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An Act To Require Candidates To Be Listed as Unenrolled If Not Registered with a Recognized Party
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §307, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2003, c. 447, §9, is further amended to read:
 
4. Use independent designation.   Consist of the word "independent" without another descriptive word or words. The designation "independent," without another descriptive word or words, is reserved for use by candidates that are not enrolled in any qualified or proposed party; and
Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §354, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2007, c. 455, §14, is further amended to read:
 
1. Content.   A nomination petition must contain the name of only one candidate, the candidate's place of residence, the office sought and electoral division. A nomination petition may contain as many separate papers as necessary and may contain the candidate's consent required by section 355. It may also contain the candidate's political designation. This designation may not exceed 3 words in length, may not incorporate the candidate's name or the designation or an abbreviation of the designation of a party that is qualified to nominate candidates by primary election and may not consist of or comprise language that is obscene, contemptuous, profane or prejudicial, promotes abusive or unlawful activity or violates any other provision of the laws of this State with respect to names.The nomination petition must list the political designation of the candidate as "unenrolled." A candidate who intends to form a new party about that person's candidacy must use the proposed party's designationfollow the procedure in subchapter 1, article 1.
 
A. When 2 United States Senators or 2 county commissioners are to be nominated, the nomination petition must contain the term of office sought by the candidate.
 
B. The names of presidential electors must be placed on the petition as a slate. The names of the candidates for President and Vice President must be placed on a petition for the nomination of presidential electors.
 
SUMMARY
This bill requires that the political designation for an unenrolled candidate who is nominated by petition be “unenrolled” and disallows the term “independent” for an unenrolled candidate. This bill also prohibits a candidate who intends to form a new party to be placed on the ballot by petition, but requires the candidate to follow the procedures in the election laws for forming new parties.