An Act To Amend the Direct Initiative Signature Gathering Process
Sec. 1. 4 MRSA §955-C, sub-§1, ¶C, as amended by PL 2005, c. 629, §2, is further amended to read:
Sec. 2. 4 MRSA §955-C, sub-§1, ¶D, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 712, §2, is amended to read:
Sec. 3. 4 MRSA §955-C, sub-§1, ¶E is enacted to read:
Sec. 4. 21-A MRSA §905, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2009, c. 611, §5, is further amended to read:
The Secretary of State shall determine the validity of the petition and issue a written decision stating the reasons for the decision within 30 days from the date of filing of a written petition in the Department of the Secretary of State under the Constitution of Maine, Article IV, Part Third, Section 17 or 18.
The Secretary of State may invalidate a petition if the Secretary of State is unable to verify the notarization of that petition.
Sec. 5. Secretary of State to establish online reporting system. The Secretary of State shall establish an online reporting system for suspected fraudulent signature gathering practices for direct initiative and people's veto petitions.
summary
This bill authorizes the Secretary of State to suspend, revoke or refuse to renew the commission of a notary public who has allowed another person to use that notary public's commission. It also authorizes the Secretary of State to invalidate a petition for a direct initiative or people's veto if the Secretary of State is unable to verify the notarization of that petition. The bill directs the Secretary of State to establish an online reporting system for suspected fraudulent signature gathering practices for direct initiative and people's veto petitions.