List of amendments to the Maine Constitution

Ballot measures in Maine
Constitutional amendments
Citizen initiatives
Statutes referred by Legislature
Veto referenda
Laws • History

If 2/3rds of both houses of the Maine State Legislature vote to do so, a proposed constitutional amendment to the Maine Constitution can be placed on the statewide ballot. If a proposed amendment is approved by a simple majority of those voting in a particular election, it becomes part of the constitution.

Through 2006, the Maine Constitution has been amended 171 times. Records compiled by the Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library provide a list of proposed amendments beginning in 1834.

See also: Amending the Maine Constitution

1911-1919

Note: The left-most column refers to the number of the relevant, approved, constitutional amendment. This numbering system is based on references found in "The Constitutionalism of the American States" by Kenneth Palmer and Jonathan Thomas, University of Missouri Press, 2008, which gives a number for some of the amendments. The other constitutional amendments in this list were numbered by counting backward or forward from that numbering system.

Number	Year	Description	In favor	Opposed	Outcome
	1911	Manufacturing and sale of intoxicating liquor	60,095	60,853	d
33	1911	Resolve to Amend the Constitution with Reference to the Seat of Government	59,678	41,294	a
34	1911	Increase municipal debt limit of towns over 40,000 population to 7.5%	39,242	38,712	a
35	1912	State bond issue for building and maintaining highways	80,619	21,454	a
43	1913	Classify property for purposes of taxation	18,060	8,157	a
44	1913	Timing of elections on constitutional amendments	16,746	6,741	a
	1917	Suffrage for women	20,604	38,838	d
45	1917	How to remove sheriffs from office	29,584	25,416	a
	1917	Permission for towns to create local polling places	22,588	24,593	d
	1917	Relating to the military (state militia)	20,585	23,912	d
46	1917	Apportionment of representatives in mergers of towns and cities	22,013	21,719	a
	1919	Relating to the military (state militia)	15,826	11,020	d
47	1919	Permit voter suffrage in town for 3 months after removal	22,024	6,751	a
48	1919	Bonds to build wharves and port facilities	22,637	6,777	a
49	1919	Increase the state debt limit	21,542	7,080	a
50	1919	Increase state bonds for highways and bridges	22,228	5,125	a

1920-1929

Number	Year	Description	In favor	Opposed	Outcome
51	1920	Division of cities and towns into polling places	76,129	29,333	a
52	1920	Bonus for soldiers and sailors	105,712	32,820	a
	1920	Income tax and tax on intangibles	53,975	64,787	d
53	1921	Absentee voting regulated	14,410	11,670	a
	1921	Bonds for state aid highways	9,924	16,194	d
	1921	Bonus for Spanish war soldiers	11,969	15,316	d
54	1925	Bonds for the Kennebec Bridge	54,107	8,228	a
55	1925	Bonds for highways and bridges	49,821	10,332	a
	1926	Prohibit use of public funds for other than public institutions and public purposes	65,349	94,148	d
56	1929	How to fill council vacancies	62,108	32,622	a
57	1929	Bonds for the Waldo-Hancock Bridge	58,107	43,919	a
	1929	Increase state bonds for highways and bridges	58,666	64,553	d

1930-1939

Number	Year	Description	In favor	Opposed	Outcome
58	1931	Number of senators apportioned	9,709	8,972	a
	1933	Voting machines	57,230	65,553	d
	1933	Raise state debt limit, exempt state loans for emergency relief from debt limit	47,678	81,023	d
59	1934	Repeal 26th amendment (Prohibition)	161,893	85,363	a
60	1934	Increase state debt limit	117,046	91,515	a
61	1934	Bond issue for the construction and improvement of state buildings	123,843	79,906	a
62	1935	Length of residence to qualify as voter	23,269	5,540	a
63	1935	Increase state bond issue to match federal aid for highways	19,074	9,915	a
64	1935	Voting machines authorized	17,855	10,996	a
65	1935	Bond issue for the Deer Isle-Sedgwick Bridge	21,383	8,375	a
66	1938	Six month residence to qualify as voter	125,996	79,342	a
	1939	To increase state highway bonds	16,500	21,265	d

1940-1949

Number	Year	Description	In favor	Opposed	Outcome
67	1944	No diversion of highway funds	139,805	33,172	a
	1946	Bond issue and tax measure to pay soldiers bonus	59,725	108,467	d
68	1948	Additional signatures for referendum petitions	68,237	65,698	a
69	1948	Traveling expenses of legislators	77,716	62,236	a

1950-1959

Number	Year	Description	In favor	Opposed	Outcome
70	1951	Make State Treasurer eligible for a second term	27,073	22,320	a
71	1951	Direct initiative petition to be signed by at least 10 per cent of gubernatorial vote	23,600	21,986	a
	1951	Increase municipal debt limit from 5 to 7.5%	21,478	26,232	d
72	1951	Make legislative measures inoperative unless revenue is provided	24,746	20,900	a
73	1951	Exempt obligations to Maine School Building Authority from municipal debt limit	23,887	20,594	a
74	1951	Absentee voting	39,006	10,187	a
	1951	Bond issue for state office building	16,107	31,639	d
75	1951	Clarify state borrowing power	28,758	17,582	a
76	1954	Increase municipal debt limit from 5 to 7 1/2 per cent	111,726	80,402	a
77	1954	Permit Indians to vote	155,528	41,688	a
78	1955	Extend pardon power of Governor and Council to juvenile delinquency offenses	22,658	7,562	a
79	1955	Change qualifications for citizenship of Governor	15,157	14,452	a
80	1955	Exempt Maine School Building Authority from municipal debt limit	19,378	9,327	a
81	1955	Clarify voting by persons in military service	25,347	4,664	a
82	1957	Bond issue of $20,000,000 for guaranteed loans for industrial purposes	66,427	30,750	a
83	1957	Change date of general election from September to November	63,820	36,202	a
84	1957	Four year term for Governor	60,240	41,392	a

1960-1969

Number	Year	Description	In favor	Opposed	Outcome
85	1960	Continuity of government in case of enemy attack	343,333	24,829	a
	1961	October vote on 2 amendments declared null and void. See under 1962
86	1962	Maine State Retirement System funds to be maintained in trust and not diverted	187,799	43,286	a
87	1962	Municipal voters to authorize bond issues for building or industrial use	147,477	74,928	a
88	1963	Election, powers and reapportionment of the House of Representatives	44,556	23,035	a
89	1963	Forbid discrimination against any person	49,966	19,294	a
90	1964	Eliminate requirement that Governor communicate pardons to Legislature	149,582	98,581	a
91	1964	Oaths of Senators and Representatives in absence of Governor and Council	179,451	65,193	a
92	1964	Examination of election returns for senators and filling of Senate vacancies	190,949	49,339	a
93	1964	Eliminate certain requirements regarding public money	131,407	102,809	a
94	1964	Revise Article VI relating to judicial power	143,614	79,095	a
95	1964	Authority of Governor as commander in chief	147,984	83,335	a
96	1964	Procedure for determining election of Governor	156,407	74,441	a
97	1964	President of Senate or Speaker of House assuming Office of Governor	171,113	59,170	a
98	1964	Additional $20,000,000 for guaranteed loans for industrial purposes	164,855	69,658	a
99	1964	Clarify procedure relating to election returns	178,614	52,836	a
100	1965	Eliminate voting restrictions on paupers	28,233	18,630	a
101	1965	State's credit for guaranteed loans on personal property for industrial purposes	31,685	14,632	a
102	1966	Apportionment, election and powers of Senate	157,773	91,618	a
103	1967	Time for codifying Constitution	46,649	29,798	a
104	1967	State's credit for bonds not exceeding one million for loans to Maine students in higher education	57,583	24,018	a
105	1967	Mortgage loan insurance for recreational projects increase from 10 to 17 million	40,619	38,454	a
106	1967	Repeal offices of judges and registers of probate as constitutional officers	41,850	34,454	a
107	1967	Temporary loans in anticipation of state tax revenue	45,086	31,930	a
108	1967	Industrial loans to fisheries and agriculture insured	49,886	38,365	a
109	1968	Increase to $80,000,000 the limit of legislature's authority to insure payment of loans	240,983	89,015	a
	1969	State's credit for bonds up to 25 million to private colleges	55,770	79,051	d
110	1969	Odd-numbered Senate, 31-35 members	76,330	57,950	a
111	1969	Municipal home rule	76,405	56,209	a
112	1969	State's credit pledged for loans of Maine School Building Authority	70,639	64,594	a

1970-1979

Number	Year	Description	In favor	Opposed	Outcome
113	1970	Reduce voting age to 20 years	167,660	117,668	a
114	1970	Valuation of certain lands at current value	168,390	99,316	a
115	1970	Convening of special sessions by the Legislature	157,903	110,047	a
116	1971	Reduce voting age to 18	144,949	99,274	a
117	1971	Governor's term to continue until successor qualified	170,851	67,875	a
118	1971	State's credit for loans to Maine college students	139,984	97,430	a
119	1972	State's credit for loans for housing for Indians	268,969	104,521	a
120	1972	State's credit for loans to resident Maine veterans	292,405	81,629	a
	1972	Reduce age of member of House to 20 years	179,557	194,166	d
121	1973	Regulation of municipal borrowing by Legislature	122,555	100,984	a
122	1973	Status of bills presented to Governor, legislative adjournment	153,639	68,446	a
123	1974	Eliminate 3-mo. residence requirement within state	217,445	110,588	a
124	1974	Appointment of Justices of Peace and Notaries Public	214,353	96,554	a
125	1974	Clarify validity of municipal industrial parks	239,953	71,644	a
126	1975	Establish single-member districts, Apportionment Commission	94,773	45,307	a
127	1975	Clarify initiative and referendum petition procedures	105,073	32,995	a
128	1975	Provide for inability of Governor to discharge powers and duties	112,171	31,647	a
129	1975	Abolish Executive Council	94,702	47,513	a
130	1975	Provide for annual sessions of Legislature	91,582	47,877	a
131	1976	Allow Governor 10 days to act on legislation	332,174	98,043	a
132	1976	Allow judges to hold office up to 6 mos. till successors appointed	331,802	105,278	a
133	1976	Increase bond limit on vet mortgage loans	247,499	170,083	a
134	1976	Bond service revenues	242,299	149,571	a
135	1978	Eliminate Justice of the Peace as a constitutional office	179,146	141,527	a
136	1978	Repeal poll tax & payment in lieu of military duty	185,997	124,650	a
137	1978	Reduce, combine guarantee limits for insurance of enterprises	204,747	95,546	a
138	1978	Require legislature to convene in December after general election	165,262	153,409	a
139	1978	Reimburse municipalities for losses caused by property tax exemptions	213,417	100,488	a
140	1978	Taxes may be assessed in cost-sharing formula	212,063	97,764	a
	1979	Remove the literacy requirement for eligibility to vote	84,971	170,267	d

1980-1989

#	Year	Description	In favor	Opposed	Outcome
141	1980	Bring into conformance the year in which the House and Senate shall be apportioned	298,113	144,976	a
142	1980	Change the referendum provisions so that the direct initiative and people's veto elections can be held at the same time as a scheduled statewide election	364,629	96,099	a
143	1980	Allow either the constitution or statutes to determine the manner of selection of judges of probate and justices of the peace	288,116	156,880	a
144	1981	Change the initiative provisions to require that all signatures be dated and validity be limited to one year	141,975	77,170	a
145	1981	Candidates for and members of the House of Representatives must reside in the district they represent	193,862	37,257	a
146	1981	Decrease the bonding limit of the Maine School Building Authority from $10,000,000 to $6,000,000	143,962	80,300	a
147	1982	Limit the life of bond authorizations	241,838	152,727	a
148	1982	Authorize the credit of the state to be loaned to secure funds for loans to parents of Maine students attending institutions of higher education	257,040	162,696	a
	1983	Allow state to create a property tax exemption for watercraft without being required to reimburse municipalities for 50% of the property tax revenue loss	133,605	151,499	d
149	1983	Expanding any principal amount of the Mining Excise Tax Trust Fund requires two-thirds vote of the Legislature	179,082	96,370	a
150	1983	Change municipal property tax loss reimbursement provisions and penalty payable upon the change of use of land containing minerals	140,680	125,309	a
151	1984	To limit the life of bonds authorized but not issued	309,717	175,127	a
	1984	Resolution of the Legislature to provide for an equal rights amendment	195,653	333,998	d
152	1984	Allow the Legislature to set the limit for guaranteed business loans to Maine Veterans	296,299	206,760	a
153	1984	No watercraft will be taxed as personal property, provided there is an excise tax on some watercraft collected and used by municipalities	336,848	169,286	a
	1985	Members of Legislature can be appointed to civil office as long as they resign from the Legislature upon confirmation	92,262	92,824	d
154	1985	Extend the tenure for sheriffs from 2 years to 4 years	110,080	80,141	a
155	1986	Improve the efficiency of the apportioning commission and specify how the commission should operate	250,609	130,410	a
156	1987	Clarify the rights of citizens to keep and bear arms	216,013	159,226	a
157	1987	Candidates for state legislature must reside in the district the candidate seeks to represent at the time he is nominated	300,932	73,316	a
158	1988	Remove gender biased language from Maine Constitution	292,335	232,456	a
	1989	Insure the payment of mortgage loans for affordable housing for Maine citizens, not to exceed $25,000,000 in the aggregate	112,090	115,232	d

1990-1999

#	Year	Description	In favor	Opposed	Outcome
	1990	State government guarantee repayment of housing loans to stimulate housing market	236,348	250,346	d
159	1991	Funds appropriated to the Maine State Retirement System may not be diverted to another purpose	262,113	111,705	a
160	1992	Treasurer of State Amendment	396,409	219,822	a
161	1992	Inland Fisheries Revenue Amendment	467,672	164,759	a
162	1992	Funded Mandates Amendment	327,249	278,518	a
163	1993	State Park Amendment	169,485	63,056	a
164	1995	Retirement System Amendment	274,786	123,208	a
165	1995	Line-Item Veto Amendment	286,929	115,216	a
166	1996	Signature Certification on Initiative Petitions	367,994	187,428	a
	1997	Repeal Mental Illness Provision	141,654	196,662	d
167	1999	Election Timing of People's Veto	285,174	114,640	a
168	1999	Property Taxes on Historically Significant Property	221,997	185,121	a

2000-2009

#	Year	Description	In favor	Opposed	Outcome
	2000	Commercial Fishing Property Tax Amendment	301,931	305,554	d
	2000	Repeal of Mental Illness Voting Restrictions Amendment	250,729	379,964	d
169	2002	Short-Term Debt for Highway Construction Amendment	262,900	212,940	a
170	2005	Commercial Fishing Amendment	276,116	109,508	a
171	2006	Initiative Petition Deadlines Amendment	270,922	229,749	a

See also

• List of Maine ballot measures
• List of People's Veto ballot measures in Maine

External links

• Constitution of the State of Maine
• Constitutional amendments from 1834-present.
• Downloadable Constitution (PDF)
• Maine Politics and Government: The Constitutional Tradition, page 57.
• Constitute of the State of Maine as of 1902, including information about amendments up to the 30th.

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