Bill > LD1148

This bill directs the Maine Secretary of State to conduct a comprehensive study on how to provide digital access to local absentee ballots for uniformed service members and overseas voters during municipal elections that occur simultaneously with statewide elections. The study will explore the feasibility and methods of extending absentee ballot access similar to how it currently works for statewide elections. As part of this initiative, the Secretary of State will be required to update its public website and the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) ballot retrieval service portal to clearly communicate that local absentee ballots must be obtained directly from the voter's municipality of residence, and that the current online portal only applies to statewide and federal elections. The Secretary of State may consult with town and city clerk associations during the study and will be required to submit a detailed report by December 3, 2025, to the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs, which may then propose related legislation. The goal is to improve voting accessibility for service members and citizens living abroad who might have difficulty obtaining local election ballots.

Military Affairs and Security

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