Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1056
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: FAULKINGHAM, DILLINGHAM, FECTEAU, GRIFFIN, HARRINGTON, MASON, NEWMAN

Legislative Document
No. 1056
H.P. 785
House of Representatives, March 11, 2021
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Provide for the Popular Election of the Attorney General
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative FAULKINGHAM of Winter Harbor.
Cosponsored by Representatives: DILLINGHAM of Oxford, FECTEAU of Augusta, GRIFFIN 
of Levant, HARRINGTON of Sanford, MASON of Lisbon, NEWMAN of Belgrade.
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. IX, §11 is amended to read:
Section 11.  Attorney General.  The Attorney General shall be chosen biennially 
by joint ballot popular election on the same date and in the same manner as provided by 
this Constitution for the election of the Senators and Representatives in convention.  
Vacancy in said office occurring when the Legislature is not in session, may be filled by 
appointment by the Governor, subject to confirmation as required by this Constitution for 
Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court.
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 provide that the 
Attorney General be elected by the people biennially in the same manner 
as members of the Senate and the House of Representatives?"
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 a constitutional amendment that provides for direct popular 
election beginning in 2022 of the Attorney General biennially in the manner currently 
provided for Senators and Representatives.