Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 0573
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: KNIGHT, PLUMMER, BEAULIEU, CAMPBELL, FOWLE, KINNEY, MARKS, SAUCIER, SCHNECK, MASON

Legislative Document 
No. 573 
H.P. 392 
House of Representatives, February 19, 2013 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Restrict the Voting Privileges of Persons Incarcerated for 
Murder or Class A Crimes 
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed. 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative KNIGHT of Livermore Falls. 
Cosponsored by Senator PLUMMER of Cumberland and 
Representatives: BEAULIEU of Auburn, CAMPBELL of Newfield, FOWLE of Vassalboro, 
KINNEY of Limington, MARKS of Pittston, SAUCIER of Presque Isle, SCHNECK of 
Bangor, Senator: MASON of Androscoggin. 
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, §1 is amended to read: 
Section 1.  Qualifications of electors; written ballot; military servicemen; 
students.  Every citizen of the United States of the age of 18 years and upwards, 
excepting persons under guardianship for reasons of mental illness, having his or her 
residence established in this State, shall be an elector for Governor, Senators and 
Representatives, in the city, town or plantation where his or her residence has been 
established, if he or she continues to reside in this State; and the elections shall be by 
written ballot.  But persons in the military, naval or marine service of the United States, 
or this State, shall not be considered as having obtained such established residence by 
being stationed in any garrison, barrack or military place, in any city, town or plantation; 
nor shall the residence of a student at any seminary of learning entitle the student to the 
right of suffrage in the city, town or plantation where such seminary is established; nor 
may any person convicted of a crime for which a sentence of imprisonment of more than 
years may be imposed be entitled to the right of suffrage while that person is 
imprisoned for that crime in a correctional facility of the State.  No person, however, shall 
be deemed to have lost residence by reason of the person's absence from the state in the 
military service of the United States, or of this State. 
Indians.  Every Indian, residing on tribal reservations and otherwise qualified, shall 
be an elector in all county, state and national elections. 
; 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 prohibit persons 
incarcerated for committing a crime for which a sentence of more than 10 
years may be imposed from voting while incarcerated?" 
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 an amendment to the Constitution of Maine that revokes the 
right of a person in a correctional facility of the State to vote if that person was convicted 
of a crime punishable by more than 10 years of imprisonment, which currently includes 
murder and Class A crimes.