Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0040
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: HARVELL, BECK, BICKFORD, BENNETT, COTTA, KAENRATH, O'CONNOR, PARRY, SANDERSON, SIROCKI, WILLETTE

Legislative Document 
No. 40 
H.P. 33 
House of Representatives, January 11, 2011 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Reduce the Size of the House of Representatives 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative HARVELL of Farmington. 
Cosponsored by Representatives: BECK of Waterville, BICKFORD of Auburn and 
Representatives: BENNETT of Kennebunk, COTTA of China, KAENRATH of South 
Portland, O'CONNOR of Berwick, PARRY of Arundel, SANDERSON of Chelsea, SIROCKI 
of Scarborough, WILLETTE of Presque Isle. 
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. IV, Pt. First, §2 is amended to read: 
Section 2.  Number of Representatives; biennial terms; division of the 
State into districts for House of Representatives.  The House of Representatives 
shall consist of 151 members, except that, for the Legislature that convenes in 2015 and 
thereafter, the House of Representatives shall consist of 131 members, to be elected by 
the qualified electors, and hold their office 2 years from the day next preceding the first 
Wednesday in December following the general election.  The Legislature which convenes 
in 1983 and every 10th year thereafter shall cause the State to be divided into districts for 
the choice of one Representative for each district.  The number of Representatives shall 
be divided into the number of inhabitants of the State exclusive of foreigners not 
naturalized according to the latest Federal Decennial Census or a State Census previously 
ordered by the Legislature to coincide with the Federal Decennial Census, to determine a 
mean population figure for each Representative District.  Each Representative District 
shall be formed of contiguous and compact territory and shall cross political subdivision 
lines the least number of times necessary to establish as nearly as practicable equally 
populated districts.  Whenever the population of a municipality entitles it to more than 
one district, all whole districts shall be drawn within municipal boundaries.  Any 
population remainder within the municipality shall be included in a district with 
contiguous territory and shall be kept intact. 
; 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 2012 
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 House of 
Representatives from 151 members to 131 members effective in the year 2015?" 
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 
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 
House of Representatives from 151 members to 131 members.  The proposal would be 
presented to the voters for their approval in November 2012, and after voter approval the 
Legislature that convenes in 2013 would submit a reapportionment plan to implement the 
reduction in the size of the House of Representatives.  The reduction in the size of the 
House of Representatives would take effect in 2015.