Maine Signature Distribution Requirement for Initiatives and Referendums Amendment (2018)
| Maine Signature Distribution Requirement for Initiatives and Referendums Amendment | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 6, 2018 | |
| Topic Direct democracy measures | |
| Status Not on the ballot | |
| Type Constitutional amendment | Origin State legislature |
The Maine Signature Distribution Requirement for Initiatives and Referendums Amendment did not qualify for the ballot in Maine as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 6, 2018.
The measure would have created a distribution requirement for signatures for initiatives and veto referendums. The measure would have required that petitioners collect signatures equal to 10 percent of the total votes last cast for governor in each of the state's two congressional districts.[1]
As of 2018, petitioners were required to collect signatures equal to 10 percent of the prior gubernatorial statewide vote from across Maine, without regard to congressional districts. For 2018 initiatives, this signature requirement amounted to 61,123 valid signatures.
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title was as follows:[1]
| “ | Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to require signatures on direct initiative petitions from voters from each congressional district of this State?[2] | ” |
Constitutional changes
- See also: Article IV--Pt. 3, Maine Constitution
The measure would have amended Section 18(2) of Article IV Pt. 3 of the Maine Constitution. The following underlined text would have been added:[1] Note: Hover over the text and scroll to see the full text.
For any measure thus proposed by electors, the number of signatures of voters from each congressional district shall not be less than 10% of the total vote for Governor cast in that congressional district in the last gubernatorial election preceding the filing of such petition. The date each signature was made shall be written next to the signature on the petition. A signature is not valid if it is dated more than one year prior to the date that the petition was filed in the office of the Secretary of State. The measure thus proposed, unless enacted without change by the Legislature at the session at which it is presented, shall be submitted to the electors together with any amended form, substitute, or recommendation of the Legislature, and in such manner that the people can choose between the competing measures or reject both. When there are competing bills and neither receives a majority of the votes given for or against both, the one receiving the most votes shall at the next statewide election to be held not less than 60 days after the first vote thereon be submitted by itself if it receives more than 1/3 of the votes given for and against both. If the measure initiated is enacted by the Legislature without change, it shall not go to a referendum vote unless in pursuance of a demand made in accordance with the preceding section. The Legislature may order a special election on any measure that is subject to a vote of the people.[2]
Sponsors
The following state legislators sponsored the amendment:[3]
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Arguments
- Rep. Eleanor Espling (R-65), the amendment's lead sponsor in the legislature, said:[4]
| “ | This allows citizens to take action while also bringing some balance to the process. Let’s continue to see Maine people use a Maine process to make change … and not just let people gather signatures in southern Maine.[2] | ” |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Maine Constitution
In Maine, the state Legislature can refer constitutional amendments to the ballot for voter approval. A 2/3 vote is required in the state House of Representatives and state Senate.
Rep. Eleanor Espling (R-65) introduced the measure as Legislative Document 31 (LD 31) on January 10, 2017. The measure was referred to the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, which recommended passing the bill. The Maine House of Representatives approved the committee's Ought to Pass Report on June 15, 2017. The vote was 106 to 39 with six members absent. The measure was also engrossed on June 15. The Maine Senate approved the committee's report and voted to engross the bill on June 16. Also on June 16, the state House gave final approval to the bill in a 107 to 36 vote with eight members absent. Republicans supported the bill, whereas Democrats were split 39-35. The state Senate failed to pass the bill on July 20, 2017. On August 2, 2017, the state Senate voted to carry LD 31 over into the 2018 legislative session.[3]
On April 10, 2018, the state House voted 92 to 55 with four members absent to re-adopt LD 31, with a technical change to the effective date. On April 17, 2018, the state Senate gave final approval to the amendment in a vote of 25 to 10. Also on April 17, 2018, the state House failed to give final approval to the amendment, passing 93 to 50. As a two-thirds vote was required, 101 votes were required. On April 18, LD 31 was pronounced dead.[3]
See also
- Maine 2018 ballot measures
- 2018 ballot measures
- Maine Legislature
- Laws governing the initiative process in Maine
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Maine Legislature, "Legislative Document 31," accessed June 15, 2017
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source. Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "quotedisclaimer" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Maine Legislature, "LD 31 Overview," accessed June 15, 2017
- ↑ Portland Press Herald, "Maine House votes to make it harder to get referendum on ballot," June 15, 2017
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