Bill > LD1527

This bill amends an existing Maine state law to require that when the Secretary of State provides municipalities with absentee ballots for an election, they must also provide postage prepaid return envelopes along with those ballots. Specifically, the bill modifies an existing statute (21-A MRSA §752) to add the requirement for "postage prepaid" return envelopes when absentee ballots are distributed to municipalities. Currently, the law requires the Secretary of State to furnish municipalities with absentee ballot applications and ballots at least 3 months and 30 days before an election, respectively. The new provision ensures that voters will not have to pay postage to return their absentee ballots, potentially making voting more accessible by removing a potential financial barrier to voting. This change aims to make the absentee voting process easier and potentially increase voter participation by eliminating the cost of mailing a ballot.

Military Affairs and Security

https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/display_ps.asp?LD=1527&snum=132