KEY:
= top priority bill
2022 TESTIMONY
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary: Bill requires retained possession, custody and control of sealled ballots by clerks unless law expressly authorizes transfer, keep in a secure location, with any inspection subject to oversight by an appropriate public official, and prohibits transfer of custody or control of a voting machine or voting device to any person except as authorized by the Secretary of State.
Our position: Supports
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary: Bill provides that a person commits a Class C crime, instead of the current Class D crime, if that person intentionally interferes with a public official performing or the person believes is performing an official function relating to Federal, state or municipal election.
Our position: Supports
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary: Acceptable Native American IDs, caucus and nominations for vacant state House/Senate minimum of 15 day requirement, nursing home/care facilities deviatations allowed for absentee voting during an emergency, and petition and question specific date and presentation requirements.
Our position: Supports
2021 TESTIMONY
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: DIES
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary: Designates Election Day in a Presidential election a state holiday.
Our position: Neither for nor against
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary: Bill allows a municipality or jurisdiction to process absentee ballots beginning on the 7th day immediately prior to election day, instead of current law allows beginning the 4th day.
Our position: Supports
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: DIES
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary: Constitutional amendment to specify that only a U.S. citizens may vote in a state, county or municipal or other local election.
Our position: Neither for nor against
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House: DIES
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary: Bill allows a candidate to request a nickname be included on the ballot for an election in the state, declare it to be the name by which the candidate is known to others, and is in quotation marks after the candidate's full name.
Our position: Supports
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: DIES
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary: Bill allows a municipality or jurisdiction to process absentee ballots beginning on the 7th day immediately prior to election day, instead of current law allows beginning the 4th day.
Our position: Supports
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary: Signed into law, though not as LD 148. The provisions of this bill were incorporated into the bipartisan budget bill, LD 221, along with the funding to support it. The bill provides ongoing absentee voter status to voters aged 65 and over. It also stipulates that Maine will join the Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) by January 1, 2023 for the purpose of sharing voter registration information with member states and using that information to update the central voter registration system.
Our position: Supports
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House: FAILED FINAL PASSAGE
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary: Constitutional amendment: Governor, State Senators and State Representatives be elected by majority of votes cast.
Our position: Supports
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: DIES
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary: Bill eliminates deadlines for request for absentee ballot and return by 3rd person. Allows in-person absentee ballot in presence of clerk until 8PM election day.
Our position: Neither for nor against
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary: Passed to be enacted in the House, awaiting final passage on the Special Appropriations Table in the Senate. Unenrolled voters would be permitted to cast one ballot in the primary of their choice. Republicans would not be able to vote in Democratic primaries, and Democrats would not be able to vote in Republican primaries. We expect this bill to be carried over into the second session, funded, and enacted in 2022.
Our position: Supports
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: DIES
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary: Bill requires that a voter provide photo ID approved by the Secretary of State.
Our position: Opposes
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House: DIES
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary: Bill designates Election Day, the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 3 as a state holiday.
Our position: Neither For Nor Against
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: DIES
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary: Allows an unenrolled voter to vote in a primary for one party's primary election, including presidential, without having to enroll in the party.
Our position: Supports
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House: CARRIED OVER
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary: Bill prohibits any marking on absentee ballot envelope indicating political party of the voter during a general election.
Our position: Supports
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: DIES
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary: Bill prohibits any marking on absentee ballot envelope indicating political party of the voter during a general election.
Our position: Supports
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: DIES
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary: Bill requires photo ID when voting in person. Valid ID includes current Driver license, state ID, passport, military ID, or concealed handgun permit if includes a photo. Valid ID does not include Maine college or university ID.
Our position: Opposes
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: DIES
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary:Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to allow a process where municipalities can conduct early voting in the same manner as Election Day. Also to allow absentee voting for any sufficient reason.
Our position: Supports
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: DIES
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary:Constitutional resolution proposes to reduce the voting age from 18 years of age or older to 16 years of age or older.
Our position: Neither for nor against
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: DIES
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary:Bill requires an absentee ballot to be wrapped in a blank, opaque sleeve of sufficient thickness to prevent ballot being visible in return envelope.
Our position: Opposes
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: DIES
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary:Requires the SOS to maintain online absentee ballot tracking from application to acceptance/rejection by clerk.
Our position: Supports
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: DIES
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary:Bill requires voter photo ID, acceptable ID includes state drivers license or state ID, passport, military ID, or cancealed handgun permit if includes photo. ID from college or university not acceptable. State must provide free photo ID for voters who does not have other photo ID.
Our position: Opposes
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: DIES
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary:Bill amends voting laws: 1) prohibits incarcerated people from voting, 2) requires paper ballots, 3) requires photo ID, 4) prohibits accepting ballots after polling close, 5) prohibits the buying of votes, 6) absentee ballots only for those who are unable to vote, reason must be certified, and 2 people must collect, deliver, and certify.
Our position: Opposes
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: DIES
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary:Provides for open primary elections for United States Senator, United States Representative to Congress, Governor, State Senator and State Representative. All of the candidates for those offices, including candidates enrolled in a party and unenrolled candidates, appear on the same open primary ballot. All qualified voters, regardless of enrollment status, are eligible to vote in open primary elections. The votes in an open primary election are tabulated using ranked-choice voting, except that the 2 candidates who receive the most votes are declared the winners of the open primary and their names appear on the ballot for the general election.
Our position: Neither for nor against
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary:Bill requires the SOS to create a process for OVR by 1/2023, including being able to make changes to voter's information and enrolled party. OVR to be received on the 21st day before Election Day. Details for ID include state photo ID, SS last four digits, SOS must establish a process for identifying the voter by name, birthdate and ID, and voter must consent to use of electronic signature from state ID or send electronic copy of signature if using SS last four digits. Progress report by June, 30 2022.
Our position: Supports
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary:Bill requires the SOS to: 1) Produce and publicly disseminate a guide to election procedures; 2) Develop an election complaint process; 3) Report to the Legislature on certain election issues after a general election; and 4) Conduct a pilot post-election audit.
Our position: Supports
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: DIES
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary:Removes the closed period for absentee ballots and allows municipalities to process absentee ballots 7 days prior to Election Day.
Our position: Neither for nor against
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: DIES
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary:Provides that a municipality may have one absentee ballot drop box or drop slot outside the municipal office building and sets standards for secure location, labeling and chain of custody.
Our position: Neither for nor against
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: DIES
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary:Directs the Secretary of State to explore options for implementing a system of automatic voting by mail in Maine.
Our position: Neither for nor against
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary:Secretary of State omnibus bill of changes to election law including absentee ballot cure procedures and drop box protocols.
Our position: Supports
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: DIES
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary:Allows registered voters to cast absentee ballots by electronic means approved by the Secretary of State.
Our position: Opposes
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: DIES
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary for LD 1330: Bill repeals ranked-choice voting and instead proposes to adopt the National Popular Vote compact.
Summary for LD 1384: This bill repeals ranked-choice voting for president and replaces with the National Popular Vote pact.
Our position: Supports, with an amendment to keep ranked-choice voting
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate: DIES
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary: Establishes a Board of Convassers to examine the election returns for U.S. and state offices from the SOS. The board is charged with providing a statement of certification.
Our position: Opposes
Status:
Public hearing in Committee
Work session in Committee
Last Action in House
Last Action in Senate
Last Governor Action
Signed into Law
Summary: The law would improve voter information, protect the rights of nonpartisan observers, and ensure consistent treatment of student IDs when registering to vote.
Our position: Supports