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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 455
S.P. 188 In Senate, February 11, 2025
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of
Maine to Require a Statewide Popular Election of the Secretary of
State, the Treasurer of State and the Attorney General for 4-year
Terms
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on February 5, 2025. Referred to the Committee
on State and Local Government pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator BENNETT of Oxford.
Cosponsored by Senator FARRIN of Somerset and
Senators: BRADSTREET of Kennebec, HICKMAN of Kennebec, TIMBERLAKE of
Androscoggin, Representative: SUPICA of Bangor.
Page 1 - 132LR0581(01)
1Constitutional amendment. Resolved: Two thirds of each branch of the
2 Legislature concurring, that the following amendment to the Constitution of Maine be
3 proposed:
4Constitution, Art. V, Pt. Second, §1 is amended to read:
5Section 1. Election. The Secretary of State shall be chosen biennially at the first
6 session of the Legislature, by joint ballot of the Senators and Representatives in convention,
7 except that beginning in 2032 and every 4 years thereafter the Secretary of State must be
8 chosen by popular election on the same date and in the same manner as provided by this
9 Constitution for the election of Senators and Representatives.
10Constitution, Art. V, Pt. Second, §1-A is amended to read:
11Section 1-A. Succession to the office of Secretary of State. If a vacancy occurs
12 in the office of the Secretary of State, the first deputy secretary of state shall act as the
13 Secretary of State until a Secretary of State is elected by the Legislature during the current
14 session if in session, or at the next regular or special session, except that beginning in 2032
15 if a vacancy occurs in the office of the Secretary of State, the first deputy secretary of state
16 shall act as the Secretary of State until a Secretary of State is elected by popular election as
17 provided in section 1.
18Constitution, Art. V, Pt. Third, §1 is amended to read:
19Section 1. Election. The Treasurer shall be chosen biennially, at the first session of
20 the Legislature, by joint ballot of the Senators, and Representatives in convention, except
21 that beginning in 2032 and every 4 years thereafter the Treasurer must be chosen by popular
22 election on the same date and in the same manner as provided by this Constitution for the
23 election of Senators and Representatives.
24Constitution, Art. V, Pt. Third, §1-A is amended to read:
25Section 1-A. Succession to the office of Treasurer. If a vacancy occurs in the
26 office of Treasurer of State, the deputy treasurer of state shall act as the Treasurer of State
27 until a Treasurer of State is elected by the Legislature during the current session if in
28 session, or at the next regular or special session, except that beginning in 2032 if a vacancy
29 occurs in the office of Treasurer of State, the deputy treasurer of state shall act as the
30 Treasurer of State until a Treasurer of State is elected by popular election as provided in
31 section 1.
32Constitution, Art. IX, §11 is amended to read:
33Section 11. Attorney General. The Except as otherwise provided in this section,
34 the Attorney General shall be chosen biennially by joint ballot of the Senators and
35 Representatives in convention. Vacancy and vacancy in said office occurring when the
36 Legislature is not in session, may be filled by appointment by the Governor, subject to
37 confirmation as required by this Constitution for Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court.
38 Beginning in 2032 and every 4 years thereafter, the Attorney General must be chosen by
39 popular election on the same date and in the same manner as provided by this Constitution
40 for the election of Senators and Representatives and vacancy in said office may be filled
41 by appointment by the Governor, subject to confirmation as required by this Constitution
42 for Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court.
Page 2 - 132LR0581(01)
1Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question; effective date.
2Resolved: That the municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their
3 respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding
4 a statewide election, at a statewide election held in the month of November following the
5 passage of this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment proposed in this
6 resolution by voting upon the following question:
7 "Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to provide that
8 beginning in 2032 the Secretary of State, the Treasurer of State and the
9 Attorney General be elected by the people every 4 years on the same date
10 and in the same manner as members of the Senate and House of
11 Representatives?"
12 The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question
13 and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within the corresponding square
14 below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared
15 in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in
16 the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the
17 returns. If it appears that a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the amendment,
18 the Governor shall proclaim that fact without delay and the amendment becomes part of
19 the Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation.
20Secretary of State shall prepare ballots. Resolved: That the Secretary of State
21 shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of
22 this resolution necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum.
23SUMMARY
24 This resolution proposes a constitutional amendment that provides for the popular
25 election beginning in 2032 and every 4 years thereafter of the Secretary of State, the
26 Treasurer of State and the Attorney General on the same date and in the manner currently
27 provided for the election of members of the Senate and House of Representatives.
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