Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1158
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: VOLK, THOMAS, BERRY, CHASE, CLARK, DION, ESPLING, EVANGELOS, EVES, FARNSWORTH, GIDEON, GILBERT, GRANT, HAMANN, HOBBINS, HUBBELL, KENT, KNIGHT, KUMIEGA, LIBBY, LOCKMAN, LUCHINI, MASON, MASTRACCIO, MONAGHAN-DERRIG, MORRISON, NADEAU, PEASE, PEOPLES, POWERS, ROCHELO, RUSSELL, RYKERSON, SCHNECK, SHAW, SHORT, SIROCKI, STANLEY, TIMBERLAKE, TREAT, TYLER, WALLACE, WELSH, WILLETTE, WILSON, WINSOR, ALFOND, COLLINS, CUSHING, PATRICK, SHERMAN, THIBODEAU, WOODBURY

Legislative Document 
No. 1158 
H.P. 823 
House of Representatives, March 26, 2013 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Increase the Length of Terms of Senators to 4 Years 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative VOLK of Scarborough. 
Cosponsored by Senator THOMAS of Somerset and 
Representatives: BERRY of Bowdoinham, CHASE of Wells, CLARK of Easton, DION of 
Portland, ESPLING of New Gloucester, EVANGELOS of Friendship, Speaker EVES of North 
Berwick, FARNSWORTH of Portland, GIDEON of Freeport, GILBERT of Jay, GRANT of 
Gardiner, HAMANN of South Portland, HOBBINS of Saco, HUBBELL of Bar Harbor, KENT 
of Woolwich, KNIGHT of Livermore Falls, KUMIEGA of Deer Isle, LIBBY of Lewiston, 
LOCKMAN of Amherst, LUCHINI of Ellsworth, MacDONALD of Old Orchard Beach, 
MASON of Topsham, MASTRACCIO of Sanford, MONAGHAN-DERRIG of Cape 
Elizabeth, MORRISON of South Portland, NADEAU of Fort Kent, PEASE of Morrill, 
PEOPLES of Westbrook, POWERS of Naples, ROCHELO of Biddeford, RUSSELL of 
Portland, RYKERSON of Kittery, SCHNECK of Bangor, SHAW of Standish, SHORT of 
Pittsfield, SIROCKI of Scarborough, STANLEY of Medway, TIMBERLAKE of Turner, 
TREAT of Hallowell, TYLER of Windham, WALLACE of Dexter, WELSH of Rockport, 
WILLETTE of Mapleton, WILSON of Augusta, WINSOR of Norway, Senators: President 
ALFOND of Cumberland, COLLINS of York, CUSHING of Penobscot, PATRICK of Oxford, 
SHERMAN of Aroostook, THIBODEAU of Waldo, WOODBURY of Cumberland. 
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. II, §4 is amended to read: 
Section 4.  Time of state election; absentee voting.  The election of Senators 
and members of the House of Representatives shall be on the Tuesday following the first 
Monday of November biennially forever and the , except that, beginning with the general 
election held in 2014, the election of Senators must be held on the Tuesday following the 
first Monday of November every 4 years. The election of Governor shall be on the 
Tuesday following the first Monday of November 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 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 time and for the same 
term as Representatives for 4-year terms by the qualified electors of the districts into 
which the State shall be from time to time divided. 
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Second, §5 is amended to read: 
Section 5.  Determination of Senators elected; procedure for filling 
vacancies.  The Senate shall, on said first Wednesday of December, biennially until the 
election held in 2014 and quadrennially thereafter determine who is elected by a plurality 
of votes to be Senator in each district.  All vacancies in the Senate arising from death, 
resignation, removal from the State or like causes, and also vacancies, if any, which may 
occur because of the failure of any district to elect by a plurality of votes the Senator to 
which said district shall be entitled shall be filled by an immediate election in the 
unrepresented district.  The Governor shall issue a proclamation therefor and therein fix 
the time of such election. 
Constitution, Art. X, §4 is amended to read: 
Section 4.  Amendments to Constitution.  The Legislature, whenever 2/3 of 
both Houses shall deem it necessary, may propose amendments to this Constitution; and 
when any amendments shall be so agreed upon, a resolution shall be passed and sent to 
the selectmen of the several towns, and the assessors of the several plantations, 
empowering and directing them to notify the inhabitants of their respective towns and 
plantations, in the manner prescribed by law, at the next biennial meetings in the month 
of November, or to meet in the manner prescribed by law for calling and holding biennial 
meetings of said inhabitants for the election of Senators and Representatives, on the 
Tuesday following the first Monday of November following the passage of said resolve, 
to give in their votes on the question, whether such amendment shall be made; and if it 
shall appear that a majority of the inhabitants voting on the question are in favor of such 
amendment, it shall become a part of this Constitution. 
; 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 
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 change the term of 
office for State Senators from 2 years to 4 years, beginning with the 
Senators elected in 2014?" 
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 constitutional resolution increases the length of the terms of State Senators from 
years to 4 years, beginning with the Senators elected in 2014.