Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0640
Committee: Legal and Veterans Affairs
Sponsors: CUMMINGS, THOMPSON, GAGNON, BARSTOW, BLISS, BOWEN, BULL, CLARK, DAVIS, PINGREE

Legislative Document 
No. 640 
H.P.470 
House of Representatives, February 11,2003 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Reduce Voting Age Qualifications by 12 Months 
Reference to the Committee on Legal and Veterans Affairs suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative CUMMINGS of Portland. 
/lj~/YJ.~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Representative THOMPSON of China, Senator GAGNON of Kennebec and 
Representatives: BARSTOW of Gorham, BLISS of South Portland, BOWEN of Rockport, 
BULL of Freeport, CLARK of Millinocket, DAVIS of Falmouth, McLAUGHLIN of Cape 
Elizabeth, PINGREE of North Haven. 
Printed on re<:ycled paper 
Constitutional amendment. 
Resolved: 
Two 
thirds 
branch 
of 
the 
Legislature 
concurring, 
that 
the 
amendment to the Constitution of Maine be proposed: 
Constitution, Art. II, §1 is amended to read: 
of 
each 
following 
Section 1. 
Qualifications of electors; 
written ballot; 
military servicemen; 
students. 
Every citizen of 
the 
United 
States of the age of 18 17 years and upwards, excepting persons 
under guardianship for reasons of mental illness, having his or 
her residence established in this State, shall be an elector for 
Governor, 
Senators and Representatives, 
in the city, 
town or 
plantation where his or her residence has been established, if he 
or she continues to reside in this State; and the elections shall 
be by written ballot. 
But persons in the military, naval or 
marine service of the United States, or this State, shall not be 
considered as having obtained such established residence by being 
stationed in any garrison, barrack or military place, 
in any 
city, town or plantation; nor shall the residence of a student at 
any seminary of learning entitle the student to the right of 
suffrage in the city, town or plantation where such seminary is 
established. 
No person, however, shall be deemed to have lost 
residence by reason of the person's absence from the state in the 
military service of the United States, or of this State. 
Indians. 
Every Indian, residing on tribal reservations and 
otherwise qualified, shall be an elector in all county, state and 
national elections. 
and be it further 
Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question: effective 
date. Resolved: 
That the municipal officers of this State shall 
notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, 
towns 
and 
plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding 
a statewide election, at a statewide election, on the Tuesday 
following the first Monday of November following the passage of 
this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment 
proposed in this resolution by voting upon the following question: 
"Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to reduce 
voting age qualifications by 12 months, from 18 years of age 
and upwards to 17 years of age and upwards?" 
The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall 
vote by ballot on this question and designate their choice by a 
cross or check mark placed within the corresponding square below 
the word "Yes" or "No." 
The ballots must be received, sorted, 
Page l-LR0907(1) 
counted and declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings 
and returns made to the Secretary of State in the same manner as 
votes for members of the Legislature. 
The Governor shall review 
the returns and, if it appears that a majority of the legal votes 
are cast in favor of the amendment, the Governor shall proclaim 
that fact without delay and the amendment becomes part of the 
Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation; and be it 
further 
Secretary of State shall prepare ballots. 
Resolved: 
That 
the 
Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town 
and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of this resolution 
necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum. 
SUMMARY 
This constitutional resolution proposes to reduce the voting 
age 
qualifications 
by 
months, 
subject 
to 
approval 
at 
referendum.