Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0619
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: SCHNECK, LUCHINI, CARDONE, CUDDY, DUNPHY, FARNSWORTH, KORNFIELD, MARTIN, TALBOT ROSS

Legislative Document
No. 619
H.P. 447
House of Representatives, February 5, 2019
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine Regarding Early Voting
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative SCHNECK of Bangor.
Cosponsored by Senator LUCHINI of Hancock and
Representatives: CARDONE of Bangor, CUDDY of Winterport, DUNPHY of Old Town, 
FARNSWORTH of Portland, KORNFIELD of Bangor, MARTIN of Sinclair, McCREA of 
Fort Fairfield, TALBOT ROSS of Portland.
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. II, §4 is amended to read:
Section 4.  Time of state election; early voting; absentee voting.  The 
election of Senators and Representatives shall be on the Tuesday following the first 
Monday of November biennially forever and the election of Governor shall be on the 
Tuesday following the first Monday of November every 4 years.  The Legislature by 
proper enactment may authorize a process by which municipalities may conduct early 
voting by allowing voters to vote in the same manner as on election day during a 
prescribed period immediately preceding an election. The Legislature under by proper 
enactment shall authorize and provide for voting by absentee ballot by citizens of the 
State absent therefrom in the Armed Forces of the United States or of this State and for 
voting by absentee ballot by other citizens absent or physically incapacitated for any 
reasons deemed sufficient.
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 allow the 
Legislature to authorize a process by which a municipality may conduct 
early voting in the same manner as on election day during a period 
immediately preceding an election?"
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 the date of the proclamation.
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 allow the Legislature 
to authorize a process by which municipalities may conduct early voting by allowing 
voters to vote in the same manner as on election day during a period immediately 
preceding an election and to allow absentee voting for any sufficient reason.