An Act To Require Write-in Candidates To Be Listed on the Ballot Tabulation Report
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §722, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2009, c. 253, §36, is further amended to read:
1. How tabulated. The Secretary of State shall tabulate all votes that appear by an election return to have been cast for each question or candidate whose name appeared on the ballot . The Secretary of State shall tabulate the , including votes that appear by an election return to have been cast for a declared write-in candidate and shall tabulate the votes that appear to have been cast for an undeclared write-in candidate based on a recount requested and conducted pursuant to section 737-A, subsection 2-A.
Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §722, sub-§1-A, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 253, §36, is amended to read:
1-A. Form of tabulation. The tabulation must include the total votes for each question choice or candidate whose name appeared on the ballot. The tabulation also must include the total votes for any declared or undeclared write-in candidates who qualified to have their votes tabulated under subsection 1 as follows.
A. For a write-in candidate who receives 5% or more of the votes cast for that office, the Secretary of State shall report the votes under the candidate's name.
B. For a write-in candidate who receives less than 5% of the votes cast for that office, the Secretary of State shall report the votes under the designation "others."
SUMMARY
The bill requires the Secretary of State to include in the tabulation and printing of election results the votes for any declared or undeclared write-in candidates.