Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1012
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: SUPICA, HICKMAN, BOYER, RIELLY, RUDNICKI, BENNETT, GROHOSKI

Legislative Document
No. 1012
H.P. 648
House of Representatives, March 7, 2023
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine Regarding the Timing of Judicial Review of the 
Determination of the Validity of Written Petitions
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative SUPICA of Bangor.
Cosponsored by Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec and
Representatives: BOYER of Poland, RIELLY of Westbrook, RUDNICKI of Fairfield, 
Senators: BENNETT of Oxford, GROHOSKI of Hancock.
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, §22 is amended to read:
Section 22. Election officers and officials, how governed.  Until the Legislature 
shall enact further laws not inconsistent with the Constitution for applying the people's veto 
and direct initiative, the election officers and other officials shall be governed by the 
provisions of this Constitution and of the general law, supplemented by such reasonable 
action as may be necessary to render the preceding sections self executing.  The Legislature 
may enact laws not inconsistent with the Constitution to establish procedures for 
determination of the validity of written petitions.  Such laws shall include provision for 
judicial review of any determination, to be completed within 100 days from the date of 
deadline for filing of a written petition in the office of the Secretary of State.
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 change the time 
period for judicial review of the validity of written petitions from within 
days from the date of filing to within 100 days from the deadline for 
filing of a written petition in the office of the Secretary of 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 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 change the time period 
for judicial review of the validity of written petitions from within 100 days from the date 
of filing to within 100 days from the deadline for filing of a written petition in the office of 
the Secretary of State.