Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1885
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: WARREN, BENNETT, BOYER, CARLOW, RISEMAN, GROHOSKI

Legislative Document
No. 1885
H.P. 1210
House of Representatives, May 3, 2023
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine to Improve Representation by Simplifying Legislative 
Redistricting for the Maine House of Representatives
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative WARREN of Scarborough.
Cosponsored by Senator BENNETT of Oxford and
Representatives: BOYER of Poland, CARLOW of Buxton, RISEMAN of Harrison, Senator: 
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. First, §2 is amended to read:
Section 2.  Number of Representatives; biennial terms; division of the State 
into districts for House of Representatives.  The House of Representatives shall 
consist of 151 members an odd number of Representatives, not less than 151 nor more than 
155, to be elected by the qualified electors, and hold their office 2 years from the day next 
preceding the first Wednesday in December following the general election.  The 
Legislature which convenes in 2013, and also the Legislature which convenes in 2021 and 
every 10th year thereafter, shall cause the State to be divided into districts for the choice of 
one Representative for each district.  The number of Representatives shall be divided into 
the number of inhabitants of the State exclusive of foreigners not naturalized according to 
the latest Federal Decennial Census or a State Census previously ordered by the Legislature 
to coincide with the Federal Decennial Census, to determine a mean population figure for 
each Representative District.  Each Representative District shall be formed of contiguous 
and compact territory and shall cross political subdivision lines the least number of times 
necessary to establish as nearly as practicable equally populated districts.  Whenever the 
population of a municipality entitles it to more than one district, all whole districts shall be 
drawn within municipal boundaries.  Any population remainder within the municipality 
shall be included in a district with contiguous territory and shall be kept intact.
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 
House of Representatives consists of an odd number of Representatives, 
not less than 151 nor more than 155?"
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 provide that the House 
of Representatives consists of an odd number of Representatives, not less than 151 nor 
more than 155.