An Act To Require Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidates To Disclose Their Federal Income Tax Returns
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1422
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: BERRY, BELLOWS, ACKLEY, BATTLE, DUCHESNE, GATTINE, GRANT, MELARAGNO, CARPENTER

Legislative Document
No. 1422
H.P. 980
House of Representatives, April 11, 2017
An Act To Require Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidates 
To Disclose Their Federal Income Tax Returns
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative BERRY of Bowdoinham.
Cosponsored by Senator BELLOWS of Kennebec and
Representatives: ACKLEY of Monmouth, BATTLE of South Portland, CASÁS of Rockport, 
DUCHESNE of Hudson, GATTINE of Westbrook, GRANT of Gardiner, MELARAGNO of 
Auburn, Senator: CARPENTER of Aroostook.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  21-A MRSA c. 5, sub-c. 8 is enacted to read: 
SUBCHAPTER 8 
DISCLOSURE OF FEDERAL INCOME TAX RETURNS BY 
PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES 
§441.  Disclosure of federal income tax returns by presidential and vice-presidential 
candidates 
1.  Candidate nominated by petition.  For a candidate who has been nominated by 
petition for the office of President of the United States or for the office of Vice President 
of the United States pursuant to subchapter 2, in order for the candidate's name to appear 
on the general election ballot, the candidate shall provide documentation of the previous 5 
years of that candidate's federal income tax returns by 5 p.m. on August 1st of the 
presidential election year with the nomination petition filed pursuant to section 354, 
subsection 8-A. 
2.  Candidate selected by political party.  For a candidate who has been selected by 
a political party at convention to be a nominee for the office of the President of the 
United States or for the office of the Vice President of the United States pursuant to 
subchapter 1, Article 3, in order for the candidate's name to appear on the general election 
ballot, the candidate shall provide documentation of the previous 5 years of that 
candidate's federal income tax returns by 5 p.m. on the 3rd business day after the day on 
which the chair and the secretary of the political party's state committee certify to the 
Secretary of State the names of the party's candidates for presidential elector pursuant to 
section 322, subsection 2. 
3.  Redaction of certain information; Internet posting.  A candidate or the 
candidate's staff may redact the candidate's federal income tax returns to remove 
personally identifying information other than the candidate's name.  As used in this 
subsection, "personally identifying information" includes social security numbers, home 
addresses, the employer identification numbers and street addresses of any businesses and 
the preparer tax identification numbers and addresses of any paid tax return preparers.  
The Secretary of State shall post the income tax returns on the Secretary of State's 
publicly accessible website. 
Sec. 2.  PL 2015, c. 474, §5 is amended by amending the first indented paragraph 
to read: 
The Secretary of State shall include in the report recommendations regarding the 
administration of presidential primaries, including any implementing legislation.  These 
recommendations must include, but are not limited to, provisions that address the 
arrangement and content of the ballot, including the order of candidates to be listed on the 
ballot if a party has multiple candidates; necessary changes to ensure proper and timely 
administration of absentee ballots for a presidential primary and compliance with the 
federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act; and other issues as 
determined by the Secretary of State to be necessary for proper administration of a 
presidential primary in the State.  The Secretary of State shall include with the report 
suggested legislation requiring a presidential primary candidate to provide documentation 
of the previous 5 years of the candidate's federal income tax returns in order for the 
candidate's name to appear on the general election ballot. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires that, in order for a candidate for President or a candidate for Vice 
President to appear on a general election ballot, the candidate for President or the 
candidate for Vice President must disclose the previous 5 years of that candidate's federal 
income tax returns, which may be redacted to remove personally identifying information 
other than the candidate's name.  It directs the Secretary of State to post the tax returns on 
the Secretary of State's website and to include in the secretary's report regarding 
presidential primaries pursuant to Public Law 2015, c. 474, section 5 suggested 
legislation requiring primary candidates to disclose federal income tax returns.