HP0520, LD 769, item 1, An Act To Create Fairness in Political Party Enrollment Deadlines

An Act To Create Fairness in Political Party Enrollment Deadlines

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §144, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2005, c. 453, §27, is further amended to read:

2. Party designation removed. On receipt of the application, the registrar shall remove the party designation of the applicant from the central voter registration system. The registrar shall indicate in the central voter registration system that the applicant is ineligible to vote at a caucus or primary election for 15 days by designating the party enrollment field with the letter "X." Fifteen days after receiving the application, the registrar shall enroll the applicant in the party requested and enter the new party designation in the party enrollment field.

This subsection does not apply in the case of a voter who changes enrollment under subsection 4.

Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §144, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1995, c. 459, §16, is further amended to read:

3. Restrictions during change of enrollment. Except as provided in subsection 4, a A voter may not vote at a caucus, convention or primary election for 15 days after filing an application to change enrollment. A voter must file an application to change enrollment prior to January 1st to be eligible to file a petition as a candidate in that election year.

Sec. 3. 21-A MRSA §144, sub-§4, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is repealed.

summary

Under current law, a voter must file an application to change party enrollment prior to January 1st to be eligible to file a petition as a candidate in that year's election, except that a person who changes residence from one municipality to another may change the person's enrollment in a political party and file a petition for candidacy without adhering to any deadlines. This bill removes that exception and extends the January 1st deadline to all prospective candidates.

HP0520 LD 769	Session - 126th Maine Legislature		LR 1391 Item 1
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