An Act To
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1528
Committee Amendment CA_A_H474 (House)
Amends: 21-A MRSA §674, 21-A MRSA §753-B

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1122, L.D. 1528, Bill, "An Act To 
Amend the Election Laws and Other Related Laws" 
Amend the bill in section 18 in subsection I in the 3rd line (page 7, line 10 in L.D.) 
by striking out the following: "day." and inserting the following: 'day~, except that in 
municipalities with a population of less than 500, the polls must be opened no later than 
10:00 a.m.' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of sections 23 and 24. 
Amend the bill by inserting after section 25 the following: 
'Sec. 26. 21-A MRSA §674, sub-§l"G is enacted to read: 
G. 
Having been entrusted with another voter's marked ballot, intentionally or 
knowingly discloses the content of that ballot to another person.' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of sections 26 and 27. 
Amend the bill in section 31 in subsection 4 in the first line (page 10, line 4 in L.D.) 
by striking out the following: "The" and inserting the following: 'After giving notice to 
the state chair of each political party, the' 
Amend the bill in section 31 in subsection 4 in the 2nd line (page 10, line 5 in L.D.) 
by inserting after the following: "clerk," the following: 'in the presence of one or more 
witnesses and' 
Amend the bill by inserting after section 31 the following: 
'Sec. 32. 21-A MRSA §753-B, sub-§9 is enacted to read: 
9. Restrictions on absentee voting in presence of clerk. Except as allowed by 
subsection 5, a municipal clerk may not remove absentee ballots from the municipal 
office for the purpose of conducting absentee voting in the presence of the clerk except 
upon receipt of an application or written request from the voter. The clerk may not be 
assisted in delivering or providing an absentee ballot by any person who is a candidate or 
a member of a candidate's immediate family. Assistance includes, but is not limited to, 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT '4" to H.P. 1122, L.D. 1528 
providing transportation to a clerk who is delivering absentee ballots toa voter who is not 
marking the absentee ballot in the municipal clerk's office.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment provides that a municipality with a population of 500 or less may 
open its voting place as late as 10:00 a.m. on election day. All other municipalities must 
open their voting places no later than 8:00 a.m. The amendment requires notification to 
be made to the state chairs of each political party when the Secretary of State authorizes a 
municipal clerk to open a sealed ballot container. Finally, the amendment adds a new 
section to the bill that prohibits a municipal clerk from removing absentee ballots from 
the municipal office to conduct in-person absentee voting unless requested to do so by the 
voter and prohibits a candidate or a member of the candidate's immediate family from 
assisting the clerk in delivering absentee ballots. 
The bill proposes to make the disclosure of another person's voted ballot a Class D 
crime. The amendment makes such disclosure a Class E crime. 
FISCAL );OTE REQlilRED 
(See attached) 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/01111 
P/CZC 
LD 1528 
LR 2047(02) 
An Act To Amend the Election Laws and Other Related Laws 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment A" 
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor revenue increase - General Fund 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
Establishes new Class E crimes. 
The collection of additional fines may also increase General Fund revenue by minor amounts. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to the Department of Secretary of State associated with this legislation can be absorbed with existing 
staff and within existing budgeted resources. 
LR2047(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of 1