2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 20-A: EDUCATION › Part 2: SCHOOL ORGANIZATION › Chapter 103-A: REGIONAL SCHOOL UNITS › Subchapter 5: REFERENDUM › 20-A §1503. Referendum procedures

§1503. Referendum procedures
1.  Ballots.
The regional school unit board shall prepare and furnish the required number of ballots for carrying out the referendum as posted, including absentee ballots. The regional school unit board shall prepare and furnish all other materials necessary to fulfill the requirements for voting procedures.
[PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).]
2.  Voting.
Voting must be held and conducted in accordance with this subsection.
A. The voting at referenda held in towns must be held and conducted in accordance with Title 30‑A, sections 2524 and 2528 to 2532, even though the town has not accepted the provisions of Title 30‑A, sections 2524 and 2525. The facsimile signature of the clerk under Title 30‑A, section 2528, subsection 6, paragraph F must be that of the chair of the regional school unit board. If a regional school unit referendum is called to be held simultaneously with any statewide election, the voting in towns must be held and conducted in accordance with Title 21‑A, except that the duties of the Secretary of State must be performed by the regional school unit board and, if the statewide election is a primary election, any registered voter may vote in the referendum. The absentee voting procedure of Title 21‑A must be used, except that the duties of the Secretary of State must be performed by the regional school unit board.   [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).]
B. The voting at referenda in cities must be held and conducted in accordance with Title 21‑A, including the absentee voting procedure, except that the duties of the Secretary of State must be performed by the regional school unit board and, if the statewide election is a primary election, any registered voter may vote in the referendum.   [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).]
[PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).]
3.  Return and counting.
The return and counting of votes must be in accordance with this subsection.
A. The municipal clerk shall, within 24 hours of the determination of the results of the vote in the municipality, certify and send to the regional school unit board the total number of votes cast in the affirmative and in the negative on each article.   [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).]
B. As soon as all of the results from all of the municipalities have been returned to the regional school unit board, the regional school unit board shall meet and compute the total number of votes cast in all of the municipalities within the regional school unit in the affirmative and in the negative on each article.   [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).]
C. If the regional school unit board determines that there were more votes cast in the affirmative than in the negative on a given article, it shall declare that the article has passed.   [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).]
D. If the regional school unit board determines that the total number of votes cast on an article in the affirmative is equal to or less than those cast in the negative, it shall declare that the article has not passed.   [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).]
E. The regional school unit board shall enter its declaration and computations in its records and send certified copies to the clerk of each municipality within the regional school unit.   [PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).]
[PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2007, c. 240, Pt. XXXX, §13 (NEW).