LD 1518
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LD 1518 Title Page RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine Concerning Dire... Page 2 of 2
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LR 256
Item 1

 
Constitutional amendment. Resolved: Two thirds of each branch of the
Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the
Constitution of Maine be proposed:

 
Constitution, Art. IV, Part Third, §18, sub-§§2 and 3 are amended to read:

 
2. Referral to electors unless enacted by the Legislature
without change; number of signatures necessary on direct
initiative petitions; dating signatures on petitions; competing
measures. For any measure thus proposed by electors, the number
of signatures shall not be less than 10% of the total vote for
Governor cast in the last gubernatorial election preceding the
filing of such petition and must include a number of signatures
of electors who are qualified to vote in the Second Congressional
District that equals not less than 5% of the total vote for
Governor cast in the last gubernatorial election preceding the
filing of such petition. The date each signature was made shall
be written next to the signature on the petition, and no
signature older than one year from the written date on the
petition shall be valid. The measure thus proposed, unless
enacted without change by the Legislature at the session at which
it is presented, shall be submitted to the electors together with
any amended form, substitute, or recommendation of the
Legislature, and in such manner that the people can choose
between the competing measures or reject both. When there are
competing bills and neither receives a majority of the votes
given for or against both, the one receiving the most votes shall
at the next statewide election to be held not less than 60 days
after the first vote thereon be submitted by itself if it
receives more than 1/3 of the votes given for and against both.
If the measure initiated is enacted by the Legislature without
change, it shall not go to a referendum vote unless in pursuance
of a demand made in accordance with the preceding section. The
Legislature may order a special election on any measure that is
subject to a vote of the people.

 
3. Timing of elections; proclamation by Governor. The
Governor shall, by proclamation, order any measure proposed to
the Legislature as herein provided, and not enacted by the
Legislature without change, referred to the people at an election
to be held in November of the year in which the petition is
filed. If the Governor fails to order a measure proposed to the
Legislature and not enacted without change to be submitted to the
people at such an election by proclamation within 10 days after
the recess of the Legislature to which the measure was proposed,
the Secretary of State shall, by proclamation, order such measure
to be submitted to the people at an election as requested, and
such order shall be sufficient to enable the people to vote. The
Legislature, after a failure to enact a measure without change


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