Read the full stored bill text
Printed on recycled paper
132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 944
H.P. 609 House of Representatives, March 11, 2025
RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of
Maine to Improve Representation and Simplify Legislative
Redistricting
Received by the Clerk of the House on March 5, 2025. Referred to the Committee on State
and Local Government pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint Rule
401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative WARREN of Scarborough.
Cosponsored by Senator BENNETT of Oxford and
Representative: BOYER of Poland, Senator: GROHOSKI of Hancock.
Page 1 - 132LR1613(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. IV, Pt. First, §2 is amended to read:
5Section 2. Number of Representatives; biennial terms; division of the State
6into districts for House of Representatives. The House of Representatives shall
7 consist of 151 members an odd number of Representatives, not less than 151 nor more than
8 155, to be elected by the qualified electors, and hold their office 2 years from the day next
9 preceding the first Wednesday in December following the general election. The
10 Legislature which convenes in 2013, and also the Legislature which convenes in 2021 and
11 every 10th year thereafter, shall cause the State to be divided into districts for the choice of
12 one Representative for each district. The number of Representatives shall be divided into
13 the number of inhabitants of the State exclusive of foreigners not naturalized according to
14 the latest Federal Decennial Census or a State Census previously ordered by the Legislature
15 to coincide with the Federal Decennial Census, to determine a mean population figure for
16 each Representative District. Each Representative District shall be formed of contiguous
17 and compact territory and shall cross political subdivision lines the least number of times
18 necessary to establish as nearly as practicable equally populated districts. Whenever the
19 population of a municipality entitles it to more than one district, all whole districts shall be
20 drawn within municipal boundaries. Any population remainder within the municipality
21 shall be included in a district with contiguous territory and shall be kept intact.
22Constitutional referendum procedure; form of question; effective date.
23Resolved: That the municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their
24 respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding
25 a statewide election, at a statewide election held in the month of November following the
26 passage of this resolution, to vote upon the ratification of the amendment proposed in this
27 resolution by voting upon the following question:
28 "Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to provide that the
29 House of Representatives consists of an odd number of Representatives,
30 not less than 151 nor more than 155?"
31 The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question
32 and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within the corresponding square
33 below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared
34 in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in
35 the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the
36 returns. If it appears that a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of the amendment,
37 the Governor shall proclaim that fact without delay and the amendment becomes part of
38 the Constitution of Maine on the date of the proclamation.
39Secretary of State shall prepare ballots. Resolved: That the Secretary of State
40 shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of
41 this resolution necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum.
Page 2 - 132LR1613(01)
1SUMMARY
2 This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to provide that the House
3 of Representatives consists of an odd number of Representatives, not less than 151 nor
4 more than 155.
2
3
4