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Amend the bill by inserting after section 2 the following:
‘Sec. 3. 21-A MRSA §363, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended to read:
 
4. Changes in ballot.   The Secretary of State shall make the necessary changes in the ballotproduce new ballots or amend or supplement ballots already printed in accordance with section 376 or 604.’
Amend the bill by inserting after section 3 the following:
‘Sec. 4. 21-A MRSA §367, as amended by PL 2015, c. 447, §10, is further amended to read:
§ 367.Candidate withdrawal
A candidate who wishes to withdraw from an elective race shall notify the Secretary of State in writing of the candidate's intent to withdraw. This notice must be signed by the candidate. If the reason for the withdrawal is catastrophic illness, condition or injury, the procedures set forth in section 374-A, subsection 1, paragraph B must be complied with if the candidate is to be replaced.
Sec. 5. 21-A MRSA §371, as amended by PL 2015, c. 447, §11, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
§ 371. Primary election candidates; vacancy
 
3.  Vacancy and replacement of candidates in uncontested races.     If a candidate for nomination dies or becomes disqualified prior to the primary election or withdraws 70 days or more before the primary election, the Secretary of State shall declare the vacancy pursuant to section 362-A if no other candidate from the same political party will appear on the primary election ballot for that office. A political committee may fill the vacancy pursuant to section 363. The Secretary of State shall remove the former candidate's name from the primary election ballot and shall produce new primary election ballots or amend or supplement the primary election ballots already printed in accordance with section 376 or 604.
 
4.  Removal of candidate's name from ballot in contested races.     The Secretary of State shall remove the name of a candidate for nomination from the primary election ballot but is not required to declare a vacancy if, 70 days or more before the primary election, the candidate dies, becomes disqualified or withdraws and another candidate from the same political party will appear on the ballot for that office.
 
5.  Death or disqualification of candidates less than 70 days before primary election in contested races.     The Secretary of State is not required to remove the name of a candidate from the primary election ballot or declare a vacancy if a candidate dies or becomes disqualified less than 70 days before the primary election and another candidate from the same political party will appear on the ballot for that office. Upon receipt of information that the candidate has died or become disqualified, the Secretary of State shall immediately prepare and distribute to the local election officials in the candidate's electoral district a notice informing voters that the candidate has died or become disqualified and that a vote for that candidate will not be counted. The notice must be distributed with all absentee ballots requested after the notice is received by the local election officials and, on election day, must be posted outside the guardrail enclosure in accordance with section 651, subsection 2 and in each voting booth. Notice that the candidate has died or become disqualified must also be posted on the Secretary of State's publicly accessible website.
 
6.  Withdrawal of candidates less than 70 days before primary election in contested and uncontested races.    When a candidate for nomination withdraws less than 70 days before the primary election, the candidate's name may not be removed from the primary election ballot and a vacancy may not be declared. Upon receipt of the notice of withdrawal, the Secretary of State shall immediately prepare and distribute to the local election officials in the candidate's electoral district a notice informing voters that the candidate has withdrawn and that a vote for that candidate will not be counted. The notice must be distributed with all absentee ballots requested after the notice is received by the local election officials and, on election day, must be posted outside the guardrail enclosure in accordance with section 651, subsection 2 and in each voting booth. Notice of the late withdrawal must also be posted on the Secretary of State's publicly accessible website.’
Amend the bill by striking out all of sections 6 and 7 and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 6. 21-A MRSA §374-A, as amended by PL 2015, c. 447, §§12 and 13, is further amended to read:
§ 374-A. Withdrawal of candidates for certain state offices General election candidates; vacancy
 
1. WithdrawalVacancy and replacement of nominees.   The Secretary of State shall declare the vacancy as provided in section 362-A and a political committee may make a replacement nomination following a candidate's withdrawalfor the general election only if a person nominated for an office, other than United States Senator, Representative to Congress or Governor, at a primary election or by a political committee:
 
A. Withdraws on or before 5 p.m. of the 2nd Monday in July preceding the general election in accordance with section 367;
 
B. Withdraws because of a catastrophic illness, condition or injury that has permanently and continuously incapacitated the candidate and would prevent performance of the duties of the office sought, as long as the candidate or a member of the candidate's immediate family files with the Secretary of State a certificate accompanying the withdrawal request that describes the illness, condition or injury and is signed by a licensed physician; or
 
C. Dies prior to the general election.
 
2. Deadline for replacement of nominee.   A political committee may make a replacement nomination for the general election:
 
A. No later than 5 p.m. of the 4th Monday in July preceding the general election for a candidate who has withdrawn in accordance with subsection 1, paragraph A; or
 
B. As soon as practicable for a candidate who withdraws or is withdrawn in accordance with subsection 1, paragraph B or C.
 
2-A.  Ballot procedure for replacement candidates.     If a political party makes a replacement nomination for the general election by the deadline established in subsection 2, the Secretary of State shall produce new general election ballots or amend or supplement general election ballots already printed in accordance with section 376 or 604.
 
3. Deadline for withdrawalremoval of candidate's name from general election ballot.  AThe name of a candidate for an office on the general election ballot must withdraw at leastwho withdraws for any reason 70 days or more before the general election in order for the candidate's name tomust be removed from the ballot. Less than 70 days before the general election, a candidate may withdraw from the election by providing a written notice to the Secretary of State that the candidate is withdrawing and will not serve if elected. TheIf a candidate for an office on the general election ballot withdraws less than 70 days before the general election and meets the criteria of subsection 1, paragraph B or C, the candidate's name must be removed from the general election ballot in accordance with section 376 or the general election ballot must be amended or supplemented in accordance with section 604. If a candidate for an office on the general election ballot withdraws less than 70 days before the general election and does not meet the criteria of subsection 1, paragraph B or C, the candidate's name will not be removed from the ballot, but upon receipt of the notice of late withdrawal required by section 367, the Secretary of State shall instruct theimmediately prepare and distribute to the local election officials in the candidate's electoral district to distribute notices with absentee ballots requested after that date and to post a notice at each voting place in the districta notice informing voters that the candidate has withdrawn and that a vote for that candidate will not be counted. The notice must be distributed with all absentee ballots requested after the notice is received by the local election officials and, on election day, must be posted outside the guardrail enclosure in accordance with section 651, subsection 2 and in each voting booth. Notice of the latea candidate's withdrawal less than 70 days before the general election must also be posted on the Secretary of State's publicly accessible website.
Sec. 7.  21-A MRSA §374-B  is enacted to read:
§ 374-B. Special election candidates
If a candidate for an office on a special election ballot dies or withdraws for any reason, the candidate’s name will not be removed from the ballot. The Secretary of State shall immediately prepare and distribute to the local election officials in the candidate’s electoral district a notice informing voters that the candidate has died or has withdrawn and that a vote for that candidate will not be counted. The notice must be distributed with all absentee ballots requested after the notice is received by the local election officials and, on election day, must be posted outside the guardrail enclosure in accordance with section 651, subsection 2 and in each voting booth. Notice that the candidate has died or has withdrawn must also be posted on the Secretary of State's publicly accessible website.
Sec. 8. 21-A MRSA §376, as amended by PL 2015, c. 447, §15, is further amended to read:
§ 376.Production of new ballots
 
1.  Federal or gubernatorial office.     If a candidate or nominee for a federal or gubernatorial office withdraws less than 70 days before any election, the Secretary of State is not required to produce new ballots.
 
1-A.  Removal of candidate's name from ballots.     The Secretary of State shall remove a candidate’s name from the ballot if the candidate withdraws for any reason 70 days or more before any primary or general election.
 
2. Certain state officesProduction of new ballots listing replacement candidate.   The Secretary of State is required toshall produce new ballots onlylisting a replacement candidate if a candidate for an office, other than United States Senator, Representative to Congress or Governor, withdraws in accordance with section 374-A, subsection 1, paragraph A, B or C, a replacement candidate is nominated and a notification is filed with the Secretary of State by the appropriate committee of the political party making the nomination no later than 60 days before the election.:
 
A.  A vacancy is declared under section 371, subsection 3 or section 374-A, subsection 1, paragraph B or C, a replacement candidate is selected in accordance with sections 363 and 365 and a notification is filed with the Secretary of State by the committee of the political party that selected the replacement candidate no later than 60 days before the election; or
 
B.  A vacancy is declared under section 374-A, subsection 1, paragraph A, a replacement candidate is selected in accordance with sections 363 and 365 and a notification is filed with the Secretary of State by the committee of the political party that selected the replacement candidate before the deadline established in section 374-A, subsection 2, paragraph A.
 
2-A.  Procedure when replacement candidates selected less than 60 days before the election.     If a candidate for an office withdraws in accordance with section 371, subsection 3 or section 374-A, subsection 1, paragraph B or C, a replacement candidate is selected in accordance with sections 363 and 365 and a notification is filed with the Secretary of State by the appropriate committee of the political party making the nomination less than 60 days before the election, the Secretary of State must amend or supplement the ballots in accordance with section 604.
 
3. List of candidates.  Immediately after the last day for withdrawal, theThe Secretary of State shall maintain and periodically update a list of all names to be placed on the ballot for the primary or general election.
Sec. 9. 21-A MRSA §604, as amended by PL 1997, c. 436, §78, is further amended to read:
§ 604.Emergency ballot procedure
In an emergency as described in subsection 2, the Secretary of State may prepare new ballots, amend thosedirect that ballots already printed be amended or supplemented in accordance with subsection 1 or 1-A or authorize any clerk to procure ballots from another municipality or voting district. He may authorize any clerk to do the same.
 
1. Ballots amended.   Ballots already printed may be amended by having corrective stickers added, or by some other means, as directed by the Secretary of State.
 
1-A.  Supplemental notice.     The Secretary of State may prepare and distribute to the local election officials in the candidate's electoral district a notice to supplement ballots already printed. The notice may correct an error on the ballot or provide information on a replacement candidate and how voters may vote for the replacement candidate. The notice must be distributed with all absentee ballots issued after the date that the notice is provided to the clerk and, on election day, must be posted outside the guardrail enclosure in accordance with section 651, subsection 2 and in each voting booth.
 
2. Emergency described.   An emergency may exist as follows:
 
A. If there is a shortage of ballots;
 
B. If the ballots are not delivered in time for the election;
 
C. If the ballots are missing, defaced or destroyed; or
 
D. If the Secretary of State receives notification of a replacement ofcandidate to fill a vacancy less than 60 days before the election in accordance with section 376, subsection 2-A; or the correction of an error in the ballot requires its amendment.
 
E.  If the ballots contain an error.
 
3. Candidate or nomineeReplacement candidate to fill vacancy.   When a candidate for nomination or a nominee is chosen to fill a vacancy, the Secretary of State and the clerk of each interested municipality shall perform the duties required by this section as promptly as possible.
Sec. 10. 21-A MRSA §651, sub-§2, ¶B, as amended by PL 2017, c. 246, §1, is further amended by enacting sub-¶(3-A) to read:
 
B. Outside the guardrail enclosure at each voting place:
 
(1) At least one voting instruction poster prepared under section 605-A;
 
(2) One set of sample ballots for each ballot style being used in that voting place;
 
(3) A list of any declared write-in candidates for that voting district, with the office sought, next to the sample ballots;
 
(3-A) A supplemental notice correcting an error or providing information on a replacement candidate prepared under section 604 or a notice informing voters that a vote for a candidate will not be counted because the candidate has died or has withdrawn prepared under section 371, subsection 5 or 6 or section 374-A, subsection 3 next to the sample ballots;
 
(4) One voting rights poster or notice prepared under section 605-A;
 
(5) One election penalty poster or notice prepared under section 605-A;
 
(6) One Treasurer's Statement prepared under Title 5, section 152;
 
(7) One copy, or more as determined necessary by the clerk, of the citizen's guide to the referendum election prepared under section 605-A. The clerk shall post, in a conspicuous and public area, a notification indicating that the citizen's guide provides helpful information regarding referendum questions on the ballot and where the guide is located in the voting place for voters to read; and
’
 
(8) One copy of the Office of Fiscal and Program Review's estimate of the fiscal impact prepared under Title 1, section 353.
Amend the bill by inserting after section 11 the following:
‘Sec. 12. 30-A MRSA §2528, sub-§6, ¶D, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 and Pt. C, §106 and amended by PL 1989, c. 6; c. 9, §2; and c. 104, Pt. C, §§8 and 10, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
 
D. There must be a place on the ballot for the voter to designate the voter's choice.’
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section number to read consecutively.
 
SUMMARY
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, strikes the provision of the bill that lowers the age of qualification to be an election official from 17 years of age to 16 years of age.
The amendment retains all other provisions of the bill, including the provisions of the bill that change the candidate withdrawal provisions for United States Senator, Representative to Congress and Governor to match those of other offices, but further clarifies the laws governing the candidate withdrawal process for all federal, state and county offices, other than for United States President, as follows.
1. For all elections, as in current practice, the name of a candidate who withdraws 70 days or more before any election for any reason will be removed from the ballot.
2. For general elections, as in current practice, a candidate who is a member of a political party and who withdraws before the 2nd Monday in July preceding the general election may be replaced by the appropriate political committee no later than 5 p.m. of the 4th Monday in July preceding the general election. The replacement candidate must be listed on the general election ballot.
3. For general elections, as in current practice, a candidate who is a member of a political party and who dies or withdraws due to incapacity may be replaced by the appropriate political committee as soon as practicable. Also as in current practice, if the Secretary of State receives notification of the replacement candidate no later than 60 days before the general election, new ballots listing the replacement candidate must be printed. If the Secretary of State receives notification of the replacement candidate less than 60 days before the general election, however, the amendment newly clarifies that the Secretary of State is not required to print new ballots but may amend ballots already printed or issue a notice to supplement ballots already printed informing voters of the replacement candidate and instructing voters how they may vote for the replacement candidate.
4. For general elections, as in current practice, the name of a candidate who withdraws for a reason other than incapacity less than 70 days before the general election will not be removed from the ballot and voters casting ballots after the withdrawal will be notified that the candidate has withdrawn and that a vote for that candidate will not be counted.
5. For uncontested primary elections, as in current practice, if a candidate dies or becomes disqualified before the primary election or withdraws for another reason 70 days or more before the primary election, the appropriate political committee may select a replacement candidate. Also as in current practice, if the Secretary of State receives notification of the replacement candidate 60 days or more before the primary election, new ballots listing the replacement candidate must be printed. If the Secretary of State receives notification of the replacement candidate less than 60 days before the primary election, however, the amendment newly clarifies that the Secretary of State is not required to print new ballots but may amend ballots already printed or issue a notice to supplement ballots already printed informing voters of the replacement candidate and instructing voters how they may vote for the replacement candidate.
6. For contested primary elections, as in current practice, if a candidate dies or becomes disqualified 70 days or more before the primary election, the candidate's name will be removed from the ballot but a replacement candidate may not be named. If a candidate dies or becomes disqualified less than 70 days before a contested primary election, the amendment newly clarifies that although the candidate's name will not be removed from the ballot, voters casting ballots after the death or disqualification will be notified that the candidate is no longer running for office and that votes for the candidate will not be counted.
7. For both contested and uncontested primary elections, as in current practice, the name of a candidate who withdraws less than 70 days before the primary election will not be removed from the ballot and voters casting ballots after the withdrawal will be notified that the candidate has withdrawn and that a vote for that candidate will not be counted.
8. For special elections to fill a vacancy in an office, as in current practice, if a candidate dies or withdraws from the election for any reason, the candidate's name will not be removed from the ballot and voters casting ballots after the death or withdrawal will be notified that the candidate has died or has withdrawn and that a vote for that candidate will not be counted.
The amendment also makes a technical change to the law governing municipal elections by removing language requiring ballots to be printed so that voters mark their choices in squares printed to the left of each candidate's name and substituting language authorizing ballots to be printed in any way that allows the voter to designate the voter's choice.