Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0080
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: BRAKEY, CHENETTE, RUSSELL

Legislative Document 
No. 80 
S.P. 28 
In Senate, January 20, 2015 
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Lower the Age Requirement To Run for Legislative Office 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator BRAKEY of Androscoggin. 
Cosponsored by Representatives: CHENETTE of Saco, RUSSELL of Portland. 
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. IV, Pt. First, §4, first ¶ is amended to read: 
Section 4.  Qualifications; residency requirement.  No person shall be a 
member of the House of Representatives, unless the person shall, at the commencement 
of the period for which the person is elected, have been 5 years a citizen of the United 
States, have arrived at the age of 21 18 years, have been a resident in this State one year; 
and for the 3 months next preceding the time of this person's election shall have been, 
and, during the period for which elected, shall continue to be a resident in the district 
which that person represents. 
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Second, §6 is amended to read: 
Section 6.  Qualifications.  The Senators shall be 25 21 years of age at the 
commencement of the term, for which they are elected, and in all other respects their 
qualifications shall be the same as those of the Representatives. 
; 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 lower the age 
requirement for State Senators from 25 to 21 years of age and to lower 
the age requirement for State Representatives from 21 to 18 years of 
age?" 
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 a constitutional amendment to provide for lowering the age 
requirements to serve in the Maine House of Representatives from 21 to 18 years of age 
and to serve in the Maine Senate from 25 to 21 years of age.