Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §631, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended to read:

1. Procedure. The municipal officers may divide a town or ward into convenient voting districts after public notice and hearing held at least 60 days before any election. After the hearing, the municipal officers must shall prepare a certificate defining the limits of each district. They must shall file the certificate with the clerk who shall record it. The clerk shall post an attested copy of the certificate in a conspicuous, public place in the town or ward, and shall publish it in at least one newspaper having general circulation in the municipality at least 30 days before election day. The clerk shall file an attested copy of the certificate with the Secretary of State. Voting districts, once established, may not be consolidated into a lesser number of districts by following the same procedure for any class of election. Voting districts may be established or consolidated under this section for all or only certain classes of elections. If the municipal officers determine that there is no building within a voting district which that is suitable for a voting place, as described in section 627, the municipal officers may, subject to the approval of the Secretary of State, establish a voting place outside the voting district in a suitable building which that is as close as possible to the voting district and as convenient as possible to the voters of the voting district.

Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §631, sub-§1-A is enacted to read:

1-A.__Voting places.__In each voting district, all designated polling places must be open for all classes of elections.

Sec. 3. 21-A MRSA §633, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended to read:

§633. Election expenses

Except for the added expenses incurred by a municipality under section 632, each municipality shall pay for the expense it incurs in calling, holding and reporting the results of an election. The State shall pay for election expenses incurred as a result of a statewide special election. The State shall pay for other election expenses incurred as a result of the performance by state officials of their duties under this Title.

SUMMARY

This bill requires the State to reimburse municipalities for expenses incurred as a result of a statewide special election and requires that all designated polling places in a voting district be open for all elections.