Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §662, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1995, c. 459, §57, is further amended to read:

4. Collection of signatures. The warden may select and designate a specific location not prohibited by section 682, subsection 4 at the voting place, accessible and observable by the voters, where the collection of signatures may take place. Persons collecting signatures at the polls may make arrangements with the clerk prior to election day and with the warden on election day. The warden may limit the number of persons collecting signatures to one for each specific question, candidate or issue. Persons collecting signatures may not solicit a voter's signature until the voter has completed voting. The warden may direct the removal, under subsection 2, paragraph A, of any person collecting signatures who does not comply with the requirements of this subsection.

Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §682, sub-§4 is enacted to read:

4.__Circulating petitions prohibited.__A person may not circulate a direct initiative petition within 250 feet of the entrance to the voting place or within the voting place.

SUMMARY

This bill prohibits the circulator of a direct initiative petition from presenting any such petition and requesting voter signatures in the voting place or within 250 feet of the entrance to the voting place.