Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0580
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: MORIARTY

Legislative Document
No. 580
H.P. 423
House of Representatives, February 24, 2021
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine Regarding Early Voting
Received by the Clerk of the House on February 22, 2021.  Referred to the Committee on 
Veterans and Legal Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint 
Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MORIARTY of Cumberland.
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.