PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
An Act To Allow Primary Petition Signature Requirements To Be Proportional with Party Enrollment
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §335, sub-§5, ¶¶A to C, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, are amended to read:
 
A. For candidate for Governor, at least 1% of the voters enrolled in the candidate's party and residing in the State as of December 1st of the year before the election or 2,000 and not more than 3,000 voters, whichever is less;
 
B. For a candidate for United States Senator, at least 1% of the voters enrolled in the candidate's party and residing in the candidate's electoral district as of December 1st of the year before the election or 2,000 and not more than 3,000 voters, whichever is less;
 
C. For a candidate for Representative to Congress, at least 1% of the voters enrolled in the candidate's party and residing in the candidate's electoral district as of December 1st of the year before the election or 1,000 and not more than 1,500 voters, whichever is less;
 
SUMMARY
This bill changes the law governing a candidate's nomination by primary election for the office of Governor, United States Senator or Representative to Congress. It changes the number of signatures required on a primary petition for the office of Governor or United States Senator to be 1% of the voters enrolled in the candidate's party and residing in the candidate's electoral district as of December 1st of the year before the election or the current minimum requirement of 2,000 voters, whichever is less. It also changes the number of signatures required on a primary petition for the office of Representative to Congress to be 1% of the voters so enrolled or the current minimum of 1,000 voters, whichever is less.