Portland, Maine, Question A, Rent Control and Tenant Protections Initiative (June 2023)

Portland Question A
Election date June 13, 2023
Topic Local housing
Status Defeated
Type Initiative

Portland Question A was on the ballot as an initiative in Portland on June 13, 2023. It was defeated.

A "yes" vote supported allowing for the establishment of new Base Rents at the time of a new tenancy, but only in instances when the prior tenant moves out voluntarily.

A "no" vote opposed allowing for the establishment of new Base Rents at the time of a new tenancy, but only in instances when the prior tenant moves out voluntarily.

A simple majority vote was required for the approval of this measure.

Election results

Portland Question A
Result		Votes	Percentage
Yes		3,872	33.34%
No		7,740	66.66%

Results are officially certified.

Source

Text of measure

Ballot title

The ballot title for Question A was as follows:

“

An Act to Amend Rent Control and Tenant Protections maintains all tenant protections established in the existing Rent Control and Tenant Protections ordinance. The Act removes incentives for landlords to increase rents for existing tenants and discourages no-cause evictions by allowing for the establishment of new Base Rents at the time of a new tenancy, but only in instances when the prior tenant moves out voluntarily.  [ ] For [ ] Against

”

Full Text

The full text of this measure is available here.

Path to the ballot

The Rental Housing Alliance of Southern Maine collected over 3,000 signatures. The required number of valid signatures was 1,500. The petition was presented to the Portland City Council, and on March 20, 2023, the city council voted 9-0 to place the measure on the June 2023 ballot.

How to cast a vote

See also: Voting in Maine

See below to learn more about current voter registration rules, identification requirements, and poll times in Maine.

How to vote in Maine

Poll times

In Maine, municipalities with a population of 500 or more open their polls between 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., while municipalities with a population of less than 500 open their polls between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. All polls close at 8:00 p.m. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.

Registration

Check your voter registration status here.

To register to vote in Maine, one must be "a United States citizen, at least 16 years of age to pre-register to vote, and have established a fixed principal home in Maine. To vote in a Referendum or General Election, you must be registered in the community where you reside, and be at least 18 years of age. A 17 year old may vote in a Primary Election, if that person will be 18 by the General Election."

Voters can return completed registration cards in person or by mail to their town office or city hall, any Motor Vehicle branch office, most state & federal social service agencies, or a voter registration drive. There is no deadline for voter registration if completed in person. If registering by mail or online, the deadline is 21 days prior to the election. If registering through a qualified state agency, the deadlines is seven days prior to the election.

When registering for the first time in Maine, voters must provide documents verifying their identity and residence. The following documents are acceptable identification for the purpose of registering to vote:

• Government ID with a photo (i.e. driver’s license, State ID, valid U.S. Passport, military ID, ID card issued by a federally recognized Indian tribe)
• Government ID without photo (i.e. certified birth certificate or signed Social Security card)
• Other official document showing the name and address of voter (i.e. eligibility for public benefits, utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck)
• Student photo ID from a state-approved public or private school or institute of higher education in Maine
• Maine driver’s license number or last four digits of Social Security Number

Automatic registration

On June 19, 2019, Gov. Janet Mills signed an automatic voter registration bill into law that was scheduled for implementation in 2022. The law registers voters through the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Online registration

See also: Online voter registration

Maine has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

Governor Janet T. Mills (D) signed L.D. 1126 into law on July 9, 2021, allowing online voter registration in Maine. This legislation went into effect on November 1, 2023.

Same-day registration

Maine allows same-day voter registration.

Residency requirements

To register to vote in Maine, you must be a resident of the state. State law does not specify a length of time for which you must have been a resident to be eligible.

Verification of citizenship

See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

Maine does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual must attest that they are a U.S. citizen when registering to vote.

All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment. Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

Verifying your registration

The Maine voter information lookup service allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

Voter ID requirements

Maine does not require voters to present identification while voting. If a voter registers to vote on Election Day, he or she must provide identification and proof of residence.

See also

Local measures

• Local measures in 2023
• Local housing on the ballot

• Cumberland County measures

Maine

• Maine 2023 local measures
• Local ballot measures, Maine
• Portland, Maine

News and analysis

• State and local preemption conflicts
• Measures advancing national agendas