the withdrawn candidate from the ballot and list as a replacement candidate the name of the candidate that received the 3rd most votes cast in the open primary election as determined by section 723-A, if any.
Sec. 20. 21-A MRSA §376, as amended by PL 2015, c. 447, §15, is further amended to read:
1. Federal, gubernatorial or state legislative offices. If a candidate or nominee for a federal or gubernatorial office the office of United States Senator, United States Representative to Congress, Governor, State Senator or State Representative withdraws less than 70 days before any election, the Secretary of State is not required to produce new ballots.
2. Certain state offices. The Secretary of State is required to produce new ballots only if a candidate for an office, other than United States Senator, United States Representative to Congress or , Governor, State Senator or State Representative, withdraws in accordance with section 374-A, subsection 1, paragraph A, B or C, a replacement candidate is nominated and a notification is filed with the Secretary of State by the appropriate committee of the political party making the nomination no later than 60 days before the election.
3. List of candidates. Immediately after the last day for withdrawal, the Secretary of State shall list all names to be placed on the ballot for the general election.
Sec. 21. 21-A MRSA c. 5, sub-c. 8 is enacted to read:
§ 441. Qualification of candidate for open primary election; common ballot
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Title to the contrary, the names of all qualified candidates for an election subject to an open primary must appear on the same ballot for the open primary election. A candidate is qualified to appear on the open primary ballot if the candidate:
1. Candidate enrolled in a party. Filed a primary petition and consent that meets the requirements of sections 335 and 336, subject to challenge and appeal under section 337; or
2. Unenrolled candidates. Filed a nomination petition and consent that meets the requirements of sections 354 and 355, subject to challenge and appeal under section 356, and was certified by the Secretary of State pursuant to section 357.
§ 442. Declared write-in candidates
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Title to the contrary, a person who does not qualify to be listed on the open primary ballot pursuant to section 441 but who qualifies as a declared write-in candidate pursuant to section 722-A may be nominated as a write-in candidate at an open primary election.
§ 443. Voters at an open primary election
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Title to the contrary, all voters qualified to vote in the general election for United States Senator, United States Representative to Congress, Governor, State Senator and State Representative may vote in the open primary election for that office regardless of the voters’ enrollment status.
Sec. 22. 21-A MRSA §601, sub-§2, ¶D, as amended by PL 2009, c. 253, §24, is further amended to read:
D. At the end of the list of candidates for each office, there must be left as many blank spaces as there are vacancies to be filled , except for a ballot for an election subject to an open primary. These On the ballot for an open primary election, 2 blank spaces must be left at the end of the list of candidates for the office. No blank spaces may be placed at the end of the list of nominees for the office on the general election ballot for an election subject to an open primary. The blank spaces left on the ballot under this paragraph may be used by a voter to write in the name of a person for whom the voter desires to vote, as provided in section 691, subsection 2 for a primary election or section 692, subsection 2 for a general election.
Sec. 23. 21-A MRSA §601, sub-§2, ¶J, as amended by PL 2017, c. 316, §3, is further amended to read:
J. For open primary elections determined by ranked-choice voting, the ballot must be simple and easy to understand and allow a voter to rank candidates for an office in order of preference. A voter may include no more than one 2 write-in candidate candidates among that voter's ranked choices for each office.
Sec. 24. 21-A MRSA §601, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2001, c. 310, §29, is further amended to read:
4. Distinctively colored. When possible, election ballots must be printed on white paper. Each political party participating in a primary election other than an open primary election must have a separate ballot. The paper for each party's primary ballot must be printed or distinguished with a different color marking as determined by the Secretary of State. For municipalities that include more than one single member district of the State Senate or the House of Representatives, or parts of more than one single member district, the Secretary of State may prepare ballots with one or more distinctive color markings for each single member district or part of a single member district within the municipality.
Sec. 25. 21-A MRSA §673, sub-§1, ¶A, as corrected by RR 2011, c. 2, §21, is amended to read:
(2) Is not enrolled in the proper party, if voting in a primary election other than an open primary election;
Sec. 26. 21-A MRSA §723, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2017, c. 248, §5, is further amended to read:
1. Primary election. In a primary election other than an open primary election, the person who receives a plurality of the votes cast for nomination to any office, as long as there is at least one vote cast for that office, is nominated for that office, except for write-in candidates under paragraph A.
Sec. 27. 21-A MRSA §723, sub-§§1-A and 1-B are enacted to read:
1-A. Open primary election. In an open primary election, the 2 persons who receive the most votes cast as determined by section 723-A must be declared the winners of the open primary election and are nominated to be placed on the general election ballot for that office. The Secretary of State shall immediately certify by mail the nomination of each person to be placed on the general election ballot pursuant to this subsection.
1-B. General election following an open primary. In a general election for an election subject to an open primary, the nominee who receives a plurality of the votes cast for the office, as long as there is at least one vote cast for that office, is elected to that office. A write-in candidate may not be elected in a general election for an election subject to an open primary.
Sec. 28. 21-A MRSA §723-A, as amended by PL 2017, c. 316, §§8 to 10, is further amended to read:
§ 723-A. Determination of winners in an open primary election determined by ranked-choice voting
(1) The candidate cannot be elected because the candidate's vote total in a round of the ranked-choice voting tabulation plus all votes that could possibly be transferred to the candidate in future rounds from candidates with fewer votes or an equal number of votes would not be enough to surpass the candidate 2 candidates with the next-higher vote total totals in the round; or
2. Procedures. Except as provided in subsections 3 and 4, the following procedures are used to determine the winner winners of an open primary election determined by ranked-choice voting. Tabulation must proceed in rounds. In each round, the number of votes for each continuing candidate must be counted. Each continuing ballot counts as one vote for its highest-ranked continuing candidate for that round. Exhausted ballots are not counted for any continuing candidate. The round then ends with one of the following 2 potential outcomes.
A. If there are 2 3 or fewer continuing candidates, the candidate 2 candidates with the most votes is are declared the winner winners of the open primary election.
B. If there are more than 2 3 continuing candidates, the last-place candidate is defeated and a new round begins.
3. Ties. A tie under this section between the 2nd and 3rd candidates for the most votes in the final round or a tie between last-place candidates in any round must be decided by lot, and the candidate chosen by lot is defeated. The result of the tie resolution must be recorded and reused in the event of a recount. Election officials may resolve prospective ties between candidates before the election.
Sec. 29. 21-A MRSA §732, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended to read:
1. Primary election. In a primary election other than an open primary election, the Secretary of State shall notify each person involved in the tie to be present at his the Secretary of State's office at a certain time. At that time, the Secretary of State shall select the nominee publicly by lot.
Sec. 30. 21-A MRSA §812, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended to read:
5. Voting restricted at primary. It must prevent a voter from voting for the nomination of candidates of more than one party at a primary election other than an open primary election.
Sec. 31. 21-A MRSA §825, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended to read:
1. Primary election. In a primary election other than an open primary election, the warden or, in his the warden's absence, a designated election clerk must activate each voting machine so that a voter can vote only for the candidates of the political party in which he the voter is enrolled.
Sec. 32. 21-A MRSA §843, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended to read:
4. Voting restricted at primary. It must prevent a voter from voting for the nomination of candidates of more than one party at a primary election other than an open primary election.