1. Ratification of the Minutes of the September 24 and October 6, 2025 Meetings
Motion: To ratify the September 24 and October 6, 2025 minutes as presented
Made by: Commissioner Marble
Seconded by: Commissioner LeClaire
Vote: 4-0
2. Request for Waiver of Late Filing Penalty – Save Maine Absentee Voting
Save Maine Absentee Voting is a ballot question committee that opposed Question 1 on the November 4, 2025 ballot. The committee was late filing a 24-Hour Report due October 23, 2025. Save Maine Absentee Voting requests a waiver of the $10,000 preliminary penalty because the late filing was due to a good-faith misunderstanding of the law and caused minimal harm to the public. Staff recommendation: the Commission staff recommends reducing the penalty to $500.
Motion: To find the 24-Hour Report was filed late and reduce the penalty to $500
Made by: Commissioner Marble
Seconded by: Commissioner Schneider
Vote: 4-0
3. Request for Investigation – Maine Democratic Party’s Disclosure of 2025 Activities against Question 1
Alex Titcomb filed a request to investigate the Maine Democratic Party’s disclosure of its 2025 activities to oppose Question 1. He asks the Commission to consider whether the party should have registered and filed campaign finance reports as a ballot question committee. The party responds that it properly reported its activities to oppose Question 1 in the regular campaign finance reports it filed as a party committee. Staff recommendation: the Commission staff recommends authorizing an investigation.
Additional Material - Supplemental Response by Maine Democratic Party
Motion: To have the Commission staff perform an investigation and request Mr. Bolton provide a legal memorandum advising the Commission on the matter.
Made by: Commissioner Schneider
Seconded by: Commissioner Marble
Vote: 4-0
4. Rulemaking
The Commission will consider whether to adopt amendments to Chapter 1 of its rules proposed by staff.
Motion: To accept the rule changes.
Made by: Commissioner Schneider
Seconded by: Commissioner Marble
Vote: 4-0
Other Business
Executive Session (none necessary)
ADJOURNMENT 10:08 a.m.