Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0706
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: O'NEIL, DAUGHTRY, MORALES, TALBOT ROSS

Legislative Document
No. 706
H.P. 518
House of Representatives, March 4, 2021
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine To Lower the Voting Age to 16 Years of Age
Received by the Clerk of the House on March 2, 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 O'NEIL of Saco.
Cosponsored by Senator DAUGHTRY of Cumberland and
Representatives: MORALES of South Portland, TALBOT ROSS of Portland.
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, §1 is amended to read:
Section 1.  Qualifications of electors; written ballot; military servicemen; 
students.  Every citizen of the United States of the age of 18 16 years and upwards, 
excepting persons under guardianship for reasons of mental illness, having his or her 
residence established in this State, shall be an elector for Governor, Senators and 
Representatives, in the city, town or plantation where his or her residence has been 
established, if he or she continues to reside in this State; and the elections shall be by written 
ballot.  But persons in the military, naval or marine service of the United States, or this 
State, shall not be considered as having obtained such established residence by being 
stationed in any garrison, barrack or military place, in any city, town or plantation; nor shall 
the residence of a student at any seminary of learning entitle the student to the right of 
suffrage in the city, town or plantation where such seminary is established.  No person, 
however, shall be deemed to have lost residence by reason of the person's absence from the 
state in the military service of the United States, or of this State.
Indians.  Every Indian, residing on tribal reservations and otherwise qualified, shall 
be an elector in all county, state and national elections.
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 reduce the voting 
age qualification by 2 years, from 18 years of age or older to 16 years of 
age or older?"
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 constitutional resolution proposes to reduce the voting age qualification by 2 
years, from 18 years of age or older to 16 years of age or older, subject to approval at 
referendum.