5. Alternative registration schedule for absentee voters. The registrar shall accept registrations under section 152 at any time, including election day if those registrations are received by the registrar no later than 10 days before an election, provided that the applicant otherwise qualifies as an absentee voter. The receipt of a completed absentee ballot application by the clerk establishes a presumption of qualification under this subsection.

Sec. 5. 21-A MRSA §122, sub-§§6 and 7, as amended by PL 1997, c. 436, §23, are repealed.

Sec. 6. 21-A MRSA §122, sub-§8, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 307, §1, is repealed.

Sec. 7. 21-A MRSA §125, as amended by PL 1997, c. 436, §24, is repealed.

Sec. 8. 21-A MRSA §130, first ¶, as amended by PL 1989, c. 694, §1, is further amended to read:

A person who completes an application for registration to vote, as provided in section 152, may mail the application or have the application delivered to the registrar before the closed period for the acceptance of registrations in the person's municipality, to be placed on the voting list prior to the next election; except that applications completed under section 122, subsection 5, may be delivered during the closed period for immediate placement on the voting list.

Sec. 9. 21-A MRSA §152, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1997, c. 436, §35, is further amended to read:

2. Placement on voting list. Upon receipt of the application by the registrar of voters no later than 10 days before an election, the applicant's name must be entered on the voting lists of the municipality as soon as the voter has qualified.

SUMMARY

This bill requires that a person register to vote not later than 10 days before an election.