Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §1, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended to read:

6. Caucus. "Caucus" means a meeting of a political party or committee for the purpose of transacting business of the party, or committee including, but not limited to, the nomination of candidates.

Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §331, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended to read:

2. Exceptions. This Article does not apply to:

A. Nominations for presidential electors;

B. Nominations to fill vacancies under subchapter III 3; and

C. Nominations by petition under subchapter II. 2; and

D.__Nominations by caucus under subchapter 1, article 5.

Sec. 3. 21-A MRSA c. 5, sub-c. 1, art. 5 is enacted to read:

Article 5

NOMINATION BY CAUCUS

§341.__Nomination of presidential candidate by caucus

A party may nominate a candidate for President of the United States by caucus, as defined in section 1, subsection 6.

§342.__Notification of Secretary of State

A party shall notify the Secretary of State of the decision to nominate a candidate for President of the United States by caucus no later than December 1st of the year preceding the presidential election year.__The party shall notify the Secretary of State of the party's nomination for President of the United States by caucus no later than June 1st of the presidential election year.

SUMMARY

This bill allows political parties to nominate candidates for President of the United States by caucus rather than by primary election. The bill sets forth the deadlines by which