Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1332
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: JOHANSEN, COSTAIN, PICKETT, SKOLFIELD, ROSEN

Legislative Document
No. 1332
H.P. 960
House of Representatives, March 19, 2019
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Require State and Congressional Elections To Be Decided 
by a Plurality of Votes Cast
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative JOHANSEN of Monticello.
Cosponsored by Representatives: COSTAIN of Plymouth, DeVEAU of Caribou, PICKETT of 
Dixfield, SKOLFIELD of Weld, Senator: ROSEN of Hancock.
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. First, §4-A is enacted to read:
Section 4-A.  Primary election.  A primary election for Representative must be 
decided by a plurality of votes cast.
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Second, §2-A is enacted to read:
Section 2-A.  Primary election.  A primary election for Senator must be decided 
by a plurality of votes cast.
Constitution, Art. V, Pt. First, §2-A is enacted to read:
Section 2-A.  Primary election.  A primary election for Governor must be 
decided by a plurality of votes cast.
Constitution, Art. IX, §26 is enacted to read:
Section 26.  Congressional elections.  A primary, general or special election for 
United States Representative or United States Senator must be decided by a plurality of 
votes cast.
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 that a 
primary election for State Representative, State Senator or Governor be 
decided by a plurality of votes cast and that a primary, general or special 
election for United States Representative or United States Senator be 
decided by a plurality of votes cast?"
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 provide that a 
primary election for State Representative, State Senator or Governor must be decided by 
a plurality of votes cast.  It also provides that a primary, general or special election for 
United States Representative or United States Senator must be decided by a plurality of 
votes cast.