Your feedback ensures we stay focused on the facts that matter to you most—take our survey.
Maine 2024 ballot measures
 |
U.S. Senate • U.S. House • State Senate • State House • Special state legislative • State ballot measures • Municipal • Recalls • All other local • How to run for office |
 |
| 2023 U.S. state ballot measures | |
|---|---|
2024 »
« 2022
| |
 | |
| Overview | |
| Scorecard | |
| Tuesday Count | |
| Deadlines | |
| Requirements | |
| Lawsuits | |
| Readability | |
| Voter guides | |
| Election results | |
| Campaigns | |
| Polls | |
| Media editorials | |
| Filed initiatives | |
| Finances | |
| Contributions | |
| Signature costs | |
| Ballot Measure Monthly | |
| Signature requirements | |
Have you subscribed yet?
Join the hundreds of thousands of readers trusting Ballotpedia to keep them up to date with the latest political news. Sign up for the Daily Brew.
| |
In 2024, five statewide ballot measure were on the ballot in Maine for the election on November 5.
On the ballot
| Type | Title | Description | Result | Yes Votes | No Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Question 1 | Limit the amount of campaign contributions to $5,000 from individuals and entities to political action committees that make independent expenditures |
|
600,191 (75%) |
201,034 (25%) |
|
| Question 2 | Authorize $25 million in general obligation bonds for research, development, and commercialization of for Maine-based public and private institutions in support of technological innovation |
|
433,394 (54%) |
365,100 (46%) |
|
| Question 3 | Authorize $10 million in general obligation bonds for the restoration of local community buildings |
|
410,979 (51%) |
391,176 (49%) |
|
| Question 4 | Authorize $30 million in general obligation bonds for the development and maintenance of outdoor trails |
|
440,560 (55%) |
354,626 (45%) |
|
| Question 5 | Replace the Maine state flag with a flag consisting of a pine tree and the North Star on a buff background |
|
358,912 (44%) |
451,366 (56%) |
Getting measures on the ballot
Citizens
In Maine, citizens have the power to initiate state statutes and veto referendums, but not constitutional amendments. Initiatives are indirect in Maine, meaning that the state legislature has the option to approve an initiative without a vote of electors. Voters approved a constitutional amendment for initiative and referendum powers in 1908.
For an initiative to make the 2024 ballot, the number of valid signatures required for an initiative to make the ballot is equal to 10% of votes cast for governor in the previous gubernatorial election.[1]
Legislature
The Maine State Legislature can refer statewide ballot measures, in the form of constitutional amendments and state statutes, to the ballot. In Maine, the most common type of referred statute is the bond issue.
Maine is one of 16 states that requires a two-thirds vote in each legislative chamber during one legislative session to refer a constitutional amendment to the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 101 votes in the Maine House of Representatives and 24 votes in the Maine Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Statutes, including bond issues, require a simple majority vote in each legislative chamber during one legislative session and the governor's signature to appear on the ballot. Section 14 of Article IX of the Maine Constitution requires that state bonds exceeding $2 million be referred to the ballot for voter approval.
Historical facts
In Maine, a total of 249 ballot measures appeared on statewide ballots between 1985 and 2022. One hundred eighty-six ballot measures were approved, and 63 ballot measures were defeated.
| Maine statewide ballot measures, 1985-2022 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total number | Annual average | Annual minimum | Annual maximum | Approved | Defeated | ||
| # | % | # | % | ||||
Ballot initiative certification rates
The following table shows the rate of certification for ballot initiatives in Maine between 2010 and 2022:
| Maine statewide ballot initiatives filed and certified, 2010-2022 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Ballot initiatives filed | Certified | |
| # | % | ||
| Averages | |||
Not on the ballot
| Type | Title | Subject | Description | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IndISS | Voter ID Requirement Initiative | Voting policy measures | Required voters to present a photo identification before voting | 
|
| IndISS | Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance Initiative | Healthcare | Provides an individual paid family and medical leave, as well as the ability to receive family and medical leave insurance benefits in certain situations |
|
| LRCA | Officer on Tribal Relations Amendment | American Indian issues | Establish the position of Officer on Tribal Relations |
|
| LRCA | Equal Rights Under the Law Amendment | Constitutional rights | Prohibit the denial of equal rights based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, physical or mental disability, ancestry or national origin of an individual |
|
| LRCA | Right to Personal Reproductive Autonomy Amendment | Constitutional rights | Add a provision to the Maine Constitution to provide for the right to personal reproductive autonomy |
|
| VR | Popular Vote for Presidential Elections Referendum | Electiosn and campaigns | Uphold the Maine law that would designate all of its electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the national popular vote |
|
See also
External links
Footnotes
 |
State of Maine Augusta (capital) |
|---|---|
| Elections |
What's on my ballot? | Elections in 2025 | How to vote | How to run for office | Ballot measures |
| Government |
Who represents me? | U.S. President | U.S. Congress | Federal courts | State executives | State legislature | State and local courts | Counties | Cities | School districts | Public policy |
