Become part of the movement for unbiased, accessible election information. Donate today.
Maine General Election Ballot Form, Direct Initiative Question (1972)
|
|
|
The Maine General Election Ballot Form Initiative, also known as Direct initiative Question, was on the June 19, 1972 ballot in Maine as an indirect initiated state statute, where it was approved.[1] The measure removed the straight party square box on general election ballots and established a ballot on which the candidates are alphabetically listed in a column by office rather than in columns by parties. Each candidate would have his or her party designation appear after his or her name. [2]
While the measure was called "Direct initiative Question" on the ballot, all of Maine's initiatives are indirect because they are first submitted to the legislature. The legislature decides whether or not to vote on the initiated measure or to refer it to the people. Hence, the measures are often called "direct" because they are voted upon by the people, not the legislature.
Election results
| Maine Direct initiative Question (1972) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
 Yes | 110,867 | 63.22% | ||
| No | 64,506 | 36.78% | ||
Election results via: Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library, Votes on Initiated Bills
Text of measure
The language appeared on the ballot as:[2]
| “ |
"Shall an Initiated Act 'Relating to Form of Ballots in General Elections' Establishing an Office-type Ballot and Eliminating Voting by the Straight Party Square Box Become Law?" [3] |
” |
See also
- Maine 1972 ballot measures
- 1972 ballot measures
- List of Maine ballot measures
- History of Initiative & Referendum in Maine
External links
- Lewiston Evening Journal, "Specimen Ballot," June 12, 1972
- Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library, Votes on Initiated Bills
- National Conference of State Legislatures, State Ballot Measures Database
Footnotes
- ↑ Maine State Law and Legislative Reference Library, "Votes on Initiated Bills-," accessed April 16, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lewiston Evening Journal, "Specimen Ballot," June 12, 1972
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
 |
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 |
