Bill > LD1148

This bill aims to improve absentee ballot access for uniformed service voters and overseas voters during municipal elections that coincide with statewide elections. Specifically, the bill extends the validity of absentee ballot applications to 18 months for municipal elections held on the same date as a statewide election, allowing these voters to more easily participate in local voting. The legislation requires municipalities to provide a copy of their local ballots to the Secretary of State when a municipal election is scheduled alongside a statewide election. The Secretary of State is authorized to receive these local ballots and issue them to eligible uniformed service and overseas voters, as well as to receive and process absentee ballots for these municipal elections from such voters. The bill also mandates that the Secretary of State develop rules for administering this process, ensuring that local ballots are examined, counted, and stored properly, and that ballots are delivered to the appropriate municipal clerks by the close of polls on election day. These changes are designed to make voting more accessible for military personnel and citizens living abroad, particularly in local elections that coincide with statewide voting events.

Military Affairs and Security

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1148&snum=132