2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 21-A: ELECTIONS › Chapter 9: CONDUCT OF ELECTIONS › Subchapter 4: ABSENTEE VOTING › Article 1: REGULAR ABSENTEE VOTING › 21-A §752. Materials furnished

§752. Materials furnished
At least 3 months before any election, the Secretary of State shall furnish each municipality with a reasonable number of dated absentee ballot applications. A reasonable time, not less than 30 days unless an emergency exists, before any election, the Secretary of State shall furnish each municipality with a reasonable number of absentee ballots and return envelopes.   [PL 1985, c. 357, §8 (AMD).]
1.  Absentee ballots to be identical.
Absentee ballots must be identical to the regular ballots used at an election, except as provided in paragraph A for uniformed service voters or overseas voters.
A. At least 3 months before the election to which they pertain, the Secretary of State shall furnish each municipality with a reasonable number of blank write-in absentee ballots for use by uniformed service voters or overseas voters who have met the qualifications in section 751. These ballots must be similar to regular ballots, except that no candidate names may be printed. The Secretary of State shall prepare a ballot listing all offices to be selected with a space after each office to write in the voter's preference. The Secretary of State shall design the form of the ballot, including any instructions to the voters in marking the ballot.   [PL 2003, c. 407, §20 (AMD).]
B. The Secretary of State shall provide a reasonable number of absentee ballots for township residents who are registered or enrolled in a municipality outside their electoral divisions under section 156. These ballots must contain the names of the nominees or candidates for offices in the electoral divisions in which the voters reside.   [PL 1991, c. 466, §26 (AMD).]
[PL 2003, c. 407, §20 (AMD).]
2.  Content of application.
The Secretary of State shall design or approve the form of the application to be used to request an absentee ballot.
[PL 2001, c. 310, §50 (RPR).]
3.  Form of return envelope.
The Secretary of State shall design or approve the form of the absentee ballot return envelope. The Secretary of State may not design or approve a return envelope for use in a general election that includes any mark visible on the outside of the return envelope or a space designated for making a mark visible on the outside of the return envelope that indicates the political party of the voter to whom the absentee ballot is issued.
[PL 2021, c. 398, Pt. UUUU, §2 (AMD); PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §37 (AFF).]
4.  Delivery of materials; insufficient quantity.
The Secretary of State shall send the voting materials to the clerk of each municipality. If the clerk believes that a larger number should be furnished, the clerk must notify the Secretary of State who shall determine whether the additional materials are needed and, if so, shall furnish them as promptly as possible.
[PL 2003, c. 407, §21 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1985, c. 161, §6 (NEW). PL 1985, c. 357, §§8,9,19 (AMD). PL 1985, c. 363, §3 (AMD). PL 1987, c. 188, §14 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 166, §5 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 466, §§26-28 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 459, §§70,71 (AMD). PL 1997, c. 436, §106 (AMD). PL 2001, c. 310, §§50,51 (AMD). PL 2003, c. 407, §§20,21 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 398, Pt. UUUU, §2 (AMD). PL 2021, c. 398, Pt. UUUU, §7 (AFF). PL 2023, c. 304, Pt. A, §37 (AFF).