2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 22: HEALTH AND WELFARE › Subtitle 2: HEALTH › Part 5: FOODS AND DRUGS › Chapter 601: WATER FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION › Subchapter 5: FLUORIDATION › 22 §2656. Elections in multiple community water districts

§2656. Elections in multiple community water districts
1.  Multiple community water system district-wide elections.
In the case of public systems serving more than one municipality, in whole or in part, elections shall be held simultaneously in all municipalities served by the water system at the first general election following the certification of a request for an election on the issue of whether or not to fluoridate the water supply. Those eligible to vote shall be all registered voters within affected single-service municipalities and all registered voters within the affected public water system zone of multiservice municipalities. The following provisions apply to all multiple community water system district-wide elections.
A. Each municipality shall be responsible for posting a warrant according to the following requirements.
(1) It shall specify the voting place and the time of opening and closing of polls.
(2) It shall specify that the purpose of the election is to determine the following question: "Shall fluoride be added to the public water supply for the intended purpose of reducing tooth decay?"
(3) It shall specify that a public hearing will be held by the municipal officers of each municipality at least 10 days before the election date.
(4) It must be signed by a majority of the municipal officers of the municipality and directed personally to a constable or any resident ordering the constable or resident to announce the election.
(5) The person to whom the warrant is directed shall post an attested copy of it in a conspicuous public place in each voting district of the municipality at least 7 days immediately before the date of the public hearing. The person shall make a return on the warrant stating the manner of announcement and the time it was given and return the warrant to the municipal officers.
(6) The municipal officers shall then deliver the warrant to the clerk who shall record it.   [RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §§132, 133 (COR).]
B. Elections shall be held by secret preprinted ballots.   [PL 1987, c. 122, §7 (NEW).]
C. Each municipality shall provide for absentee ballots in a manner which substantially complies with Title 21‑A, chapter 9, subchapter IV.   [PL 1987, c. 122, §7 (NEW).]
[RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §§132, 133 (COR).]
1-A.  Elections in single community water districts.
Elections in single community water districts shall be conducted in the same manner as other municipal elections.
[PL 1987, c. 122, §8 (NEW).]
2.  Reporting election results.
Each municipal clerk shall certify in writing the results of the election within 72 hours of the vote to the Secretary of State. The results shall be certified as to the number of eligible voters voting in favor of fluoridation and the number of eligible voters voting in opposition to fluoridation. The municipality shall also certify to the Secretary of State the identity of the relevant public water district or districts involved.
[PL 1983, c. 463, §4 (NEW).]
3.  Vote tabulation.
The Secretary of State shall, within 48 hours of receiving the last written certification, tabulate the votes from each municipality and immediately make public the results of the multiple community water system district-wide election by mailing to each affected municipality and public water system the results of the election, including the submitted votes from that municipality and public water system zone and the total multiple community water system district-wide vote.
[PL 1983, c. 463, §4 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1983, c. 463, §4 (NEW). PL 1987, c. 122, §§7,8 (AMD). RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §§132, 133 (COR).