An Act To Require Candidates for Public Office To Provide Proof of Citizenship
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0899
Committee: Legal and Veterans Affairs
Sponsors: CEBRA, CUSHING, FITTS, JOY, ROBINSON, THOMAS
Amends: 21-A MRSA §334, 21-A MRSA §353

MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE 
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124th MAINE LEGISLA URE 
l1'IKST REliULAR SESSIor~-2009 
Legislative Document 
No. 899 
H.P.617 
House of Representatives, March 5, 2009 
An Act To Require Candidates for Public Office To Provide Proof 
of Citizenship 
Reference to the Committee on Legal and Veterans Affairs suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative CEBRA of Naples. 
~~1n·mlLC~{ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Representatives: CUSHING of Hampden, FITTS of Pittsfield, JOY of Crystal, 
ROBINSON of Raymond, SARTY ofDe~ark, THOMAS of Ripley. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §334, as amended by PL 1995, c. 459, §21, is further 
amended to read: 
§334. Qualification of candidate for primary nomination 
A candidate for nomination by 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 upon the 
petition. A candidate for nomination by primary election shall show proof of United 
States citizenship in the form of a certified copy of the candidate's birth certificate and the 
candidate's driver's license or other governrnent-issued identification to the Secretary of 
State. 
Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §353, as amended by PL 1999, c. 426, §11, is further 
amended to read: 
§353. Qualification of candidate for nomination by petition 
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 1 st to be eligible to file a petition as a 
candidate in that election year, as provided in section 145. The registrar, or clerk at the 
request or upon the absence of the registrar, in the candidate's municipality of residence 
must certify to that fact on the petition. A person who seeks nomination by petition shall 
show proof of United States citizenship in the form of a certified copy of the candidate's 
birth certificate and 
th~ candidate's driver's license or other governrnent-issued 
identification to the Secretary of State. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires candidates running for office to show proof of United States 
citizenship in the form of a certified copy of the candidate's birth certificate and the 
candidate's driver's license or other governrnent-issued identification to the Secretary of 
State. 
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