Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1012
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: VOLK, ALFOND, BAKER, CUSHING, CYRWAY, DUTREMBLE, GERZOFSKY, GRATWICK, KATZ, LANGLEY, ROSEN, WHITTEMORE, WOODSOME, ALLEY, BEAR, BLUME, BURSTEIN, DAUGHTRY, DEVIN, ESPLING, EVANGELOS, GINZLER, HOBBINS, KINNEY, KORNFIELD, MAREAN, MONAGHAN, POWERS, SAUCIER, STUCKEY, VACHON, WARD, WARREN

Legislative Document 
No. 1012 
S.P. 352 
In Senate, March 19, 2015 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Increase the Length of Terms of Senators 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator VOLK of Cumberland. 
Cosponsored by Senators: ALFOND of Cumberland, BAKER of Sagadahoc, CUSHING of 
Penobscot, CYRWAY of Kennebec, DUTREMBLE of York, GERZOFSKY of Cumberland, 
GRATWICK of Penobscot, KATZ of Kennebec, LANGLEY of Hancock, ROSEN of 
Hancock, WHITTEMORE of Somerset, WOODSOME of York, Representatives: ALLEY of 
Beals, BEAR of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, BLUME of York, BURSTEIN of 
Lincolnville, DAUGHTRY of Brunswick, DEVIN of Newcastle, ESPLING of New 
Gloucester, EVANGELOS of Friendship, GINZLER of Bridgton, HOBBINS of Saco, 
KINNEY of Knox, KORNFIELD of Bangor, MAREAN of Hollis, McCABE of Skowhegan, 
MONAGHAN of Cape Elizabeth, POWERS of Naples, SAUCIER of Presque Isle, STUCKEY 
of Portland, VACHON of Scarborough, WARD of Dedham, WARREN of Hallowell. 
Printed on recycled paper 
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 as provided in this section.  
Beginning with the general election held in 2016, the election of Senators must be held on 
the Tuesday following the first Monday of November every 4 years except that, of the 
Senators elected in 2016, those Senators who are from odd-numbered districts serve until 
2018, and, beginning with the general election held in 2018, the election of those 
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 
determine who is elected by a plurality of votes to be Senator in each district in which an 
election was held.  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 from even-numbered districts in 2016 and Senators from odd-
numbered districts in 2018?" 
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 2016 except that, in order to 
stagger the elections so that roughly half of the Senate is up for election every 2 years, 
Senators from odd-numbered districts will not begin serving a 4-year term until the 2018 
election.