Opinion ID: 2096045
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: house order propounding questions

Text: Questions Propounded by the House in an Order Dated March 21, 1973. Whereas, it appears to the House of Representatives of the 106th Legislature that the following are important questions of law, and that the occasion is a solemn one; and Whereas, Article II, Section 1, Constitution of Maine, makes certain provisions regarding durational residency requirements for voting; and Whereas, the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States in Dunn v. Blumstein, 405 U.S. 330, 92 S.Ct. 995, 31 L.Ed.2d 274, seems to cast some doubt on the validity under the Constitution of the United States of the durational residency requirements in Article II, Section 1, Constitution of Maine; and Whereas, there is pending before the House of Representatives of the 106th Legislature a RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution Reducing Residence Requirement for Voting to Thirty Days (House Paper 9, Legislative Document 9); and Whereas, it is important that the Legislature be informed as to the validity under the Constitution of the United States of the present provision in Article II, Section 1, Constitution of Maine, concerning durational residency requirements and of the proposed amendment thereto; now, therefore, be it Ordered, that in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the State, the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court are hereby respectfully requested to give the House of Representatives their opinion on the following questions: 1. Is the present provision concerning durational residency requirements for voting in Article II, Section 1, Constitution of Maine, valid under the Constitution of the United States? 2. Would the RESOLUTION Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution Reducing Residence Requirement for Voting to Thirty Days (House Paper 9, Legislative Document 9) if passed by the Legislature and adopted by the electorate be valid under the Constitution of the United States? =============================================================================== ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTH LEGISLATURE =============================================================================== Legislative Document No. 9 =============================================================================== H.P. 9 Office of the Clerk of the House Filed November 20, I972 under Joint Rule 6 by Mr. Ross of Bath. To be printed and delivered to the House of Representatives of the Io6th Legislature. BERTHA W. JOHNSON, Clerk Presented by Mr. Ross of Bath. ==============================================================================