An Act Regarding Write-in Candidates in Municipal and City Elections
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0832
Committee Amendment CA_A_H403 (House)
Amends: 30-A MRSA §2528, 30-A MRSA §2554

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "Pr" to H.P. 629, L.D. 832, Bill, "An Act 
Regarding Write-in Candidates in Municipal and City Elections" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. t. 30-A MRSA §2528, sub-§7, enacted by PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A ~2 and 
Pt. C, ~106 and amended by PL 1989, c. 6: c. 9, ~2; and c. 104, Pt. C, ~~8 and 10, is 
further amended to read: 
7. Specimen ballot posted. At least -4- 2 business days before the election, the clerk 
shall have posted in one or more conspicuous, public places a specimen ballot or a list, 
substantially in the fonn of a ballot, containing the name and ot11ce designation of cach 
candidate. 
The specimen ballot must include the name and party enrollment of all 
candidates considered declared \\'rite-in candidates in accordance with subsection 11. 
The specimen ballot must be posted at the voting place specified in accordance with 
subsection 3 on election dav. 
Sec. 2. 30-A MRSA §2528, sub-§ 11 is enacted to read: 
11. Declared write-in candidate. To be considered a declared write-in candidate 
under this section, a person must file a declaration of write-in candidacy with the 
municipal clerk, on a form approved by the municipal clerk, on or before 5 p.m. on the 
2nd dav before the ele~tion. The candidate must meet all the other qualifications for the 
office in question. 
If a voter writes in the name of a person who has not filed a 
declaration of write-in candidacy in accordance with this subsection, the vote for that 
office may not be counted. 
This subsection applies only to municipalities with a 
population of 1.000 or grcil1?L 
Sec. 3. 30-A MRSA §2554, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1989, c. 6; c. 9, §2; and c. 
104, Pt. A, §21 and Pt. C, §§8 and IO, is further amcnded to reaci: 
2. \Vrite-in votes~ declared write-in candidate. In any city election, a voter may 
write in the name and municipality of residence of any person for whom the voter desires 
to vote in the blank space provided at the end of the list of candidates for office. A 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMEND:\;1ENT "0,, to H.P. 629. L.O. 832 
I 
sticker may not be used to vote for a write-in candidate in any city election other than a 
primary election. To be considered a declared write-in candidate under this subsection, a 
person must file a declaration of write-in candidacy with the clerk, on a form approved by 
the clerk, on or before 5 p.m. on the 2nd day before the election. The candidate must 
meet all the other qualifications for the office in question. If a voter writes in the name of 
a person who has not filed a declaration of write-in candidacy in accordance with this 
subsection, the vote for that office may not be counted. 
Sec. 4. 30-A MRSA §2554, sub-§3, enacted by PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 and Pt. 
C, §106 and amended by PL 1989, c. 6; c. 9, §2; and c. 104, Pt. C, §§8 and 10, is further 
amended to read: 
3. Specimen ballots and instruction posters. At least -4- 2 business days before 
election day, the clerk shall post a specimen ballot in one or more conspicuous, public 
places in each ward and at the voting place on election day. The specimen ballot must 
include the name and party enrollment of all candidates considered declared write-in 
candidates in accordance with subsection 2. Before the election, the clerk shall publish a 
composite specimen ballot containing the names of all the nominees in a newspaper 
having general circulation in the city. On election day, when the polls are opened, the 
clerk shall post an instruction poster in each voting booth, and 3 instruction posters arid 5 
specimen ballots in the voting room outside the guardrail enclosure.' 
SUMlVIARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. It provides that, in order to be counted as a write-
in candidate in a municipal or city election, a person must file a declaration of write-in 
candidacy no later than 2 days before an election. This requirement does not apply in 
towns with a population of less than 1,000. This amendment adds a requirement that the 
names of candidates who are considered declared write-in candidates in accordance with 
the bill be listed on specimen ballots posted before and on election day. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT