| This bill makes changes necessary to bring the Maine Revised |
| Statutes, Title 21-A into compliance with the requirements of |
| federal election laws, including the Help America Vote Act of |
| 2002, HAVA, and the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee |
| Voting Act, and specifies that the Secretary of State is |
| responsible for overseeing the State's duties with respect to |
| these Acts. The bill adds or amends certain definitions |
| relating to members of the uniformed service and overseas |
| voters. The bill also updates existing sections of the |
| election law with the new terms. The bill makes changes to |
| the voter registration application to add certain identifying |
| information as required by HAVA. The bill specifies that in |
| order for 17-year olds to preregister to vote, they must turn |
| 18 years of age prior to the next election. The bill also |
| clarifies what documentation must be retained in the voter |
| registration file. The bill also makes a single, standard |
| requirement for the number of voting booths needed for a |
| general election for all municipalities. The bill requires |
| each voting place to have at least one voting booth that is |
| accessible for persons with physical disabilities. This bill |
| replaces the current requirements for instructions for the |
| blank, write-in absentee ballots with authority for the |
| Secretary of State to determine those instructions. The bill |
| clarifies usage of the federal write-in absentee ballot. The |
| bill also streamlines the process for recording absentee |
| ballots issued by removing a duplicative requirement that the |
| registrar certify the absentee ballot applications. The bill |
| requires municipal clerks to file a report with the Secretary |
| of State indicating how many persons were issued and returned |
| absentee ballots for each election; and further identifying |
| the number of ballots that were issued to uniformed service |
| voters and overseas voters. This bill makes other changes to |
| the provisions for absentee voting for the uniformed service |
| voters and overseas voters that are consistent with current |
| laws governing all other absentee voters. |
