Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §675 is enacted to read:

§675.__Polling place complaints

A voter of any municipality may file a complaint with the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices, referred to in this section as the "commission," alleging violation of a polling place procedure at any election in that municipality.

1.__Public hearing.__The commission shall grant a public hearing within 90 days after the date the complaint was filed for each complaint filed by a voter.__Any person involved in the complaint may testify at that hearing.

2.__Notice of hearing.__The commission shall provide notice to the city clerk, the election warden and the election warden clerk of the municipality where the alleged polling place violation took place.

3. Written finding of fact.__The commission shall submit a written finding of fact to all parties involved in the complaint and to the Secretary of State within 20 days of the date of the public hearing.

4.__Notice of violation to law enforcement.__If the commission finds evidence of a crime as described in this chapter, notification must be made to the responsible law enforcement body, and any documentation and evidence of the violation must be made available to that law enforcement body.

5.__Authority to prohibit conduct; appoint an ombudsman.__If__ the commission determines violations occurred at a polling place, the commission is authorized to prohibit actions by election officials at future elections.__If the violation continues, the commission may appoint an ombudsman to oversee future elections at the expense of the municipality.

6.__Appeal.__Any aggrieved party may appeal a decision of the commission by commencing an action in the Superior Court within 5 days of the decision and be tried without a jury within 10 days of the date of that decision.__The court shall issue its written decision containing its findings of fact and conclusions of law and setting forth the reasons for its decision within 20 days of the date of the decision of the commission.