AUGUSTA - On Monday, Gov. Janet Mills signed LD 1260, sponsored by Rep. Morgan Rielly, D-Westbrook, which would study establishing a Deputy Secretary of State position focused on supporting civics education and engagement across Maine.
The new position would include organizing student mock elections, providing voter registration materials to high school students and other student-focused programming. Additionally, the bill would direct the Maine Secretary of State to study moving Volunteer Maine, the state's service commission, from the Department of Education to the Secretary of State's office.
"Mainers understand the importance of our elections and the role civics play in our everyday lives," said Rielly. "However, we have many younger voters who are new to the election process. An additional deputy would allow the Secretary of State's office to expand existing civic engagement work and serve as a liaison to schools, providing important information for young voters and helping to sustain our healthy democracy."
"We are thrilled to see this law to expand civic engagement finally pass," said Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows. "We are excited to partner with Volunteer Maine to examine how we might align our work to advance volunteer participation and strengthen our communities and democracy. We appreciate Rep. Morgan Rielly's leadership in promoting civics across our state."
The law will go into effect 90 days after final adjournment of the Legislative session.
Rielly is serving his second term in the Maine House of Representatives and is a member of the Legislature's Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs. He represents House District 127, which includes a portion of Westbrook.
Contact:
Brian Lee [Rielly], 305-965-2744
Emily Cook [Bellows], 207-441-0405