2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 21-A: ELECTIONS › Chapter 3: VOTER REGISTRATION › Subchapter 3: REGISTRATION AND ENROLLMENT › Article 1: REGISTRATION › 21-A §122. Registration procedure

§122. Registration procedure
A person may register to vote in person by appearing before the registrar by the registration deadline in section 121‑A, proving that the person meets the qualifications of section 111, subsections 1 to 3, and completing and filing an application provided by the registrar containing the information required by section 152 or 154, if applicable. Township residents may register as provided in section 156.   [PL 2013, c. 131, §6 (AMD).]
1.  Entry into central voter registration system.
The registrar shall enter the name and other information from the voter registration application of the applicant into the central voter registration system as expeditiously as possible after receipt of a voter registration application. The registrar shall register a person by first name, middle name or initial and last name, by first name or initial, middle and last name or by first name and last name.
[PL 2007, c. 455, §6 (AMD).]
2.  Notice of disposition.
The registrar shall notify the applicant whether the application for registration is accepted or rejected by providing the applicant with a written acknowledgement notice, in the form prescribed by the Secretary of State, as expeditiously as possible after the voter's information has been entered into the central voter registration system. If a mailed notice of acceptance is returned as undeliverable within 15 days after it is sent, the registrar must reject the application and provide a new acknowledgement notice to the applicant indicating the rejection. If a mailed notice of acceptance is not returned as undeliverable within 15 days after it is sent, the voter is automatically designated as active in the central voter registration system.
[PL 2005, c. 453, §14 (AMD).]
3.  Notice of new registration.
When an applicant states in the application that the applicant last voted in another state, the registrar shall immediately send a notice of the applicant's new registration to the registrar of that jurisdiction. The notice must contain the following:
A. The voter's name;   [PL 1985, c. 614, §6 (NEW).]
B. The name under which registered, if changed;   [PL 1985, c. 614, §6 (NEW).]
C. Date of birth; and   [PL 1985, c. 614, §6 (NEW).]
D. Former residence and mailing address.   [PL 2005, c. 453, §15 (AMD).]
The Secretary of State may facilitate the delivery of such notices electronically using the central voter registration system.
[PL 2005, c. 453, §15 (AMD).]
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 place, if applicable, on election day.
[PL 2005, c. 453, §16 (AMD).]
5.  Alternative registration schedule for absentee voters.
If the clerk receives a properly completed absentee ballot application that is signed by a person who is not a registered voter in the municipality, a presumption of the person's qualification as a voter is established. The clerk shall send an absentee ballot to the voter at the address indicated, along with a voter registration application under section 152. The completed registration application must be returned to the clerk by the close of the polls on election day in order for the ballot to be counted and may not be sealed with the voted absentee ballot. If the application is received during the closed period and the registrar is not satisfied as to the person's qualification as a voter, the registrar shall follow the requirements of section 121, subsection 1‑A to place the person's name on the incoming voting list and challenge the absentee ballot. An application by telephone under section 753‑A, subsection 4 or an application by electronic means under section 753‑A, subsection 6 does not establish a presumption of qualification under this section and the requestor must submit a properly completed voter registration application before the clerk may issue an absentee ballot.
[PL 2013, c. 131, §7 (AMD).]
6.  Schedule for acceptance of registrations.
Except as provided in paragraph A, the registrar shall accept registrations on any business day or other day that the clerk's office is open. The names and other information from the voter registration applications of any persons registering must be entered into the central voter registration system and must be placed on the incoming voting list.
A. The registrar may accept only the registrations of applicants who appear in person as follows:
(1) In a municipality with a population of 2,500 or fewer, on the last business day that the clerk's office is open before election day during the hours that the clerk's office is open;
(2) In a municipality with a population of more than 2,500, on the last 5 business days that the clerk's office is open before election day during the hours that the clerk's office is open and for 2 hours in the evening between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. on at least one of these days; and
(3) The names of voters registering during these periods must be recorded as provided under subsection 7.   [PL 2005, c. 453, §18 (AMD).]
[PL 2005, c. 453, §18 (AMD).]
7.  Record of names.
The names of voters who register by appearing in person before the registrar during the business days before election day under subsection 6 must be recorded as provided in either paragraph A or B:
A. The registrar shall, after finding an applicant qualified, issue a certificate requiring the voter's name and other required information to be written on the incoming voting list at the voting place on election day. The certificate must be attached to, or included with, the incoming voting list and sealed as provided in section 698. Only one certificate may be recorded for any voter at an election; or   [PL 2015, c. 447, §3 (AMD).]
B. The registrar shall, after finding the applicant qualified, enter the voter's name and other information from the voter registration application into the central voter registration system and add it to the incoming voting list. Before the polls are opened, the registrar shall deliver the incoming voting list to the clerk. The inclusion of a person's name on the incoming voting list will entitle the applicant to vote on election day.   [PL 2015, c. 447, §3 (AMD).]
[PL 2015, c. 447, §3 (AMD).]
8.  Change of schedule.
The hourly schedule established by this section may be changed by the municipal officers according to the needs of the municipality.
[PL 1985, c. 307, §1 (NEW).]
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 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 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 place. A registrar or clerk may require a person monitoring registrations who violates the provisions of this subsection to leave the building.
[PL 2003, c. 395, §1 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW). PL 1985, c. 307, §1 (AMD). PL 1985, c. 614, §6 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 466, §4 (AMD). PL 1993, c. 695, §§6,7 (AMD). RR 1995, c. 1, §8 (COR). PL 1995, c. 459, §14 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 436, §23 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 310, §4 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 395, §1 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 407, §7 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 447, §§6,7 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 584, §3 (AMD). PL 2005, c. 453, §§13-19 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 455, §6 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 515, §3 (AMD). PL 2011, c. 534, §6 (AMD). PL 2013, c. 131, §§6, 7 (AMD). PL 2015, c. 447, §3 (AMD).