CHAPTER 637
H.P. 1683 - L.D. 2182
An Act to Establish a Centralized Voter Registration System for the State
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
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:
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:
A. Two municipal election officials, one appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and President Pro Tempore of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker of the House;
B. One representative from the League of Women Voters of Maine, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
C. Two members of the public, one from each of the 2 political parties with the largest number of members in the Legislature, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
D. Two members of the public, one from each of the 2 political parties with the largest number of members in the Legislature, appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and President Pro Tempore of the Senate;
E. Two representatives of political parties, one from each of the 2 political parties with the largest number of members in the Legislature: one appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and President Pro Tempore of the Senate and one appointed by the Speaker of the House;
F. The Director of the Bureau of Information Services within the Department of Administration and Financial Services or the director's designee; and
G. Two state election officials, appointed by the Secretary of State.
The appointing authorities shall make their appointments as soon as feasible following the effective date of this section.
2. Meetings. The Secretary of State shall call the meetings of the Centralized Voter Registration Advisory Committee whenever the Secretary of State determines necessary.
3. Compensation. Members of the advisory committee not otherwise compensated by their employers or other entities whom they represent are entitled to receive reimbursement of necessary expenses for their attendance at meetings of the advisory committee.
The Secretary of State may apply for and accept federal or other funds for the purpose of developing and implementing a centralized voter registration system. If matching funds are required to obtain a grant, the Secretary of State may submit legislation to request necessary funds. Notwithstanding Title 5, section 1587, the Secretary of State may also enter into a lease-purchase agreement or other similar agreement for the purpose of developing the system.
The Secretary of State may adopt rules regarding implementation and administration of a centralized voter registration system to determine the pricing, accessibility and availability of information contained in the database and the appropriate use and resale of that information; to establish a plan to implement the system in stages for all municipal jurisdictions; to identify additional system features or voter information to be included in the system or provide for the confidentiality of certain personal information or limitations on the use and distribution of that information; and to establish a system to identify duplicate records, including establishment of a voter identification indicator.
Rules adopted pursuant to this section are major substantive rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter II-A.
The Secretary of State shall report annually, by March 1st, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over voter registration matters on the progress of the implementation of the centralized voter registration system developed pursuant to this subchapter. The report may include suggested legislation necessary to implement or administer the centralized voter registration system. The committee may report out legislation regarding the centralized voter registration system to the Legislature during the First Regular Session of the 121st Legislature and any subsequent Legislature.
Effective July 25, 2002, unless otherwise indicated.
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