An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Elections
Sponsored By: Craig V. Hickman (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
13 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 10 mixed.
If your party loses status
If a political party loses or gives up its status, the Secretary of State changes its voters to unenrolled. A party that is disqualified has 30 days to elect to keep its voters and may requalify by certifying at least 5,000 enrolled voters. To keep voters for regular primaries, certification must be effective by January 2. To take part in the presidential primary, the party must meet the rules by September 15 of the prior year. If a party files to give up its status, all its voters are changed to unenrolled within 30 days and the party name is removed from registration forms.
Absentee voting at care facilities
The municipal clerk must schedule one visit during the 30 days before the election to each covered facility to run absentee voting. The clerk must set up voting areas, post notice in the town office, and notify each facility and resident contacts. During a declared public health emergency, or if a facility bars entry, the Secretary of State may set alternate absentee procedures. These special rules last for the emergency or until the clerk is allowed to enter.
Earlier public notice of elections
Municipal clerks must post an election notice in a public place at least 21 days before election day. Clerks must also post a notice at each polling place on election day. This gives voters earlier, clearer notice.
Report election problems and voter guides
The Secretary of State must run a system to collect and log election‑law violation reports from Maine residents. Polling places must post how to report problems. The Secretary of State may prepare and share neutral voting guides and posters to help voters.
Absentee voting limits and facility access
Clerks cannot give absentee applications more than 2 months before a primary or more than 3 months before other elections. This timing limit does not apply to uniformed service and overseas voters. Residents of nursing homes, state mental health institutes, and certain residential care, assisted living, mental health, and disability facilities with more than six beds can vote absentee under expanded facility voting rules.
New voter registration windows and notices
The closed period is the 20 days before an election. During that time, registrars accept only in‑person registrations or agency/AVR transmissions by the legal deadline. You can still register in person up to the close of polls on Election Day. Automatic voter registration through agencies must be completed by the 7th day before Election Day. If your online, mail, or third‑party application arrived by the 21st day before the election, the registrar must send your disposition notice by the 18th day. If the 15th day before a primary is a holiday, party changes filed the next business day count as filed on the 15th. More state offices offer registration, including DHHS program offices (like TANF, WIC, Medicaid/CHIP, SNAP), municipal clerks, and certain Labor rehabilitation offices.
New registration deadlines and ID rules
The law sets clear registration cutoffs by method. By mail or a third person, the deadline is close of business 21 days before the election. Online submissions are due by 5:00 p.m. on the 21st day, and agency transmissions must arrive by midnight on the 7th day. You can still register in person up to the close of the polls on election day. If you register in person, you must show ID and proof of where you live. If you do not show proof then, your ballot is marked as challenged, but it is cleared if you provide proof before you vote on election day. Registrars must warn people who try to register within 30 days by non‑in‑person methods that the form may not arrive in time and tell them they can register in person before polls close. Outside agencies must send applications to the Secretary of State within 5 days. The Secretary forwards applications on set timelines and sends online and agency submissions to local registrars by the next business day.
Polling place access and conduct rules
Municipalities must choose polling places big enough for at least one pollwatcher from each party outside the guardrail. A party chair can file a complaint at least 90 days before the election; the Secretary of State can inspect and order a larger site. The warden must allow at least one pollwatcher per party at each list segment and may allow extra observers if space allows, but must block them if they would interfere. People taking photos or videos must stay outside the guardrail and at least 15 feet from any voter; the clerk may remove violators. Clerks may allow nonpolitical charity booths or ads if arranged ahead; if not, the warden may allow or block them on election day.
Presidential electors and special election rules
A vote for President counts as a vote for that candidate’s slate of electors. The Governor must send elector certificates as soon as possible and no later than 6 days before electors meet and must deliver six duplicate‑original certificates to the electors. Electors meet in Augusta at 2:00 p.m. on the first Tuesday after the second Wednesday in December. If a certified elector dies, withdraws, or is disqualified, a replacement may be named if legal steps are met before Election Day. If the U.S. House Speaker certifies over 100 House vacancies, the Governor’s special election cannot include a primary and must use committee nomination, petition, or declared write‑in with deadlines that meet federal limits.
Stronger polling place rules and observation
Monitors at the voting place must file a signed statement and cannot handle registration materials. Extra party workers and observers may stay outside the guardrail if there is space and they do not influence voters. No campaign ads, literature, or apparel are allowed on public property within 250 feet of a voting entrance or registrar’s office. Only the registrar, clerk, or authorized officials may hand out or collect registration forms inside or within 250 feet of the voting place. Wardens must remove anyone who tries to influence voters or blocks passage. Wardens can set a spot for signature collection, limit collectors to one per question or candidate, and bar asking until a voter finishes voting. When many people ask to inspect materials, wardens and clerks may limit time and give priority to candidate or party representatives; for absentee inspections, you must request by 4:00 p.m. the day before. The law also repeals two older subsections to update these rules.
Tighter, faster rules for candidate petitions
A party can let unenrolled voters sign its nominating petitions if it files a form by December 31. Every town must have an official available to certify petitions on the filing‑deadline day. Candidate consent forms must include required registrar certifications or they will be rejected. The Secretary cannot validate signatures above the legal maximum for that petition. Petition challenges get a public hearing within 5 business days of the last day to file challenges, and a ruling within 5 business days after the hearing. Aggrieved parties can appeal to the Law Court within 3 business days; the case must finish within 35 days. Requests to use a different ballot name are due 70 days before the election.
Voter file access, privacy, penalties
People can buy a voter file for a set fee to evaluate voting rights and election laws. The file cannot include highly sensitive data like full birth dates, Social Security or tax IDs, driver’s license numbers, some protected addresses, or agency identity data. Improper use can lead to fines: up to $1,000 for a first violation and up to $5,000 for each additional one. If you file a declaration of intent, your email address can now be public. The law also repeals several older subsections tied to voter‑file rules.
Write-in deadlines and elector security
Declared write‑in candidates must file a form with the Secretary of State by 5:00 p.m. on the 70th day before the election and meet all qualifications. A presidential write‑in must also file, by the same deadline, a consent signed by a designated presidential elector, and those elector candidates must meet legal requirements. Certificates naming presidential electors must carry the state seal and one extra security feature chosen by the Secretary of State.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Craig V. Hickman
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
Actions Timeline
Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 397
6/20/2025PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.
6/11/2025SenatePASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
6/10/2025HouseCONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAYUnder suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-317).In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
6/9/2025HouseReport READ and ACCEPTED.READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (S-317) READ and ADOPTED.Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (S-317).Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence.
6/9/2025SenateCommittee on VETERANS AND LEGAL AFFAIRS suggested and ordered printed REFERENCE to the Committee on VETERANS AND LEGAL AFFAIRS Ordered sent down forthwith for concurrence
5/13/2025SenateThe Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on VETERANS AND LEGAL AFFAIRS.In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
5/13/2025House
Bill Text
Amendment C-A (S-317), adopted by House & Senate
Enacted
Introduced
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