Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0852
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: WHITE, FARRIN, MASTRACCIO, RISEMAN, STOVER, ZEIGLER, HICKMAN

Legislative Document
No. 852
H.P. 542
House of Representatives, February 23, 2023
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of 
Maine to Change the Length of Legislators' Terms to 4 Years
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative WHITE of Waterville.
Cosponsored by Senator FARRIN of Somerset and
Representatives: MASTRACCIO of Sanford, RISEMAN of Harrison, STOVER of Boothbay, 
ZEIGLER of Montville, Senator: HICKMAN of Kennebec.
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; absentee voting.  The election of Senators and 
members of the House of Representatives shall be on the Tuesday following the first 
Monday of November biennially forever and the election of, except as provided in this 
section.  Beginning with the general election held in 2024 for Senators and members of the 
House of Representatives, the election of Senators and members of the House of 
Representatives and Governor shall be on the Tuesday following the first Monday of 
November every 4 years.  The Legislature under proper enactment shall authorize and 
provide for voting by citizens of the State absent therefrom in the Armed Forces of the 
United States or of this State and for voting by other citizens absent or physically 
incapacitated for reasons deemed sufficient.
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. First, §2 is amended to read:
Section 2.  Number of Representatives; biennial 4-year terms; division of 
the State into districts for House of Representatives.  The House of Representatives 
shall consist of 151 members, to be elected by the qualified electors, and hold their office 
years from the day next preceding the first Wednesday in December following the general 
election, except that beginning with the general election held in 2024, they hold their office 
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.
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. First, §5 is amended to read:
Section 5.  Election of Representatives; lists of votes delivered forthwith; 
lists of votes examined by Governor; summons of persons who appear to be 
elected; lists shall be laid before the House.  The meetings within this State for the 
choice of Representatives shall be warned in due course of law by qualified officials of the 
several towns and cities 7 days at least before the election, and the election officials of the 
various towns and cities shall preside impartially at such meetings, receive the votes of all 
the qualified electors, sort, count and declare them in open meeting; and a list of the persons 
voted for shall be formed, with the number of votes for each person against that person's 
name.  Cities and towns belonging to any Representative District shall hold their meetings 
at the same time in the respective cities and towns; and such meetings shall be notified, 
held and regulated, the votes received, sorted, counted and declared in the same manner.  
Fair copies of the lists of votes shall be attested by the municipal officers and the clerks of 
the cities and towns and the city and town clerks respectively shall cause the same to be 
delivered into the office of the Secretary of State forthwith.  The Governor shall examine 
the returned copies of such lists and 7 days before the first Wednesday of December 
biennially until the general election held in 2024 and quadrennially thereafter following the 
general election, shall issue a summons to such persons as shall appear to have been elected 
by a plurality of all votes returned, to attend and take their seats.  All such lists shall be laid 
before the House of Representatives on the first Wednesday of December biennially until 
the general election held in 2024 and quadrennially thereafter following the general 
election, and they shall finally determine who are elected.
Constitution, Art. IV, Pt. Second, §5 is amended to read:
Section 5.  Determination of Senators elected; procedure for filling 
vacancies.  The Senate shall, on said first Wednesday of December, biennially until the 
general election held in 2024 and quadrennially thereafter determine who is elected by a 
plurality of votes to be Senator in each district.  All vacancies in the Senate arising from 
death, resignation, removal from the State or like causes, and also vacancies, if any, which 
may occur because of the failure of any district to elect by a plurality of votes the Senator 
to which said district shall be entitled shall be filled by an immediate election in the 
unrepresented district.  The Governor shall issue a proclamation therefor and therein fix 
the time of such election.
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 term of 
office for State Senators and members of the House of Representatives 
from 2 years to 4 years beginning in 2024?"
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 increase the length of 
the terms of State Senators and members of the House of Representatives from 2 years to 
years beginning in 2024.