An Act To Amend the Election Laws
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1335
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: LUCHINI, CYRWAY, HANINGTON, KINNEY, LONGSTAFF, MONAGHAN, SAUCIER, SCHNECK, TURNER, PATRICK
Amends: 21-A MRSA §101, 21-A MRSA §122, 21-A MRSA §181, 21-A MRSA §331, 21-A MRSA §363, 21-A MRSA §371, 21-A MRSA §374-A, 21-A MRSA §375, 21-A MRSA §376, 21-A MRSA §506, 21-A MRSA §626, 21-A MRSA §626-A, 21-A MRSA §671, 21-A MRSA §682, 21-A MRSA §712, 21-A MRSA §722-A, 21-A MRSA §737-A, 21-A MRSA §760-B, 21-A MRSA §783, 21-A MRSA §809-A

Legislative Document 
No. 1335 
H.P. 907 
House of Representatives, April 14, 2015 
An Act To Amend the Election Laws 
Submitted by the Secretary of State pursuant to Joint Rule 204. 
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed. 
ROBERT B. HUNT 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative LUCHINI of Ellsworth. 
Cosponsored by Senator CYRWAY of Kennebec and 
Representatives: HANINGTON of Lincoln, KINNEY of Limington, LONGSTAFF of 
Waterville, MONAGHAN of Cape Elizabeth, SAUCIER of Presque Isle, SCHNECK of 
Bangor, TURNER of Burlington, Senator: PATRICK of Oxford. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  21-A MRSA §101, sub-§10, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 455, §3, is 
amended to read: 
10.  Ineligible to serve.  When a member of the registrar's immediate family 
becomes a candidate for federal, state, local or county office in the electoral division in 
which the registrar is appointed, the registrar may not serve as registrar during the period 
beginning when the candidate files a petition to be a candidate or is nominated to be a 
replacement candidate until the time of election. The registrar shall instead appoint a 
deputy to whom the municipality shall pay all associated costs who must be compensated 
by the municipality for the duration of the deputy's temporary employment in that 
capacity. 
Sec. 2.  21-A MRSA §122, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2005, c. 453, §19, is 
further amended to read: 
7.  Record of names.  The names of voters who register by appearing in person 
before the registrar during the business days before election day under subsection 6 must 
be recorded as provided in either paragraph A or B: 
A.  The registrar shall, after finding an applicant qualified, issue a certificate 
requiring the voter's name and other required information to be written on the original 
or any supplemental incoming voting list at the voting place on election day. The 
certificate must be attached to, or included with, the incoming voting list and sealed 
as provided in section 698.  Only one certificate may be recorded for any voter at an 
election; or 
B.  The registrar shall, after finding the applicant qualified, enter the voter's name and 
other information from the voter registration application into the central voter 
registration system and add it to the incoming voting list or a supplemental incoming 
voting list.  Before the polls are opened, the registrar shall deliver the incoming 
voting list and any supplemental incoming voting list or lists to the clerk.  The 
inclusion of a person's name on these lists the incoming voting list will entitle the 
applicant to vote on election day.  All references in this Title to the use of the 
incoming voting list before, during and after election day are considered to include 
the supplemental incoming voting list or lists as provided in this paragraph. 
Sec. 3.  21-A MRSA §181, sub-§1, ¶B, as amended by PL 2003, c. 407, §14 and 
amended by c. 689, Pt. B, §6, is repealed and the following enacted in its place: 
B.  Outside agencies, or their successors, which include the following: 
(1)  All state agencies that provide public assistance, including the Department of 
Health and Human Services and the offices within the department, that provide 
assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program under 
Title 22, chapter 1053-B, the Women, Infants and Children Special Supplemental 
Food Program of the United States Child Nutrition Act of 1966, the federal 
Medicaid program and the statewide food supplemental program under Title 22, 
section 3104; 
(2)  The uniformed service recruitment offices; 
(3)  The public high schools; 
(4)  The offices of municipal clerks and registrars; 
(5) The Department of Labor, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services; and 
(6) All state agencies that provide state-funded programs primarily engaged in 
providing services to persons with disabilities. 
Sec. 4.  21-A MRSA §331, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is repealed 
and the following enacted in its place: 
1.  Nomination by primary election.  A party's nomination of a candidate must be 
made by primary election, as provided in this Article, according to this subsection. 
A.  A party's nomination for a candidate for the office of United States Senator, 
Representative to Congress or Governor must be by primary election. 
B.  A party's nomination for a candidate for the office of State Senator, State 
Representative or any county office must be by primary election: 
(1)  When there is more than one candidate who has qualified by filing a petition 
and consent under sections 335 and 336; 
(2)  When there is at least one candidate who has qualified by filing a petition and 
consent under sections 335 and 336 and there is at least one candidate who has 
qualified as a write-in candidate in accordance with section 723, subsection 1; or 
(3)  When there is no candidate who has qualified by filing a petition and consent 
under sections 335 and 336 but there is at least one candidate who has qualified 
as a write-in candidate in accordance with section 723, subsection 1. 
In all other instances, a candidate under this paragraph must be nominated to the 
general election ballot based on acceptance of the candidate's primary petitions, 
pursuant to section 337, subsection 1, without a primary election. 
Sec. 5.  21-A MRSA §363, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2011, c. 239, §3, is further 
amended to read: 
3.  Acceptance filed.  A person chosen under this section must file a written 
acceptance containing a statement that the person meets the qualifications of the office 
sought and declaring the person's residence and party enrollment with the Secretary of 
State.  The Secretary of State shall provide a form on which the statement is made by the 
candidate for the candidate's acceptance that must include a list of the statutory and 
constitutional requirements of the office sought by the candidate.  The form also must 
include a place for the registrar of the candidate's municipality of residence to certify the 
candidate's registration and enrollment status. 
Sec. 6.  21-A MRSA §371, as amended by PL 2011, c. 342, §11, is further 
amended to read: 
§371.  Candidates for nomination; vacancy 
If a candidate for nomination dies, withdraws for good cause at least 60 75 days 
before the primary or becomes disqualified after having filed the candidate's primary 
petition, so that a party has fewer candidates than there are offices to be filled, the 
vacancy may be filled by a political committee pursuant to section 363.  Good cause for 
withdrawal includes a change in the health, employment or economic status of the 
candidate or a member of the candidate's immediate family, and the reason for 
withdrawal must be provided in the written notice of the withdrawal submitted to the 
Secretary of State pursuant to section 367.  The Secretary of State shall declare the 
vacancy pursuant to section 362-A.   Less than 60 75 days before the primary election, a 
candidate may withdraw from the primary by providing a written notice to the Secretary 
of State that the candidate is withdrawing and will not serve if elected.  The candidate's 
name will not be removed from the ballot, but upon receipt of the notice of late 
withdrawal, the Secretary of State shall instruct the local election officials in the 
candidate's electoral district to distribute notices with absentee ballots requested after that 
date and to post a notice at each voting place in the district informing voters that the 
candidate has withdrawn and that a vote for that candidate will not be counted.  Notice of 
the late withdrawal must also be posted on the Secretary of State's publicly accessible 
website. 
Sec. 7.  21-A MRSA §374-A, sub-§1, ¶B, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 341, §2, is 
amended to read: 
B.  Withdraws because of a catastrophic illness, condition or injury that has 
permanently and continuously incapacitated the candidate and would prevent 
performance of the duties of the office sought, provided the candidate or a member of 
the candidate's immediate family files with the Secretary of State a certificate 
accompanying the withdrawal request, which describes the illness, condition or injury 
and is signed by at least 2 licensed physicians; or 
Sec. 8.  21-A MRSA §374-A, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2011, c. 342, §13, is 
further amended to read: 
3.  Deadline for withdrawal.  A candidate for an office on the general election ballot 
must withdraw at least 60 75 days before the general election and state good cause in 
order for the candidate's name to be removed from the ballot.  Good cause for withdrawal 
includes a change in the health, employment or economic status of the candidate or a 
member of the candidate's immediate family, and the reason for withdrawal must be 
provided in the written notice of the withdrawal submitted to the Secretary of State 
pursuant to section 367.  Less than 60 75 days before the general election, a candidate 
may withdraw from the election by providing a written notice to the Secretary of State 
that the candidate is withdrawing and will not serve if elected.  The candidate's name will 
not be removed from the ballot, but upon receipt of the notice of late withdrawal, the 
Secretary of State shall instruct the local election officials in the candidate's electoral 
district to distribute notices with absentee ballots requested after that date and to post a 
notice at each voting place in the district informing voters that the candidate has 
withdrawn and that a vote for that candidate will not be counted.  Notice of the late 
withdrawal must also be posted on the Secretary of State's publicly accessible website. 
Sec. 9.  21-A MRSA §375, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1999, c. 426, §15, is 
further amended to read: 
2.  Candidate for Vice President; death; withdrawal; disqualification.  If a 
candidate for Vice President who has been nominated by petition under section 354, 
subsection 1, paragraph B, dies, withdraws at least 60 75 days before the election or 
becomes disqualified, the vacancy may be filled by a new vice-presidential candidate, if 
the following conditions are met:  
A.  Written resignation is filed with the Secretary of State by the previous vice-
presidential candidate, if the mental and physical condition of the candidate allows; 
B.  Written consent is filed with the Secretary of State by the new vice-presidential 
candidate; 
C.  Written acceptance of the new vice-presidential candidate is filed with the 
Secretary of State by the presidential candidate; and 
D.  Written acceptance of the new vice-presidential candidate is filed with the 
Secretary of State by each of the presidential electors. 
Sec. 10.  21-A MRSA §376, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1997, c. 436, §55, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  Federal or gubernatorial office.  If a candidate or nominee for a federal or 
gubernatorial office withdraws less than 60 75 days before any election, the Secretary of 
State is not required to produce new ballots. 
Sec. 11.  21-A MRSA §506 is enacted to read: 
§506.  Municipal clerk ineligible to serve 
When a member of the municipal clerk's immediate family becomes a candidate for 
federal, state, local or county office in the electoral division in which the municipal clerk 
serves, the municipal clerk may not serve as the supervisor of elections during the period 
beginning when the candidate files a petition to be a candidate or is nominated to be a 
replacement candidate until the time of election. The municipal clerk shall instead 
appoint a deputy who must be compensated by the municipality for the duration of the 
deputy's temporary employment in that capacity. 
Sec. 12.  21-A MRSA §626, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2011, c. 342, §18, is 
further amended to read: 
1.  Opening time flexible.  The polls must be opened no earlier than 6 a.m. and no 
later than 8 a.m. on election day, except that in municipalities with a population of less 
than 500, the polls must be opened no later than 10:00 a.m.  The municipal officers of 
each municipality shall determine the time of opening the polls within these limits.  The 
municipal clerk shall notify the Secretary of State of the poll opening times at least 30 
days before each election conducted under this Title. 
Sec. 13.  21-A MRSA §626-A is enacted to read: 
§626-A.  Voting place report 
The municipal clerk shall file a voting place report at least 60 days before each 
election conducted under this Title, on a form designed by the Secretary of State, with 
information about each voting place, including, but not limited to, the location of each 
voting place, the poll opening time and the number of voting booths that will be used. 
Sec. 14.  21-A MRSA §671, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2003, c. 584, §9, is 
repealed and the following enacted in its place: 
2.  Name checked and ballot issued.  The election clerk in charge of the incoming 
voting list shall place a check mark or a horizontal line, in red ink, on the list beside the 
voter's name, and if there is more than one party or district ballot style used at that voting 
place, the election clerk must state in a loud, clear voice the party or district ballot style 
that the voter must be given.  The election clerk in charge of the ballots shall give the 
voter one ballot of each kind to which the voter is entitled and if there is more than one 
party or district ballot style used at that voting place, the election clerk must repeat the 
party or district ballot style being given to the voter.  A voter who will vote using the 
accessible voting system may not be given an official ballot, but may be given a sample 
ballot to use as a voting aid.  The voter must be given a ballot when the voter’s name is 
checked on the incoming voting list and may not be referred to another location to obtain 
the ballot. 
Sec. 15.  21-A MRSA §671, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2009, c. 253, §26, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 16.  21-A MRSA §671, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1997, c. 436, §95, is 
further amended to read: 
4.  Retires to voting booth.  After receiving the ballot or ballots, the voter shall retire 
to a voting booth and mark the ballot or ballots without delay and leave the voting booth.  
No ballot, marked or unmarked, may be left in the voting booth by the voter.  If the voter 
is using the accessible voting system, an election official shall escort the voter to the 
voting station, instruct the voter on the proper use of the accessible voting system, 
provide the voter with access to all ballots to which the voter is entitled and permit the 
voter to cast the voter's ballot using the accessible voting system. 
Sec. 17.  21-A MRSA §671, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2001, c. 310, §35, is 
further amended to read: 
5.  Ballot deposited.  When the voter leaves the voting booth, the voter shall proceed 
to the ballot box.  The clerk shall require the voter to deposit in the ballot box all ballots, 
marked or unmarked, issued to the voter under subsection 3 2, and the voter shall then 
leave the area enclosed by the guardrail.  The voter may not leave the guardrail enclosure 
until the voter has deposited all ballots that were issued to the voter.  The voter may 
permit a family member or an assistant under section 672 to deposit the ballots for the 
voter. 
Sec. 18.  21-A MRSA §682, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2009, c. 253, §27, is 
further amended to read: 
3.  Advertising prohibited.  A person may not display advertising material; operate 
an advertising medium, including a sound amplification device; or display or distribute 
campaign literature, posters, palm cards, buttons, badges or stickers containing a 
candidate's name or otherwise intending to influence the opinion of any voter regarding a 
candidate or question that is on the ballot for the election that day on any public property 
located within 250 feet of the entrance to either the voting place or the building in which 
the registrar's office is located.  The term "sound amplification device" includes, but is 
not limited to, sound trucks, loudspeakers and blowhorns. 
A.  This subsection does not apply to advertising material on automobiles traveling to 
and from the voting place for the purposes of voting.   It does not prohibit a person 
who is at the polls solely for the purpose of voting from wearing a campaign button 
when the longest dimension of the button does not exceed 3 inches. 
B.  Nonpolitical charitable activities and other nonpolitical advertising may be 
allowed at the discretion of the clerk if arrangements are made prior to election day.  
If arrangements are not made in advance of the election day, the warden may, at the 
warden's discretion, either allow or prohibit nonpolitical charitable activities and 
other nonpolitical advertising. 
Sec. 19.  21-A MRSA §682, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 447, §22, is 
amended to read: 
4.  Devices for communication.  Party workers or others may not use cellular 
phones, voice pagers or similar devices to make audible voice communication or visual 
communication, including a text message or e-mail communication, within the voting 
place that is in violation of subsection 2. 
Sec. 20.  21-A MRSA §712, as amended by PL 1993, c. 473, §27 and affected by 
§46, is further amended to read: 
§712.  Return not delivered 
If an election return is not delivered to the Secretary of State within 3 business days 
by 5 p.m. on the 3rd business day after an election, the Secretary of State shall send a 
messenger to the municipality concerned, and the clerk shall give that messenger a 
certified copy of the return municipal clerk commits a civil violation for which a fine of 
not more than $50 for each day the return is late may be adjudged. 
Sec. 21.  21-A MRSA §722-A, as amended by PL 2009, c. 253, §37, is further 
amended to read: 
§722-A.  Determination of declared write-in candidate 
To be considered a declared write-in candidate, a person must file a declaration of 
write-in candidacy with the Secretary of State, on a form approved by the Secretary of 
State, on or before 5 p.m. on the 45th 70th day prior to the election.  The candidate must 
meet all the other qualifications for that office. 
Sec. 22.  21-A MRSA §737-A, first ¶, as amended by PL 2007, c. 515, §8, is 
further amended to read: 
Once a recount is requested, the Secretary of State shall notify the State Police, who 
shall take physical control of all ballots and related materials involved in the recount as 
soon as possible, except that for a statewide office or statewide referendum or an office or 
referendum that encompasses more than one county, the Secretary of State, in agreement 
with the parties involved in the recount, may direct the State Police to retrieve ballots 
from certain voting jurisdictions so that the recount may be conducted in stages until the 
requesting candidate or party to the referendum concedes or until all the ballots are 
recounted. 
Sec. 23.  21-A MRSA §737-A, 4th ¶, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 473, §31 and 
affected by §46, is amended to read: 
If, after the official tabulation is submitted to the Governor, the apparent winner is 
determined the losing candidate, that candidate may request another a recount within 3 
business days after the date the Governor receives the tabulation. 
Sec. 24.  21-A MRSA §737-A, sub-§1, ¶¶A and B, as amended by PL 2003, c. 
447, §25, are further amended to read: 
A.  If the percentage difference shown by the official tabulation between the leading 
candidate and the requesting candidate is 2% 1% or less of the total votes cast for that 
office, a deposit is not required. 
B.  If the percentage difference shown by the official tabulation between the leading 
candidate and the requesting candidate is more than 2% 1% and less than or equal to 
4% of the total votes cast for that office, the deposit is $500. 
Sec. 25.  21-A MRSA §760-B, as amended by PL 2013, c. 457, §4, is further 
amended to read: 
§760-B.  Procedures when clerk processes absentee ballots prior to election day 
Any municipality or jurisdiction that conducts its own elections may opt to process 
absentee ballots on the beginning on the 4th day immediately prior to election day, except 
that processing on a Sunday is not permitted.  The clerk shall use the following procedure 
when processing the absentee ballots during this time. 
1.  Time for processing.  In a municipality that has opted to process absentee ballots 
on the day immediately one or more of the days prior to election day authorized by this 
section, the municipal clerk or the clerk's designees may process absentee ballots at the 
times designated by the clerk, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., except that if 
an inspection is requested pursuant to subsection 3, processing may not begin until after 
the inspection period has concluded. 
2.  Notice of early processing.  The clerk must give notice of the municipality's 
intent to process absentee ballots prior to election day using the notice of election under 
section 621-A, stating the time days and times that the clerk intends to begin processing 
absentee ballots and the inspection period provided in subsection 3.  At least 60 days 
before election day, the clerk shall provide a copy of the notice of election to the 
Secretary of State and the chairs of each political party of the municipality indicating that 
early processing of absentee ballots will occur.  The notice to the political parties must be 
considered sufficient as long as it is mailed to the last address of each municipal chair that 
is known to the clerk.  The notice to the Secretary of State may be delivered by mail or 
facsimile or as a scanned attachment to an e-mail address established by the Secretary of 
State.  If the notice is not received by the Secretary of State by 5:00 p.m. on the 60th day 
before election day, the municipality may not process absentee ballots prior to election 
day. 
3.  Inspection of absentee envelopes before processing.  A member of the public 
may make a written request of the clerk to inspect absentee ballot applications and 
envelopes before they are processed if the request is made by 9:00 a.m. on the first day 
immediately that the clerk will process absentee ballots as specified on the notice of 
election prior to election day.  The clerk shall make the absentee ballot applications and 
envelopes received by that time available for public inspection for one hour before the 
starting time specified in the notice of election for processing the absentee ballots.  The 
clerk may immediately proceed to process the ballots after the one-hour inspection time 
has elapsed. 
4.  Processing and other procedures.  The clerk shall use the procedure described in 
this section when processing the absentee ballots during the designated times.  Procedures 
for handling full ballot boxes, pollwatching and challenging ballots are conducted in the 
same manner as election day or as close as practicable. 
4-A.  Tabulation of absentee ballots at state-designated central locations.  The 
Secretary of State may provide a high-speed ballot tabulator to be made available to any 
municipality at one or more state-designated central locations for the purpose of scanning 
and tabulating absentee ballots.  If a municipality opts to process absentee ballots using a 
high-speed ballot tabulator, the municipal clerk must apply to the Secretary of State for 
authorization.  The Secretary of State shall notify the municipal clerk in writing of the 
Secretary of State's authorization or denial of authorization to use a high-speed ballot 
tabulator and provide a designated time for the municipality to scan its ballots. 
Any municipality authorized to scan absentee ballots at a state-designated central location 
must first open and process absentee ballots at the times and in the location within the 
municipality as designated in the notice of election and follow all procedures described in 
this section.  The absentee ballots once removed from their envelopes must be secured in 
locked and sealed containers before being transported to the state-designated central 
location.  The Secretary of State shall publish uniform guidelines for securing and 
transporting ballots and other materials under this subsection. 
5.  Counting and results prohibited before the polls close.  The absentee ballots 
may not be counted, voter intent may not be determined and election results may not be 
obtained or released until after the polls have closed on election day, and all election day 
ballots have been cast and all absentee ballots have been processed.  A municipality that 
uses a high-speed ballot tabulator pursuant to subsection 4-A receives results at the 
completion of the ballot scanning but may not view the results until after the polls close 
on election day. 
6.  Security of processed ballots and tabulating equipment.  At the conclusion of 
absentee ballot processing on the any day immediately prior to election day, the clerk 
shall ensure that the early processed absentee ballots are locked and sealed in the ballot 
box, automatic tabulating equipment ballot box or tamper-proof containers provided by 
the Secretary of State and secured in a vault or other locked secure location, until the 
voting resumes on election day or until the ballots are counted after the polls close.  The 
Secretary of State shall publish uniform guidelines for securing ballots and other 
materials under this section. 
Sec. 26.  21-A MRSA §783, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 563, §9, is 
amended to read: 
5.  Electronic receipt of absentee ballots.  Authorizing the electronic receipt of an 
image of voted absentee ballots transmitted by e-mail or fax from uniformed service 
voters or overseas voters by a method authorized by the Secretary of State. 
Sec. 27.  21-A MRSA §809-A, sub-§1-A, as amended by PL 2007, c. 455, §50, is 
further amended to read: 
1-A.  Prohibition not applicable.  For the purpose of providing a voting system 
equipped for individuals with disabilities as required by section 812-A, subsection 1 and 
the federal Help America Vote Act of 2002, Public Law 107-252, the prohibition in 
subsection 1 does not apply to the connection of individual voting devices to a central 
server using a wired, point-to-point telephone connection that is not Internet-enabled 
when the central server is operated or managed by the Secretary of State. 
Sec. 28.  21-A MRSA §809-A, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 651, §4, is 
amended to read: 
3.  Internet voting.  Use of the Internet for the casting of votes on-line is prohibited.  
This subsection does not apply to a ballot-marking system or software that is used for 
voters with disabilities, uniformed service voters or overseas voters to mark a ballot on-
line and securely transmit the marked ballot to a central server operated or managed by 
the Secretary of State, as long as the system does not tabulate the votes marked on those 
ballots. 
SUMMARY 
This bill makes the following changes to the election laws. 
1.  It adds a restriction that a registrar may not serve during an election when an 
immediate family member of the registrar is a candidate for federal office, and clarifies 
the language regarding compensation.  The restriction previously applied only for 
candidates for state, local or county offices. 
2.  It removes the provision regarding the use of a supplemental incoming voting list. 
3.  It updates the list of the outside agencies that must provide voter registration 
pursuant to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993.  
4.  It provides that a primary election for State Senator, State Representative or 
county office will only be held when there is more than one candidate who has filed a 
candidate petition and consent; when there is at least one candidate who has filed a 
candidate petition and consent and at least one candidate who has qualified as a write-in 
candidate; or when there is no candidate who has filed a candidate petition and consent 
but there is at least one candidate who has qualified as a write-in candidate.  Otherwise, a 
party candidate is nominated to the general election ballot based on acceptance of a 
primary petition. 
5.  It provides that the written acceptance for a replacement candidate must include a 
place for the registrar of the candidate's municipality of residence to certify the 
candidate's registration and enrollment status. 
6.  It changes the deadline for a candidate to withdraw from 60 days to 75 days before 
a primary or general election and allows for a replacement candidate.  It also specifies 
that the candidate may withdraw only for good cause and must include that reason in the 
written notice of withdrawal filed with the Secretary of State. 
7.  It changes the deadline from 60 days to 75 days before the general election for a 
nonparty candidate for Vice President to withdraw and allow for a replacement candidate. 
8.  It provides that if a candidate or nominee for a federal or gubernatorial office 
withdraws less than 75 days before any election, the Secretary of State is not required to 
produce new ballots. 
9.  It clarifies that a candidate may withdraw after the withdrawal deadline if the 
candidate is incapacitated by a catastrophic condition or injury and allows for a 
replacement candidate.  Current law provides for a candidate's withdrawal only for 
incapacitation due to a catastrophic illness. 
10.  It adds the restriction that a municipal clerk may not serve as the supervisor of an 
election when a member of the municipal clerk's immediate family is a candidate for 
federal, state, county or local office. 
11.  It changes the date from 30 days to 60 days prior to an election by which the 
municipal clerk must file a voting place report that includes the location of each voting 
place, the poll opening time and the number of voting booths to be used. 
12.  It clarifies the voting procedure by combining the steps of checking voter names 
on the incoming voting list and giving the ballot to the voter in the same provision of law.  
It prohibits the practice of handing out the ballot at a separate location from the incoming 
voting list. 
13.  It clarifies that it is a violation of law to display, as well as distribute, campaign 
materials within 250 feet of the voting place or the registrar's office. 
14.  It specifies that it is a violation of law to communicate in the voting place via text 
messages or e-mails that influence or attempt to influence another person's decision 
regarding a candidate or question on the ballot that election day. 
15.  It provides for a civil violation punishable by a fine for each day the municipal 
clerk is late in filing an election return after the election. 
16.  It changes the filing deadline for a declaration of write-in candidacy from 45 
days to 70 days before the election. 
17.  It permits the Secretary of State to retrieve ballots from certain voting 
jurisdictions and conduct recounts of statewide or multi-county offices or referenda in 
stages, rather than requiring all the ballots to be retrieved at once. 
18.  It clarifies that an apparent winning candidate may request a recount if the 
official tabulation of the vote communicated to the Governor after a recount shows that 
candidate as the losing candidate. 
19.  It decreases the percentage difference required, from 2% to 1% or less of the 
total votes cast for the office, in order to receive a recount without requiring a deposit. 
20.  It provides that a municipality may opt to process absentee ballots as early as the 
4th day before the election.  It also authorizes the Secretary of State to make available 
high-speed ballot tabulators for absentee ballots and to allow a municipality to bring 
absentee ballots to a state-designated central location for tabulating by the high-speed 
ballot tabulators as long as security guidelines are properly followed. 
21.  It allows the Secretary of State to accept voted absentee ballots from uniformed 
service voters and overseas voters by an electronic means authorized by the Secretary of 
State. 
22.  It allows for the connection of individual voting devices to a central server 
operated or managed by the Secretary of State for voting systems equipped for 
individuals with disabilities by other than a wired, point-to-point telephone connection. 
23.  It allows for the use of the Internet to provide a ballot-marking system or 
software that is used for voters with disabilities, uniformed service voters or overseas 
voters to mark a ballot and transmit the marked ballot online, as long as the system or 
software does not tabulate the ballots or transmit the ballot tabulations online.