An Act To Require Candidates To Be Listed as Unenrolled If Not Registered with a Recognized Party
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0568
Committee Amendment CA_A_H188 (House)
Amends: 21-A MRSA §307, 21-A MRSA §354, 21-A MRSA §601

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 408, L.D. 568, Bill, "An Act To 
Require Candidates To Be Listed as Unenrolled If Not Registered with a Recognized 
Party" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act Relating to Party Designation of Candidates Not Registered with a 
Recognized Party' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §307, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is 
amended to read: 
1. Length. Exceed one word or include additional numbers or symbols, except that 
the party designation for presidential and vice-presidential candidates may be up to 3 
words in length; 
Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §307, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2003, c. 447, §9, is further 
amended to read: 
4. 
Use independent designation. 
Consist of the word "independent" without 
another desoripti-ve ·word or vr0l'ds. 
The party designation for presidential and 
vice-presidential candidates may include the word "independent" if it includes another 
descriptive word or words. The designation "independent, 
without another descriptive 
word or words, is reserved for use by candidates that are not enrolled in any qualified or 
proposed party; and 
Sec. 3. 21-A MRSA §354, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2007, c. 455, §14, is 
further amended to read: 
1. Content. A nomination petition must contain the name of only one candidate, the 
candidate's place of residence, the office sought and electoral division. A nomination 
petition may contain as many separate papers as necessary and may contain the 
candidate's consent required by section 355. It may also contain the candidate's political 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITIEE AMENDMENT "4" to H.P. 408, L.D. 568 
designation~. subject to the following limitations: the designation may not exceed 
one word or include additional numbers or symbols, except that the political designation 
for presidential and vice-presidential candidates may be up to 3 words in length,: the 
designation may not incorporate the candidate's name or the designation or an 
abbreviation of the designation of a party that is qualified to nominate candidates by 
primary election~ and the designation may not consist of or comprise language that is 
obscene, contemptuous, profane or prejudicial, promotes abusive or unlawful activity or 
violates any other provision of the laws of this State with respect to names. A candidate 
who intends to form a new party about that person's candidacy must use the proposed 
party
1s designation. 
A. When 2 United States Senators or 2 county commissioners are to be nominated, 
the nomination petition must contain the term of office sought by the candidate. 
B. The names of presidential electors must be placed on the petition as a slate. The 
names of the candidates for President and Vice President must be placed on a petition 
for the nomination of presidential electors. 
Sec. 4. 21-A MRSA §601, sub-§2, ~' as amended by PL 2013, c. 131, §16, is 
further amended to read: 
B. The ballot must contain the legal name of each candidate, without any title, and 
municipality or township of residence of each candidate, ananged alphabetically with 
the last name first, under the proper office designation. Municipality of residence is 
not required to be printed for candidates for President and Vice President of the 
United States. The initial letters of the last names of the candidates must be printed 
directly beneath each other in a vertical line. The names of candidates for any one 
office may not be split into more than one column regardless of number. The name 
of each candidate may be printed on the ballot in only one space. For the general 
election ballot, the party or political designation of each candidate must be printed 
with each candidate's name. The printed party or political designation of candidates 
whose party or political designation is governed by section 307 or 354 must conform 
to the requirements for those designations under those sections. The party or political 
designation may be abbreviated.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill and changes the title to reflect the content of the 
amendment. 
This amendment provides that the party or political designation of a candidate of an 
unqualified party is limited to one word and may not include additional numbers or 
symbols. Presidential and vice-presidential candidate designations remain subject to the 
current law, which provides that such a party or political designation must be no longer 
than 3 words. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT