An Act To Require Candidates To Be Listed as Unenrolled If Not Registered with a Recognized Party
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0568
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: TURNER, MASON, ESPLING, FREDETTE, HUBBELL, POULIOT, SEAVEY, STANLEY, WARD, HILL
Amends: 21-A MRSA §307, 21-A MRSA §354

Legislative Document
No. 568
H.P. 408
House of Representatives, February 16, 2017
An Act To Require Candidates To Be Listed as Unenrolled If Not 
Registered with a Recognized Party
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative TURNER of Burlington.
Cosponsored by Senator MASON of Androscoggin and
Representatives: ESPLING of New Gloucester, FREDETTE of Newport, HUBBELL of Bar 
Harbor, POULIOT of Augusta, SEAVEY of Kennebunkport, STANLEY of Medway, WARD 
of Dedham, Senator: HILL of York.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  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 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. 2.  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 
designation.  This designation may not exceed 3 words in length, 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 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. The nomination petition must list the political designation of the candidate as 
"unenrolled."  A candidate who intends to form a new party about that person's candidacy 
must use the proposed party's designation follow the procedure in subchapter 1, article 1. 
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. 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires that the political designation for an unenrolled candidate who is 
nominated by petition be “unenrolled” and disallows the term “independent” for an 
unenrolled candidate. This bill also prohibits a candidate who intends to form a new party 
to be placed on the ballot by petition, but requires the candidate to follow the procedures 
in the election laws for forming new parties.