Maine Question 2, Allow for Alternative Initiative Signatures for Persons with Disabilities Amendment (2019)
Maine Question 2 | |
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Election date November 5, 2019 | |
Topic Direct democracy measures | |
Status Approved | |
Type Constitutional amendment | Origin State legislature |
Maine Question 2, the Allow for Alternative Initiative Signatures for Persons with Disabilities Amendment, was on the ballot in Maine as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 5, 2019.[1] The ballot measure was approved.
A "yes" vote supported this amendment to authorize legislation allowing for persons with physical disabilities that prevent them from signing their own names to use an alternative signature to sign petitions for citizen-initiated ballot measures. |
A "no" vote opposed this amendment, thus keeping the requirement that persons with physical disabilities that prevent them from signing their own names to use their original signature to sign petitions for citizen-initiated ballot measures. |
Election results
Maine Question 2 |
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Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
141,162 | 75.50% | |||
No | 45,799 | 24.50% |
Overview
As of 2019, the Maine State Constitution required people to sign petitions for citizen-initiated ballot measures with their original signature. The state constitution did not have a similar requirement for candidate petitions.
In 2005, the Maine State Legislature passed a law allowing persons with physical disabilities to register to vote and sign candidate petitions using an alternative signature, defined as a signature stamp or having a registered voter sign the petition on the person's behalf. Melissa Packard, the state director of elections, said, "it was determined that a constitutional amendment would be needed to authorize a similar process for direct initiative and people's veto petitions."[2]
Question 2 authorized the state legislature to pass a law allowing persons with physical disabilities that prevent them from signing their own names to use an alternative signature, rather than an original signature.[1]
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title was as follows:[1]
“ |
Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to allow persons with disabilities to sign petitions in an alternative manner as authorized by the Legislature?[3] |
” |
Constitutional changes
The measure amended Section 20 of Article IV—Part Third of the Maine Constitution. The following underlined text was added:[1]
Note: Use your mouse to scroll over the below text to see the full text.
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Readability score
- See also: Ballot measure readability scores, 2019
Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title and summary for this measure. Readability scores are designed to indicate the reading difficulty of text. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The state legislature wrote the ballot language for this measure.
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Sponsors
The following state legislators sponsored the constitutional amendment:[1]
- Rep. Bruce White (D-109)
- Rep. Josanne Dolloff (R-115)
- Rep. Michelle Dunphy (D-122)
- Rep. Craig Hickman (D-81)
- Rep. John Martin (D-151)
- Rep. Scott Strom (R-106)
- Sen. Scott Cyrway (R-16)
- Sen. William Diamond (D-26)
- Sen. Erin Herbig (D-11)
- Sen. Louis Luchini (D-7)
Arguments
- Rep. Bruce White (D-109), the lead legislative sponsor of the constitutional amendment, said, "This legislation addresses a constitutional contradiction in that historic work that prevents people with some disabilities from participating in the process of petitioning their government, as the Constitution requires that signatures for initiatives and people's vetoes must be original signatures, made by the voter themselves. This is an obvious problem for people who, for example, are quadriplegic, or have Parkinson's, or have no hands at all. This proposal would give the Legislature room to make allowance for alternatives to original signatures on citizen initiatives and people's vetoes, such as proxies and self-inking stampers, for example, as are allowed for in other sections of the law."[4]
Campaign finance
Total campaign contributions: | |
Support: | $0.00 |
Opposition: | $0.00 |
Ballotpedia did not identify ballot question committees registered to support or oppose the ballot measure.[5]
Media editorials
- See also: 2019 ballot measure media endorsements
Ballotpedia identified the following media editorial boards as taking positions on the ballot measure. If you are aware of a media editorial board position that is not listed below, please email the editorial link to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Support
- Portland Press Herald: "He’s right — Question 2 solves a small problem, but an important one. Everyone should have full access to the democratic process, and any undue barrier to any voter is an affront to a free and fair electoral system. ... And in the upcoming election, Mainers should vote “yes” on Question 2 — and help the state get a step closer in making sure everyone is able to fully participate in our democracy."[6]
Opposition
Ballotpedia had not identified media editorial boards in opposition to the ballot measure.
Background
Use of alternative signatures in Maine
In 2005, the Maine State Legislature passed Legislative Document 623 (LD 623), titled "An Act To Ensure Participation by Voters with Disabilities in the Electoral Process," which Gov. John Baldacci (D) signed on May 20, 2005.[7]
LD 623 allowed persons who were unable to sign their names due to physical disabilities to use an alternative signature, defined as a signature stamp or allowing another person to sign on their behalf, for voter registration, candidate petitions, and Maine Clean Election Act (MCEA) forms.[7]
Referred amendments on the ballot
- See also: List of Maine ballot measures
The following statistics are based on constitutional amendments between 1995 and 2018 in Maine:
- Ballots featured 15 constitutional amendments.
- An average of one constitutional amendment appeared on odd-year statewide ballots.
- The number of ballot measures on odd-year statewide ballots ranged from zero to three.
- Voters approved 73 percent (11 of 15) and rejected 27 percent (4 of 15) of the constitutional amendments.
Legislatively-referred constitutional amendments, 1995-2018 | |||||||||
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Total number | Approved | Percent approved | Defeated | Percent defeated | Odd-year average | Odd-year median | Odd-year minimum | Odd-year maximum | |
15 | 11 | 73.3% | 4 | 26.7% | 0.8 | 1.0 | 0 | 3 |
Path to the ballot
- See also: Amending the Maine Constitution
In Maine, a two-thirds vote is required in one legislative session of the Maine State Legislature to place a constitutional amendment on 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.
The constitutional amendment was introduced as Legislative Document 1437 (LD 1437). On June 3, 2019, the state House approved LD 1437. On June 18, 2019, the state Senate approved LD 1437. There were no roll calls available for the legislation.[1]
See also
How to cast a vote
- See also: Voting 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.[8]
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."[9]
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, the deadline is 21 days prior to the election.[9]
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[9]
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.[10]
Online registration
- See also: Online voter registration
Maine does not permit online voter registration.
Governor Janet T. Mills (D) signed L.D. 126 into law on July 9, 2021, allowing online voter registration in Maine. This legislation went into effect on November 1, 2023.[11]
Same-day registration
Maine allows same-day voter registration.[9][12]
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
Maine does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration.
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.[13]
External links
Amendment
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Maine State Legislature, "LD 1437," accessed May 3, 2019
- ↑ Maine State Legislature, "Melissa Packard Testimony," April 8, 2019
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 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 - ↑ Maine State Legislature, "Rep. Bruce White Testimony," April 8, 2019
- ↑ Maine Commission of Governmental Ethics & Election Practices, "Ballot Question Committees," accessed June 24, 2019
- ↑ Portland Press Herald, "Our View: Question 2 solves small but vital issue on voting access," October 25, 2019
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Maine State Legislature, "LD 623," accessed June 27, 2019
- ↑ Maine Revised Statutes, "Title 21-A, Chapter 9, Section 626," accessed April 14, 2023
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Maine Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions, "State of Maine Voter Guide," accessed April 14, 2023
- ↑ WMTW 8, “Maine governor signs automatic voter registration bill into law,” June 21, 2019
- ↑ Maine Legislature, "H.P. 804 - L.D. 1126: An Act To Update the Voter Registration Process," accessed June 8, 2023
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Same Day Voter Registration," accessed January 31, 2023
- ↑ Maine Secretary of State, "Your Right to Vote in Maine," accessed April 15, 2023
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