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Maine Question 1, Create a Voluntary System of Public Financing for Gubernatorial Campaigns Initiative (1989)
| Maine Question 1 | |
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| Election date |
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| Topic Campaign finance |
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| Status |
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| Type Indirect initiated state statute |
Origin |
Maine Question 1 was on the ballot as an indirect initiated state statute in Maine on November 7, 1989. It was defeated.
A "yes" vote supported establishing a voluntary system of public financing of gubernatorial campaigns. |
A "no" vote opposed establishing a voluntary system of public financing of gubernatorial campaigns. |
Election results
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Maine Question 1 |
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| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 98,558 | 43.86% | ||
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126,140 | 56.14% | ||
Overview
What would this ballot measure have done?
- See also: Text of measure
The measure would have established a voluntary system of public financing of gubernatorial campaigns. A public fund would have been created, allowing each taxpayer to direct $1 of his or her annual state income tax to be assigned for the purposes of financing gubernatorial election campaigns. Candidates for governor could have then received $2 from the fund for every $1 they received in campaign contributions of $250 or less, as long as they agreed not to spend more than $400,000 in a primary election and $600,000 in the general election. They would also have been required to not accept campaign contributions from any entity other than a natural person and to not spend more than $25,000 of their own or their spouses' money on the campaign. The candidates who used these funds would have also been required to raise at least $25,000 in amounts of no greater than $250 per contribution. Candidates who choose not to accept public financing for their campaigns would not have been subject to any of these restrictions.[1]
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Question 1 was as follows:
| “ | Do You Favor the Changes in Maine Law Concerning Campaign Finances for Candidates for Governor, as Proposed by Citizen Petition? | ” |
Full Text
The full text of this measure is available here.
Path to the ballot
An indirect initiated state statute is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that amends state statute. There are nine (9) states that allow citizens to initiate indirect state statutes.
While a direct initiative is placed on the ballot once supporters file the required number of valid signatures, an indirect initiative is first presented to the state legislature. Legislators have a certain number of days, depending on the state, to adopt the initiative into law. Should legislators take no action or reject the initiative, the initiative is put on the ballot for voters to decide.
In Maine, the number of signatures required for an indirect initiated state statute is equal to 10% of the total votes cast for governor in the last gubernatorial election prior to the filing of such petition. As an indirect process, the Legislature has until the end of the legislative session to approve the initiative after signatures are certified. If the legislature approves the initiative and the governor approves it, the measure becomes law. If the legislature does not approve the initiative, or if the governor vetoes the measure, it goes to voters for approval. A simple majority vote is required for voter approval.
See also
External links
Footnotes
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State of Maine Augusta (capital) |
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