Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1255
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: MORRIS, ANDREWS, BRADSTREET, LOCKMAN, O'CONNOR, STETKIS, STEWART, SWALLOW, TIMBERLAKE

Legislative Document
No. 1255
H.P. 916
House of Representatives, March 14, 2019
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Require Referenda To Receive 60 Percent of the Vote To 
Become Law
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MORRIS of Turner.
Cosponsored by Representatives: ANDREWS of Paris, BRADSTREET of Vassalboro, 
LOCKMAN of Bradley, O'CONNOR of Berwick, STETKIS of Canaan, STEWART of 
Presque Isle, SWALLOW of Houlton, Senator: TIMBERLAKE of Androscoggin.
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 shall not be less than 10% of the total vote for 
Governor cast 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 at 
least 60% 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.
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Third, §19 is amended to read:
Section 19.  Effective date of measures approved by people; veto power 
limited.  Any measure referred to the people and approved by a majority at least 60% of 
the votes given thereon shall, unless a later date is specified in said measure, take effect 
and become a law in 30 days after the Governor has made public proclamation of the 
result of the vote on said measure, which the Governor shall do within 10 days after the 
vote thereon has been canvassed and determined; provided, however, that any such 
measure which entails expenditure in an amount in excess of available and 
unappropriated state funds shall remain inoperative until 45 days after the next convening 
of the Legislature in regular session, unless the measure provides for raising new 
revenues adequate for its operation.  The veto power of the Governor shall not extend to 
any measure approved by vote of the people, and any measure initiated by the people and 
passed by the Legislature without change, if vetoed by the Governor and if the veto is 
sustained by the Legislature shall be referred to the people to be voted on at the next 
general election.  The Legislature may enact measures expressly conditioned upon the 
people's ratification by a referendum vote.
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 
direct initiative of legislation or a competing measure receive at least 
60% of the votes cast to become law?"
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 require that a direct 
initiative of legislation or a competing measure receive at least 60% of the votes cast to 
become law.