An Act Regarding Municipal Reporting of Statewide Elections
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1138
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: CUSHING, GIDEON, BAKER, COLLINS, CYRWAY, GERZOFSKY, HILL, MASON, PATRICK, O'CONNOR
Amends: 21-A MRSA §721-A

Legislative Document 
No. 1138 
S.P. 407 
In Senate, March 31, 2015 
An Act Regarding Municipal Reporting of Statewide Elections 
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator CUSHING of Penobscot. 
Cosponsored by Representative GIDEON of Freeport and 
Senators: BAKER of Sagadahoc, COLLINS of York, CYRWAY of Kennebec, GERZOFSKY 
of Cumberland, HILL of York, MASON of Androscoggin, PATRICK of Oxford, 
Representative: O'CONNOR of Berwick. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  21-A MRSA §721-A is enacted to read: 
§721-A.  Enforcement of reports of registration and enrollment 
1.  Municipality to identify clerk who fails to report.  If a clerk has not updated the 
central voter registration system by entering voter participation history for a statewide 
election pursuant to section 721 within 25 business days after the election, the 
municipality shall publish in a newspaper having general circulation within the 
municipality notice of the failure of the clerk to update the system and shall identify the 
clerk.  By January 1st for the immediately previous general election and by August 1st for 
the immediately previous primary election, if a clerk has updated the central voter 
registration system by entering voter participation history for that election more than 25 
business days after the election or a clerk has not updated the system, the municipality 
shall indicate that action or lack of action in the municipality's next town report. 
2.  Secretary of State to warn clerk who fails to report.  If a clerk fails to update 
the central voter registration system by entering voter participation history for a statewide 
election pursuant to section 721 within 25 business days after the election: 
A.  Before November 9, 2016, the Secretary of State shall provide a warning to the 
clerk for the clerk's failure to update the central voter registration system; and 
B.  After November 8, 2016, the Secretary of State shall provide a warning to the 
clerk for the clerk's failure to update the central voter registration system and, if the 
clerk has not updated the central voter registration system by entering voter 
participation history for a statewide election by January 1st for the immediately 
previous general election and by August 1st for the immediately previous primary 
election, the clerk commits a civil violation pursuant to subsection 3. 
3.  Penalty.  A clerk to whom the Secretary of State has provided a warning pursuant 
to subsection 2, paragraph B who subsequently fails to update the central voter 
registration system by entering voter participation history by January 1st for the 
immediately previous general election and by August 1st for the immediately previous 
primary election commits a civil violation for which a fine may be adjudged of not more 
than $50 for each day that the clerk fails to update the system after January 1st for the 
immediately previous general election or August 1st for the immediately previous 
primary election. 
4.  Municipality is not liable.  A municipality is not liable for the failure of the 
municipality's clerk to update the central voter registration system by entering voter 
participation history for a statewide election pursuant to section 721. 
SUMMARY 
This bill provides for a municipal clerk who fails to update the central voter 
registration system by entering voter participation history to be warned by the Secretary 
of State and for the clerk’s municipality to publish in a newspaper and its town report 
notice of that failure.  It also, beginning November 8, 2016, makes it a civil violation for 
a municipal clerk to fail to update the central voter registration system by entering voter 
participation history for a statewide election by January 1st for the immediately previous 
general election and by August 1st for the immediately previous primary election.  The 
bill imposes a fine of not more than $50 for each day after January 1st or August 1st that 
the clerk fails to update the system.  It also stipulates that a municipality is not liable for a 
clerk’s failure to update the system.