An Act Regarding Write-in Candidates in Municipal and City Elections
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 30-A MRSA §2528, sub-§11 is enacted to read:
11. Write-in candidates. To be considered a declared write-in candidate under this section, a person must file a declaration of write-in candidacy with the municipal clerk, on a form approved by the municipal clerk, on or before 5 p.m. on the 45th day prior to the election. The candidate must meet all the other qualifications for that office.
Sec. 2. 30-A MRSA §2554, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 and Pt. C, §106 and amended by PL 1989, c. 6; c. 9, §2; and c. 104, Pt. C, §§8 and 10, is further amended to read:
2. Write-in votes. In any city election, a voter may write in the name and municipality of residence of any a person declared under this subsection for whom the voter desires to vote in the blank space provided at the end of the list of candidates for office. A sticker may not be used to vote for a write-in candidate in any city election other than a primary election. To be considered a declared write-in candidate under this subsection, a person must file a declaration of write-in candidacy with the clerk, on a form approved by the clerk, on or before 5 p.m. on the 45th day prior to the election. The candidate must meet all the other qualifications for that office.
summary
This bill requires a write-in candidate for a municipal or city election to file a declaration of candidacy on or before 45 days prior to the election and meet all other qualifications for office.