An Act To Ensure Segregation of Spoiled, Defective and Void Ballots Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the summary and inserting in its place the following: Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §693, as amended by PL 1997, c. 436, §99, is further amended to read: §693. Spoiled ballots If a voter spoils t:ae g ballot, the voter may obtain a replacement, not more than twice, by returning the spoiled ballot to the election clerk in charge of issuing ballots. The warden 9F.L,. ward clerk or deputy warden shall write "Spoiled by voter" on the spoiled ballot T and sign i t aRe.--p-J..aGe..--i-t.--i-:a-~-eRve,19fle maFkee.-~Sfl9i,1ee.-Ball9t:sT~~ If a replacement ballot is issued to the voter, the warden 9F.L,. ward clerk mast: or deputy warden shall also mark "Replacement ballot issued" on the spoiled ballot. The election official shall then segregate the spoiled ballot with any other spoiled ballots in an envelope labeled Spoiled ballots" and shall package and return the envelope of segregated ballots in accordance with section 698. The Secretary of State Page I-LRI025(2) COMM/rrEE AMENDMENT
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0981
Committee Amendment CA_A_S129 (Senate)
Amends: 21-A MRSA §693, 21-A MRSA §696

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 322, L.D. 981, Bill, "An 
Act To Ensure Segregation of Spoiled Ballots" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting 
the following: 
'An Act To Ensure Segregation of Spoiled, Defective and Void 
Ballots' 
Further amend the bill by striking out everything after the 
enacting clause and before the summary and inserting in its place 
the following: 
'Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §693, as amended by PL 1997, c. 436, §99, 
is further amended to read: 
§693. Spoiled ballots 
If a voter spoils t:ae g ballot, the voter may obtain a 
replacement, not more than twice, by returning the spoiled ballot 
to the election clerk in charge of issuing ballots. 
The warden 
9F.L,. ward clerk or deputy warden shall write "Spoiled by voter" on 
the spoiled ballot T 
and sign i t 
aRe.--p-J..aGe..--i-t.--i-:a-~-eRve,19fle 
maFkee.-~Sfl9i,1ee.-Ball9t:sT~~ If a replacement ballot is issued to 
the voter, the warden 9F.L,. ward clerk mast: or deputy warden shall 
also mark "Replacement ballot issued" on the spoiled ballot. 
The 
election official shall then segregate the spoiled ballot with 
any 
other 
spoiled ballots 
in 
an 
envelope 
labeled 
"Spoiled 
ballots" and shall package and return the envelope of segregated 
ballots in accordance with section 698. 
The Secretary of State 
Page I-LRI025(2) 
COMM/rrEE AMENDMENT 
:~ . 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT '#" to S.P. 322, L.D. 981 
shall provide the clerk of each municipality with either a label 
and instructions on proper handling of spoiled ballots or a 
special envelope printed with this label and instructions. 
Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §696, sub-§3, 1JB, as amended by PL 2001, c. 
310, §40, is further amended to read: 
B. 
The warden, ward clerk or deputy warden shall write 
"Defective ballot" 
eB--t-he--Balle~ and the reason that the 
ballot is defective on the ballot and shall sign it aBa-keep 
i~-5e~~e~a~eQ-~~~-t~~~~-Balle~s. 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. 
Sec. 3. 21-A MRSA §696, sub-§5, 1JB, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 
310, §42, is amended to read: 
B. 
The warden, ward clerk or deputy warden shall write 
"Void ballot" 
eB--tlle--&al-l-e~ and the reason that the ballot 
is void on the ballot and shall keep-~~-~~~-~~-~ae 
e~ae~--bal-l-&~s 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.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill and requires that spoiled, 
defective and void ballots be segregated in labeled envelopes and 
packaged and returned according to the requirements for other 
ballots and voting materials. 
The Secretary of State shall 
provide each municipal clerk with either an instructional label 
for 
each type of segregated ballot envelope or 
a 
specially 
printed envelope containing the label and instructions. 
FISCAL \OTL i<.t:~lJi{F.i) 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/07 103 ~ae 
12lst Maine Legislature 
Office of Fiscal and Program Review 
LD981 
An Act To Ensure Segregation of Spoiled, Defective and Void Ballots 
LR 1025(02) 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment (f5-Pi 
Committee: Legal and Veterans Mfairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
LRI025(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1