Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 2315
Committee: Legal and Veterans Affairs
Sponsors: MARRACHE

Legislative Document 
No. 2315 
S.P.925 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine Regarding Early Voting 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
April 9, 2008 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Reference to the Committee on Legal and Veterans Affairs suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator MARRACHE of Kennebec. 
Printed on recycled paper 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Constitutional amendment. Resolved: 
Two thirds of each branch of the 
Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the Constitution of Maine be 
proposed: 
Constitution, Art. II, §4 is amended to read: 
Section 4. Time of state election; absentee voting. The election of Senators and 
Representatives shall be on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November 
biennially forever and the election of Governor shall be on the Tuesday following the first 
Monday of November every 4 years. The Legislature by proper enactment may authorize 
a process to allow qualified voters to vote at polling places in or outside their election 
districts during the IS-day period immediately preceding an election or to vote by mail. 
The Legislature ~ 
Qy proper enactment shall authorize and provide for voting Qy 
absentee ballot by citizens of the State absent therefrom in the Armed Forces of the 
United States or of this State and for voting by absentee ballot by other citizens absent or 
physically incapacitated for any reasons deemed sufficient. 
; 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 held in the month 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 allow the Legislature to 
authorize a process to allow qualified voters to vote at polling places in or outside 
their election districts during the IS-day period immediately preceding an election or 
to vote by mail and to authorize vote by absentee ballot for any sufficient reason?" 
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, 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 
I 
review the returns. 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 resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to allow the Legislature 
to authorize a process to allow qualified voters to vote at polling places in or outside their 
Page I - 123LR3644(OI)-1 
election districts during the 15-day period immediately preceding an election or to vote 
by mail and allows absentee voting for any sufficient reason.