Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0212
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: HARVELL, VOLK, FARRIN, FREDETTE, HAWKE, O'CONNOR, PARRY, SANDERSON, STETKIS, WARD

Legislative Document
No. 212
H.P. 168
House of Representatives, January 24, 2017
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Require That Signatures on a Direct Initiative of 
Legislation Come from Each State Senatorial District
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative HARVELL of Farmington.
Cosponsored by Senator VOLK of Cumberland and
Representatives: FARRIN of Norridgewock, FREDETTE of Newport, HAWKE of Boothbay 
Harbor, O'CONNOR of Berwick, PARRY of Arundel, SANDERSON of Chelsea, STETKIS of 
Canaan, WARD of Dedham.
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. Third, §18, sub-§2 is amended to read: 
2.  Referral to electors unless enacted by the Legislature without change; 
number of signatures necessary on direct initiative petitions; dating signatures on 
petitions; competing measures.  For any measure thus proposed by electors, the number 
of signatures of voters from each state senatorial district shall not be less than 10% of the 
total vote for Governor cast in that state senatorial district in the last gubernatorial 
election preceding the filing of such petition.  The date each signature was made shall be 
written next to the signature on the petition.  A signature is not valid if it is dated more 
than one year prior to the date that the petition was filed in the office of the Secretary of 
State.  The measure thus proposed, unless enacted without change by the Legislature at 
the session at which it is presented, shall be submitted to the electors together with any 
amended form, substitute, or recommendation of the Legislature, and in such manner that 
the people can choose between the competing measures or reject both.  When there are 
competing bills and neither receives a majority of the votes given for or against both, the 
one receiving the most votes shall at the next statewide election to be held not less than 
days after the first vote thereon be submitted by itself if it receives more than 1/3 of 
the votes given for and against both.  If the measure initiated is enacted by the Legislature 
without change, it shall not go to a referendum vote unless in pursuance of a demand 
made in accordance with the preceding section.  The Legislature may order a special 
election on any measure that is subject to a vote of the people. 
; 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 require signatures 
on direct initiative petitions from voters from each state senatorial 
district?" 
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 March 1, 2018; 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 require that the 
signatures on a petition to directly initiate legislation be of voters from each of the State's 
senate districts and that the number of signatures from each senate district be not less than 
10% of the total votes for Governor cast in that senate district in the previous 
gubernatorial election. The resolution provides that, if the required votes are cast in favor 
of the proposed amendment to the Constitution, the proposed amendment becomes part of 
the Constitution on March 1, 2018 instead of on the date of the Governor's proclamation.