An Act To
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1726
Committee Amendment CA_A_H683 (House)
Amends: 21-A MRSA §903-D, 21-A MRSA §903-E, 21-A MRSA §905-A, 28-A MRSA §121, 30-A MRSA §2528

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "f]" to H.P. 1206, L.D. 1726, Bill, "An Act To 
Amend the Laws Governing Elections" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of sections 10 to 16. 
Amend the bill by striking out all of sections 18 to 20 and inserting the following: 
1Sec. 18. 21-A MRSA §903-D, as enacted by PL 2017, c. 277, §5, is repealed. 
Sec.19. 21-A MRSA §903-E is enacted to read: 
§903-E. Persons not authorized to administer an oath or affirmation to a petition 
circulator 
1. Certain notaries public and others. A notary public or other person authorized 
by law to administer oaths or affirmations generally is not authorized to administer an 
oath or affirmation to the circulator of a petition under section 902: 
A. If providing any other services, regardless of compensation, to initiate a direct 
initiative of legislation or people1s veto referendum for which the petitions are being 
circulated. For the purposes of this paragraph, "initiate
has the same meaning as in 
section 1052, subsection 4-B; or 
B. If providing services, regardless of compensation, to promote a direct initiative of 
legislation or people1s veto referendum. 
Sec. 20. 21-A MRSA §905-A, as enacted by PL 2007, c. 234, §6, is amended to 
read: 
§905-A. Public comment on initiative questions 
No later than 10 business days after the Legislature adjourns sine die, the Secretary of 
State shall give public notice of a proposed ballot question for any initiative that will be 
submitted to the voters at the next statewide election or special election by posting all 
proposed ballot questions on the Secretary of State1s publicly accessible website. The 
Secretary of State may also publish notice for one day in newspapers having general 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMM.ITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 1206, L.D. 1726 
circulation in the State. After giving public notice of a proposed ballot question in 
accordance with this section, except as otherwise provided in this section, the Secretary 
of State shall provide a 30-day public comment period for the purpose of receiving 
comments on the content and form of proposed questions to be placed on the ballot for 
any pending initiatives. 
No later than 10 days after receiving public comments in 
accordance with this section and after review of those comments, the Secretary of State 
shall write the ballot question for any pending initiative. If the Secretary of State 
determines that the date upon which the Legislature adjourns sine die and the 
requirements of this section are likely to interfere with the timely printing of ballots as 
required by this Title, the public comment period may be reduced to a period of not less 
than21 days.' 
Amend the bill by inserting after section 21 the following: 
'Sec. 22. 28-A MRSA §121, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1993, c. 608, §2, is 
further amended to read: 
1. Petition. A petition for a local option election must be signed by a number of 
voters equal to at least 15% of the number of votes cast in that municipality in the last 
gubernatorial election. 
All petition signatures must have been signed since the last 
general election. 
The petition must be addressed to and received by the municipal 
officers at least ~ 60 days before holding any primary, special statewide, general or 
municipal election or town meeting.' 
Amend the bill by inserting after section 22 the following: 
'Sec. 23. 30-A MRSA §2528, sub-§4, ,:O, as amended by PL 1993, c. 608, §6, is 
further amended to read: 
D. A nomination paper or a certificate of political caucus nomination that complies 
with this section is valid unless a written objection to it is made to the municipal 
officers by the 4-Jro 58th day prior to election day. 
(1) If an objection is made, the clerk shall immediately notify the candidate 
affected by it. 
(2) The municipal officers shall determine objections arising in the case of 
nominations. Their decision is final. 
Sec. 24. 30-A MRSA §2528, sub-§6-A, 11A and B, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 
608, §8, are amended to read: 
A. A candidate may withdraw from an elective race by notifying the municipal clerk 
in writing of the candidate's intent to withdraw and the reason for withdrawal at least 
~ 60 days before the election. This notice must be signed by the candidate and must 
be notarized. 
B. Within the #-day 60-day period before an election, the municipal clerk may 
allow a candidate to withdraw from an elective race. A candidate who requests to 
withdraw within the #-day 60-day period before an election shall notify the 
municipal clerk in writing of the candidate's intent to withdraw and the reason for 
withdrawal. This notice must be signed by the candidate and must be notarized.' 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT «A" to H.P. 1206, L.D. 1726 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, removes the 
provisions in the bill that make changes to the laws governing political activities at the 
polling place. It also removes the provision of the bill that removes language that allows 
an authorized person to sign a petition for a direct initiative of legislation or a people's 
veto referendum on behalf of a voter at that votds direction. The amendment removes a 
section in the bill that makes changes to the laws governing when a notary public or other 
person authorized to administer oaths is prohibited from administering an oath to a 
circulator of a petition for a direct initiative of legislation or people's veto referendum and 
replaces it with a new section. The new section provides that a notary public or other 
person authorized to administer oaths is not authorized to administer an oath to a 
circulator of a petition for a direct initiative of legislation or people's veto referendum 
petition if that notary public or other person has provided services to initiate or promote 
that direct initiative of legislation or people's veto referendum. Finally, the amendment 
makes changes to the deadlines governing submission of municipal official candidate 
nomination papers, municipal official candidate withdrawals and petitions for local 
option elections on the sale of liquor. These deadline changes make those provisions 
consistent with other deadlines enacted for similar submissions under Public Law 2017, 
chapter 248. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Approved: 03/14/18 feac 
LD 1726 
LR2669(02) 
An Act To Amend the Laws Governing Elections 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment A(f/ ~ t [J) 
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Additional costs to the Department of Secretary of State associated with this legislation can be absorbed within 
existing budgeted resources. 
LR?1169(0?.) - Fi.qr.fll Note - Pal!e 1 ofl