Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0838
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: JOY, SHERMAN, BURNS, CLARK, DAVIS, HAYES, SCHATZ, RAYE, TRAHAN

MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE 
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srATE U.VV UBR/J.RY 
AUGUSTli,lVfAiNF 
124th MAINE LEGISLA URE 
Legislative Document 
No. 838 
H.P.574 
House of Representatives, March 3, 2009 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Elect 2 Senators from Each County and To Increase the 
Senate Term from 2 to 4 Years 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative JOY of Crystal. 
Cosponsored by Senator SHERMAN of Aroostook and 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: BURNS of Whiting, CLARK of Millinocket, DAVIS of Sangerville, HAYES 
of Buckfield, McFADDEN of Dennysville, SCHATZ of Blue Hill, Senators: RAYE of 
'Wa'shington, TRAHAN of Lincoln. 
Pdntt:d on,recycled paper 
Constitutional amendment. Resolved: Two thirds of each branch of the 
Legislature concurring, that th~ following amendment to the Constitufion of Maine be 
proposed: 
Constitution, Art. H, §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 
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biennially ~rever except as provided in this Section. Beginning with the general 
election held in 2010, the election of Senators and the election of Governor shall be 
on the Tuesday following the fIrst Monday of November:..every 4 years, except that 
the term of a Senator from an odd-numbered legislative district remains a 2-year term 
until 2012; after which time the election of all Senators must be held every 4 years. 
The Legislature under proper enactment shall authorize and provide for, voting by , 
citizens of the State absent therefrom in the Armed Forces of the United States or of 
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this State and for voting by other citizens absent or physically incapacitated for 
reasons deemed suffIcient. 
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Second, §1 is amended to read: 
Section 1. Number of Senators. The Senate shall consist of an odd number of 
Senators, not less than 31 nor more than 35, elected at the same tirrie ~d for the 
same term as Representatives as provided in Article II, Section 4 by the qualifIed 
electors of the districts into which the State shall be from time to time divided. 
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Second, §2, first ~ is amended to read: 
Section 2. 
Submission of reapportionment plan to Secretary of Senate; 
Legislature's act~on oli commission's plan; diVision of State into Senatorial 
Districts; division by Supreme Judicial Court. 
The Legislature which shall 
convene in the year 1983 and every tenth year thereafter 2013 shall saase reapportion 
the State to be divided into districts for the choice of a Senator from each district, 
using the saIne method as provided in l\rticle IV, Part First, Section 2 for 
apportionment of Representative Districts so that the Senate districts coincide with 
the counties of the State~ The voters of each comity shall vote for 2 Senators. 
; and be it further 
Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question; effective 
date. Res'olved: 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 reduce the size of the 
Senate from no more than 35 members to 32 members and increase the Senate 
term from 2 years to 4 years, effective in the year 2010, and to reapportion 
Senatorial Districts to coincide with the counties of the State?" 
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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 
corresp'onding 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 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 reduce the size of 
the Senate from. no more than 35 members to 32 members and increase the Senate. 
term from 2 years to 4 years. The resolution also requires the redrawing of district 
lines, to occur during the regularly scheduled redistricting following the decennial 
census. The redistricting will be done in 2013. 
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