DISPOSITION SCHEDULE E: ELECTION RECORDS
Please see Disposition Schedule A for payrolls, invoices, and other records common to more than one office of local government.
The "retention" column indicates either 1) a limited period after which the records may be destroyed, or 2) the word "Permanent," indicating the records may not be destroyed and must be retained permanently.
Series Series Title / Description and Confidentiality Status Retention
E.01. Ballots Used for County Elections, Municipal Elections, Referenda Elections or Special Legislative Elections 2 months
Ballots used for county elections, municipal elections, referenda elections or special legislative elections. These ballots must be retained for 2 months. (21-A, section 23.7) Confidential (Title 21-A, § 22.2)
E.02. Ballots, All Other Elections
Ballots used for all elections except municipal elections, referenda elections or special legislative elections. Ballots with candidates for federal offices must be kept for 22 months unless sooner released to the Secretary of State or required by the Secretary of State to be kept longer. Retain until any required action has been taken, or until any substantive information has been filed with appropriate record series
Confidential (Title 21-A, § 22.2)
E.03. Incoming Voting Lists 2 years
The list of all of the voters in a municipality which is used by election officials at a voting place to record which voters have been issued a ballot at an election. (Title 21-A, section 1.21) Not Confidential
E.04. Posted Notices, Specimen Ballots, Instruction Posters to Which Materials Pertain Destroy after election
Posted notices concerning election matters, specimen ballots provided for public information, and instruction posters for voter information. Not Confidential
E.05. Receipt for Certified Copies of Voting List 1 year
Receipt for certified copies of voting list. Not Confidential
E.06. Record of Receipts for Ballots Issued and Received 1 year
Record of receipts for ballots issued and received. Not Confidential
E.07.a Registration and Enrollment Applications - Voters Removed from Voting List 2 years
Registration and enrollment cards for voters who have been removed from the current voting list. Not Confidential
E.07.b Registration and Enrollment Applications - All Other Voters Retain until voter is removed from voting list
Registration and enrollment cards for all voters currently active or inactive. Not Confidential
E.08. Election Records Not Specified in 1-7 2 years
All election records not otherwise listed on this disposition schedule. Not Confidential
E.09. Municipal Candidate Petitions 6 months
Petitions filed by candidates for municipal office. Not Confidential
E.10. Municipal Referendum Petitions 2 years
Petitions filed by citizens desiring to bring matters to municipal referendum. Not Confidential
Please note: The retention periods listed in Attachment E are set by statute (Title 21A, Section 23; also MRSA 30A, Sections 25-28, sub-section 4, paragraph C), and are reproduced within this Rule for citizen convenience only. Questions concerning the retention of election records should be referred to the Division of Elections.
Page Updated October 26, 2005.
