An Act To
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 1086
Committee Amendment CA_A_H527 (House)
Amends: 21-A MRSA §145, 21-A MRSA §331, 21-A MRSA §334, 21-A MRSA §339, 21-A MRSA §351, 21-A MRSA §353

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT «!~" to H.P. 764, L.D. 1086, Bill, "An Act To 
Amend the Laws on the Conduct of Elections and To Establish a Nonpartisan Primary 
Election System for State and Federal Candidates" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Establish a Nonpartisan Primary Election System for State and Federal 
Candidates' 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 4 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 4. 21-A MRSA §145, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1999, c. 426, §8, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 5. 21-A MRSA §331, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2015, c. 447, §8, is further 
amended to read: 
1. Nomination by primary election. A~ nomination of a candidate must be 
made by primary election, as provided in this Article. When there is an office for which 
no candidate has qualified either by filing a petition and consent under sections 335 and 
or as a write-in candidate in accordance with section 722-A, the Secretary of State is 
not required to list the office on the primary ballot. The Secretary of State is not required 
to print a primary ballot if there are no offices for which a candidate has qualified. 
Sec. 6. 21-A MRSA §334, as amended by PL 2009, c. 253, §16, is further 
amended to read: 
§334. Qualification of candidate for primary nomination 
A candidate for nomination by primary election must file a primary petition and 
consent under sections 335 and 336. The oandidate must be eraolled, on OF befope MUFoh 
15th, m the party nfrtned m the petition and must be eligible to file a petition as a 
candidate for nomination by primary eleotion undeF section 14 4, subsection 3. 
The 
rogistra·l' in the candidate's municipality of residence must certify to that foot on a form 
designed by the 8eoretary of 8tate. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITIEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 764, LO. 1086 
Sec. 7. 21-A MRSA §339, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended to read: 
§339. Time and nature of election 
The primary election altall must be held on the 2nd Tuesday of June of each general 
election year and is considered to be a separate election for eaoh party vi-hioh takes part in 
#. This includes the duties of public officials in announcing the election, providing forms 
and ballots, keeping records and any other matter necessary to effect the purpose of a 
primary election. ,\ primary eleotion shall be oonduoted the same as the general eleotion, 
as nearly as praotioable, for eaoh party. Notwithstanding any provision of this Title to the 
contraty, a primary election for the office of United States Senator, Representative to 
Congress, Governor, State Senator or Representative to the Legislature must be 
conducted so that the 2 candidates for an office, regardless of party enrollment. who 
receive the highest number of votes are placed on the general election ballot.' 
Amend the bill by inserting after section 5 the following: 
'Sec. 6. 21-A MRSA §351, first 1, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended 
to read: 
The nomination of a candidate, other than by a party, for any federal, state or county 
office must be made by petition, as provided in this subchapter. 
Sec. 7. 21-A MRSA §353, as amended by PL 2009, c. 253, §19, is further 
amended to read: 
§353. Qualification of candidate for nomination by petition 
A person who seeks nomination by petition qualifies by filing a nomination petition 
and consent as provided in sections 354 and 355. If enrolled, the person must also 
withdraw enrollment in a party on or before Maroh 1st to be eligible to file a petition as a 
oandidate in that eleotion year, as provided in seotion 14 5. The registrar in the candidate's 
municipality of residence must cettify to that fact on a form designed by the Secretary of 
State.' 
Amend the bill by insetting after section 13 the following: 
'Sec. 14. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
SECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF 
Bureau of Administrative Services and Corporations 0692 
Initiative: Provides funding for additional ballots and programming to create a 
nonpartisan primary process for state primary elections. 
GENERAL FUND 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOT AL 
2017-18 
$200,000 
$200,000 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
2018-19 
$0 
$0 
COMMITIEE AMENDMENT"~' to H.P. 764, L.D. 1086 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMM:ARY 
This amendment adds provisions to the bill that specify that primaries are held for the 
purpose of selecting 2 candidates to be placed on the general election ballot for the 
offices of United States Senator, Representative to Congress, Governor, State Senator and 
Representative to the Legislature. Primary candidates placed on the general election 
ballot for an office are the 2 candidates who received the highest number of votes. The 
bill provides that voters may participate in a primary election for these offices regardless 
of party enrollment. The amendment adds provisions inadvertently omitted from the bill 
that are consistent with the proposal to establish a nonpartisan primary election for state 
and federal offices. The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section 
to the bill. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 05/21/17 feae!. 
LD 1086 
LR310(02) 
An Act To Amend the Laws on the Conduct of Elections and To Establish a Nonpartisan Primary 
Election System for State and Federal Candidates 
~ 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'ff CH,... 5J J 
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/ Allocations 
General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY2017-18 
FY2018-19 
$200,000 
$0 
$200,000 
$0 
Projections 
FY2019-20 
$190,000 
$190,000 
Projections 
FY2020-21 
$0 
$0 
The bill includes a General Fund appropriation of $200,000 in fiscal year 2017-18 to the Department of Secretaty of 
State for additional ballots and programming to create a nonpartisan primary process for state primaty elections. 
LR03 l 0(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of I