Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1383
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: DENNO, CARPENTER, CARDONE, FARNSWORTH, MALABY, PIERCE, BRAKEY, MIRAMANT

Legislative Document
No. 1383
H.P. 962
House of Representatives, April 11, 2017
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine Regarding Early Voting
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative DENNO of Cumberland.
Cosponsored by Senator CARPENTER of Aroostook and
Representatives: CARDONE of Bangor, CASÁS of Rockport, FARNSWORTH of Portland, 
MALABY of Hancock, McELWEE of Caribou, PIERCE of Falmouth, Senators: BRAKEY of 
Androscoggin, MIRAMANT of Knox.
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 Representatives shall be on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November 
biennially forever and the election of Governor shall be on the Tuesday following the first 
Monday of November every 4 years.  The Legislature by proper enactment may authorize 
a process to allow qualified voters to vote at polling places in or outside their election 
districts during the 15-day period immediately preceding an election and may, by proper 
enactment, authorize other methods to facilitate voting during that period. The 
Legislature under by proper enactment shall authorize and provide for voting by absentee 
ballot by citizens of the State absent therefrom in the Armed Forces of the United States 
or of this State and for voting by absentee ballot by other citizens absent or physically 
incapacitated for any reasons deemed sufficient. 
; 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 allow the 
Legislature to authorize a process to allow qualified voters to vote at 
polling places in or outside their election districts during the 15-day 
period immediately preceding an election or to vote by another method 
and to authorize voting by absentee ballot for any sufficient reason?" 
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 to amend the Constitution of Maine to allow the Legislature 
to authorize a process to allow qualified voters to vote at polling places in or outside their 
election districts during the 15-day period immediately preceding an election or to vote 
by another method and to allow absentee voting for any sufficient reason.