An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Elections
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1977
Committee: Veterans and Legal Affairs
Sponsors: HICKMAN
Amends: 21-A MRSA §1, 21-A MRSA §22, 21-A MRSA §121, 21-A MRSA §121-A, 21-A MRSA §122, 21-A MRSA §129, 21-A MRSA §144, 21-A MRSA §145, 21-A MRSA §181, 21-A MRSA §196-A, 21-A MRSA §303, 21-A MRSA §306, 21-A MRSA §308, 21-A MRSA §335, 21-A MRSA §336, 21-A MRSA §337, 21-A MRSA §355, 21-A MRSA §356, 21-A MRSA §363, 21-A MRSA §375-A, 21-A MRSA §392, 21-A MRSA §601, 21-A MRSA §605-A, 21-A MRSA §610, 21-A MRSA §621-A, 21-A MRSA §627, 21-A MRSA §629, 21-A MRSA §662, 21-A MRSA §681, 21-A MRSA §682, 21-A MRSA §683, 21-A MRSA §722-A, 21-A MRSA §753-A, 21-A MRSA §753-B, 21-A MRSA §759, 21-A MRSA §760-B, 21-A MRSA §801, 21-A MRSA §803, 21-A MRSA §804, 21-A MRSA §805, 21-A MRSA §812-A, 21-A MRSA §852, 21-A MRSA §854

Legislative Document
No. 1977
S.P. 773
In Senate, May 13, 2025
An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Elections
Submitted by the Secretary of State pursuant to Joint Rule 204.
Reference to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  21-A MRSA §1, sub-§10, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended 
to read:
10.  Closed period.  "Closed period" means that time period when the registrar may 
accept only those voter registration applications presented in person or transmitted pursuant 
to section 232 or 233 by the deadline specified in section 121-A.
Sec. 2.  21-A MRSA §22, sub-§8 is enacted to read:
8.  Digital cast vote record.  The digital cast vote record is confidential, except that, 
in an election determined by ranked-choice voting, the digital cast vote record becomes a 
public record at the time the Secretary of State completes the tabulation of the vote.
Sec. 3.  21-A MRSA §121, sub-§1-A, as amended by PL 2023, c. 291, §1 and 
affected by §4, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
1-A.  Identification and proof.  A person who registers in person shall show proof of 
identity and residency.  If satisfactory proof of identity and residency cannot be provided 
to the registrar or deputy, the person's name is entered into the central voter registration 
system and placed on the incoming voting list and the ballot the person casts is a challenged 
ballot.  If the person shows satisfactory proof of identity and residency prior to voting on 
election day, the person's ballot is not a challenged ballot.
Sec. 4.  21-A MRSA §121-A, as amended by PL 2023, c. 291, §2 and affected by 
§4, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
§121-A.  Deadline for registration
1.  Registration deadline.  The deadlines for receipt of voter registration applications 
are as follows:
A. If submitted by mail or by a 3rd person, the close of business on the 21st day before 
election day; 
B.  If submitted online, 5 p.m. on the 21st day before election day; 
C.  If transmitted by the Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor 
Vehicles pursuant to section 232 or by a source agency other than the Bureau of Motor 
Vehicles pursuant to section 233, midnight on the 7th day before election day; and
D.  If submitted in person, the close of the polls on election day.
2.  Closed period.  The 20-day period before an election is the closed period.  Except 
as otherwise provided in this subsection, the applicable registrar must receive a voter 
registration application before the start of the closed period in order for the applicant's name 
to appear on the incoming voter list for that election.
A.  Notwithstanding the closed period, a person may qualify to vote in an election by 
registering to vote in person at any time before the close of the polls on election day.
B.  Notwithstanding the closed period, a person may qualify to vote in an election by 
registering to vote through automatic voter registration under section 232 or section 
no later than the 7th day before election day.
3.  Notice required.  An applicant who attempts to register to vote within 30 days of 
an election by any method other than in-person registration or automatic voter registration 
under section 232 or section 233 must be advised that the registrar might not receive the 
application before the closed period, but that the applicant may register in person any time 
before the close of the polls on election day.
4.  Deadlines for transferring voter registration applications.  The following 
provisions govern deadlines for transferring voter registration applications.
A.  Outside agencies shall transfer voter registration applications to the Secretary of 
State within 5 days of receipt.
B.  The Secretary of State shall transfer voter registration applications received from 
outside agencies to the appropriate registrar by the following deadlines:
(1)  If the application is received 10 days or fewer before the start of the closed 
period, within 5 days of receipt;
(2)  If the application is received more than 10 days before the start of the closed 
period, within 10 days of receipt; and
(3)  If the application is received after the start of the closed period, within 10 
business days after the election.
C.  The Secretary of State shall transmit voter registration applications submitted online 
to the appropriate registrar by the next business day following receipt.
D.  The Secretary of State shall transmit voter registration applications submitted to the 
Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles pursuant to section 
or by a source agency other than the Bureau of Motor Vehicles pursuant to section 
to the appropriate registrar by the next business day following receipt.
5.  Registrar to send notice of disposition.  The registrar shall send the notice of 
disposition required by section 122 no later than the 18th day before election day to all 
voters whose voter registration applications were submitted online, submitted by mail or 
submitted by a 3rd person as long as the registrar received the voter registration application 
by the 21st day before election day.
Sec. 5.  21-A MRSA §122, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2005, c. 453, §16, is further 
amended to read:
4.  Election day registration.  The registrar shall accept registrations of applicants 
who appear in person on election day.  The registrar shall issue to each of these applicants 
a certificate entitling the applicant to be placed on the incoming voting list at the voting 
place.  Only one certificate may be issued to a person.  An applicant whose address has 
changed since the applicant last voted must vote using the ballot or ballots for the new 
polling voting place, if applicable, on election day.
Sec. 6.  21-A MRSA §122, sub-§9, as amended by PL 2003, c. 395, §1, is further 
amended to read:
9.  Regulation of registration monitors.  Anyone who wishes to monitor the names 
and addresses of persons who are registering at the registrar's office or the clerk's office 
shall inform the registrar or clerk of that intent.  Anyone who wishes to monitor the names 
and addresses of persons who are registering at the polling voting place shall inform the 
registrar or clerk of that intent by submitting a written, signed statement containing the 
proposed monitor's name, address and intent.  The registrar or clerk may designate a place 
where a person monitoring registrations may stand.  The registrar or clerk shall then 
announce the name and address of individuals registering to vote in a loud and clear voice.  
A person monitoring registrations shall direct any questions the person has to the registrar 
or clerk.  These questions must be limited to information pertinent to the qualifications of 
an individual to register.  A person monitoring registrations may not ask questions of 
individuals waiting to register concerning their eligibility to vote.  A polling voting place 
registration monitor may not handle or inspect registration cards, files or other materials 
used by the registrar or clerk except as provided in section 22.  A monitor may not inhibit 
the work of the registrar or clerk.  If the work of a registrar or clerk appears to be inhibited, 
the warden may request a reduction in the number of monitors present in the polling voting 
place.  A registrar or clerk may require a person monitoring registrations who violates the 
provisions of this subsection to leave the building.
Sec. 7.  21-A MRSA §129, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2011, c. 534, §8, is further 
amended to read:
3.  Failure to notify.  If a voter fails to notify the registrar of a change of name or 
change of address before election day, the voter must appear before the registrar on election 
day and follow the procedure outlined in section 661 if the voter wishes to vote, unless the 
registrar has already made the correction in following the procedure prescribed by section 
128.  If the voter wishes to exercise the right to vote, the voter must vote using the ballot 
or ballots for the new polling voting place, if applicable, on election day.
Sec. 8.  21-A MRSA §144, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
5.  Holidays.  If the 15th day before a primary election is a holiday, the registrar shall 
deem any change of enrollment submitted on the next business day to be received on the 
15th day before the election for purposes of this section.
Sec. 9.  21-A MRSA §145, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
5.  Holidays.  If the 15th day before a primary election is a holiday, the registrar shall 
deem any withdrawal of enrollment submitted on the next business day to be received on 
the 15th day before the election for purposes of this section.
Sec. 10.  21-A MRSA §181, sub-§1, ¶B, as amended by PL 2021, c. 398, Pt. OO, 
§3, is further amended to read:
B.  Outside agencies, or their successors, which include the following:
(1)  All state agencies that provide public assistance, including the Department of 
Health and Human Services and the The offices within the department Department 
of Health and Human Services that provide assistance under the Temporary 
Assistance for Needy Families program under Title 22, chapter 1053‑B, the 
Women, Infants and Children Special Supplemental Food Program of the United 
States Child Nutrition Act of 1966, the federal Medicaid program and the statewide 
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program under Title 22, section 3104; 
administer:
(a)  The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program under Title 22, 
chapter 1053‑B;
(b)  The Women, Infants and Children Special Supplemental Food Program of 
the United States Child Nutrition Act of 1966;
(c)  The federal Medicaid program;
(d)  The Children's Health Insurance Program under Title 22, section 3174-T;
(e)  The transitional child care services under a program of transitional support 
services under Title 22, section 3762;
(f)  The transitional transportation benefits under a program of transitional 
support services under Title 22, section 3762;
(g)  The Higher Opportunity for Pathways for Employment Program under 
Title 22, section 3790-A;
(h)  The Bridging Rental Assistance Program under Title 34-B, section 3011;
(i)  A developmental services advocacy program administered by a statewide 
organization for disability rights;
(j)  A mental health advocacy program;
(k)  The children's advocacy centers; and
(l)  The statewide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program under Title 22, 
section 3104;
(2)  The uniformed service recruitment offices;
(3)  The public high schools;
(4)  The offices of municipal clerks and registrars; and
(5)  The offices within the Department of Labor, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services; 
and that administer:
(a)  Vocational rehabilitation services;
(b)  Independent living services;
(c)  Deaf, hard of hearing and late deafened identification cards and vehicle 
placards; and
(d)  Deaf, hard of hearing and late deafened telecommunications equipment 
services.
(6)  All state agencies that provide state-funded programs primarily engaged in 
providing services to persons with disabilities.
Sec. 11.  21-A MRSA §181, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 695, §20, is repealed.
Sec. 12.  21-A MRSA §181, sub-§3 is enacted to read:
3.  Authority to designate additional agencies.  The Secretary of State may 
provisionally designate state agencies and offices not listed in subsection 1 as voter 
registration agencies if the Secretary of State determines that they provide public assistance 
or provide state-funded programs primarily engaged in providing services to persons with 
disabilities.  The Secretary of State shall submit draft legislation amending subsection 1 to 
list the designated agency to the next regular session of the Legislature following 
provisional designation under this subsection.
Sec. 13.  21-A MRSA §196-A, sub-§1, ¶J, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 310, §2, is 
repealed.
Sec. 14.  21-A MRSA §196-A, sub-§1, ¶K is enacted to read:
K.  A person may purchase a voter file from the Department of the Secretary of State 
to evaluate, monitor or seek compliance with laws relating to voting rights, election 
administration and voter registration.
(1) A voter file purchased under this paragraph may contain the same data fields 
available to political parties and campaigns under paragraph B and may include 
data concerning cancelled voters for the period such data is retained in the central 
voter registration system. 
(2) The following information is designated highly sensitive personal information 
and may not be included in a voter file purchased under this paragraph: 
(a) A voter's full date of birth; 
(b) A voter's social security number, tax identification number, driver's license 
number or any portion of these numbers; 
(c) Any records or data concerning a voter who is certified by the Secretary of 
State as a program participant in the Address Confidentiality Program under 
Title 5, section 90‑B;
(d) If a voter has submitted a signed statement to the registrar under section 
22, subsection 3, paragraph B, the voter's residential address and mailing 
address if the mailing address is the same as or discloses the voter's residence 
address; and
(e) Any data relating to a declination to register to vote or to the identity of a 
voter registration agency through which any particular voter is registered.
Sec. 15.  21-A MRSA §196-A, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 310, §4, is 
repealed.
Sec. 16.  21-A MRSA §196-A, sub-§6 is enacted to read:
6.  Civil violations.  The following uses of data from the central voter registration 
system are civil violations for which a fine of not more than $1,000 may be adjudged for a 
first violation, and not more than $5,000 may be adjudged for additional violations: 
A.  Any use of data from the central voter registration system for a commercial purpose; 
B.  Any use of data from the central voter registration system for solicitation, other 
than solicitation relating to a political party or a campaign as defined in section 1052, 
subsection 1; 
C.  Any sale or resale of data from the central voter registration system except as 
authorized in subsection 1, paragraph B and subsection 1, paragraph K; 
D.  Any use of data from the central voter registration system in violation of subsection 
4; and
E.  Any use of data from the central voter registration system purchased under 
subsection 1, paragraph B or subsection 1, paragraph K for purposes not authorized by 
those paragraphs. 
Sec. 17.  21-A MRSA §303, sub-§1, ¶B, as amended by PL 1997, c. 436, §44, is 
further amended to read:
B.  The names, addresses, telephone numbers, if published, e-mail addresses and 
signatures of the voters who file the declaration of intent.
Sec. 18.  21-A MRSA §306, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is repealed and the 
following enacted in its place:
§306.  Enrolled voters
1.  Voters enrolled in parties that fail to qualify.  If the Secretary of State determines 
that a qualifying party has failed to meet the requirements of section 302 or 303, the 
Secretary of State must change the status of voters enrolled in that qualifying party in the 
central voter registration system to unenrolled.
2.  Voters enrolled in qualified parties that are disqualified.  Within 30 days of the 
Secretary of State's determination that a qualified party is disqualified under section 304, 
the disqualified party may file a written notice with the Secretary of State electing to retain 
its enrolled voters.  The written notice must certify that the party intends to seek 
requalification in the next election cycle.
A.  If a notice is not timely filed by the disqualified party, the Secretary of State must 
change the status of voters enrolled in the disqualified party in the central voter 
registration system to unenrolled.
B.   If a notice is timely filed by the disqualified party, the following procedures apply.
(1)  The Secretary of State may not automatically change the status of voters 
enrolled in the disqualified party in the central voter registration system to 
unenrolled except as permitted by subparagraph (5).  Voters enrolled in the 
disqualified party may continue to change or withdraw their enrollment subject to 
the requirements of section 144 and section 145.
(2)  The Secretary of State may remove the party's name from electronic versions 
and future printings of the voter registration application, but voters may continue 
to enroll in the disqualified party by writing the party name into a write-in blank 
on the voter registration application.
(3)  The disqualified party may request requalification by filing with the Secretary 
of State by December 31st of the year of the next general election following 
disqualification a certification that it has at least 5,000 voters enrolled in the party.  
The Secretary of State shall review the certification under the procedures in section 
303, subsection 2, and the disqualified party may appeal an adverse determination 
under section 303-A. If restored to qualified status, the party must meet the 
requirements of section 301 to participate in subsequent primary elections and is 
not considered a newly qualified party for purposes of section 301, subsection 1, 
paragraph E.
(4)  In order to participate in a primary election under section 339, the disqualified 
party must file a valid certification under subparagraph (3) no later than January 
2nd of the year of that primary election.  In order to participate in a presidential 
primary election under section 441, the disqualified party must file a valid 
certification under subparagraph (3) no later than September 15th of the year before 
the presidential primary election.  
(5)  If the disqualified party fails to submit a valid certification under subparagraph 
(3) by December 31st of the year of the next general election following 
disqualification, the Secretary of State must change the status of voters enrolled in 
the disqualified party in the central voter registration system to unenrolled and 
voters may no longer enroll in the disqualified party.  Prior to disenrolling voters 
under this subparagraph, the Secretary of State shall generate from the central voter 
registration system and provide to the statewide chair of the disqualified party an 
electronic file containing the names, mailing addresses and residential addresses 
of all voters who will be disenrolled from the disqualified party.
Sec. 19.  21-A MRSA §308 is enacted to read:
§308.  Voluntary dissolution
A qualified or qualifying party may voluntarily relinquish its qualified or qualifying 
status by filing a written request with the Secretary of State signed by the statewide chair 
or other authorized representative of the party.  The Secretary of State shall change the 
enrollment status of all voters enrolled in the party to unenrolled within 30 days of receipt 
of the request and, if applicable, remove the party's name from electronic versions and 
future printings of the voter registration application.
Sec. 20.  21-A MRSA §335, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended 
to read:
2.  By whom signed.  A primary petition may be signed only by the voters of the 
electoral division which that is to make the nomination and who are either enrolled in the 
party named in the petition or, if the party so elects, unenrolled.  Other signatures are void.  
A party may elect to allow unenrolled voters to sign nominating petitions by filing a form 
with the Secretary of State no later than December 31st in the year before the primary 
election is to be held, except that, if the party files a certification under section 441 that 
there is a contest among candidates for nomination as the presidential candidate, a form 
must be filed no later than simultaneously with that certification.  A party must make a 
single election for all primary elections held in that year.
Sec. 21.  21-A MRSA §335, sub-§7, ¶B, as amended by PL 2005, c. 453, §48, is 
further amended to read:
B.  The registrar, or clerk at the request or upon the absence of the registrar, of each 
municipality concerned shall certify which names on a petition appear in the central 
voter registration system as registered and enrolled voters in that municipality and may 
not certify any names that do not satisfy subsection 3.  A municipality shall make a 
municipal official available to certify candidate petitions on the day of the deadline set 
forth in subsection 8.
Sec. 22.  21-A MRSA §336, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4.  Registrar certification required.  The Secretary of State may not accept a 
candidate consent form unless it includes or is accompanied by the registrar certification 
required by section 334.
Sec. 23.  21-A MRSA §337, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended 
to read:
1.  Review.  When presented with a primary petition, the Secretary of State shall review 
it and, if the petition contains the required minimum number of certified names and is 
properly completed, shall accept and file it.  If a petition contains more valid signatures 
than the maximum set forth in section 335, subsection 5, the Secretary of State may not 
validate any signatures above the maximum.
Sec. 24.  21-A MRSA §337, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2011, c. 342, §9, is further 
amended to read:
2.  Challenges.  The procedure for challenging the validity of a primary petition or of 
names upon a petition is as follows.
A.  Only a registered voter residing in the electoral division of the candidate concerned 
may file a challenge.  The challenge must be in writing and must set forth the reasons 
for the challenge. The challenge must be filed in the office of the Secretary of State 
before 5 p.m. on the 5th business day after the final date for filing petitions under 
section 335, subsection 8.
B.  Within 7 5 business days after the final date for filing challenges and after due 
notice of the hearing to the candidate and to the challenger, the Secretary of State shall 
hold a public hearing on any challenge properly filed.  The challenger has the burden 
of providing sufficient evidence to invalidate the petitions or any names upon the 
petitions.
C.  The Secretary of State shall rule on the validity of any challenge within 5 business 
days after the completion of the hearing described in paragraph B.
D.  A challenger or a candidate may appeal the decision of the Secretary of State by 
commencing an action in the Superior Court.  This action must be conducted in 
accordance with the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 80C, except as modified by 
this section.  This action must be commenced within 5 days of the date of the decision 
of the Secretary of State.  Upon timely application, anyone may intervene in this action 
when the applicant claims an interest relating to the subject matter of the petitions, 
unless the applicant's interest is adequately represented by existing parties.  The court 
shall issue a written decision containing its findings of fact and conclusions of law and 
setting forth the reasons for its decision within 20 days of the date of the decision of 
the Secretary of State.
E.  Any aggrieved party may appeal the decision of the Superior Court Secretary of 
State to the Law Court, on questions of law, by filing a notice of appeal within 3 
business days of that decision in the same manner as an appeal taken from a judgment 
of the Superior Court in a civil action.  The record on appeal must be transmitted to the 
Law Court within 3 days after notice of appeal is filed.  After filing notice of appeal, 
the parties have 4 days to file briefs and appendices with the clerk of courts. As soon 
as the record and briefs have been filed, the court shall immediately consider the case.  
The court shall issue its decision within 14 days of the date of the decision of the 
Superior Court.  The appeal must be conducted in accordance with the following 
procedures.
(1)  Any person who participated in the hearing held under paragraph B, and who 
is adversely affected by the final decision of the Secretary of State, is considered a 
party for purposes of taking an appeal.  The court may allow other parties to the 
hearing before the Secretary of State to participate in the appeal.
(2)  When a law or rule regulating the taking of an appeal from the Superior Court 
in a civil action uses the terms "the court," "the clerk," "the clerk of the courts" or 
a similar term, for purposes of an appeal from the Secretary of State, those terms 
mean "the Secretary of State" or other appropriate term.
(3)  The notice of appeal must be accompanied by a brief statement of the nature 
of the proceeding before the Secretary of State, a copy of the decision, order or 
ruling complained of, a statement of the grounds upon which the decision, order or 
ruling is claimed to be unlawful and a certificate that the attorney for the appellant 
is of the opinion that there is probable grounds for the appeal as to make it a fit 
subject for judicial inquiry and that it is not intended for delay.
(4)  The Law Court has exclusive jurisdiction over appeals under this paragraph.
(5)  Upon receipt of a notice of appeal under this paragraph, the court shall issue a 
scheduling order that allows for final disposition of the appeal no later than 35 days 
after the date of the decision by the Secretary of State.
(6)  An appeal under this paragraph does not automatically stay the ruling on 
appeal.  The Chief Justice or, in the Chief Justice's absence, any other justice may 
enjoin or stay the effect of the ruling upon the terms and conditions as the Chief 
Justice determines proper.
(7)  Upon motion by a party filed within 3 days of the filing of the administrative 
record, the court may order additional evidence it determines necessary for the 
determination of issues to be taken before the Secretary of State upon the terms 
and conditions the court determines proper. A motion to take additional evidence 
must be accompanied by a detailed statement, in the nature of an offer of proof, of 
the evidence intended to be taken.  The Secretary of State may, after hearing the 
evidence, modify or add findings as to facts and amend the original decision or 
order by reason of the additional evidence taken, and the Secretary of State shall 
file with the court that amended decision or order and those modified or new 
findings. If the Secretary of State modifies findings or amends the original decision 
or order, the appealing party or any other party aggrieved by the modified findings 
or amended decision or order may file with the court, within such time as the court 
may allow, a specification of errors claimed to have been made by the Secretary of 
State in the amended decision or order, and the specification of errors must be 
considered by the court in addition to the errors asserted in the original complaint 
on appeal.  Upon granting a motion to take additional evidence, the court shall 
establish deadlines that allow for final disposition of the appeal within 35 days of 
the Secretary of State's original decision.
(8)  The clerk of the Law Court shall certify the result of the appeal to the Secretary 
of State no later than 35 days after the decision of the Secretary of State.
Sec. 25.  21-A MRSA §355, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4.  Registrar certification required.  The Secretary of State may not accept a 
candidate consent form unless it includes or is accompanied by the registrar certification 
required by section 353.
Sec. 26.  21-A MRSA §356, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended 
to read:
1.  Review.  When presented with a nomination petition, the Secretary of State shall 
review it and, if the petition contains the required minimum number of certified names and 
is properly completed, shall accept and file it.  If a petition contains more valid signatures 
than the maximum set forth in section 354, subsection 5, the Secretary of State may not 
validate any signatures above the maximum.
Sec. 27.  21-A MRSA §356, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2011, c. 342, §10, is further 
amended to read:
2.  Challenges.  The procedure for challenging the validity of a nomination petition or 
of names upon a petition is as follows.
A.  Only a registered voter residing in the electoral division of the candidate concerned 
may file a challenge.  The challenge must be in writing and must set forth the reasons 
for the challenge. The challenge must be filed in the office of the Secretary of State by 
p.m. on the 5th business day after the final date for filing petitions under section 354, 
subsection 8‑A.
B.  Within 7 5 business days after the final date for filing challenges and after due 
notice of the hearing to the candidate and to the challenger, the Secretary of State shall 
hold a public hearing on any challenge properly filed.  The challenger has the burden 
of providing evidence to invalidate the petitions or any names upon the petitions.
C.  The Secretary of State shall rule on a challenge within 5 business days after the 
completion of the hearing described in paragraph B.
D.  A challenger or a candidate may appeal the decision of the Secretary of State by 
commencing an action in the Superior Court.  This action must be conducted in 
accordance with the Maine Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 80C, except as modified by 
this section.  This action must be commenced within 5 days of the date of the decision 
of the Secretary of State.  Upon timely application, anyone may intervene in this action 
when the applicant claims an interest relating to the subject matter of the petition, 
unless the applicant's interest is adequately represented by existing parties.  The court 
shall issue its written decision containing its findings of fact and conclusions of law 
and setting forth the reasons for its decision within 20 days of the date of the decision 
of the Secretary of State.
E.  Any aggrieved party may appeal the decision of the Superior Court Secretary of 
State to the Law Court, on questions of law, by filing a notice of appeal within 3 
business days of that decision in the same manner as an appeal taken from a judgment 
of the Superior Court in a civil action.  The record on appeal must be transmitted to the 
Law Court within 3 days after notice of appeal is filed.  After filing notice of appeal, 
the parties have 4 days to file briefs and appendices with the clerk of courts. As soon 
as the record and briefs have been filed, the court shall immediately consider the case. 
The court shall issue its decision within 14 days of the date of the decision of the 
Superior Court.  The appeal must be conducted in accordance with the following 
procedures.
(1)  Any person who participated in the hearing held under paragraph B, and who 
is adversely affected by the final decision of the Secretary of State, is considered a 
party for purposes of taking an appeal.  On motion, the court may allow other 
parties to the hearing before the Secretary of State to participate in the appeal.
(2)  When a law or rule regulating the taking of an appeal from the Superior Court 
in a civil action uses the terms "the court," "the clerk," "the clerk of the courts" or 
a similar term, for purposes of an appeal from the Secretary of State, those terms 
mean "the Secretary of State" or other appropriate term.
(3)  The notice of appeal must be accompanied by a brief statement of the nature 
of the proceeding before the Secretary of State, a copy of the decision, order or 
ruling complained of, a statement of the grounds upon which the decision, order or 
ruling is claimed to be unlawful and a certificate that the attorney for the appellant 
is of the opinion that there is probable grounds for the appeal as to make it a fit 
subject for judicial inquiry and that it is not intended for delay.
(4)  The Law Court has exclusive jurisdiction over appeals under this paragraph.
(5)  Upon receipt of a notice of appeal under this paragraph, the Law Court shall 
issue a scheduling order that allows for final disposition of the appeal no later than 
days after the date of the decision by the Secretary of State.
(6)  An appeal under this paragraph does not automatically stay the ruling on 
appeal.  The Chief Justice or, in the Chief Justice's absence, any other justice may 
enjoin or stay the effect of the ruling upon the terms and conditions as the Chief 
Justice determines proper.
(7)  Upon motion by a party filed within 3 days of the filing of the administrative 
record, the court may order additional evidence it determines necessary for the 
determination of issues to be taken before the Secretary of State upon the terms 
and conditions the court determines proper. A motion to take additional evidence 
must be accompanied by a detailed statement, in the nature of an offer of proof, of 
the evidence intended to be taken.  The Secretary of State may, after hearing the 
evidence, modify or add findings as to facts and amend the original decision or 
order by reason of the additional evidence taken, and the Secretary of State shall 
file with the court that amended decision or order and those modified or new 
findings.  If the Secretary of State modifies findings or amends the original decision 
or order, the appealing party or any other party aggrieved by the modified findings 
or amended decision or order may file with the court, within such time as the court 
may allow, a specification of errors claimed to have been made by the Secretary of 
State in the amended decision or order, and the specification of errors must be 
considered by the court in addition to the errors asserted in the original complaint 
on appeal.  Upon granting a motion to take additional evidence, the court shall 
establish deadlines that allow for final disposition of the appeal within 35 days of 
the Secretary of State's original decision.
(8)  The clerk of the Law Court shall certify the result of the appeal to the Secretary 
of State no later than 35 days after the decision of the Secretary of State.
F.  Only a voter of the county establishing a charter commission may challenge the 
nomination petition for county charter commission member.  The challenge must be in 
writing and must set forth the reasons for the challenge.  The challenge must be filed 
in the office of the Secretary of State before 5 p.m. on the 55th day following the order 
of the county officers under Title 30‑A, section 1321, subsection 1, or the receipt of a 
certificate of sufficiency under Title 30‑A, section 1321, subsection 4.
Sec. 28.  21-A MRSA §363, first ¶, as amended by PL 2019, c. 636, §2, is further 
amended to read:
The meeting of a political committee as required by sections 371, 374‑A, 375-A, 381, 
382, 392 and 393 is governed by the following provisions.
Sec. 29.  21-A MRSA §375-A is enacted to read:
§375-A.  Presidential and vice-presidential electors nominated by qualified parties
If a party's candidate for presidential elector certified to the Secretary of State under 
section 322, subsection 2 dies, withdraws or becomes disqualified, the vacancy may be 
filled by a new presidential elector if the following conditions are met:  
1.  Written resignation.  A written resignation is filed with the Secretary of State by 
the previous presidential elector, if the mental and physical condition of the elector allows; 
and
2.  Compliance with requirements.  The state committee and replacement candidate 
comply with the requirements of section 363 prior to election day.
This section does not apply to a vacancy as described in section 804.
Sec. 30.  21-A MRSA §392, sub-§2 is enacted to read:
2.  Extraordinary circumstances.  If the Speaker of the United States House of 
Representatives announces under 2 United States Code, Section 8 that vacancies in the 
representation from the States in the House exceed 100, the Governor's proclamation under 
this section may not provide for a primary election but must instead provide for the 
nomination of candidates by political committee under sections 363 and 365, by petition 
under subchapter 2 and by declared write-in under section 722.  The proclamation must 
establish deadlines as may be necessary to hold the special election within the time required 
by 2 United States Code, Section 8.
Sec. 31.  21-A MRSA §601, sub-§2, ¶B-1, as amended by PL 2017, c. 402, Pt. C, 
§40 and affected by PL 2019, c. 417, Pt. B, §14, is further amended to read:
B-1.  The candidate's name listed on the ballot must be the one approved by the Probate 
Court, pursuant to Title 18‑C, section 1‑701, or, in the absence of an applicable court 
order, the name consistently used by the candidate during the past 2 years in filings 
with governmental agencies and in the transaction of public business, including without 
limitation transactions relating to voter registration; motor vehicle registrations; driver 
licenses; a passport; professional licenses; local, state or federal permits of any kind; 
public benefit programs; and veterans' benefits and social security.  Any request by a 
candidate to list that candidate's name on the ballot in a manner that differs from the 
name that appears on the candidate's consent form must be received by the Secretary 
of State no later than 70 days prior to the election.  If requested by the Secretary of 
State when there is a question concerning which name should be listed on the ballot, it 
is the obligation of the candidate to provide documentation to demonstrate consistent 
use of a particular name.
Sec. 32.  21-A MRSA §605-A, sub-§2, ¶F is enacted to read:
F.  The Secretary of State may prepare other neutral instructional materials and posters 
the Secretary of State determines necessary to assist voters.
Sec. 33.  21-A MRSA §610, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 635, Pt. ZZ, §1, is 
repealed.
Sec. 34.  21-A MRSA §610, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 635, Pt. ZZ, §1, is 
repealed.
Sec. 35.  21-A MRSA §610, sub-§3, ¶A, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 635, Pt. ZZ, 
§1, is repealed.
Sec. 36.  21-A MRSA §621-A, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2003, c. 584, §7, is 
further amended to read:
1.  Notice posted.  The clerk shall post or have posted a notice of election, attested by 
the clerk, in a conspicuous public place in each voting district in the municipality at least 7 
days immediately before election day and at each voting place on election day.
Sec. 37.  21-A MRSA §627, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2007, c. 455, §24, is 
repealed and the following enacted in its place:
4.  Minimum size of voting place; complaint to Secretary of State.  The following 
provisions govern the minimum size of voting places.
A.  A municipality shall provide a voting place large enough to allow at least one 
worker from each political party to remain outside the guardrail enclosure as a 
pollwatcher as provided in section 683, subsection 1. 
B.  If the chair of any party's state committee submits a written complaint to the 
Secretary of State at least 90 days before an election, the Secretary of State shall 
authorize an inspection of the voting place considered to be too small to allow access 
for party workers.  If the Secretary of State finds a voting place to be too small to allow 
access for party workers, the Secretary of State shall instruct the municipal officers to 
change the location of the voting place to one of a suitable size. 
Sec. 38.  21-A MRSA §629, sub-§1, ¶A-1, as amended by PL 2007, c. 455, §25, 
is further amended to read:
A-1.  In every election, the municipal officers shall provide at least one voting booth 
in each voting place that is accessible for persons with disabilities.  The accessible 
voting booth may be used to meet the minimum requirements under paragraph A, 
except that it may not be the only voting booth used at the polling voting place.
Sec. 39.  21-A MRSA §629, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2007, c. 455, §26, is further 
amended to read:
4.  Booth for the visually impaired.  The clerk shall equip at least one of the voting 
booths at the voting place with an enlarged instruction poster, a magnifying device and an 
adjustable lamp for improved lighting.  The clerk may also equip the voting booth with an 
enlarged sample ballot at the clerk's own discretion. The voting station provided by the 
State along with the accessible voting device may be used to meet the requirements of this 
subsection. The voting station may not be used at the polling voting place for purposes 
other than voting.
Sec. 40.  21-A MRSA §662, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1995, c. 459, §57, is 
repealed.
Sec. 41.  21-A MRSA §681, as amended by PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §9, is further 
amended by amending the section headnote to read:
§681.  Positions at polling voting place
Sec. 42.  21-A MRSA §681, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §9, is 
further amended to read:
4.  Outside the guardrail enclosure.  If sufficient space exists, party workers and 
others, in addition to the pollwatchers allowed pursuant to section 627, may remain in the 
voting place outside the guardrail enclosure as long as they do not attempt to influence 
voters or interfere with their free passage.  If a person attempts to influence voters or 
interfere with their free passage, the warden shall have the person removed from the voting 
place.  A person video recording or engaging in still photography in the voting place must 
remain outside the guardrail and may not conduct video recording or still photography 
closer than 15 feet from a voter being recorded or photographed, including when a voter is 
where a person is collecting voters' signatures, except that a person may take a still 
photograph that depicts only the person taking the photograph.  A person who video records 
or photographs a voter in violation of this subsection may be removed from the voting place 
by the municipal clerk at the recommendation of the warden as provided in section 662, 
subsection 2.
Sec. 43.  21-A MRSA §682, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2019, c. 371, §22, is further 
amended to read:
3.  Advertising prohibited.  A person may not display advertising material; operate 
an advertising medium, including a sound amplification device; or display or distribute 
campaign literature, posters, palm cards, buttons, badges or, stickers or apparel containing 
a candidate's name or otherwise intending to influence the opinion of any voter regarding 
a candidate for an office or question that is on the ballot for the election that day on any 
public property located within 250 feet of the entrance to either the voting place or the 
building in which the registrar's office is located.  The term "sound amplification device" 
includes, but is not limited to, sound trucks, loudspeakers and blowhorns.
A.  This subsection does not apply to advertising material on automobiles traveling to 
and from the voting place for the purposes of voting.  It does not prohibit a person who 
is at the polls solely for the purpose of voting from wearing a campaign button when 
the longest dimension of the button does not exceed 3 inches.
B.  Nonpolitical charitable activities and other nonpolitical advertising may be allowed 
at the discretion of the clerk if arrangements are made prior to election day.  If 
arrangements are not made in advance of the election day, the warden may, at the 
warden's discretion, either allow or prohibit nonpolitical charitable activities and other 
nonpolitical advertising as provided in section 683, subsection 3.
Sec. 44.  21-A MRSA §683 is enacted to read:
§683.  Regulated activities at voting place
Certain activities at the voting place on election day are regulated as follows. 
1.  Pollwatching.  The warden shall allow at least one worker from each political party 
to remain outside the guardrail enclosure as a pollwatcher.  If the municipality uses an 
incoming voting list for a voting place that is divided into separate segments by voting 
district or by the alphabetic listing of voters' names, the warden must allow at least one 
worker from each political party to remain outside the guardrail enclosure as a pollwatcher 
at each separate segment of the voting list.
2.  Signature gathering.  The warden may select and designate a specific location at 
the voting place, accessible and observable by the voters, where the collection of signatures 
may take place.  Persons collecting signatures at the polls may make arrangements with the 
clerk prior to election day and with the warden on election day.  The warden may limit the 
number of persons collecting signatures to one for each specific question, candidate or 
issue.  Persons collecting signatures may not solicit a voter's signature until the voter has 
completed voting.  The warden may limit or disallow signature gathering as may be 
necessary to prevent violations of section 682.  The warden may direct the removal, under 
section 662, subsection 2, paragraph A, of any person collecting signatures who does not 
comply with the requirements of this subsection.
3.  Charitable activities.  Nonpolitical charitable activities and other nonpolitical 
advertising may be allowed at the discretion of the clerk if arrangements are made prior to 
election day.  If arrangements are not made in advance of election day, the warden may, at 
the warden's discretion, either allow or prohibit nonpolitical charitable activities and other 
nonpolitical advertising.
4.  Party workers and observers.  The warden may allow the presence outside the 
guardrail enclosure of party workers in addition to those authorized by subsection 1 and 
other observers if there is sufficient space at the voting place.  If the space at the voting 
place is so limited that the presence of the additional party workers and other observers 
would interfere with the election process, the warden shall prohibit their presence.
5.  Photography and video recording.  A person video recording or engaging in still 
photography in the voting place or in the location where voter registration is occurring must 
remain outside the guardrail enclosure and may not conduct video recording or still 
photography closer than 15 feet from a voter being video recorded or photographed, 
including when a voter is where a person is collecting voters' signatures, except that a 
person may take a still photograph that depicts only the person taking the photograph.  A 
person who video records or photographs a voter in violation of this subsection may be 
removed from the voting place by the municipal clerk at the recommendation of the warden 
as provided in section 662, subsection 2.  
6.  Registration and enrollment drives.  Except for the registrar, clerk or other 
municipal official authorized to accept and process voter registration applications, a person 
may not distribute or collect voter registration applications inside the voting place or on 
public property within 250 feet of the entrance to the voting place.
7.  Other prohibited activities.  If a person attempts to influence voters or interfere 
with their free passage, the warden shall have the person removed from the voting place.
Sec. 45.  21-A MRSA §722-A, as amended by PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §13, is 
repealed and the following enacted in its place:
§722-A.  Determination of declared write-in candidate
1.  Declared write-in candidates.  To be considered a declared write-in candidate, a 
person must file a declaration of write-in candidacy with the Secretary of State, on a form 
approved by the Secretary of State, on or before 5 p.m. on the 70th day prior to the election. 
The candidate must meet all the other qualifications for that office.
2.  Additional requirement for presidential candidates.  To be considered a declared 
write-in candidate for President, a person must also file with the Secretary of State on or 
before the deadline specified in subsection 1 a consent form under section 355 signed by 
the candidate for presidential elector who may receive votes for the declaring presidential 
candidate under section 801, subsection 1.  The designated presidential elector candidates 
must meet the requirements of section 352.
Sec. 46.  21-A MRSA §753-A, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2003, c. 407, §23, is 
further amended to read:
1.  Applications available.  On request, the clerk shall furnish a reasonable number of 
absentee ballot applications to any person, except that an.  An application may not be 
furnished more than 2 months before a primary election for which the application will be 
used or more than 3 months before the any other election for which the application will be 
used.  This subsection does not apply to a uniformed service voter or an overseas voter who 
requests an absentee ballot under this subchapter.
Sec. 47.  21-A MRSA §753-B, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2023, c. 176, §1, is 
further amended to read:
5.  Alternate method of absentee voting by residents of certain licensed facilities.    
Residents of certain nursing homes, residential care facilities and, assisted living facilities, 
mental health residential facilities, residential facilities for individuals with intellectual 
disabilities and state mental health institutes may cast absentee ballots under the provisions 
of this subsection. This subsection applies to a licensed nursing home subject to the 
provisions of Title 22, chapter 405; a licensed level IV residential care facility with more 
than 6 beds subject to the provisions of Title 22, chapter 1664; and a licensed assisted living 
facility with more than 6 beds subject to the provisions of Title 22, chapter 1664; a mental 
health residential facility with more than 6 beds licensed under Title 34-B, section 1203-A; 
a residential facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities with more than 6 beds 
licensed under Title 34-B, section 1203-A; and a state mental health institute specified in 
Title 22-A, section 208. As used in this subsection, "level IV residential care facility" 
means a residential care facility as defined by Title 22, section 7852, subsection 14 that has 
a licensed capacity of more than 6 residents.
A.  The municipal clerk shall designate one time during the 30-day period prior to an 
election during which the municipal clerk shall be present in each facility to which this 
subsection applies in the municipality for the purpose of conducting absentee voting 
by residents of these facilities. The clerk shall designate which areas in these facilities 
constitute the voting place, the voting booth and the guardrail enclosure. The clerk shall 
post a notice in the municipal office that absentee voting will be conducted as 
prescribed in this subsection. The clerk shall provide a notice to each facility of the 
date and time when absentee voting will be conducted. The notice must state that the 
facility is required to notify the contact person or persons, if any, for each resident that 
absentee voting will be conducted. Each facility shall provide notice, which may be in 
the form of an e-mail or an electronic newsletter, to the contact person or persons, if 
any, for each resident of the date and time when absentee voting will be conducted at 
the facility. Sections 681 and 682 apply to voting in these facilities within the areas 
designated by the clerk.
B.  To protect public health, the Secretary of State may designate procedures for 
conducting absentee voting for the residents of a facility to which this subsection 
applies that differ from the procedures described in paragraph A if:
(1)  The Department of Health and Human Services declares a health emergency 
under Title 22, section 802, subsection 2;
(2)  The Governor declares an extreme public health emergency under Title 22, 
section 802, subsection 2‑A;
(3)  The Department of Health and Human Services determines that a public health 
threat, as defined in Title 22, section 801, subsection 10, threatens the health, 
welfare or safety of the municipal clerk or the residents of a facility described in 
this subsection; or
(4)  A facility described in this subsection prohibits the municipal clerk from 
entering the facility.
Procedures designated under this paragraph remain in effect for the duration of the 
health emergency, extreme public health emergency or public health threat or for as 
long as the municipal clerk remains prohibited from entering the facility, as the case 
may be.
Sec. 48.  21-A MRSA §759, sub-§8, as amended by PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §29, is 
further amended by enacting after the first blocked paragraph a new blocked paragraph to 
read:
If there are multiple requests for inspection under this subsection, the warden may 
reasonably limit the time and manner of inspection by each member of the public and may 
give priority to requests for inspection by authorized representatives of candidates and 
qualified parties.
Sec. 49.  21-A MRSA §760-B, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §32, 
is further amended to read:
3.  Inspection of absentee envelopes before processing.  A member of the public may 
make a written request of the clerk to inspect absentee ballot applications and envelopes 
before they are processed if the request is made by 4:00 p.m. on the day prior to each day 
that the clerk will process absentee ballots as specified on the notice of early processing 
under subsection 2.  The clerk shall make the absentee ballot applications and envelopes 
received by that time available for public inspection for one hour before the starting time 
specified in the notice of early processing for processing the absentee ballots.  If there are 
multiple requests for inspection, the clerk may reasonably limit the time and manner of 
inspection by each member of the public and may give priority to requests for inspection 
by authorized representatives of candidates and qualified parties.  The clerk may 
immediately proceed to process the ballots after the one-hour inspection time has elapsed. 
The Secretary of State may adopt rules necessary for the inspection of absentee ballot 
applications and envelopes before they are processed. Rules adopted pursuant to this 
subsection are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2‑A.
Sec. 50.  21-A MRSA §801, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2001, c. 516, §17, is further 
amended to read:
1.  Vote for presidential candidate construed.  A vote for the candidate for President 
is a vote for the presidential electors nominated by the candidate's political party or by 
petition or designated by a write-in candidate under section 722-A, subsection 2.
Sec. 51.  21-A MRSA §803, as repealed and replaced by PL 2023, c. 628, §6, is 
amended to read:
§803.  Duties of Governor
1.  Duties.  Except when the National Popular Vote for President Act governs the 
appointment of presidential electors, as soon as possible after the presidential electors are 
chosen and not later than the date that is 6 days before the time fixed for the meeting of the 
electors under section 804, the Governor shall send a certificate of the determination 
ascertainment of the appointment of electors to the Archivist of the United States under 
state seal. The certificate must state the names of the electors and the number of votes each 
candidate for President received statewide and for each congressional district in the final 
round of tabulation under section 723‑A. The Governor shall deliver 6 duplicate-original 
certificates under state seal to the electors before the day established by federal law for the 
meeting of electors.
2.  Duties when National Popular Vote for President Act governs.  Notwithstanding 
subsection 1, when the National Popular Vote for President Act governs the appointment 
of presidential electors, the Governor has the following duties.
A.  As soon as possible after the canvass of the presidential count under section 723‑A, 
subsection 7 is determined and not later than the date that is 6 days before the time 
fixed for the meeting of the electors under section 804, the Governor shall send a 
certificate of determination ascertainment of appointment of electors containing the 
names of the electors and the statewide number of votes for each presidential slate that 
received votes in the final round to the Archivist of the United States under state seal.  
This final round vote is deemed to be the determination of the vote in the State for the 
purposes of section 1304.   
As used in this paragraph, "final round" means the round that ends with the result 
described in section 723‑A, subsection 7, paragraph C, subparagraph (1).
B.  No later than the day before the day established by federal law for the meeting of 
electors, the Governor shall deliver 6 duplicate-original certificates under state seal to 
the electors appointed as provided in the National Popular Vote for President Act.
3.  Security features.  All certificates of ascertainment of appointment of presidential 
electors issued under this section must bear the state seal and one additional security 
feature, as selected by the Secretary of State.
Sec. 52.  21-A MRSA §804, as amended by PL 1993, c. 447, §18, is further amended 
to read:
§804.  Meeting in convention
The presidential electors shall convene in the House Chamber in Augusta at 2 p.m. on 
the first Monday Tuesday after the 2nd Wednesday of December following their election. 
If any electors are not present, the electors present shall fill the vacancy by majority vote.
Sec. 53.  21-A MRSA §805, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended 
to read:
3.  Certificate prepared and sent.  The presidential electors shall make and subscribe 
to 6 certificates containing the number of votes cast separately for President and Vice 
President. They shall attach one of the lists of electors furnished them by the Governor to 
each certificate one of the certificates of ascertainment of appointment of electors delivered 
to them by the Governor under section 803. They shall seal each certificate of votes and 
attached list certificate of ascertainment of electors in an envelope stating and certify on 
the envelope that a certificate of the votes of this State for President and Vice President is 
contained inside.
Sec. 54.  21-A MRSA §812-A, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2007, c. 455, §52, is 
further amended to read:
1.  Accessible voting system at each polling voting place.  The Secretary of State, in 
compliance with the voting accessibility requirements of the federal Help America Vote 
Act of 2002, shall provide one direct recording electronic voting machine, or other 
accessible voting system equipped for individuals with disabilities, for use at each polling 
voting place used in the conduct of state elections.  Such machines must produce permanent 
paper records that provide a manual audit capacity for the machines and must also provide 
voters with audio functions that enable the voters to verify their ballots aurally before the 
votes are cast, and all such machines must meet the requirements of section 812, subsection 
unless the Secretary of State is unable to procure machines that the Secretary of State 
determines are adequate to meet the requirements of this section and section 812 in time to 
comply with the Help America Vote Act of 2002.
Additional accessible voting machines may be used in the conduct of state elections, but 
those machines must meet the requirements set forth in section 812.
Sec. 55.  21-A MRSA §852, as amended by PL 2001, c. 516, §18, is further amended 
by amending the section headnote to read:
§852.  Procedure at the polling voting place
Sec. 56.  21-A MRSA §852, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1997, c. 436, §118, is 
further amended to read:
1.  Preparation for voting.  Before the polls are opened, the election officials shall 
arrive at the polling voting place and place the voting devices in position for voting. The 
officials shall ensure that the devices are in proper working order and that the correct ballots 
were delivered. They shall open and check the ballots, supplies, records and forms and post 
the sample ballots and instructions to voters.
Sec. 57.  21-A MRSA §852, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1995, c. 459, §104, is 
further amended to read:
3.  Depositing ballots in electronic voting device.  After the voter has marked the 
ballot, the voter may place the ballot inside the secrecy envelope provided to maintain the 
voter's confidentiality and deposit the ballot in the electronic tabulating device.  A voter 
may request the assistance of an election official if the voter has difficulty placing the ballot 
into the electronic tabulating device.
Sec. 58.  21-A MRSA §852, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2001, c. 516, §18, is 
repealed and the following enacted in its place:
5.  Closing of polls.  As soon as the polls have closed and the last qualified voter has 
voted, the warden shall proceed to supervise the counting of the ballots under the 
observation of the public.  The following procedures must be followed. 
A.  The warden shall run the official tally tape from each electronic tabulating device 
and shall record the total votes from the tape on the tally sheet provided by the 
Secretary of State.  The official tally tape must be signed by the warden and one 
election clerk from each of the major parties and must be packed in a tamper-proof 
ballot box with the other election materials pursuant to section 698, subsection 2‑A.  
The warden shall run an additional copy of the tally tape to provide to the clerk with 
the tally sheets and the return of votes cast and may run additional copies of the tally 
tape to post for public review. 
B.  All unused ballots must be packaged and sealed pursuant to section 698, subsection 
2‑B for return to the municipal clerk. 
C.  The ballot box for the electronic voting device must be opened at the voting place 
and regular counted ballots placed in the tamper-proof ballot boxes.
D.  All unread ballots requiring hand counting or ballots containing write-in votes that 
must be recorded on a tally sheet are counted by the election clerks and the tally sheets 
must be completed pursuant to section 695.  If it appears that any ballot is damaged so 
that it cannot be properly counted by the electronic tabulating device, the ballot must 
be counted manually. 
E.  The election officials shall complete and sign the other election forms as provided 
in this Title and shall return the ballots and other materials to the clerk packed pursuant 
to section 698, subsections 2‑A and 2‑B and the incoming voting list packed pursuant 
to section 698, subsection 3. 
Sec. 59.  21-A MRSA §854, as amended by PL 2011, c. 342, §30, is further amended 
to read:
§854.  Test of electronic tabulating equipment
The clerk shall have the electronic tabulating equipment tested prior to the polls 
opening to ascertain that it accurately counts the votes cast for all offices and on all 
measures.  The test must be conducted by processing a preaudited group of ballots marked 
to record a predetermined number of valid votes for each candidate and on each measure.  
In the presence of one or more witnesses, the clerk shall clearly mark each ballot used for 
testing with the word "TEST" across the front side of the ballot in black or blue red indelible 
ink.  The test must include one or more ballots that have votes for each office in excess of 
the number allowed by law in order to test the ability of the electronic tabulating equipment 
to reject those votes.  In this test, valid votes must be assigned to each candidate for an 
office and for and against each measure. If any error is detected, the cause for the error 
must be ascertained and corrected and an errorless count must be made and certified by the 
clerk before the polls open on election day.  The test ballots, the hand tally and the tapes 
generated as a result of the tests must be packed and sealed in a container labeled "Test 
Ballots."  The container must remain sealed for at least 2 months after the election, unless 
needed for recount purposes.  The tests provided for in this section must be open to the 
public.
Sec. 60.  Retroactivity. The Secretary of State may apply that section of this Act 
that enacts the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 21-A, section 308 to valid requests received 
by the Secretary of State after January 1, 2024.
SUMMARY
This bill makes the following changes to the election laws.
1. It replaces uses of "polling place" in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 21-A with the 
defined term "voting place."
2. It amends the definition of "closed period" to make it consistent with the statutory 
provision allowing a voter to register to vote in an election through automatic voter 
registration within a portion of the closed period.
3. It provides that the digital cast vote record is confidential, except that, in an election 
determined by ranked-choice voting, the digital cast vote record becomes a public record 
at the time the Secretary of State completes the tabulation of the vote.
4. It changes the deadline for submitting an online voter registration application from 
midnight on the 21st day before election day to 5 p.m. on the 21st day before election day.
5. It makes nonsubstantive revisions to Title 21-A, sections 121 and 121-A, relating to 
voter registration procedures, to improve clarity and readability.  It also adjusts the 
deadlines for the Secretary of State to transfer voter registration applications received from 
outside agencies, imposing differing deadlines depending on how close to election day the 
application is received.
6. It requires registrars to treat changes and withdrawals of enrollment as filed on the 
15th day before the election if the 15th day before the election is a holiday and the change 
or withdrawal of enrollment form is filed on the next business day after the holiday.  
7. It designates new agencies as outside voter registration agencies, clarifies which 
programs within those agencies must provide voter registration services and authorizes the 
Secretary of State to provisionally designate additional agencies as voter registration 
agencies, subject to the requirement that the Secretary of State submit draft legislation to 
the Legislature adding the provisionally designated agency to the list of designated 
agencies.  
8. It amends the provision governing use of central voter registration data by clarifying 
the permitted uses of voter data for purposes of evaluating, monitoring or seeking 
compliance with certain laws, designating certain types of data as highly sensitive, 
removing certain prohibitions on transfer or publication of central voter registration data 
and specifying new civil violations for certain misuses of central voter registration data. 
9. It enacts provisions governing treatment of qualifying and qualified political parties 
that fail to attain or lose qualified status.  The provisions allow for immediate disenrollment 
of voters who enrolled in an unsuccessful qualifying party while allowing established 
parties that are disqualified to retain their enrolled voters by filing a notice for up to one 
full election cycle while they seek to enroll additional voters to reach the enrollment 
threshold necessary for qualified status.
10. It creates a new process allowing a qualified party to voluntarily dissolve by filing 
a notice with the Secretary of State.  It gives this provision retroactive effect to January 1, 
2024, allowing the Secretary of State to act on notices of dissolution received after that 
date.  
11. It permits parties to elect to allow unenrolled voters to sign their candidates' primary 
nomination petitions by filing a notice with the Secretary of State.
12. It requires municipalities to make a municipal officer available to certify names on 
candidate petitions on the day that primary petitions are due to the Secretary of State.
13. It clarifies that the Secretary of State may not accept a candidate consent form 
unless it contains the required certification by the registrar of the candidate's enrollment.
14. It clarifies that the Secretary of State must accept party and nonparty candidate 
petitions if they contain more than the maximum permitted number of valid signatures, but 
that the Secretary of State may not validate those signatures above the maximum.
15. It provides for direct appeals to the Law Court from a decision by the Secretary of 
State to validate or invalidate a party or nonparty candidate petition in response to a 
challenge.  
16. It enacts a new provision allowing for substitution of party-nominated presidential 
electors if a nominated elector dies, withdraws or becomes disqualified before the election.
17. It creates an exception to the requirement of holding a primary election as part of 
the process to fill a vacancy in the office of representative to Congress if the United States 
Speaker of the House of Representatives invokes a federal law requiring expedited election 
procedures if there are more than 100 vacancies in the United States House of 
Representatives.  
18. It requires a candidate wishing for the candidate's name to appear differently on the 
ballot than it does on their candidate consent form to notify the Secretary of State no later 
than 70 days prior to the election.
19. It allows the Secretary of State to prepare neutral instruction materials and posters 
for posting at the voting place to the extent the Secretary of State determines them to be 
necessary to assist voters.
20. It repeals requirements that the Secretary of State produce and disseminate a guide 
to election law and conduct a training program for new municipal clerks.
21. It repeals the requirement that the Secretary of State implement a system for 
collecting and logging concerns from members of the public regarding the conduct of 
elections.
22. It requires a municipal clerk to post or have posted a notice of election, attested by 
the clerk, in a conspicuous public place in a municipality at least 21 days immediately 
before election day and at each voting place in the municipality on election day.
23. It changes the deadlines from 60 days before the election to 90 days before the 
election for a municipality to request approval of a new voting place and for a party to file 
a complaint concerning the size of an existing voting place.
24. It clarifies that the restrictions on certain advertising at the voting place and on 
public property within 250 feet of the entrance of the voting place on election day include 
apparel.
25. It clarifies that wardens may limit or disallow signature gathering at the voting 
place as may be necessary to prevent violations of the ban on certain political activities at 
the polls.
26. It prohibits any person other than an authorized municipal official to distribute or 
collect voter registration applications inside the voting place or on public property within 
feet of the entrance of the voting place on election day.
27. It consolidates into one new section several existing provisions regulating activities 
at the voting place on election day, including pollwatching, signature gathering, charitable 
activities and election observing.
28. It clarifies that a declared write-in candidate for President must file consent forms 
for each of the presidential electors with the Secretary of State no later than 5 p.m. on the 
70th day before the election.
29. It changes the deadline by which municipal clerks must make absentee ballot 
applications available for primary elections from 3 months before the election to 2 months 
before the election.
30. It amends the provision identifying the facilities subject to in-facility absentee 
voting to include mental health residential facilities, residential facilities for individuals 
with intellectual disabilities and state mental health institutes.
31. It allows municipalities that receive multiple requests for public inspection of 
absentee ballots before processing, either on election day or in the 7 days before election 
day, to reasonably limit the time and manner of public inspection and give priority to 
authorized representatives of parties and candidates.  
32. It clarifies that a vote for a write-in candidate for President is attributable to that 
candidate's designated presidential electors.  
33. It makes various changes to the provisions governing the electoral college to 
conform to the federal Electoral Count Reform Act.  It clarifies that the Governor must 
issue the certificate of ascertainment of appointment of electors no later than 6 days before 
the meeting of electors.  It also provides, in accordance with the Electoral Count Reform 
Act, that the meeting of electors must happen on the Tuesday after the 2nd Wednesday in 
December following their election.  It specifies that the certificate of ascertainment of 
appointment of electors must contain a security feature selected by the Secretary of State 
in addition to the state seal.  
34. It eliminates language governing the use of electronic tabulators providing for 
secrecy envelopes for ballots.
35. It changes the format and updates certain language of the provision governing 
closing of voting places that use electronic tabulators.  
36. It provides that test ballots used to test electronic tabulating equipment must be 
marked in red ink rather than blue or black ink.