# Maine LD 600: An Act to Initiate Recounts in Tied Elections

Maine LD 600, An Act to Initiate Recounts in Tied Elections, is a 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026) House bill sponsored by Marc Malon (Democratic); status signed, last action 2025-05-23 (Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 114) (as of 2026-10-17).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD600-132
- As of: 2026-10-17
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Maine LD 600
- State: Maine
- Session: 132nd Maine Legislature (2025-2026)
- Title: An Act to Initiate Recounts in Tied Elections
- Status: signed
- Chamber: House
- Introduced: 2025-02-20
- Last action: 2025-05-23, Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 114
- Sponsor: Marc Malon (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 3
- Subjects: ELECTIONS, ELECTIONS - VOTING PROCEDURES
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Automatic recounts and runoffs for ties: benefit, low. The Secretary of State must start a recount when results show an apparent tie. In town plurality races, the clerk also starts a recount. If the recount still ties, officials set a runoff date or, within 7 days after the election, tied candidates may withdraw by filing a signed, notarized notice. Af…
- Stricter recount request rules for candidates: mixed, low. Any candidate who is not the apparent winner may request a recount from the Secretary of State. The request must be in writing and filed within 5 business days after the election. In ranked-choice races, only candidates who were in the top three at the end of the penultimate round may request a rec…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Marc Malon (Democratic), House
- Cosponsor: Mike Tipping (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Sharon Frost (Independent), House
- Cosponsor: Stephan Bunker (Democratic), House

## Actions (7)

- 2025-05-23: Signed by Governor, ACTPUB Chapter 114
- 2025-05-22: PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence. (Senate)
- 2025-05-22: PASSED TO BE ENACTED. Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House)
- 2025-05-20: Report READ and ACCEPTED, in concurrence.READ ONCE.Committee Amendment "A" (H-145) READ and ADOPTED, in concurrence.Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED BY Committee Amendment "A" (H-145), in concurrence.Ordered sent down forthwith. (Senate)
- 2025-05-14: CONSENT CALENDAR - FIRST DAYUnder suspension of the rules CONSENT CALENDAR - SECOND DAY.The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (H-145).Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH. (House)
- 2025-03-21: Carried over, in the same posture, to the next special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature, pursuant to Joint Order SP 519. (House)
- 2025-02-20: Received by the Clerk of the House on February 20, 2025.The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on VETERANS AND LEGAL AFFAIRS pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule 401. (House)

## Bill text

- Amendment C-A (H-145), adopted by House & Senate: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0368&item=2&snum=132)
- Enacted: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0368&item=3&snum=132)
- Introduced: [PDF](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0368&item=1&snum=132)

## Related bills

- LD 1522: An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program (failed)
- LD 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan for Retirement (failed)
- LD 1665: An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief to Maine Families (failed)
- LD 1872: An Act to Reinvest in the Pension Funds of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (failed)
- LD 1611: An Act to Decrease the Retirement Contributions Required for Teachers and State Employees (failed)
- LD 1294: An Act to Expand the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit (failed)

## Sources
- [Amendment C-A (H-145), adopted by House & Senate (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0368&item=2&snum=132)
- [Enacted (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0368&item=3&snum=132)
- [Introduced (PDF)](https://legislature.maine.gov/legis/bills/getPDF.asp?paper=HP0368&item=1&snum=132)

## Related
- [LD 1522: An Act to Establish the Maine Eviction Prevention Program](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1522-132)
- [LD 2067: An Act to Include Community Mental Health Workers Under the 1998 Special Plan f…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD2067-132)
- [LD 1665: An Act to Provide Property Tax Relief to Maine Families](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1665-132)
- [LD 1872: An Act to Reinvest in the Pension Funds of the Maine Public Employees Retiremen…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1872-132)
- [LD 1611: An Act to Decrease the Retirement Contributions Required for Teachers and State…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1611-132)
- [LD 1294: An Act to Expand the Dependent Exemption Tax Credit](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD1294-132)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/ME-LD600-132 (as of 2026-10-17).