Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §1, sub-§6-A is enacted to read:

6-A.__Centralized voter registration system.__"Centralized voter registration system" means a single electronic information system and database for voter registration information maintained by the Secretary of State and used by all municipal jurisdictions in the State.

Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA c. 3, sub-c. VII is enacted to read:

I.

SUBCHAPTER VII

CENTRALIZED VOTER REGISTRATION

§191.__Centralized voter registration system implemented

The Secretary of State shall develop and implement a centralized voter registration system.__The Secretary of State shall:

1.__Pilot program.__Develop a centralized voter registration system pilot to include the 10 municipalities with the highest number of registered voters as of the 2000 general election in order to test the information system and data conversion procedures.__Additional municipal jurisdictions may be included in the pilot on a voluntary basis and at the discretion of the Secretary of State;

2.__Implementation by stages.__Develop a plan to implement the centralized voter registration system in stages; and

3.__System implemented.__Fully implement the centralized voter registration system and database no later than December 31, 2007.

The Secretary of State shall develop informational materials for municipalities and may require municipalities to report on the implementation of the centralized voter registration system and related processes at the local level.

§192.__Centralized Voter Registration Advisory Committee

1.__Membership.__The Centralized Voter Registration Advisory Committee is established to advise the Secretary of State with respect to planning for the centralized voter registration system.__The advisory committee consists of 12 members appointed as follows: