Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0255
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: FARRIN, STROM, STETKIS, CARPENTER, LUCHINI, TIMBERLAKE, ARATA, BRADSTREET, DILLINGHAM, GRIGNON, HANINGTON

Legislative Document
No. 255
S.P. 67
In Senate, January 22, 2019
Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine 
To Require That Signatures on a Direct Initiative of Legislation 
Come from Each Congressional District
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator FARRIN of Somerset.
Cosponsored by Representative STROM of Pittsfield, Representative STETKIS of Canaan and
Senators: CARPENTER of Aroostook, LUCHINI of Hancock, TIMBERLAKE of 
Androscoggin, Representatives: ARATA of New Gloucester, BRADSTREET of Vassalboro, 
DILLINGHAM of Oxford, GRIGNON of Athens, HANINGTON of Lincoln.
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 congressional district shall not be 
less than 10% of the total vote for Governor cast in that congressional 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 60 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.
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 congressional district 
of this State?"
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, 2020.
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 
congressional districts and that the number of signatures from each congressional 
district be not less than 10% of the total vote for Governor cast in that congressional 
district in the previous gubernatorial election. This 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, 2020 instead of on 
the date of the Governor's proclamation.