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Proposed Ballot Questions / Public Comment

Notice of Public Comment Period (June 26- July 27, 2009 )

Among the items to be decided in the November 3, 2009 Referendum Election, there will be four Direct Initiatives of Legislation (i.e. Citizen Initiatives). Under Maine's Constitution, the Secretary of State is responsible for preparing the ballots “in such form as to present the question or questions concisely and intelligibly.” Below are the Secretary of State's proposed ballot questions for the four initiatives that will appear on the November 3, 2009 ballot.

Maine law, Title 21-A §905-A, further requires that the Secretary of State “provide a 30-day public comment period for the purpose of receiving comments on the content and form of proposed questions to be placed on the ballot for any pending initiatives.” Written public comments on any of the four proposed questions may be filed with the Secretary of State by email at sos.office@maine.gov; by mail at Secretary of State, Attn: Public Comment, 148 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0148; or by hand at the Secretary of State's Office. Public comments must be received by the Secretary of State prior to the close of business on July 27, 2009.

Proposed Ballot Questions:

Proposed ballot question for An Act to Decrease the Automobile Excise Tax and Promote Energy
(Legislation HTML version; Legislation PDF version)

"Do you want to cut the rate of the excise tax on newer vehicles that owners pay to towns by about half and exempt some energy-efficient vehicles from the sales tax?"

Proposed ballot question for An Act to Establish the Maine Medical Marijuana Act
(Legislation HTML version; Legislation PDF version)

"Do you want to change the medical marijuana laws to allow treatment of more medical conditions and to expand the methods of distribution?"

Proposed ballot question for An Act to Promote Tax Relief
(Legislation HTML version; Legislation PDF version)

"Do you want to change Maine law to require voter approval for state and local tax and spending increases over certain limits?"

Proposed ballot question for An Act to Repeal the School District Consolidation Laws
(Legislation HTML version; Legislation PDF version)

"Do you want to repeal the 2007 law on school consolidation and restore the laws previously in effect?"