CHAPTER 58
H.P. 182 - L.D. 193
Resolve, to Establish a Centralized Voter Registration List for the State
Preamble. Whereas, there currently exists no statewide voter registration list for the State; and
Whereas, voter registration lists for the State are currently maintained by 520 separate municipal jurisdictions in varying forms, including a variety of databases, typed lists and handwritten lists; and
Whereas, the Federal Election Commission in its 1997 Report to Congress on the impact of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 highly recommends that states that have not yet done so voluntarily develop and implement a statewide computerized voter registration database; ensure that all local registration offices are computerized; and link their statewide computerized systems, where feasible, with the computerized systems of the collateral public agencies relevant to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993; and
Whereas, the majority of states have implemented or are currently developing centralized voter registration lists, and Maine is currently one of only 11 states that does not have a centralized voter registration list; and
Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, this resolve establishes a task force to report on the development and implementation of a centralized voter registration list; and
Whereas, in order for the task force to convene and complete its work in a timely fashion, it is necessary that this resolve take effect as soon as possible; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it
Sec. 1. Task force established. Resolved: That the Task Force to Establish a Centralized Voter Registration List, referred to in this resolve as the "task force," is established; and be it further
Sec. 2. Membership. Resolved: That the task force consists of 13 members appointed as follows:
1. Two municipal officials, one from a small town appointed by the Speaker of the House and one from a medium or large municipality, appointed jointly by the President and President Pro Tempore of the Senate;
2. One representative from the League of Women Voters of Maine, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
3. Four members of the public, 2 from each of the 2 political parties with the most members in the Legislature; of these 2 are appointed by the Speaker of the House and 2 are appointed jointly by the President and President Pro Tempore of the Senate;
4. Two representatives of the political parties with the most members in the Legislature, one from each of the 2 political parties with the most members in the Legislature; one is appointed by the Speaker of the House and one is appointed jointly by the President and President Pro Tempore of the Senate;
5. The State Information Officer, or the State Information Officer's designee, who serves ex officio;
6. Two election officials from the Secretary of State's office, who are designated by the Secretary of State and who serve as nonvoting ex officio members; and
7. The Secretary of State, or the secretary's designee, who serves as a nonvoting ex officio member and who serves as the chair of the task force; and be it further
Sec. 3. Appointments. Resolved: That all appointments must be made by August 1, 2001; and be it further
Sec. 4. Duties. Resolved: That the task force shall study the requirements necessary to develop and implement a centralized voter registration list in order to:
1. Eliminate duplicate registrations on a statewide basis;
2. Administer automatic changes of address;
3. Provide for systematic list maintenance activities; and
4. Produce current voter registration statistics and lists on a statewide basis, as well as by municipality, county and electoral district.
The task force shall investigate the use of the Internet as an infrastructure linking all municipal jurisdictions to a centralized voter registration list, providing for real-time registration updates and ensuring against the possibility of certain types of voter fraud. The task force shall further investigate the use of this same network for electronically filing timely election results with the Secretary of State. The task force may apply for and accept federal or other funds for the purpose of implementing a centralized voter registration list; and be it further
Sec. 5. Compensation. Resolved: That members of the task force not otherwise compensated by their employers or other entities whom they represent are entitled to receive reimbursement of necessary expenses for their attendance at authorized meetings of the task force; and be it further
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the office of the Secretary of State shall provide necessary staffing services to the task force; and be it further
Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That the task force shall report its findings by January 15, 2002 to the Joint Standing Committee on Legal and Veterans Affairs. The committee may report out legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 120th Legislature.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved.
Effective June 19, 2001.
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