APPROVED CHAPTER
JUNE 20, 2025 397
BY GOVERNOR PUBLIC LAW
STATE OF MAINE
_____
IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD
TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FIVE
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S.P. 773 - L.D. 1977
An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Elections
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 21-A MRSA §1, sub-§10, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is amended
to read:
10. Closed period. "Closed period" means that time period when the registrar may
accept only those voter registration applications presented in person or transmitted pursuant
to section 232 or 233 by the deadline specified in section 121-A.
Sec. 2. 21-A MRSA §121, sub-§1-A, as amended by PL 2023, c. 291, §1 and
affected by §4, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
1-A. Identification and proof. A person who registers in person shall show proof of
identity and residency. If satisfactory proof of identity and residency cannot be provided
to the registrar or deputy, the person's name is entered into the central voter registration
system and placed on the incoming voting list and the ballot the person casts is a challenged
ballot. If the person shows satisfactory proof of identity and residency prior to voting on
election day, the person's ballot is not a challenged ballot.
Sec. 3. 21-A MRSA §121-A, as amended by PL 2023, c. 291, §2 and affected by
§4, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:
§121-A. Deadline for registration
1. Registration deadline. The deadlines for receipt of voter registration applications
are as follows:
A. If submitted by mail or by a 3rd person, the close of business on the 21st day before
election day;
B. If submitted online, 5 p.m. on the 21st day before election day;
C. If transmitted by the Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor
Vehicles pursuant to section 232 or by a source agency other than the Bureau of Motor
Vehicles pursuant to section 233, midnight on the 7th day before election day; and
D. If submitted in person, the close of the polls on election day.
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 2. Closed period. The 20-day period before an election is the closed period. Except
as otherwise provided in this subsection, the applicable registrar must receive a voter
registration application before the start of the closed period in order for the applicant's name
to appear on the incoming voter list for that election.
A. Notwithstanding the closed period, a person may qualify to vote in an election by
registering to vote in person at any time before the close of the polls on election day.
B. Notwithstanding the closed period, a person may qualify to vote in an election by
registering to vote through automatic voter registration under section 232 or section
233 no later than the 7th day before election day.
3. Notice required. An applicant who attempts to register to vote within 30 days of
an election by any method other than in-person registration, online registration or automatic
voter registration under section 232 or section 233 must be advised that the registrar might
not receive the application before the closed period, but that the applicant may register in
person any time before the close of the polls on election day.
4. Deadlines for transferring voter registration applications. The following
provisions govern deadlines for transferring voter registration applications.
A. Outside agencies shall transfer voter registration applications to the Secretary of
State within 5 days of receipt.
B. The Secretary of State shall transfer voter registration applications received from
outside agencies to the appropriate registrar by the following deadlines:
(1) If the application is received 10 days or fewer before the start of the closed
period, within 5 days of receipt;
(2) If the application is received more than 10 days before the start of the closed
period, within 10 days of receipt; and
(3) If the application is received after the start of the closed period, within 10
business days after the election.
C. The Secretary of State shall transmit voter registration applications submitted online
to the appropriate registrar by the next business day following receipt.
D. The Secretary of State shall transmit voter registration applications submitted to the
Department of the Secretary of State, Bureau of Motor Vehicles pursuant to section
232 or by a source agency other than the Bureau of Motor Vehicles pursuant to section
233 to the appropriate registrar by the next business day following receipt.
5. Registrar to send notice of disposition. The registrar shall send the notice of
disposition required by section 122 no later than the 18th day before election day to all
voters whose voter registration applications were submitted online, submitted by mail or
submitted by a 3rd person as long as the registrar received the voter registration application
by the 21st day before election day.
Sec. 4. 21-A MRSA §122, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2005, c. 453, §16, is further
amended to read:
4. Election day registration. The registrar shall accept registrations of applicants
who appear in person on election day. The registrar shall issue to each of these applicants
a certificate entitling the applicant to be placed on the incoming voting list at the voting
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place. Only one certificate may be issued to a person. An applicant whose address has
changed since the applicant last voted must vote using the ballot or ballots for the new
polling voting place, if applicable, on election day.
Sec. 5. 21-A MRSA §122, sub-§9, as amended by PL 2003, c. 395, §1, is further
amended to read:
9. Regulation of registration monitors. Anyone who wishes to monitor the names
and addresses of persons who are registering at the registrar's office or the clerk's office
shall inform the registrar or clerk of that intent. Anyone who wishes to monitor the names
and addresses of persons who are registering at the polling voting place shall inform the
registrar or clerk of that intent by submitting a written, signed statement containing the
proposed monitor's name, address and intent. The registrar or clerk may designate a place
where a person monitoring registrations may stand. The registrar or clerk shall then
announce the name and address of individuals registering to vote in a loud and clear voice.
A person monitoring registrations shall direct any questions the person has to the registrar
or clerk. These questions must be limited to information pertinent to the qualifications of
an individual to register. A person monitoring registrations may not ask questions of
individuals waiting to register concerning their eligibility to vote. A polling voting place
registration monitor may not handle or inspect registration cards, files or other materials
used by the registrar or clerk except as provided in section 22. A monitor may not inhibit
the work of the registrar or clerk. If the work of a registrar or clerk appears to be inhibited,
the warden may request a reduction in the number of monitors present in the polling voting
place. A registrar or clerk may require a person monitoring registrations who violates the
provisions of this subsection to leave the building.
Sec. 6. 21-A MRSA §129, sub-§3, as amended by PL 2011, c. 534, §8, is further
amended to read:
3. Failure to notify. If a voter fails to notify the registrar of a change of name or
change of address before election day, the voter must appear before the registrar on election
day and follow the procedure outlined in section 661 if the voter wishes to vote, unless the
registrar has already made the correction in following the procedure prescribed by section
128. If the voter wishes to exercise the right to vote, the voter must vote using the ballot
or ballots for the new polling voting place, if applicable, on election day.
Sec. 7. 21-A MRSA §144, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
5. Holidays. If the 15th day before a primary election is a holiday, the registrar shall
deem any change of enrollment submitted on the next business day to be received on the
15th day before the election for purposes of this section.
Sec. 8. 21-A MRSA §145, sub-§5 is enacted to read:
5. Holidays. If the 15th day before a primary election is a holiday, the registrar shall
deem any withdrawal of enrollment submitted on the next business day to be received on
the 15th day before the election for purposes of this section.
Sec. 9. 21-A MRSA §181, sub-§1, ¶B, as amended by PL 2021, c. 398, Pt. OO,
§3, is further amended to read:
B. Outside agencies, or their successors, which include the following:
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(1) All state agencies that provide public assistance, including the Department of
Health and Human Services and the The offices within the department Department
of Health and Human Services that provide assistance under the Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families program under Title 22, chapter 1053‑B, the
Women, Infants and Children Special Supplemental Food Program of the United
States Child Nutrition Act of 1966, the federal Medicaid program and the statewide
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program under Title 22, section 3104;
administer:
(a) The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program under Title 22,
chapter 1053‑B;
(b) The Women, Infants and Children Special Supplemental Food Program of
the United States Child Nutrition Act of 1966;
(c) The federal Medicaid program;
(d) The Children's Health Insurance Program under Title 22, section 3174-T;
(e) The transitional child care services under a program of transitional support
services under Title 22, section 3762;
(f) The transitional transportation benefits under a program of transitional
support services under Title 22, section 3762;
(g) The Higher Opportunity for Pathways for Employment Program under
Title 22, section 3790-A;
(h) The Bridging Rental Assistance Program under Title 34-B, section 3011;
(i) A developmental services advocacy program administered by a statewide
organization for disability rights;
(j) A mental health advocacy program;
(k) The children's advocacy centers; and
(l) The statewide Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program under Title 22,
section 3104;
(2) The uniformed service recruitment offices;
(3) The public high schools;
(4) The offices of municipal clerks and registrars; and
(5) The offices within the Department of Labor, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services;
and that administer:
(a) Vocational rehabilitation services;
(b) Independent living services;
(c) Deaf, hard of hearing and late deafened identification cards and vehicle
placards; and
(d) Deaf, hard of hearing and late deafened telecommunications equipment
services.
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 (6) All state agencies that provide state-funded programs primarily engaged in
providing services to persons with disabilities.
Sec. 10. 21-A MRSA §181, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1993, c. 695, §20, is repealed.
Sec. 11. 21-A MRSA §196-A, sub-§1, ¶J, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 310, §2, is
repealed.
Sec. 12. 21-A MRSA §196-A, sub-§1, ¶K is enacted to read:
K. A person may purchase, for the fee established in subsection 2, a voter file from the
Department of the Secretary of State to evaluate, monitor or seek compliance with laws
relating to voting rights, election administration and voter registration.
(1) A voter file purchased under this paragraph may contain the same data fields
available to political parties and campaigns under paragraph B and may include
data concerning cancelled voters for the period such data is retained in the central
voter registration system.
(2) The following information is designated highly sensitive personal information
and may not be included in a voter file purchased under this paragraph:
(a) A voter's full date of birth;
(b) A voter's social security number, tax identification number, driver's license
number or any portion of these numbers;
(c) Any records or data concerning a voter who is certified by the Secretary of
State as a program participant in the Address Confidentiality Program under
Title 5, section 90‑B;
(d) If a voter has submitted a signed statement to the registrar under section
22, subsection 3, paragraph B, the voter's residential address and mailing
address if the mailing address is the same as or discloses the voter's residence
address; and
(e) Any data relating to a declination to register to vote or to the identity of a
voter registration agency through which any particular voter is registered.
Sec. 13. 21-A MRSA §196-A, sub-§5, as enacted by PL 2021, c. 310, §4, is
repealed.
Sec. 14. 21-A MRSA §196-A, sub-§6 is enacted to read:
6. Civil violations. The following uses of data from the central voter registration
system are civil violations for which a fine of not more than $1,000 may be adjudged for a
first violation, and not more than $5,000 may be adjudged for additional violations:
A. Any use of data from the central voter registration system for a commercial purpose;
B. Any use of data from the central voter registration system for solicitation, other
than solicitation relating to a political party or a campaign as defined in section 1052,
subsection 1;
C. Any sale or resale of data from the central voter registration system except as
authorized in subsection 1, paragraph B and subsection 1, paragraph K;
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 D. Any use of data from the central voter registration system in violation of subsection
4; and
E. Any use of data from the central voter registration system purchased under
subsection 1, paragraph B or subsection 1, paragraph K for purposes not authorized by
those paragraphs.
Sec. 15. 21-A MRSA §303, sub-§1, ¶B, as amended by PL 1997, c. 436, §44, is
further amended to read:
B. The names, addresses, telephone numbers, if published, e-mail addresses and
signatures of the voters who file the declaration of intent.
Sec. 16. 21-A MRSA §306, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 161, §6, is repealed and the
following enacted in its place:
§306. Enrolled voters
1. Voters enrolled in parties that fail to qualify. If the Secretary of State determines
that a qualifying party has failed to meet the requirements of section 302 or 303, the
Secretary of State must change the status of voters enrolled in that qualifying party in the
central voter registration system to unenrolled.
2. Voters enrolled in qualified parties that are disqualified. Within 30 days of the
Secretary of State's determination that a qualified party is disqualified under section 304,
the disqualified party may file a written notice with the Secretary of State electing to retain
its enrolled voters. The written notice must certify that the party intends to seek
requalification by December 31st of the year of the next general election following
disqualification.
A. If a notice is not timely filed by the disqualified party, the Secretary of State must
change the status of voters enrolled in the disqualified party in the central voter
registration system to unenrolled.
B. If a notice is timely filed by the disqualified party, the following procedures apply.
(1) The Secretary of State may not automatically change the status of voters
enrolled in the disqualified party in the central voter registration system to
unenrolled except as permitted by subparagraph (5). Voters enrolled in the
disqualified party may continue to change or withdraw their enrollment subject to
the requirements of section 144 and section 145.
(2) The Secretary of State may remove the party's name from electronic versions
and future printings of the voter registration application, but voters may continue
to enroll in the disqualified party by writing the party name into a write-in blank
on the voter registration application.
(3) The disqualified party may request requalification by filing with the Secretary
of State by December 31st of the year of the next general election following
disqualification a certification that it has at least 5,000 voters enrolled in the party.
The Secretary of State shall review the certification under the procedures in section
303, subsection 2, and the disqualified party may appeal an adverse determination
under section 303-A. If restored to qualified status, the party must meet the
requirements of section 301 to participate in subsequent primary elections and is
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 not considered a newly qualified party for purposes of section 301, subsection 1,
paragraph E.
(4) In order to participate in a primary election under section 339, the disqualified
party must file a valid certification under subparagraph (3) no later than January
2nd of the year of that primary election. In order to participate in a presidential
primary election under section 441, the disqualified party must file a valid
certification under subparagraph (3) no later than September 15th of the year before
the presidential primary election.
(5) If the disqualified party fails to submit a valid certification under subparagraph
(3) by December 31st of the year of